Nearby Tourist Attraction: Temporary Palace at Hwaseong Fortress

Sinpungnu Gate, The Main Entrance to the Temporary Palace at Hwaseong Fortress

Jwaingmun Gate, Found Just Beyond the Sinpungnu Gate

Nangnamheon Hall, A Historic Venue for Various Events

The Temporary Palace at Hwaseong Fortress, built in 1796, served as a temporary accommodation for the Joseon king. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. This site is renowned for its grand four gates, the magnificent palace, and the fortress itself, representing the pinnacle of modern fortress construction in Korea. In the late 1980s, Suwon citizens formed a restoration committee, advocating for the palace’s restoration, which began in 1996 on the 200th anniversary of the Hwaseong Fortress. The first phase of restoration was completed in 2002, and the site opened to the public in 2003. Following the restoration, cafés and restaurants began moving into the renovated old houses nearby, transforming the area into the vibrant and trendy Haengnidan Street.

View of Sewoon Plaza from Cheonggye Plaza

Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Mall
from the Mall Connecting Suspension Bridge

View of Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Mall from the First Floor

The show “Vincenzo” enjoyed great popularity on Netflix in 2021. It told the story of a mafia consigliere who, after being expelled from the organization, flee to Korea. Here, he teams up with an attorney to ruthlessly hunt down villains. A memorable scene features Vincenzo Cassano ordering Tteokbokki, recalling “wheat cake, red chili paste, and a little bit of seasoning...” before Hong Cha-young interjects, requesting “Just Tteokbokki for two, please.” Geumga Plaza, the location of their Tteokbokki meal, is actually the Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Mall, an electronics mall established in the 1960s along Eulji-ro and Cheonggyecheon Stream. Already renowned for its extensive range of electronic goods, the mall gained additional fame from “Vincenzo.” It now houses cafés, wine bars, music shops, and other unique stores.

Tteokbokki Broth Made with Sliced Radish Instead of Water

Deep-Fried Dishes, Tteokbokki’s Ideal Companion

Ganggane Tteokbokki’s Uniqueness Featuring Rice Cakes and Sliced Radish

From the Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Mall, where Vincenzo’s Tteokbokki scene was set, a 10-minute walk along the Cheonggyecheon Stream leads to Gwangjang Market. This market is renowned for its unique Tteokbokki, broth prepared with thinly sliced radish, a style originating from Busan. The thick sauce, enriched by the radish slices, goes well with the chewy texture of the rice cakes. This combination offers a distinctive taste not found elsewhere. Pair it with some deep-fried dishes for an even richer flavor experience.

Nearby Tourist Attraction: Cheonggyecheon Stream

View of Cheonggyecheon Stream from Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Mall

Cheonggyecheon Stream Blending
Harmoniously with Grasses and Trees

Grey Heron, a Summer Migratory Bird Integral to Cheonggyecheon Stream’s Ecosystem

Cheonggyecheon Stream, flowing past both the Sewoon Cheonggye Shopping Mall and Gwangjang Market, stretches 10.84km across Seoul’s Jongno-gu, Jung-gu, and Wangsimni areas. Initially started in 1958, the stream underwent restoration and was reopened to the public 47 years later in 2005. It has since become a beloved recreational area and a prominent tourist destination in Seoul.

Front View of Taereung Seolleongtang Main Branch

Banner on the Door Commemorating
the Restaurant’s Appearance in “The Glory”

Interior of Taereung Seolleongtang Main Branch

“The Glory,” a tale of revenge by a bullying victim, gained immense popularity, becoming Netflix’s most popular non-English series. The main branch of Taereung Seolleongtang was featured in a scene where the show’s protagonist, Moon Dong-eun, meets Son Myeong-oh for a clandestine arrangement. The footage of Son Myeong-oh having a big bowl of Ox Bone Soup with rice has reportedly ignited the appetites of numerous K-Drama fans, prompting an immediate desire to savor the dish. It has swiftly become a hot topic of conversation among them.

