All Weekday Rooms Booked Out in Just Three Minutes
Nearby Barrier-Free Forest Trail and Children's Forest Experience Center to Open Soon
Nowon-gu in Seoul will officially open "Surakhyu," the first natural recreation forest in Seoul, on July 17.
Surakhyu is a project that has been planned since 2018 to create a space for rest and healing in the lush forests of Suraksan Mountain, located in Seoul. The district invested approximately 23.1 billion won (4.3 billion won from the national government, 3.3 billion won from the city, 11 billion won from the district, 4 billion won in special grants, and 500 million won in special taxes), and has been preparing with great care and attention over a long period.
All facilities at Surakhyu, except for the restaurant and cafe operated by chef Hong Shinae's "Season Seoul," are directly managed by the district office. To improve the quality of operations, the district hired professionals with hotelier backgrounds and conducted a trial operation period.
During the trial operation, residents selected through a story contest, participants in an LP donation event, people involved in the creation of Surakhyu, and local volunteer organizations?those who contributed to the district?were given the opportunity to stay overnight.
The response from participants was enthusiastic. Many praised the accessibility, the comfort of hotel-level facilities, and the pleasant and emotionally appealing landscaping and atmosphere. There was also high satisfaction with the restaurant run by chef Hong Shinae, and many appreciated the meticulous attention to detail throughout the facility.
During the trial operation, the district was able to identify and address facility defects early and adjusted the restaurant menu based on feedback from actual guests. The forest management team in charge of Surakhyu, as well as the district mayor, continuously checked for areas of improvement through various channels, including user surveys, social media reviews, and guestbooks provided in the rooms.
On the 7th of every month, 50% of the rooms for the following month are available for priority reservation by Nowon-gu residents. From the 10th of each month, the remaining rooms are open for reservation by the general public on a first-come, first-served basis through the "Supnadle" website. Reservations for rooms from the official opening until the end of July were already completed in June. At that time, all rooms, including weekdays, were fully booked in just over three minutes, reflecting the high level of anticipation for Surakhyu.
The outdoor industry, including camping and travel companies, is also paying attention to Surakhyu. Monterra, a well-known domestic camping equipment brand, provided consulting on suitable camping gear and supplied camping tables and chairs to enhance forest welfare at Surakhyu. Woongjin Hyukam will provide sets of nature-scented mask packs such as Solssak and Cica, as well as sunscreen, in each room for one month starting from the official opening day, offering them directly to guests.
With the official operation of Surakhyu, the surrounding area is expected to offer even more attractions. Related experience facilities such as a barrier-free forest trail, a valley picnic area, and a children's forest experience center will soon be completed. In particular, the children's forest experience center will be remodeled to include three wooden treehouses for experiential play. The forest healing center, which will feature a wooden play area and a foot bath, is scheduled to begin construction next year and open in 2027.
In addition to the "Bulmeong" fire pit experience currently available in front of the visitor center, other outdoor programs are being prepared, including a nighttime playground using astronomical telescopes, forest interpretation, and traditional archery experiences.
The opening ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. on July 16 at Surakhyu in Dongmakgol, Suraksan Mountain.
Oh Seungrok, mayor of Nowon-gu, stated, "We paid attention to every detail to surprise visitors once with the forest, again with the facilities, and yet again with the various activities to enjoy together," adding, "The evolution of Surakhyu will continue until it is recognized as the best recreation forest not only in Seoul but nationwide."
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