Run Away with Me to . . . DaeJangGeum Park! (용인 대장금파크)

Have you ever watched a Korean historical drama (사극/sageuk)? Even if you haven't, there's no question that Korean dramas, music, food, and pop culture have swept the world in the last decade. Korean dramas (or Kdramas) were at the forefront of the Korean wave, and Jewel in the Palace - or DaeJangGeum in Korean (대장금) is still one of the most popular dramas of all time. Made in 2003, it tells the story of a female physician in Joseon Dynasty Korea. It's a great drama, but more importantly for this post, the titular character gave her name to the giant MBC theme park in Yongin, South Korea. Set up in the mountains and difficult to reach if you don't have a car, read on to find out more about the park, how I got there, and tips/recommendations if you'd like to visit yourself. Even if you have no plans to visit South Korea, scroll down to the bottom of the page for some photos and videos of these beautiful sets.

At a Glance

Visited: Mid-August 2024

What it is: The largest historical drama set in Korea. Used for filming dramas, films, music videos, and more, the sets imitate "the architectural style, lifestyle, and culture of the past, based on historical records," to quote the official Korea tourism site.

Where it is: Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (경기도 용인시 처인구 백암면 용천드라마길 25)

How I got there: Bus and Train/Subway (Alternatives: Car, Taxi)

Official Website: Dae Jang Geum Park *site in English, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese

Promo Videos (first one uses "Concerning Hobbits" . . .?)

The Park

MBC-owned “DaeJanggeum Park” is a place that has been on my to-visit list for years. Despite being under two hours from Seoul, the park is notoriously difficult to get to (without a car), which is why it’s taken me so long to undertake the journey. And it was definitely a journey.

As I wrote above, the park is named after the heroine of Jewel in the Palace, and you can walk around reproduced sets from the drama almost immediately after you enter, and there are standees of the major characters to take photos with. If you're a hardcore historical drama fan, you'll probably recognize all of the other standees placed around the park as well. Both the characters and the signs haven't been updated in a while. The website also hasn't had anything posted on it since 2020, and much of the information there is outdated. After skimming the website (in Korean as well, where there is more info as usual), I suspect that whatever plans MBC has had for the park were halted and delayed by COVID-19, like so many other things in Korea. The most recent updates at the park itself (that I saw!) were the signs marking the filming locations for Agust D/Suga's Daechwita (대취타) music video. I didn't see any signage for any of the more recent videos that were filmed there, or signage for dramas filmed since 2019. Since nothing is currently being filmed there, all of the sets were open for exploration!

DaeJangGeum Park sprawls over 2 million square meters of (mostly) explorable buildings that are beautifully situated in the natural landscape. Since it was built for dramas, you can interact with it in ways that are impossible in actual historical sites, and of course, it was designed to be photogenic. I spent almost four hours wandering in and out of the sites, and my biggest regret was that I didn't have a better camera!

What to Do

Honestly, there isn’t that much to do, other than explore and take pictures. There is a cafe with a gorgeous view (above photo), and a small museum. I saw the Royal Costume Experience advertised in a couple of spots, but I don’t think that has been running since 2020 (no info on that post-2015 on their blog). Pre-covid, there was also camping offered and a lot more regular events. But don’t let the lack of “entertainment” scare you away. If you’re an active person and you love dramas, or you love taking photos with epic backdrops, there is plenty for you to do here. That being said, if you decide to haul a camera up into the mountains, you should probably take a car or taxi, or not come in the August heat!

Is it Worth the Trek?

Yes! It really felt like a time machine had transported me when I walked through those sets. Due to the remote (for Korea) location and abysmal August heat, I almost had the entire place to myself and enjoyed taking unobstructed photos and wandering in and out of the various sets. The cafe had a small but well-made assortment of souvenirs, a full coffee menu (I am boring so I just had an iced Americano), and traditional dessert offerings like bingsu (빙수 - shaved ice with fruit/other toppings).

Highlights

My favorite things I saw were the sets used in BTS Suga’s Daechwita music video (among other things), and Maesil’s Palace and Residence Sets built for the drama The Great Queen Seondeok (선덕여왕). The former was actually three separate sets, and it was fun to explore.

