Ondol

Korean name
Hangul
온돌
Hanja
溫突/溫堗
Revised Romanizationondol
McCune–Reischauerondol
IPA[on.dol]
Alternate name
Hangul
구들
Revised Romanizationgudeul
McCune–Reischauerkudŭl
IPA[ku.dɯl]

Ondol (ON-dol; /ˈɒn.dɒl/, Korean: 온돌; Hanja: 溫突/溫堗; Korean pronunciation: [on.dol]) or gudeul (구들; [ku.dɯl]) in Korean traditional architecture is underfloor heating that uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke to heat the underside of a thick masonry floor. In modern usage, it refers to any type of underfloor heating, or to a hotel or a sleeping room in Korean (as opposed to Western) style.

The main components of the traditional ondol are an agungi (아궁이; [a.guŋ.i]), a firebox or stove, accessible from an adjoining room (typically kitchen or master bedroom), a raised masonry floor underlain by horizontal smoke passages, and a vertical, freestanding chimney on the opposite exterior wall providing a draft. The heated floor, supported by stone piers or baffles to distribute the smoke, is covered by stone slabs, clay and an impervious layer such as oiled paper.