The people who built the town used Confucian philosophy and the clan system to decide where to put each building and road. The clan system was very important in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Some of the houses are made of wood and some are made of mud. Some of the houses have tile roofs and some have thatched roofs. Some of the buildings are made of traditional materials and some have been rebuilt with modern materials. There is a 600 year old zelkova tree in the village. People have named the tree "Samsindang," and there is a shrine next to it. Unlike many homes in South Korea, which face south, the houses in Hahoe Village face the tree. The Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy is 4 km east of the village.