I also sat on the throne in Injeongjeon Hall (인정전), which is something I always want to do when I visit actual historical palaces. If you're an ARMY (BTS fandom), there's a good chance you'll recognize the site right away. Injeongjeon is the giant hall at the start of Daechwita, and it is a little intimidating in person.

Injeongjeon Hall stood out because it was gorgeous. The scenery, the design, and the shapes of the buildings were beautiful, and had so many interesting paths, doors, and mini bridges to explore. The other sets featured in Daechwita were fun too, if not as imposing. My other favorite was probably the prison, because you could wander around inside it, and the architecture is striking in person.

Would I Visit Again?

Yes, if I had other people with me and we planned to take photos. I cannot emphasize enough how beautiful the sets are and what fantastic backdrops they make. While my photography skills are nonexistent, I did see a small group with a good camera and a tripod, and I bet they got some amazing shots.

Details and Useful Info for Visitors (2024)

Cost:

Adults - ￦9,500

Middle & High School Students - ￦8,000

Children (48 months ~ 13 years) - ￦7,000

Infants (under 48 months) - Free

*Discounts for veterans and senior citizens available with documentation; discounts also available for group tours of 20+

Inquiries/Information:

Tourist information hotline: 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

Direct Inquiries: 031-337-3241 (Korean, limited English)

Hours:

Summer Season Mar ~ Oct 09:00 ~18:00

Winter Season Nov ~ Feb 09:00~ 17:00

Note: Visitors are allowed in until 1 hour before closing time.

**The park opens one hour later on August 15th and is closed for the Lunar New Year (Seollal/설날)

Accessibility:

There is a tour by electric golf cart (the current timetable is available at the ticket gate), and some ramps. However, much of the park is up steep hills and roads (some of which are gravel). Wheelchairs and strollers might have trouble accessing many of the facilities without assistance, and it would be very difficult on crutches. The terrain could be challenging for children or the elderly as well. There is an access road around the park so visitors with a car might have an easier time getting around, but some roads might require advance checking and permission from staff.

Transportation/How to Get There:

• Easiest: Personal or Rental Car (you must be 21+, have a valid Korean or International Driver's License, and your passport to rent a car. (Official information found here) . The park is located around 70km south of central Seoul. If you are coming from Seoul, it will take you about 1.5 hours, depending on the traffic and your starting location. If you are coming from Suwon, it should take you about an hour. There are directions on the website, but they are pretty useless unless you are familiar with Korean roads. I recommend using KakaoMap or NaverMap for more accurate navigation while in Korea (never use Google Maps!).

• Easiest No-car Option:

1. Step 1: If you are coming from Seoul, take the ticketed 시외버스 (Intercity Bus) from 서울남부터미널 (South Seoul Bus Terminal, on Subway line 3 [Orange Line]) to 백암터미널 (Baekam). Tickets cannot be purchased online, but you can see the bus schedule here. It costs ￦5,600 for an adult ticket, and the trip is approximately 50 minutes.

2. Step 2: From Baekam Terminal, you can either wait for bus 105 (the only bus that goes all the way to the park) or take a taxi. If you have children or heavy equipment, the taxi is probably a safer option. It is about 8km and will likely cost between ￦8,000-￦10,000, depending on the time of day/traffic/what kind of taxi you get. When I went, I saw taxis but they were not as frequent as in more populated areas, so you might have to wait a bit. I would use Kakao Taxi if I had taken this route.

   
   

If You Take Bus 105:

Daejanggeum Park is stop 47922, and it takes about 20 minutes to reach the Park from the Baekam Terminal stop (29713). The schedule is very limited - see the timetable below:

• Baekam Terminal to DaeJangGeum Park approximate Start Times from July 2024 (백암 터미널→ MBC 용인 대장금 파크 - 주차장) - according to Naver

06:35 08:05 09:55 12:35 14:25 16:15 18:35 21:05

• I underlined the times that would get you there during opening hours in the Summer. I recommend going on the first three so you have enough time! (I took the 12:35 bus).

• Also, most of the information on these timetables is out of date online. I would plan to get to Baekam Terminal at least 10 minutes before your target bus time and check Kakao/Naver the day before at your target time to double-check!

• You can also call the park and ask for the bus times - they seem to change regularly so please check all info before you go.

  
  

• From the park to the terminal (MBC 용인 대장금 파크(주차장) → 백암 터미널)

07:10 08:40 10:55 13:15 15:00 16:50 19:30 21:40