Gwanghallu Pavilion Illuminates Autumn Nights... Dalgunggyegok Valley and Sinsaeng Village at Peak Fall Foliage [Weekend Leisure]

October is a wonderful time to travel, and Namwon, Jeollabuk-do has hosted a series of grand festivals. These included the high-tech and thrilling 'Namwon International Drone Festival with Robots,' the 'Namwon National Heritage Night Tour' that filled Namwon’s nights with romance (both held from the 16th to the 19th), and the 33rd 'Heungbu Festival' (October 17–19), themed after the folk tale of Heungbu and Nolbu. Although the festivals have ended, Namwon remains a vibrant destination. From Gwanghalluwon Garden, which tells the love story of Chunhyang and Mongryong, to attractions such as Namwon Fiorium, Namwon City Kim Byung-jong Art Museum, the autumn-tinted Dalgunggyegok Valley, and Sinsaeng Village, there are plenty of reasons to visit. With autumn being so fleeting, I made sure to visit Namwon, Jeollabuk-do before the season slipped away.

■ The Beauty of Gwanghallu Pavilion by Day and Night
Although the romantic 'Namwon National Heritage Night Tour' has come to an end, there’s no need for disappointment. Gwanghalluwon Garden, Namwon’s hotspot where Sung Chunhyang and Lee Mongryong first met and fell in love, as well as Ojakgyo Bridge, Wanwoljeong Pavilion, Yeongjugak Pavilion, Chunhyang Shrine, and Wolmae's House, remains open at night. Gwanghalluwon Garden opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. from April to October, and at 8 p.m. from November to March.
As dusk falls, Gwanghalluwon Garden transforms, revealing a different charm from the daytime. Traditional lanterns and vibrant night lighting illuminate the grounds, casting colorful lights across the main facilities. The Moon Palace Rose Garden, filled with sparkling LED roses, and the Ojakgyo Bridge, bathed in purple light, are especially enchanting. Climbing Gwanghallu Pavilion—considered the finest pavilion in the Honam region—offers a view of the star-filled night sky, and the picturesque scenery makes for memorable photos.
The area around the Gwanghalluwon Garden’s outer shops also features a night food zone and an open stage for local artists’ performances, making the nights even livelier than the days. For a relaxing stroll, take the embankment path and riverside trail extending from Gwanghalluwon Garden across the street to the banks of the Yocheon River.

■ Namwon City Kim Byung-jong Art Museum and Namwon Fiorium
Namwon is home to many cultural spaces that embody its unique beauty. The most notable are the Namwon City Kim Byung-jong Art Museum, where you can experience the artistic spirit of Kim Byung-jong (72, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University), and Namwon Fiorium, an immersive media art exhibition hall that opened last April after renovating a former industrial facility.
Opened in 2018 after Kim Byung-jong donated his works, the Namwon City Kim Byung-jong Art Museum is a rural museum surrounded by forest. It serves as a multi-cultural space where visitors can appreciate both art and nature, providing a place for healing. The museum’s unique exterior, resembling stacked exposed concrete boxes, is nestled in a pine forest, making it ideal for quiet contemplation. Large windows throughout the exhibition spaces offer views of the distant Jirisan ridgeline and blue sky, adding to the tranquil atmosphere.
The museum also houses a collection of literary materials and books donated by Kim Byung-jong, who is renowned as an essayist and travel writer, making it a space where art and literature coexist. A book café with over 2,000 volumes on art, literature, and the humanities further enhances the museum’s unique role. Just a two- to three-minute drive away, Namwon Fiorium features various media art exhibitions under the theme 'Namwon in Blooming Light.'

■ Autumn in Dalgunggyegok Valley and Sinsaeng Village
Namwon offers many places to fully embrace the peak of autumn. About 50 minutes by car from the Namwon City Kim Byung-jong Art Museum, Dalgunggyegok Valley is surrounded by high peaks such as Banyabong Peak (1,751m), Nogodan Peak (1,507m), and Manbokdae Peak (1,437m), making it one of the first places in Jirisan to welcome autumn. This area was once home to a fortress built by King Hyo of Mahan, who fled into Jirisan after being pursued by Onjo of Baekje during the Samhan period in 350 BC. The remains of the royal site can still be found just below the parking lot in Dalgung Village. While the Jirisan Longitudinal Road passes by the village, making access relatively easy, venturing a little further into the valley reveals hidden gems such as Jaenggiso, Wapok Falls, Guamso Pond, Cheongnyongso, and Ansimso Pond.
For a vivid taste of autumn, head to Sinsaeng Village in Yongjeong-dong, Namwon. Just a ten-minute drive from Gwanghalluwon Garden in the city center, this flower field bursts with Pink Muhly Grass, Summer cypress, and Cortaderia selloana (Argentinian pampas grass), making it an ideal spot to enjoy the full ambiance of the season and capture stunning photos for social media. Other autumn blooms such as Zinnia elegans, Cosmos, and New York aster also flourish here, creating a dreamy, enchanting landscape.
jsm64@fnnews.com Jung Soon-min Reporter