"You're here to see Gwanghallu, aren't you?" The ajumma at the yeogwan in Namwon asked me as I was about to explore the town. Huh? I wasn't even sure why I had come to this place - just a vague idea that it was the place where Im Kwon-taek had shot the movie, Chunhyang, with a pansori singer narrating the story of Korea's Romeo and Juliet.
Obviously I hadn't done my homework but fortunately, it wasn't too late in the day for me to find my way to Gwanghallu, the main destination of tourists who visit Namwon. It's a Korean-style garden with a charming array of ponds, pavilions, bridges and cottages built during the reign of King Sejong in the 15th century.
According to the tourist brochure, " Gwanghalluwon represents a traditional house and garden structure which shows the philosophy and ideals of (the Koreans') ancestors. There is a lake with Gwanghalluwon in the centre, and three islands in the lake, symbolising Hallasan, Geumgangsan and Jirisan."
The garden was originally known as Gwangtongru but renamed "Gwanghallu" which was known as a mythical area where beauties resided on the moon. Indeed, it seemed the perfect setting for a young aristocrat to fall in love with the daughter of a kisaeng. Apparently the hero of the story was in Wanwoljeong Pavilion when he first spotted the heroine on a swing in the distance.
In the evening light, I could see a few couples strolling in the garden, presumably reenacting their own falling-in-love scenes as they drew inspiration from the soothing setting. it wasn't so easy though as there were also groups of giggling schoolgirls screaming with laughter. Romance wasn't on my mind either as I was busy shooting off emails in a small TIC booth which I was pleasantly surprised to find on the grounds.
sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264601
