One moment — walking above the clouds...
Searching for hidden Korean treasures...
“Korea's oldest hyangga tale: Seodong, a boy who dug wild yams, spread one line of a song among children, won the love of Silla's Princess Seonhwa, and became King Mu of Baekje. A one-day course peaking at Gungnamji — Korea's oldest man-made pond, dug by Seodong for his princess. 9 missions across the Jeongnimsa five-story pagoda, Buyeo National Museum, Nakhwaam Rock at Busosanseong, Gungnamji & Seodong Park, Baekje Cultural Land, the Baengmagang sailboat, Jaon-gil in Gyuam Village, lotus leaf rice, and Jungang Market.”
6 spots total. Take them in any order.
How many are going?
You pay after you finish getting ready
See every spot in this course at a glance. Tap a colored pin to read the one-line intro.
First, choose a role. At every stop, whoever suits that place steps forward and opens the story. When you arrive, a character from the folktale speaks to you. Answer the quiz and finish the mission to win back a shard. Collect them all, and you close the story at the final place.
Long ago, in Baekje, there lived a boy named Madong. He lived with just his mother, digging up yams to sell. That is why he was called Madong. Madong heard that Princess Seonhwa of Silla was very beautiful. He had never once seen her face. Madong went to Silla. He handed out yams to the children and taught them a song. "Princess Seonhwa secretly goes to meet Seodong every night." None of it was true. Madong had never even met the princess. But as the children sang that song everywhere, it spread across the whole country. It even reached the king's ears. The princess was driven out of the palace. On the road where the banished princess walked, Madong appeared. And so the two of them met. Later, Madong became the king of Baekje. A story that began as a lie became real. The person you will meet today is that Madong. Even now, he says things that aren't there are there.
Starting point — circle the pagoda slowly and recall the shortest sentence that has stayed with you the longest in your life.
Walk once around the gallery and choose the one 'grain' that held your heart the longest. There is no right answer — today, you are the answer.
Boss spot — the heart of the legend. Cross to the Poryongjeong pavilion at the pond's center and capture, in one photo, the one line you want to speak out loud before it's true.
The final spot — pick one street snack at the market, and with it in hand, write one line about the scene that stayed with you most from today's whole course.
Stand in the wide courtyard before the main hall of Sabi Palace and recall one thing that looks small now, but that you want to see through to the end.
On the boat (or watching the river from the wharf), choose the one 'grain of the river' closest to your heart right now. There is no right or wrong.