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[Sejong] A Lone Flower in the City Center: Sejong Mokhyangjae
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08/26/2022
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What is the scenery associated with the city of Sejong?
As an administrative capital created recently in 2012,
Sejong City is often associated with utility and efficiency in city planning rather than natural scenery or tourism.
Indeed, as a tourist site, Sejong is still in its developing stages.
Fresh and unique botanical gardens and museums are entering the scene,
and its new landmark, Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge,
was selected by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) as a “small-yet-robust potential tourist site.”
In light of these efforts from Sejong,
a remarkable Korea Quality (KQ)–certified accommodation has established its presence amid the city’s skyscrapers.
That is “Mokhyangjae,” a spot of traditional elegance among the modern apartment complexes.
Unlike its surrounding areas that seem to regard height as the symbol of their majesty,
Mokhyangjae is a two-story hanok (traditional Korean house) building standing close to the ground.
Perhaps because of that, Mokhyangjae seems to greet its guests with open arms.
This feeling of welcome is confirmed upon stepping into its building as a guest.
Because of its residential location, many parking spaces are available, and the host,
clad in hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), welcomes guests right from the entrance.
I saw the KQ plaque hung on the wall behind the host and imagined
that Mokhyangjae’s designation as a KQ-certified accommodation stemmed
not only from its charms but also its excellent service.
The complex also had several items which caught my eyes.
The walls were lined with trumpet vine, one of the most recognizable flowers in summer,
while the sweet fragrance of grapes wafted from beyond the earthen fence.
It felt as though the place was making a statement—that even in this space was planned as a city from the ground up,
one could still find nature’s presence.
Upon arriving, I went to the room to unpack my stuff.
I chose the standard room to stay in and was greeted with a cool,
air-conditioned space prepared for my visit by the host.
Just minutes ago, I was standing in the city’s sweltering summer heat,
and now, I found myself in an exclusive resort reserved for me.
Mokhyangjae’s design combines both traditional beauty and modern comforts.
It had comfortable beds rather than traditional cotton beddings,
and its restroom was as contemporary as can be.
I also found neatly folded towels and gift sets containing toothbrushes
provided by the KTO Tourism Certification Center.
After cooling down, I looked around the room to find a small staircase leading up to the attic.
Following the wooden staircase brings one to a fantastic space full of comic books and fairy tales.
The low ceilings gave this space a relaxing atmosphere,
where both children and grown-ups can dream of their childhood as they rest.
An expansive living room was located below the attic,
perfect for family travelers to spend quality time together.
I joined my husband in the tearoom,
which was both a common space to enjoy meandering conversations and a room for savoring tea,
furnished with wonderfully elegant ornaments and tea sets.
I got a glass of iced coffee and slid into the talks like nothing ever happened.
“One must see in detail to appreciate the beauty.
One must watch for long to appreciate its loveliness. You are as well.”
A frame beside the tearoom caught my eyes.
It was a framed plaque that bore the inscription of Na Tae-joo,
a poet living in the next neighborhood, gifted to the host couple by the poet himself.
It was a perfect piece for the tearoom, and I looked at it in detail for a long time.
After the sunset, Mokhyangjae slipped into a different atmosphere,
like an elegant evening dress.
The city lights filtered through the forest of buildings to Mokhyangjae,
seemingly elevating the building to center stage.
It was undoubtedly a view that could not be found at other hanok.
While an evening spent resting at Mokhyangjae would be an evening well spent,
I did not want to miss out on Sejong’s landmarks,
so I headed to Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge.
It takes only 10 minutes by car to reach the bridge from Mokhyangjae,
so it is a great spot to drop by and gaze at.
In particular, on hot days, the evening is the best time to visit the bridge.
Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge is named after the Geumgang River over which it was built,
and some refer to it as the “Ieung” bridge,
referencing the Korean character “ㅇ” for its shape.
It is also Korea’s longest pedestrian bridge,
so it is a perfect place to enjoy the view of the Geumgang River and surrounding scenery.
The city view from Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge seemed to proclaim
that “a city’s beauty is most recognizable at night.”
Where else would one enjoy the unique beauty of Sejong,
a city blessed with beautiful nature enveloping a forest of skyscrapers,
but this beautiful pedestrian bridge?
Lost in the night view like stars sparkling below,
I pried myself away from Sejong’s night view and returned to lie down at Mokhyangjae.
I felt that the best thing about this hanok,
combining the extravagance of the city and elegance of tradition,
was that one could choose the preferred mode of rest.
Sejong is where I can find the rest I want,
and to join its journey of becoming an even more charming place to visit,
why not head this summer to the KQ-certified accommodation, Mokhyangjae?
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