Suncheon-Si, a City Blessed With Nature and Culture
From Bali to Boston, K-pop is immensely popular across the globe (I have succumbed to the eargasmic tunes of Blackpink). And Korean culture is undeniably mainstream all over the world. But believe it or not, South Korea is punctuated with hidden gems, something I didn't quite believe thanks to the flood of images of Seoul and Jeju on my Instagram.
But one such place is Suncheon-Si, the largest city of the Jeollanam-do region (also known as South Jeolla).
A gorgeous city that's a 2.5-hour drive away from Busan, Suncheon is known for being a charming agricultural city. Surprisingly, it's an industrial one too. Cities are usually one or the other. Somehow, Suncheon is both, which was something I was quite mind-blown with.
Even more impressive? The entire city was designated as a UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve, joining the ranks of places like Jeju.
But why exactly should you visit this under-the-radar spot? Well, if you're into nature like me, and thinking of crowds immediately gives you a migraine (also like me), then this city is for you. Plus, there's plenty of tradition and culture to experience too, which is always nice, especially if it's your first time visiting Korea.
From mountains to gardens and temples to folk villages, there are many things to see and do in Suncheon. And it's a city while constantly overlooked, should definitely be on your bucket list when visiting Korea (I know it's going to be on mine when I re-visit Korea again).
I barely scratched the surface when visiting Suncheon as I was only in the city for two days. But I did manage to get my fair share of nature and culture while I was there, chiefly with visits to the Suncheon Bay National Garden (순천만국가정원) and Suncheon Bay Nature Reserve (순천만습지).
So without further do, here's what went down during my trip to those two magnificent spots:
Two Must-Visit Places in Suncheon
Suncheon Bay National Garden (순천만국가정원)
Suncheon Bay National Garden is an absolutely stunning spot, and it's one of Korea's most popular gardens. But you really have to be there in person to truly appreciate its vastness and well-thought out beauty.
The Gardens will be hosting the 2023 Suncheon International Garden Expo from April 1st to October 31st. And that in itself is no surprise, with the compound home to more than 500 kinds of trees and a whopping 800,000 flowers. Honestly, it's quite difficult to explore everything in just one day, so make we suggest either a full day there or two trips spread out across a couple of days.
Since the park is vast, here's a map to help you out:
One of my favourite things was a special area called the "Dream Bridge" where you'll find little squares with drawings. Each drawing represents the dreams of kids from long ago. And what's even more inspiring to me is that of them have even come true! You'll see drawings of things like robots and also dreams of becoming a journalist or a doctor.
Another noteworthy attraction is the Green Island, ingeniously built upon what was once a bustling asphalt road. Here, you can still catch a glimpse of the old road lamps, serving as a nostalgic reminder of the past.
There are also circular hills that look like anthills. What's cool is that they represent different parts of Suncheon, like Bonghwa and Haeryeong. Don't worry, they're not hard to climb and they look taller than they actually are. I even saw some kids sliding down them!
If you visit Suncheon, a must-visit is the Korean Medicine Experience Center. It has traditional hanok houses, a cute cafe, and traditional games to play. You can try throwing a ring around a branch or rolling a metal ring with a stick. There's also a foot bath that's really hot at first but feels super relaxing once your feet get used to it. My favourite activity was sipping on Ssanghwa-tea and enjoying the view. There was even some "impressed" passerby's who were FOMO and wanted their own foot bath as well.
The garden is made up of many smaller themed gardens, like the Dutch Garden, German Garden, Chinese Garden, and French Garden. We went to the Dutch Garden with the windmill, and there were lots of pretty tulips to take pictures of - in my opinion, definitely made for TikTok and Instagram in mind.
Next to the Dutch Garden, there's a field of yellow wildflowers that was in full bloom when we visited, and it was absolutely stunning, especially when the setting sun hit the flowers at just the right angle. It was golden hour glory.
There's also a lake and a tiny monorail train called the SkyCube that can take you from Suncheon Bay National Garden to Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve (which I will talk about next).
There's also something called Garden Stay, where you can go glamping in a secluded part of the national garden that regular visitors can't access - great for those wanting to splash the cash.
Lastly, you can see the garden at night, but in my opinion, it's not really worth highlighting because while it is impressive, it just doesn't look as impressive as during the day.
Expected damage: Adults have to fork 15,000 won for the admission fee. Teenagers aged 13 to 18 have to pay 12,000 won, while a children's ticket for kids 12 years old and under is priced at 8,000 won.
Address: South Korea, Jeollanam-do, Suncheon-si, 국가정원1호길 152-55
Suncheon Bay Nature Reserve (순천만습지)
Are you a true blue nature lover? Head to the Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve for an epic nature experience! This place is bursting with vast tidelands and lush reed fields. It's perfect for snapping stunning nature pics for your Instagram feed. I know I got plenty of sweet shots for mine.
