231 Billion Won Invested in Seoul's First 'Forestcation' Accommodation
July Reservations Sell Out in Just Over Three Minutes
"Parents as Happy as When They Got Concert Tickets"... Explosive Online Reactions
The rooms at 'Surak Hue', Seoul's first natural recreation forest accommodation, which will officially open on the 17th, reportedly sold out within just three minutes of reservations opening, demonstrating explosive popularity. Citizens who succeeded in booking shared their excitement online, posting comments such as, "I'm so excited to spend my summer vacation in Seoul without having to travel far," and "My parents seem as happy as when they managed to get tickets for the Lim Youngwoong concert."
The natural recreation forest accommodation 'Surak Hue' in Nowon-gu, Seoul, officially opening on the 17th. Nowon-gu
According to Nowon-gu on July 8, Surak Hue is a project that has been planned since 2018 to create a space for rest and healing in the Suraksan forest. A total of 23.1 billion won was invested, including 11 billion won from the district budget.
Except for the restaurant and cafe, all facilities are operated directly by the district office. After a trial operation period, Surak Hue will officially open on the 17th. During the trial period, accommodation opportunities were given to residents and contributors to the district, such as Surak Hue project staff and local volunteer groups, selected through events like a "story contest" and "LP donation event."
A district official said, "The response from users who had the chance to stay during the trial operation was enthusiastic," adding, "Many praised the accessibility, the comfort of hotel-level facilities, and the pleasant and emotionally appealing landscaping and atmosphere."
Reservations for July, which opened last month, reportedly closed in just over three minutes due to high demand. Even before that, posts sharing reservation dates and methods had been appearing on local Nowon-gu online communities since last month.
Those who succeeded in making reservations expressed their anticipation, posting comments such as, "No need to travel abroad this summer," "I'm so excited to enjoy my summer vacation in Seoul without having to go far," "My parents seem as happy as when they got tickets to the Lim Youngwoong concert," and "Just looking at the photos makes me excited." On the other hand, some commented, "I forgot to mark it on my calendar and missed the reservation," "My parents wanted to go, so I'm really disappointed," and "August will be an even bigger ticketing war, so I'm worried."
On the 7th of every month, 50% of the rooms for the following month are available for priority booking by Nowon-gu residents, and from the 10th, the remaining rooms can be reserved by anyone nationwide on a first-come, first-served basis through the 'Supnadle-e' website. Prices vary depending on whether it is peak season or off-season, weekends or weekdays, as well as the number of guests and room type, ranging from a minimum of 70,000 won to a maximum of 250,000 won.
The district plans to open additional experiential facilities in the future, such as a barrier-free forest trail, a valley picnic area, and a children's forest experience center. The children's forest experience center will feature three wooden treehouses, and the forest healing center is scheduled to begin construction next year and be completed in 2027. In addition to the campfire zone in front of the visitor center, outdoor programs such as a night playground using astronomical telescopes, forest interpretation, and traditional archery experiences are also being prepared.
District Mayor Oh Seungrok stated, "We have paid close attention to every detail so that visitors will be amazed first by the forest, then by the facilities, and once again by the variety of activities to enjoy together," adding, "The evolution of Surak Hue will continue until it is recognized as the best recreation forest in the country."
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