[Joyongjun's Travel Journey] A Romantic Trip to an Autumn Night Full of Charm

Suncheonman Garden Expo until October 31
Wonju's Representative Amusement Park, Ganhyeon Tourist Site
Wall Paintings Come Alive at Night in Tongyeong
Romantic Autumn Nights on Banpo Bridge over the Han River

Autumn is a season when the night is beautiful. On an autumn night that is perfect for anything, how about setting off to find a special romance? You can quietly immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere or be intoxicated by the dazzling lights and stunning night views. Across the country, there are many renowned night travel destinations. When night falls, these places reveal a different charm from the daytime, creating a unique atmosphere. Let's explore travel spots that showcase this transformation.

#If you want to fall for the autumn night view of Suncheon, head to the Suncheonman International Garden Expo now!

Night View Around the Lake Garden at Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo

The 2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo is open until October 31. The cool autumn weather is perfect for enjoying the night scenery of Suncheonman National Garden. From Dongcheon Terrace Ferry, about a 10-minute walk from Suncheon Station, 12-passenger boats and 20-passenger ships operate to the Lake Garden Ferry within the expo grounds. Taking a boat in the late afternoon allows you to enjoy the sunset over Suncheon and the gradually darkening expo scenery from the water. The expo grounds are divided into the Suncheonman National Garden area, Suncheonman Wetland area, and downtown area. Must-visit spots in the Suncheonman National Garden area include the National Garden Botanical Garden and the Secret Garden. When you enter the National Garden Botanical Garden and explore, you naturally move on to the Secret Garden. After visiting both, you can enjoy the night view around Suncheon Lake Garden. In the downtown area, Ocheon Green Square, Green Island, and the Garden on Water offer night views as splendid as those of Suncheon Lake Garden. From September to October, the Suncheonman National Garden area operates from 9 AM to 9 PM. Night admission from 5 PM costs 8,000 KRW for adults, 6,000 KRW for teenagers, and 4,000 KRW for children.

Suncheon City’s Picture Book Library, a specialized library exhibiting original picture book art and related materials, is located in the Behavioral Culture Street. Nearby, Okcheon Seowon (a cultural heritage site of Jeollanam-do) is also worth visiting.

#Come out to enjoy the night of lights~ Wonju Ganhyeon Tourist Site Naorasho

Naora Show unfolds using the dramatic cliffs beneath the Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge as a screen

Wonju’s representative amusement area, Ganhyeon Tourist Site, has changed significantly in recent years. In 2018, the 100m-high and 200m-long mountain suspension bridge, Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge, opened. Along a cliff about 200m high, the Sogeum Trail was installed, and a Sky Tower offering panoramic views of the surrounding scenery was built. Additionally, the Sogeumsan Wulleong Bridge, twice as long as the Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge, was added. Together, these facilities are called Sogeumsan Grand Valley. At night, the Naora Show is held. Short for Night of Light Show, it features media facades using cutting-edge technology, musical fountains, and nightscape lighting. This year, the suspension bridge is also open during night hours, adding to the fun. Night opening hours at Ganhyeon Tourist Site run until October 29, every Friday to Sunday from 6:30 PM to 10 PM (Naora Show performances from 8:30 PM to 9:20 PM). Admission is 5,000 KRW for ages 13 and up, and 3,000 KRW for ages 7 to 12.

Along with Ganhyeon Tourist Site, Museum SAN, listed in the '2023-2024 Korea Top 100 Tourist Attractions,' is a cultural space where architecture and art harmonize with nature. The special 10th-anniversary exhibition “Tadao Ando: Youth” runs until October 29. The Park Kyung-ri Literary Park, centered around the old house where author Park Kyung-ri completed writing 'Toji,' and the Wonju Hanji Theme Park, where visitors can learn about and experience the history and tradition of Korean paper (Hanji), are also great additions to your autumn itinerary in Wonju.

#When the sun sets, the murals come alive, Tongyeong Dipirang

Through the large screen at Tongyeong Dipirang Secret Workshop, you can experience the old murals of Dongpirang as media art.

Tongyeong, selected as the first Night Tourism Specialized City (Growth Support Type) in 2022, offers various night views. Dipirang is a nighttime scenic exhibition space centered around Nammangsan Sculpture Park near Gangguan. This place, filled with Tongyeong’s unique stories, focuses on murals that disappeared from Dongpirang and Seopirang. Tongyeong City holds a mural replacement contest every two years, and the murals that vanish are revived as media art. At Dipirang, operated with 15 themes, visitors can encounter these nostalgic murals through artificial lighting, interactive content, and media art projected on large screens. Dipirang operates from 7:30 PM to midnight (as of September, last admission at 10:30 PM), closed every Monday, January 1, and on major holidays. Admission fees are 15,000 KRW for adults, 12,000 KRW for teenagers, and 10,000 KRW for children.

Be sure to also visit Gangguan, a representative night view spot in Tongyeong. The recently completed pedestrian bridge beautifully decorates Gangguan’s nightscape. Enjoy the night view of Gangguan from Dongpirang Mural Village, which has many rooftop cafes and restaurants. Skyline Luge Tongyeong on Mireukdo Island extends its operating hours with course lighting until 9 PM on weekends and holidays.

#Such a romantic night on the Han River, Seoul Banpo Bridge and Jamsu Bridge

The Han River More Beautiful at Night, The Night View of Banpo You Want to Keep

Banpo Hangang Park is a representative night view spot in Seoul. It features Sorae Island, where sunsets are beautiful, the dazzling Sebitseom, and Banpo Bridge. In autumn, take an evening stroll on Sorae Island, where flowers bloom in abundance, and try water leisure attractions like sunset kayaking and Tubester (a circular boat where you can enjoy food and drinks on the water) at Sebitseom, which shines even more brilliantly at night. The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain on Banpo Bridge stretches a total of 1,140 meters upstream and downstream, earning a Guinness World Record in 2008 as the longest bridge fountain in the world. From April to October, the fountain operates 5 to 6 times a day. The lighting changes moment by moment to the music, and the swinging nozzles create waves that beautifully color the Han River. The 2023 Car-Free Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival, held last spring under Banpo Bridge, continues into autumn. From September 3 to November 12, every Sunday (as of September, from noon to 9 PM), vehicles are restricted on Jamsu Bridge, allowing visitors to freely walk, enjoy outdoor performances, shop at flea markets, and relax on bean bags reading books (except during the Chuseok holiday; schedule after October is undecided).

Banpo Hangang Park is about a 20-minute walk from Express Bus Terminal Station on Seoul Subway Lines 3, 7, and 9. The underground shopping mall Gotomall, connected to Express Bus Terminal Station, sells trendy items including clothing, shoes, bags, interior accessories, bedding, and flowers at reasonable prices. The Seoul Arts Center, where you can experience a wide range of arts such as music, fine arts, and calligraphy, and the Seocho-gu Bangbae Forest Environmental Library, which opened last June, are also worth visiting around Banpo Hangang Park.

Suncheon Bay Garden Expo, Wonju Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge, Banpo Ttubok Ttubok Festival, Tongyeong Gangguan, Light Show Viewed from Banpo Bridge (Photo above from the top left clockwise)