What to do: Day Visiting Suwon Fortress from Pyeongtaek
Hwaseong Fortress covers a large area in Suwon, South Korea. We decided to head up to the area from the Osan Air Force base area of Pyeongtaek to see some of the Suwon fortress that we missed the first time we visited.
We parked in the area by Janganum Gate (Also Romanized as Changnyongmun Gate). After parking, we purchased tickets for the trolley around the city. The trolley costs around 4,000 won per person and if you bring headphones, you are able to listen to the tour in English, Korean, Chinese or Japanese. Even without headphones, it is a nice tour around part of the fortress and you can take photos from the trolley as well. We got some great shots along the ride as well as video.
Where to eat: Grab some Korean fried chicken on Suwon chicken street
Upon returning to the Changnyongmun Gate, we walked down the wall towards Buksumun (Floodgate/Hwahongmun) and walked over to Suwon’s Chicken Street for lunch. This is a bustling area usually with lines at the most popular restaurants. If you go during the week, note some of the locations may be closed due to working all weekend.
Our plan for chicken street was simple, order a small amount at each location so we could try multiple locations. One of the locations we stopped at was Dae-Bong Chicken. The staff spoke some English and were very friendly. The chicken was fabulous. We tried a couple of other locations but because we went on a Monday many were closed.
Dae-Bong Chicken Cafe
Tasty fried chicken restaurant close to Hwaseong Temporary Palace. Semi English menu and staff speaks moderately well English. Very friendly staff, large space, tasty food.
Where to have a chat: A Star Cafe has a beautiful view of Suwon Fortress
To round out our afternoon, we ended up at It’s A Star Cafe across from Hwahongmun Gate. Hwahnogmuch Gate is where the waterfall is located. This cafe is three floors and you can get a great view of the fortress from the rooftop area. It was a neat location and just what we needed for our walk back up to the Changnyongmun Gate.
This proved to be a great day of exploring and we look forward to coming back on a busier day to get a more thorough tasting of the offerings of Chicken Street. The great thing about Suwon and the fortress area is that there is always something to do, shopping, eating or just exploring the area’
Its A Star Cafe
0312478403
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Hangul Address
경기도 수원시 팔달구 정조로886번길 32 (북수동) 247
This three-story coffee house has a rooftop bar. There are also desserts and shaved ice. Great view of Hwaseong and Hwahongmun Gate.
Popular Suwon Fortress Gates visited on this date
Suwon Fortress Janganmun Gate
031-251-4513
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Hangul Address
경기 수원시 팔달구 장안동
A stunning and iconic gate in Suwon.
Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
031-290-3600
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 수원시 팔달구 정조로 825
Check the Web Link for current info on performances, fees, etc. The Suwon Fortress is a picturesque location that wraps though the center of the city of Suwon. Although the primary grounds have an entrance fee, much of the wall can be visited and viewed for free (but we recommend paying). There are stunning free performances held in front of the main gate that are highly recommended.
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The KimchiRednecks channel was created in September 2018 by Chuck Whittington and Melissa Edwards-Whittington. They moved to Korea in July 2017 with their three Shih Tzu daughters, Sookie, Minion, and Mayhem.
The YouTube channel started as a way to share their lives here with their friends and families back in the states. They both have a deep love for Korean culture, people, and food and love being able to share that with others.
Chuck Whittington graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelors in Information Systems Management. He has worked in Information Technology roles for over 20 years. Chuck has always had an interest in Korea and has traveled here many times in the past.
Melissa Edwards-Whittington graduated from Mid-Atlantic Christian University with a Bachelors in Bible and a Minor in Elementary Education. She has worked in various roles in customer service and marketing over the years.
The YouTube channel has many interests just like they do because it is an extension of their lives here in Korea. You will often find videos on their channel about daily life in Korea, cooking, foodie adventures, traveling and exploring, computer and tech pursuits, gaming, and working on the Subaru BRZ.
Over the years, many of their friends have joined them for their videos and adventures because they enjoy sharing their lives with those around them. In addition, they add new interests from time to time, like making moonshine in Korea.
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