[WEEKEND GETAWAY] 4 must-visit historical K-drama locations in North Gyeongsang

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[WEEKEND GETAWAY] 4 must-visit historical K-drama locations in North Gyeongsang

Published: 23 Feb. 2024, 15:45 Updated: 23 Feb. 2024, 17:22

KIM DONG-EUN
kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr

A large rock called Sesimdae is near Oksan Seowon in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, where Hee-soo and Lee In first meet in ″Captivating the King.″ [TVN]

Sageuk, or Korean historical drama, has been dominating viewers’ screens on weekends in recent times.

"Captivating the King" on tvN, "Knight Flower" on MBC and "Korea-Khitan War" on KBS are some of them. Out of these three, "Korea-Khitan War" is the only piece that stays true to the colors of the classic sageuk style, since the first two mix in modern elements, either through imaginary storylines or creative twists. Fusion sageuk is the name given to such a genre as these dramas play around with the original settings.

Whether the genre is fusion or classic, what makes these historical pieces convincing and seem realistic is the reality of the background — the traditional details in the architecture from the past, the natural surroundings and old-fashioned art.

If you are a fan of these dramas and would like to check out some of their filming sets, here are the four shooting spots in North Gyeongsang recommended by the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Oksan Seowon
옥산서원

Oksan Seowon is one of the nine seowon in Korea, a neo-Confucian academy for elite scholars in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Oksan Seowon in North Gyeongsang, Gyeongju, is the background to the couple's first encounter in "Captivating the King." Built in 1572, it is one of the nine buildings under the name seowon, designated on Unesco's list of world heritage sites. Seowon used to function as a neo-Confucian academy during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), a sacred place for elites.

Next to Oksan Seowon is a large, flat rock named Sesimdae on top of which Kang Hee-soo, played by Shin Sae-kyeong, played Go — Baduk in Korea. In the summer, the thick tree leaves towering over the rock create space to chill away from the heat. The name Sesimdae derived from scholar Lee Un-jeok, for whom Oksan Seowon was built. It means a place to clear the mind, a peaceful natural spot where clear water trickles by from a brook.

216-27 Oksanseowon-gil Angang-eup, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang
(경상북도 경주시 안강읍 옥산서원길 216-27)
Phone number: 054-761-2211

Manhyujeong
만휴정

Manhyujeong, a traditional Korean pavilion in Andong, North Gyeongsang, is surrounded by a waterfall and a forest. [TVN]

After getting betrayed by Lee In, played by Cho Jung-seok, soon to become a King, Hee-soo spends three years hidden in a quiet place planning revenge on him. The shelter that hid her from the world is Manhyujeong, a traditional Korean pavilion in Andong.

In 1501, civil official Kim Gye-haeng built the pavilion at the age of 71 and named it Manhyu, which means late rest. He was recognized for his integrity and transparency during his time at the royal palace, but got involved in a political fight and returned to his hometown. He then built the structure to enjoy tranquillity with books and meditation as company. Manhyujeong is surrounded by a waterfall and a forest, offering an apt environment to appreciate the peacefulness.

The installment has already captured many minds after appearing in tvN "Mr. Sunshine" (2018), and now attracts young couples and tourists snapping shots near the famous log bridge, the pavilion and the waterfall.

42 Mukgyehari-gil Giran-myeon, Andong, North Gyeongsang
(경상북도 안동시 길안면 묵계하리길 42)
Operation hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Admission fee: 1,000 won ($0.75), but free for those above ages 64, disabled persons, preschoolers and Mukgye residents
Phone number: 010-9930-0313

The Old Villa of Songso (Songso Gotaek)
송소고택

Yeo-hwa from ″Knight Flower″ lives in a large wealthy hanok, which is the Old Villa of Songso in Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang. [MBC]

In "Knight Flower," Yeo-hwa lives in an elegant hanok (Korean-style building) with her mother-in-law as a widower who never got to meet her husband due to his death before they were officially married. Songso Gotaek, also referred to as the Old Villa of Songso, is in Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang and functions as Yeohwa's home. Designated as National Folklore Cultural Heritage No. 250, the Old Villa of Songso used to be home to a wealthy family with the last name Sim. Sim Hotaek, the owner of the villa, made 99 rooms just to abide by the rule that prohibited aristocrats from having 100 or more rooms in their houses, granting the authority only to the King.

The Sim Family continues to manage the villa, running traditional events and offering accommodation to the visitors. You can book an overnight stay at the villa through the website, where rooms cost around 70,000 won to 200,000 won each depending on the size and the time of the year.

15-2 Songsogotaek-gil Pacheon-myeon, Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang
(경상북도 청송군 파천면 송소고택길 15-2)
Phone number: 054-874-6556
Website: https://songso.modoo.at/?link=3qjpbv9b http://www.xn--299a050b1b697f.kr/sub1_2.php

Eco World, Gaeun Open Set
에코월드 가은오픈세트장

Gaeun Open Set in Mungyeong Eco World in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang was the main filming spot of ″Korea-Khitan War.″ [KBS]

"Korea-Khitan War," a historical series airing on KBS shifts the focus to the outdoor filming spots as the entire series is shaped around the war in the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Multiple battle scenes were filmed in Eco World in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang. Eco World consists of different theme parks, one of them being Gaeun Open Set played a big role in setting the historical tone of the drama.

The open set covers a vast area of 43,999 square meters (16,988 square miles) and demonstrates the past scenes through fortresses, hanok, old villas and palaces like the Ansi Fortress (Ansiseong in Korean), Yodong Fortress and villages from the Silla and Goguryeo Dynasties. The site was the background to many historical dramas already, such as "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" (2010) and "Moon Embracing the Sun" (2012).

From the Eco World entrance, you can either climb up by foot or take the monorail, which is 2,000 won for those who purchase a ticket to the theme park.

114 Gaeun-ro Gaeun-eup, Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang
(경상북도 문경시 가은읍 왕능리 114)
Admission fee: 16,000 won for adults, 14,000 for adolescents and 12,000 won for children
Phone number: 054-572-6854
Website: http://ecorala.com/

BY BAEK JONG-HYUN, KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]