You might even spot some rare black cranes and over 140 endangered bird species. Right across from the park, you'll find the Suncheon Bay Reed Field, with tall and lush reeds that reach sky-high - it's definitely an super pretty spot that gives off major K-drama vibes, if that's your jam.
The best time to go is in autumn when the reeds turn a beautiful brown and the weather is cool and crisp. Even better? A visit here won't break the bank! Admission is just 8,000 won per person, and you can spend the whole day here if you want.
Pro tip: Climb Yongsan Observatory for jaw-dropping views of the tideland in a cool S-shape.
Reaching the top is not a difficult and anyone with moderate fitness can complete the short hike (which should take 30 to 45 minutes, depending on how fast you go).
All you need to do is navigate some stairs and steep slopes, and you'll be rewarded with immaculate views of the wetland reserve.
Expected damage: The admission fee is 8,000 won for adults
Address: 513-25 Suncheonman-gil, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Other Incredible Places in Suncheon You Shouldn't Miss
Naganeupseong Folk Village (낙안읍성민속마을)
For a blast from the past, check out the Naganeupseong Folk Village, a fortress village with traditional hanok houses.
It's a retro place where you can travel back in time. The main draw at Suncheon's folk village is that the houses are capped with straw roofs instead of tiled ones. The thatched roofs are made from rice straw called chogajip (초가집), giving off a magical vibe, again ideal for photo-taking.
What's unique is that the village is surrounded by fortress walls made of square-shaped stones. And fascinatingly enough, people still live in these roofed houses, calling this fortress town home.
The good news is that visiting here is relatively cheap, with admission only costing 4,000 won per person.
Pro tip: head to the observatory point at the end of the village towards the South Gate for immaculate views of the straw-roofed houses.
Expected damage: The admission fee is 4,000 won for adults
Address: 6-4 Pyeongchon-ri, Nagan-myeon, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Suncheon Drama Film Set (순천 드라마 촬영장)
For some proper K-drama vibes, Suncheon has just the thing for you.
Enter Suncheon's open film set, constructed in 2006 as a set for movies and dramas. It's a popular spot in Jorye-dong that spans three villages. Each village depicts different eras, from the 50s to the 70s.
There's 1950s Suncheon, 1960's Seoul Bongcheong-dong village, and 1970s Seoul.
Fun fact: the most recent movie filmed here was Pachinko. However, other notable titles filmed here include Oasis, The Light in Your Eyes, Love Rain, and Curtain Call.
What's cool is that you can rent vintage uniforms for 3,000 won per hour and dress up as a student, sailor, or even soldier.
Expected damage: 3,000 won for the adult admission fee, although if you rent a uniform, expect to fork out 3,000 won more.
Address: 24 Biryegol-gil, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Seonamsa Temple (선암사)
If you're into temple hopping, check out Seonamsa Temple, a gorgeous site at the east end of Jogyesan Mountain.
It's a beautiful place to soak in the autumn atmosphere, with vibrant and fiery red leaves blanketing the temple grounds.
Check out Seungseongyo Bridge, an arched stone bridge, and Daeungjeon Hall, where three-story stone pagodas will catch the eye.
Expected damage: The adult admission fee is 3,000 won, while teenagers have to fork out 1,500 won. Elementary student tickets are priced at 1,000 won.
Address: 450 Seonamsa-gil, Seungju-eup, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Climbing Bonghwasan
Okay, so it's a little confusing as there are plenty of mountains named Bonghwasan in Korea. But you should definitely not give Suncheon's version a miss.
If you're looking for exceptional city views from every angle, take some time out of your schedule to hike here. The climb is easy - the summit is only 355 metres high.
Although it's still great for hiking enthusiasts to stretch their calves and get in touch with nature without forking out a single cent.
Expected damage: Free
Address: 산50 Yongdang-dong, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
How do you get to Suncheon?
You can either take a bus or train
If you're travelling from Busan, the best way is to take a two-hour bus ride. The Busan to Suncheon bus fare costs 13,000 won to 20,000 won.
Those of you coming from Seoul can take the KTX, and it's actually pretty convenient. The journey will take 2.5-hours, and the Suncheon KTX train station is also very near the Gardens.
You can hop on buses 52, 66 or 200 to arrive at the West Gate, take a taxi, or board the Garden Dream Cruise, a ferry that starts at Dongcheon, a quick 5-minute walk from the Suncheon station.
What's Suncheon's weather like?
The best time to visit Suncheon:
Suncheon has four seasons, with very different weather patterns and temperatures.
During spring (March to May), you can expect the occasional downpour and lows of -1°C in March and highs of 24°C in May.
The summertime (June to August) is hot and humid, and you'll get higher temperatures averaging 25-30°C.
Fall (September to November) is cooling and pleasant with crisp air, changing leaves, and all-around good weather - it's also probably the best time to visit Suncheon.
And if you don't mind the cold, Winter (December to February) is freezing with occasional snow, and temperatures can dip to -7°C.