Five Hidden Nationwide Spots Ideal for Nighttime Tourism
As demand for travel to soothe bodies and minds tired from the heat rises ahead of the Chuseok holiday, nighttime tourist attractions across the country are gaining popularity.
Visitors wearing hanbok touring the traditional garden at the National Sejong Arboretum[Photo by National Sejong Arboretum]
The Korea Tourism Organization has selected 'Korea Night Night Spots,' nighttime tourism resources ideal for visiting after dark, to discover and promote hidden gems nationwide. Here are five representative nighttime tourist destinations where you can enjoy romance alone or with family on cool autumn nights during the holiday.
▲ At Ganhyeon Tourist Site, a representative amusement park in Wonju, there is the 100m-high and 200m-long mountain walking bridge, Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge, which opened in 2018, as well as the Sogeum Trail along a cliff about 200m high. The Sky Tower, which offers a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery, is also a must-see. Recently, the Sogeumsan Ulleong Bridge, twice as long as the Sogeumsan Suspension Bridge, has joined the attractions. The entire facility is called Sogeumsan Grand Valley. At night, the Night of Light show is held.
The Night of Light Show, abbreviated as Naora Show, features media facades using cutting-edge technology, musical fountains, and nighttime landscape lighting. This year, the suspension bridge is also open during nighttime hours, adding to the fun. Nighttime opening at Ganhyeon Tourist Site runs 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. Performances may be canceled due to bad weather or operational circumstances, so it is advisable to check before visiting.
Night View of the Four Seasons Exhibition Greenhouse at the National Sejong Arboretum Photo by National Sejong Arboretum
▲ The National Sejong Arboretum in Sejong City transforms beautifully at night. Until October 12, it offers a special nighttime opening called ‘Special Night Journey’ on Fridays and Saturdays, revealing a different side of the arboretum. The tropical greenhouse in the four-season exhibition greenhouse is even more mysterious at night, and the special exhibition greenhouse creates a fantastic atmosphere.
The palace garden, featuring Solchanru and Dodamjeong, which are life-sized replicas of Changgyeonggung’s Juhamru and Buyongjeong, blends traditional hanok architecture and nature under the gentle moonlight, evoking a tranquil mood. Visitors can leisurely stroll through the arboretum carrying lanterns available for free rental. Nighttime opening hours are from 6 PM to 9:30 PM, with admission fees of 2,500 KRW for adults, 2,000 KRW for youths, and 1,500 KRW for children.
Night view of Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge (Ieungdari), a famous spot in Sejong City. [Photo by Sejong City]
The Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge (Ieungdari) in Sejong City is also notable for its night view. Its unique design looks like a round ring hanging in the black sky, and from the 34m-high Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge observatory, visitors can see the dazzling bridge and the city lights reflected on the Geum River. It is open daily from 6 AM to 11 PM, and there is no admission fee.
▲ Tongyeong, selected as the first nighttime tourism specialized city in 2022, boasts numerous beautiful night view spots. Among them, Dipirang is a nighttime landscape exhibition space centered around Nammangsan Sculpture Park near Gangguan. This place tells the unique stories of Tongyeong, focusing on murals that disappeared from Dongpirang and Seopirang. Tongyeong City holds a mural replacement contest every two years, and the murals that disappear are revived through media art.
Dipirang, operated with 15 themes, allows visitors to encounter memorable murals through artificial lighting, interactive content, and media art projected on giant 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.
▲ Gungnamji in Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungnam Province, is a travel destination where you can enjoy the most diverse daytime and nighttime scenery. Designated as Historic Site No. 135, Gungnamji is the oldest artificial pond in Korea, famous for its beautiful weeping willow branches and elegant lotus flowers blooming on the pond.
The bridge decorated with lights and the mirror-like reflections on the water create a spectacular scene. The night sky above, with the towering National Treasure No. 9, the five-story stone pagoda of Jeongnimsaji Temple, is also one of the must-see views. It is open year-round with facilities such as restrooms and cooling zones, ensuring a comfortable visit.
A panoramic view of the Dream Sunset Fountain in Dadaepo, Saha-gu, Busan Metropolitan City. [Photo by Saha-gu Office]
▲ At the end of the Nakdong River, Dadaepo in Saha-gu, Busan, has long been a logistics hub where mountains, rivers, and the sea meet. It was a military strategic point and a center of logistics and transportation, home to the Joseon Navy Commander’s camp, Dadaepojin. Today, Dadaepo has transformed into a travel destination with natural tourism resources.
The ‘Dadaepo Dream Sunset Fountain,’ opened in 2010, is the world’s largest musical fountain set against the sunset. It boasts a fountain floor area of 2,538㎡, a circular diameter of 60m, a circumference of 180m, and a maximum water height of 55m. On March 27, 2010, it was registered in the Guinness World Records as the ‘world’s largest floor fountain,’ making it a popular date spot for couples and a family outing destination.
On weekdays, the fountain operates from 7:30 PM to 7:50 PM, and on weekends, it offers two fantastic fountain shows from 7:30 PM to 7:50 PM and from 8:30 PM to 8:50 PM.
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