[Filming Location of MSG Wannabe's Music Video in Hangout with Yoo] Seokpajeong

 

Sometimes, the travelers get information faster than the local. People who don't live at the neighborhood have information such as new attractions or popular cafes, etc. It doesn't catch your eyes if you walk pass it every day.

Seokpajeong, located near Inwangsan Mountain, appeared in the music video of MSG Wannabe in the popular variety show "Hangout with Yoo". Many people didn't realize there is such a beautiful garden hidden in Inwangsan Mountain,

HOW TO GET TO SEOKPAJEONG?

If you take a bus at AREX Seoul Station towards Buam-dong, it takes about 25 mins to get to Seokpajeong. When you get off the bus, you will be able to see Seoul Museum of Art building and Seokpajeong is inside the Seoul Museum of Art.

There is a combined admission ticket for you to visit both Seokpajeong and Seoul Museum of Art.

However, you can also purchase admission ticket to visit Seokpajeong only. The Seokpajeong is connected to Seoul Museum of Art on the 4th floor.

(Admission fee for Seokpajeong - KRW 5,000)

There is something you should take before you leave the Seoul Museum of Art building. Grab a stamp map that you will help you to enjoy Seokpajeong more. It takes less than 1 hour to visit the whole area at Seokpajeong, but the road can be a little confusing or you might missed one or two places. Thus, the stamp map serves as a map and to give you a sense of accomplishment after stamping the map with all the stamps available at the spot.

LET'S TAKE A TOUR AT SEOKPAJEONG

You will first meet Sarangchae at the starting point of Seokpajeong. It is located at the center where the owner greets the guests from the outside. There is also a 650 year-old pine tree next to Sarangchae that will greet you. It was planted with the hope that it will live for thousand years.

Opposite Sarangchae, there is a rock (Engravings of Sosu Unryeonam) that existed even before the construction of Seokpajeong. The phrase engraved on the huge rock says "The house bearing water and with clouds like a curtain: Hansuong writes to his friend Jeongyi in the year of Sinchuk".

Seokpajeong, known as "A Garden Loved by the King", is the villa of Heungseon Daewongun, Yi Hae-eung at the end of Joseon Dynasty. There is an interesting story about the ownership of this place.

Initially, Seokpajeong was known as Samgye-dong Jeongsa, an annex of Kim Heung-geun, who served as Yeonguijeong during the reign of King Cheoljong. Heungseon Daewongun asked Kim Heung-geun to sell the house to him, but he rejected the idea. Then, Heungseon Daewongun rented the house for one day and visited it with King Gojong. During Joseon Dynasty period, vassals could not live in the house where his king stayed and so Kim had to offer the house to the king, which was taken by Heungseon Daewongun. "Seokpa" was Daewongun's pen name.

After completing the walking path, you will see the Neoreokbawi rock. The huge rock looks like a magnificent stone mountain. Neoreokbawi is known as a wish rock. There was an old couple who had no children made a wish in front of this rock and eventually got a child. Who doesn't have a wish? Don't just walk past the rock. Touch the rock sincerely and then turn away.

After visitng the Neoreokbawi rock, you will come to Seokpajeong. Seokpajeong is also called It is also called ‘Yususeong Junggwanpungru’, which means a pavilion where you can enjoy the autumn leaves amid the sound of flowing water. There is a valley flows below and various trees surrounding the pavilion such as maple trees. This pavilion combines the traditional Korean style and the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty.

Once you have visited the Seokpajeong, you will return to Sarangchae, which was the starting point. On a sunny day, Inwangsan Mountain and Buam-dong look so beautiful.

If you go up from Sarangchae, there is a separate building. There is a room where Emperor Gojong slept when he visited this place. If you sit on the Toenmaru, you can see the full scenery of Seoul. Let's take a rest here.

This room where Emperor Gojong stayed when he visited Seokpajeong was reproduced. It would have been more beautiful in the past when there were no tall buildings. But now, it also looks beautiful with the view of Seoul.

Don't forget to visit the three-story stone pagoda of Silla behind the Engravings of Sosu Unryeonam. The three-story stone pagoda, believed to have been built in the 9th century during the Unified Silla period, was collected from privately owned farmland near Gyeongju and assembled in its present form. It was relocated to here around June 2012.

This is a beautiful space that is called "the house bearing water and with clouds like a curtain", which has been preserved for 650 years. Visitors could enjoy the beautiful scenery of mountains, valleys, pavilion during four seasons. The garden the Kind loved. You will understand why it is so when you visit this place.

[Information about Seokpajeong]

1. Getting There: At AREX Seoul Station, take Bus #7016 at Seoul Station Bus Transfer Center -> Get off at Jahamun Tunnel Entrance, Seokpajeong Bus Stop 

2. Address:  4-1, Changuimun-ro 11-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

3. Contact Number: +82-2-395-0100

4. Operating Hours:  Seokpajeong & Annex - 11:00~17:00 (Tues - Sun) / Seoul Museum 10:00~18:00 (Tues - Sun)  / 매주 월 휴관 *관람 종료 1시간 전까지 입장

5. Admission Fee: Seokpajeong only KRW 5,000 

Seokpajeong +  Seoul Museum: Adults KRW 11,000 / Students KRW 7,000 / Children KRW 5,000

※Above information might change depending on the organization