Andong

Andong is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Located along the Nakdong River in the central-eastern part of the province, it lies northeast of Daegu and serves as a regional center of culture and administration. The city has a long history dating back to ancient Korea and developed as a notable center of Confucian learning during the Joseon Dynasty.

Andong's cultural heritage is best known for Hahoe Folk Village, a well-preserved traditional village dating to the late Joseon period. The village features thatched and tiled houses set within a hillside landscape and continues to host traditional performances and seasonal activities. Hahoe is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the Historic Villages of Korea, inscribed in 1999 together with Yangdong Folk Village.

Another major cultural event is the Andong Mask Dance Festival, held annually in autumn, showcasing local talchum masked dances and other folk performances. The city is also associated with Andong Soju, a traditional distilled spirit that has been produced here for centuries and remains a symbol of regional heritage.

Tourism, agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing form the basis of the local economy. Andong remains a popular destination for visitors seeking traditional Korean culture, architecture, and cuisine, as well as a site for historical research on Korean rural life.

The population is roughly 160,000 residents.