Traveler Reu documented a May 24 itinerary through Suwon and Seoul, featuring a morning walk across the Suwon Hwaseong fortress walls, a KBO baseball game at Suwon KT Wiz Park, and an evening meal at Gwangjang Market. The day combined historical sightseeing under hot weather conditions with local dining and a trip to the capital via Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1.
Morning Sightseeing Along Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
The day began at 9:00 a.m. local time after checking out of a local hotel where luggage was stored temporarily. Taking a bus near the Suwon Hwaseong Hotel, the visitor arrived at Suwon Hwaseong, where the outer wall area functions as a public park. Stops included Hwaseomun Gate on the west side of the fortification and the Hwaseong Haenggung palace grounds.
Along the route toward Hwaseong Haenggung, a large statue depicts King Jeongjo, the 22nd Joseon monarch who ordered the construction of the fortress between 1752 and 1800. At the Hwaseong Haenggung palace grounds, entrance tickets were purchased following a traditional martial arts performance featuring sword and bow drills at the gate. Records show the temporary palace served as a royal residence when King Jeongjo visited the tomb of Crown Prince Sado at Hillyungwon. Midday temperatures climbed steadily as the tour continued toward Paldalmun Gate for lunch.
Midday Lunch at Lotteria Near Paldalmun Gate
Lunch took place at a Lotteria restaurant situated near Paldalmun Gate, one of Suwon Hwaseong’s main historic gates. The meal consisted of a bacon lettuce burger set priced at 9,100 won, approximately 1,000 yen at the exchange rate of 10 KRW to 1.1 JPY. Following the meal, local transport provided access to the afternoon’s sporting event.
Afternoon KBO League Action at Suwon KT Wiz Park
The afternoon featured a Korea Baseball Organization fixture at Suwon KT Wiz Park, marking the third day of baseball attendance at the venue. Outside the stadium, automated batting cages and merchandise stands offered jersey name and number pressing, though credit and Apple Pay terminals declined card transactions during attempts to use arcade machines.
Inside the arena, a ticket purchased online was collected at the box office for a seat on the third-base side. The ticket cost 6,000 won for beer, noted as less expensive than comparable Japanese stadium concessions. KT Wiz utilized artificial intelligence tools within operations, including AI-generated player cheer songs tied to parent company KT Corporation’s tech initiatives.
The game opened with NC Dinos pitcher Riley facing KT Wiz starter Bae Je-seong. NC claimed an early 2-point lead in the top of the first inning before KT responded with an RBI single from Han Seung-taek in the second and another run batted in from Kim Sang-su in the third. During NC’s turn at bat, a collision near second base involving a runner and infielder Kim Sang-su resulted in the runner being removed from the field by an ambulance. Later in the contest, a batted ball by Choi Won-jun landed near the spectator area. NC maintained its scoring advantage through the final innings, sealing a victory despite a late KT rally.
Evening Transition to Seoul via Subway Line 1
Following the final out, transportation returned to Suwon Station where stored luggage was retrieved before boarding Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1. The rail journey lasted approximately one hour, ending at Jongno 5-ga Station near Dongdaemun. The evening walk to the lodging featured quiet, dimly lit streets despite its urban setting in the capital.
The night’s accommodation at Five Hotel Jongno cost 86,000 won, roughly 9,600 yen, for a single-night room equipped with basic bathroom facilities inside an older building structure.
Late-Night Dinner at Gwangjang Market
Dinner brought the traveler to Gwangjang Market, located near the hotel. The destination is known for specialty stalls offering beef tartare, a dish unavailable in raw form in Japan. Selection fell upon Bucheon Yukhoe, a Michelin-recognized eatery operating since 2017 with consecutive selections over nine years.
Arriving near last call, entry took five minutes. Orders included makgeolli priced at 5,000 won served in a large shared bottle, alongside a large serving of yukhoe bibimbap priced at 16,000 won, approximately 1,760 yen. The dish paired raw beef atop shredded vegetables with a sesame oil and salt seasoning blend before returning to the hotel under the influence of the fermented rice wine.
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