Welcome back to my travel blog and today I'm going to bring you around the Nonsan province.
When I looked into the itinerary prior to the departure date, I was very excited about the upcoming visit in Nonsan, because this is the main filming location of the K-drama "Mr. Sunshine" by Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-ri.
My Korean girl friend told me that this is one of the must-watch dramas in last year.
Well, being a fan of K-dramas, I've for sure already watched it before the trip; so when I knew that we are visiting the filming location of Mr. Sunshine, it really boost my happiness.
Seriously, I really can't wait for that! :)
NONSAN, also named as "Nolmoi", meaning dusk(y) or yellow mountain, is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea.
The origin of Nonsan's geographical name is from the small garden "nonmoi", which raise in the middle of farming fields, where rice paddies and mountain are said to reflect geographical features.
It's a quiet vast valley that surrounded by mountains and fields, so my first impression towards Nonsan country is the place is so friendly and peaceful.
Anyway, we only spent one afternoon in Nonsan province by visiting one of the main attractions at Nonsan Sunshine Land.
Nonsan Sunshine Land is a new popular place for hallyu fans, simply because of the Korean drama "Mr. Sunshine".
The attraction is half army theme part, and half drama setting place which built next to the actual army facility.
So, it is not surprising to see some young boys wearing their army uniforms and having their military training during the land visit.
Remember to say "Hello" to them if you see them, they are friendly and will wave back to you. :)
The place is huge, which consists of different sections, such as Survival Game Zone, Military Experience Center, 1950 Open Film Set and also Sunshine Studio that just opened to the public in November 2018.
MILITARY EXPERIENCE CENTER
The Military Experience Center shows what it is like to be in the nation's military through leisure sports.
Not only the visitors can experience in the combat zone, they also offer variety of VR military game experiences at the gaming zone; from screen shooting ranges, to indoor shooting programs and multi-purpose stadium.
It's a nice place to visit with family and friends for some excellent fun.
Seriously, I didn't expect the screen shooting game can be so fun!
1950S SEOUL STREET
The realistically detailed architecture surely to make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in the olden times.
It looks almost similar like the Suncheon Open Film location that I blogged in my previous post at HERE, just that this 1950s Street is slightly smaller as it only focuses on the olden history charm and unique culture traditions of Seoul.
It looks almost similar like the Suncheon Open Film location that I blogged in my previous post at HERE, just that this 1950s Street is slightly smaller as it only focuses on the olden history charm and unique culture traditions of Seoul.
There are lots to see along the street, such as restaurants & bars, motels, pharmacy, tailor & laundry, barber shop, department store, carpenter shop, theater, bank, newspaper office, school etc.
It's really fun to look around how the they look like in the early stage of Seoul.
Girl swag! :)
Girl swag! :)
The reproduced site in the studio is such an interesting place for a glimpse of Seoul back in time.
It's like a trip down memory lane, filled with the history and golden memories right here.
For young kids, it an education site to know every bits of the old Seoul and for old people, it is also a good memorial place as a throwback of Seoul city in 1950s.
SUNSHINE STUDIO
Finally, here comes the main highlight of the Nonsan Sunshine Land, the Sunshine Studio.
Remember what I said about this place? This is the main filming location for the 2018 South Korean television series "Mr. Sunshine", starring by Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-ri as the main casts. The story revolves around Eugene Choi Yoo-jin, from a low-born family who runs away to America.
After he grown up in the U.S, he returns home to Joseon as a United States Marine Corps officer, where he falls in love with the daughter of an aristocrat, Go Ae-shin.
The series is set in Hanseong (the former name of Seoul) in the early 1900s, and focuses on activist fighting for Korea's independence from the foreign forces.
Since the drama is based on the Joseon Dynasty, visitors to Sunshine Studio can observe many of the reproduced buildings, structures and streets during late Joseon period in 1900s that appeared in the drama, and one important thing is the whole set up is surreal as it seems in the drama.
Due to the popularity of this drama, this place now becomes one of the tourist spots to visit in Nonsan.
When you visited here, you can also enjoy a cup of coffee at the cafe inside the hotel, just like how Eugene Choi from the drama. :)
It also features the Hongyegyo Bridge where Eugene Choi and Ko Ae-shin meet for the first time during the night of the assassination of an American minister.
The DeaAn Gate.
Hwalollu is the Japanese bar where the men would meet and drink.
That's the Go Ae-shin's residence.
This scene is about Ae-shin finally understand what love means and thinks about her conversations with Eugene regarding "love".
She lies down in her room, grasps the letter card in her hand, and she yells in shock by herself.
Trolley riding scene has been appeared a few times in the drama; one of the deep impressions is in episode 11 where Ae-shin, Dong-mae, and Hee-sung met together when Hee-sung has bought out the whole trolley for Ae-shin yet Dong-mae insists to jump on board with them.
This scene is in last episode 24, where the Japanese soldiers search the train passengers, and Joon-young lingers in front of Ae-shin with the sketch in his hand.
Initially, I thought this scene was taken in a real train, never ever thought that the train was just made out of a big wooden box. :)
Initially, I thought this scene was taken in a real train, never ever thought that the train was just made out of a big wooden box. :)
This is where Eugene gave Ae-shin his last smile, before he yells at the soldiers to move forward on the train car and decouple the trains with his last bullet.
And then, the grave reads "The Greatest & Noble one" of Eugene Choi at the backyard.
Can't believe it looks so real though! :)
Can't believe it looks so real though! :)
I really had a great time at Nonsan Sunshine Land.
If you watched "Mr. Sunshine", I have to strongly encourage you to come here and see it yourself.I guarantee you as you step inside the set up it is as real as in the drama.
Bossam is a traditional Korean dish that comes with a plate of boiled pork belly.
The meat is boiled in a flavourful brine until tender and served thinly sliced.
The way of eating the meats is the same as Korean BBQ; wraps the meat in salted napa cabbage leaves along with radish salad and salted shrimp.
It's my first time having Bossam, and seriously it's way tooooo good!
The meat is super tender and super flavourful!
It's definitely one of the dinner that I'm missing a lot after I came back to Malaysia.
Anyone know where I can eat Bossam in Malaysia?! Do let me know, please!
That's come to the end of my journey at Nonsan Sunshine Land that I want to share with you all!
Thank you for reading my post and I hope you enjoy my sharing.
Next post, I will be sharing things to do for Hallyu fans in Seoul.
Do stay tuned if you are a huge fans of Running Man, EXO, Super Junior, SHINee, Girls' Generations!
See you soon! xoxo
Nonsan Sunshine Land
Add: 102, Bonghwang-ro, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Opening hours: 9am - 6pm daily, 9am - 5pm (Nov - Feb), closed every Mon and New Year's Day
Opening hours: 9am - 6pm daily, 9am - 5pm (Nov - Feb), closed every Mon and New Year's Day
How to get there: from Yeonmudae Express Bus Terminal Bus Stop → take bus no. 201 or 216 to Hwanghwa 4-ri bus stop → walk about 5 mins to Nonsan Sunshine Land
Website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AKR/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=2559657Admission fees: VR experience @ 15,000 won, Screen and Indoor shooting range @2,000 won, Drama Film Set @ Free (Entry to the set might be limited on the day of shooting)
1 comment
This is very helpful! Thank you! I will definitely go to Nonsan when the pandemic's over!
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