Piping Hot Bowl of Ox Bone Soup

Meat and Noodles from the Ox Bone Soup

Piping Hot Bowl of Ox Bone Soup

Ox Bone Soup is a quintessential folk dish of Seoul. This soup is prepared by boiling various beef parts and is traditionally served with rice. The rich, opaque soup is served in a hot pot, brimming with beef and noodles, creating an ideal meal. Topped with green onions, the soup gains added texture and flavor. Season with salt to taste, savor a piece of meat, and relish the understated yet elegant broth, rich in nourishing nutrients.

Nearby Tourist Attraction: Taereung and Gangneung Royal Tombs, Royal Tombs Museum of the Joseon Dynasty

Royal Tombs Museum of the Joseon Dynasty at the Entrance to Taereung and Gangneung Royal Tombs

Interior of the Royal Tombs Museum of the Joseon Dynasty

Front View of Taereung Royal Tomb’s
T-Shaped Repository for Ceremonial Ware

Situated near the filming location of “The Glory” is the Royal Tombs Museum of the Joseon Dynasty. Opened in December 2009 to celebrate the UNESCO World Heritage listing of the “Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty,” the museum offers detailed insights into the royal tombs of Joseon. It features a distribution map of the tombs across Korea, explores various types of royal tombs, and explains the spatial organization from the Joseon era. The museum is located within the Taereung and Gangneung Royal Tombs, dedicated to Queen Munjeong and Queen Insun, respectively. Visitors can enjoy a peaceful walk in the pine forests outside the exhibition hall, offering a serene escape in the heart of Seoul.

Stone Figures at the Entrance to the Royal Tombs

View of Samgeori Sikdang

View of Samgeori Sikdang from
Song Joong-Ki’s Point of View in the drama

The 2022 series “Reborn Rich” became one of the highest-rated shows in Korean cable TV history due to its immense popularity. It narrates the story of a devoted secretary, who serves the owner family of a conglomerate and is reborn as the family’s youngest son. Yoon Hyun-woo, the protagonist, was originally the son of a poor family that owned a Rice Soup restaurant. After being murdered, he is reborn and visits his mother’s Rice Soup restaurant from his previous life, learning new stories about his parents. The restaurant shown in the drama, “Samgeori Sikdang,” is located in Baeksa Village, Junggye-dong, Seoul. Contrary to its depiction in the show, Samgeori Sikdang specializes in grilled fish, meat, and Jjigae dishes. Fans continue to visit the restaurant to take pictures and relive memories from the show, even after its conclusion.

Sundae and Rice Soup with Opaque Broth, Sundae, and Pork Intestines

A Spoonful of Refreshing Broth with Sundae and Chives

Enhance the Soup with Side-Served Chives for Added Fragrance

In the show, the restaurant run by Yoon Hyun-woo’s mother, specializes in Sundae and Rice Soup. This dish is prepared with pork bone broth, Sundae, sliced pork head meat, and pork intestines, and is served in a hot pot. To enhance the flavors, add chives from the side, a sprinkle of pepper, and enjoy the rich blend of pork bone broth and Sundae.

The key to a great Sundae and Rice Soup lies in highlighting the deep flavors of the pork bone broth while eliminating any gamey odor from the pork. For those who might find the idea of pork intestines unappealing, the restaurant offers the option to exclude them from the dish.

Nearby Tourist Attraction: Buk-Seoul Museum of Art

External Appearance of Buk-Seoul Museum of Art

Exhibitions in Buk-Seoul Museum of Art

Near Samgeori Sikdang, tourists can find the Buk-Seoul Museum of Art, a cultural complex within the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) network. The museum is an open structure, seamlessly integrating the park's trails with its entrance. It houses an outdoor sculpture exhibition, maze-like exhibition halls, an art library, a café, and a multipurpose hall. Additionally, the museum hosts various programs aimed at fostering cooperation with the wider community.

Exhibitions in Buk-Seoul Museum of Art