Hyeonchon | Restaurant Guide | K-Travel Mate

This is a free valley located in Namhansanseong, suitable for day trips. You can enjoy the valley without using restaurants or cafes. There is a free parking lot that can accommodate about 30 cars and clean restroom facilities separated by gender. A concession stand is available offering snacks like drinks and ice cream, as well as meals such as noodles, tofu kimchi, and acorn jelly. The valley is not very wide and has shallow water, making it suitable for children to play. The water current is gentle and the depth varies, allowing choice spots for playing. Camping chairs and tents can be used, or you can simply spread a mat and relax. Nearby is Namhansanseong, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, and there are famous cafes and bakeries perfect for a short rest during your trip.

Janggyungsa Temple is located within Namhansanseong, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built at the same time as Namhansanseong Fortress. The monk soldiers [僧軍; a military force composed of monks created during national crises such as wars] who were active during the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War) continued to serve various national needs after the war. Namhansanseong was a large-scale fortress newly built south of Seoul to prepare for the rising power of the Later Jin [後金] in the north, with Beokam Gakseong Monk as its leader and monk soldiers mobilized. To accommodate the monk soldiers who came from all over the country, seven temples including Janggyungsa were established inside the fortress in addition to the previously existing Mangwolsan and Okjeongsa Temples. After construction, the monk soldiers took on the roles of managing and guarding the fortress, living as both monks and soldiers in nine temples. When the Korean Empire's army was disbanded by the Japanese in 1907, most military facilities and temples serving as monk soldier barracks in Namhansanseong were destroyed, but Janggyungsa was the only temple to escape this fate. Although it suffered heavy damage in a fire in 1975, it was restored and remains to this day. Janggyungsa is located from the south gate of Namhansanseong, Jwaikmun, northward toward the middle of Mangwolbong, allowing frequent access through the fortress’ primary eastern gate. The temple complex includes Daeungjeon, dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha, a monk residence called Yosa, the gate pavilion Jinnamru, and a small shrine Chilseonggak. Since this was a monk soldier barracks, the residence hall (Yosa) is notably larger than the worship halls. (Source: Cultural Heritage Administration website)

Jisudang is a pavilion built in 1672 (the 13th year of King Hyeonjong) by Lee Se-hwa (李世華). The name 'Jisudang' carries the meaning that a noble person embraces the people well and nurtures them to live well. At the time of its establishment, there were three ponds in front and behind the pavilion, but now only two remain. On the east side of the pavilion stands a monument commemorating the merits of Bu-yun Lee Se-hwa, and the area presumed to be the site of the third pond has now been converted into rice paddies. Jisudang is a building with three kan on the front and three kan on the side, but one kan on the side is only half-size, so the overall shape is a rectangular form with the front wider than the side. The building is open on all four sides, allowing views outside. The roof is a hipped-and-gabled roof, shaped like the character 八 (eight) when viewed from the side.

Namhanseong Provincial Park encompasses Namhanseong Fortress, one of the four major fortresses that protected Hanyang (present-day Seoul). The four fortresses surrounded the capital: Gaeseong to the north, Suwon to the south, Ganghwa to the west, and Gwangju to the east, where Namhanseong Fortress is located. It is situated on Namhan Mountain, 24 km southeast of Seoul and 6 km northeast of Seongnam City. The fortress walls extend a total of 12.4 km (main fortress 8.9 km, outer fortress 3.2 km, Sin Nam fortress 0.2 km), with a height of 7.3 meters. Historically, it is recorded as being King Onjo’s royal castle over 2,000 years ago (King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo's son and the founder of Baekje). Also, during the Silla–Tang War in the 13th year of King Munmu of Silla (673), a castle called Jujangseong was built in Hansanju. Utilizing this ancient site, the fortress was repeatedly repaired and rebuilt by later generations, with extensive construction during the reign of King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (1621). The stone walls of Namhanseong are about 12 km in circumference, constructed with natural stones laid with larger stones at the bottom and smaller stones on top. There were four gates and gatepavilions (munru) on each cardinal direction, 16 secret gates (ammun), and four watchtowers (jangdae) built on the east, west, south, and north sides. Inside the fortress, the Suo Office was established alongside government offices, warehouses, and the temporary royal palace (haenggung). The haenggung consisted of 252 rooms in total: 73 in the upper palace, 154 in the lower palace, and 26 in the left quarters. Eighty wells and 45 springs were created, and the administrative office of Gwangju-eup was relocated inside the fortress. The fortress’s importance and its capacity to accommodate residents can be inferred. In the first military exercise after the fortress’s construction (Injo 17th year, 1639), 12,700 troops participated. Currently, only a few buildings remain within the fortress, including the East and South Gates, West Jangdae, Hyeonjeolsa, Yeonmugwan, Janggyungsa, Jisudang, Yeongwoljeong, Chimkwaejeong, Sungnyeoljeon General Yi Seo’s shrine, walls, towers, and ramparts. Among these, the four main gates, Suwojangdae, and parts of the fortress wall near the West Gate are well preserved in their original form. Namhanseong is designated as a historic site and provincial park.

Namhansanseong was a fortress that protected the southern approaches to the capital during the Baekje kingdom (18 B.C. – 660 A.D.) and the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897). During the Qing invasion of Joseon in 1636, King Injo of Joseon (reigned 1623-1649) sought refuge here and constructed Haenggung, a temporary palace. Subsequently, it became the administrative center of the Gwangju region, and today, it is a site where many cultural properties are preserved.

731, Namhansanseong-ro, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do