GWANGHANLU PAVILION AND GARDENS

Built under the reign of King Sejong in 1419, it was unfortunately destroyed (one more) by the Japanese in 1597. It is one of the four most famous pavilions in South Korea. Indeed it overlooks a lake, and the nobles and scholars of the region came to enjoy its calm and magnificence. A very famous folk history is also linked to this place. The story is about the love story of Seong ChunHyang, daughter of a courtesan and Yi MongNyong, son of a wealthy magistrate. Despite their different social status, the two lovebirds married secretly. But suddenly, MongNyong had to go to Seoul for his studies. During her absence, the governor of the city of Namwon decided to seize the young woman by inflicting torture and other ill-treatment on her. But she always resisted! Some time later, MongNyong was appointed governor of the Jeolla region, he discovered the fate of his sweet and tender and then rushed to punish the infamous perpetrator. He officially took ChunHyang as his wife and they moved to Seoul. For those who are interested in this story, it is told in a famous novel, Chunhyangjeon, written in Korean in the 17th century. It has been translated into French by Zulma under the title Le Chant de la fidèle Chunyang.

The walks around the lake and near the pavilion are, in view of this pretty romance, marked by romanticism. Maybe this is THE place for lovers in Korea.