Why visit Suwon for Lovely Runner
Lovely Runner (선재 업고 튀어) aired on tvN in 2024 as a 16-part series. Byeon Woo-seok plays Ryu Seon-jae, a member of an idol group, and Kim Hye-yoon plays Im Sol, his passionate fan, who goes back in time to save him. The Korea Herald’s verdict on the show’s Suwon locations is simple: walking the fortress walls is the perfect way to explore all of them.
Suwon is one of Korea’s iconic travel destinations because it blends old and new: the centuries-old stone walls of Hwaseong Fortress stand beside high-rise, glass-covered buildings, and the fortress is visible from almost anywhere in the city. Hwaseong Fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage site, built between 1794 and 1796 after King Jeongjo commissioned it to protect the tomb of his father, Crown Prince Sado. It was inscribed by UNESCO in 1997. That history is the backdrop for every scene on this walk — the drama’s neighborhood sits inside a fortress town, not on a studio set.
VisitKorea built an official Haenggung-dong course around the drama, and the Korea Herald walked the same streets. The result is a compact loop in one neighborhood: a café street, mural alleys, a watergate bridge, and a pavilion above a pond. It fits a half-day trip from Seoul, and it rewards slowing down — the fortress at night, a café stop, a sunset over Yongyeon Pond.
One request before you go: much of this walk runs through residential streets. The Korea Herald asks visitors to be considerate of residents — no noise, no litter, no intrusions on privacy. The houses below are private homes; enjoy them from the street.
Stop 1 — Haengnidan Street: the first-date neighborhood
VisitKorea opens its course on Haengnidan Street, the setting for Sun-jae and Sol’s first date. The street is lined with cafés, restaurants, and lifestyle shops tucked inside renovated hanok and vintage homes. It is a beloved spot among locals for dates and casual meetups, and it offers a glimpse of Korea’s latest trends and everyday culture. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism describes the nearby Hwaseomun-ro stretch between Hwaseomun and Hwahongmun as about 600 m of cafés, restaurants, workshops, and instant photo studios, with cafés in renovated old houses and fusion Korean restaurants in hanok.
Two addresses on this street will look familiar. Bakery and dessert shop Mong Ted became one of Suwon’s most sought-after places after appearing as Sol’s house; the familiar yellow umbrella at the café entrance marks the spot where the romantic rainy scene in the second episode was filmed. Nearby, the blue gate to Seon-jae’s home is another photo stop. Both are private homes — take photos from the street only.
Plan 45–90 minutes here with café stops. The street is free to walk; cafés are priced separately.
Stop 2 — Haenggung-dong Mural Village: the school route
From the café street, the walk turns into narrow residential alleys. VisitKorea describes the mural village as a cozy neighborhood of narrow alleys adorned with colorful murals and small sculptures, with fairy-tale scenes, snapshots of everyday life, and whimsical art installations decorating the walls. This is Sol and Sun-jae’s route to school — and the spot where Sol confidently corners a flustered Sun-jae against a wall.
The murals were created by local residents, civic groups, and artists, with paintings and sculptures on walls, roofs, and fences giving the village a warm, friendly atmosphere. The Korea Herald points visitors toward the Yeonmu-dong public parking lot for a glimpse of the school route.
Allow 20–40 minutes. The alleys are public but residential, so keep voices down and stay out of private yards and doorways.
Stop 3 — Hwahongmun Gate: the confession bridge
Hwahongmun Gate is, in VisitKorea’s words, the most beautiful gate of Hwaseong Fortress — a traditional structure known for its striking rainbow-shaped arches. It is also a beloved nightscape spot, with softly lit waters flowing beneath the fortress walls. The bridge in front of the gate is where Sun-jae confessed his feelings to Sol, and it remains a favorite photo spot for fans.
The Herald adds the details that make the stop: seven stone arches, a view of the Suwoncheon Stream, and a reflection in the water that draws visitors both day and night. Step inside the wooden pavilion, take your shoes off, and let the windows frame the stream — the cool breeze inside is part of the experience. The gate is also called Buksumun; it straddles the Suwoncheon as a floodgate, which makes it one of the most photographed spots in Haenggung-dong.
Allow 30–60 minutes. Outdoor viewing is free; night lighting makes an evening return visit worthwhile.
Stop 4 — Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion: the bike lesson
Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion, the Northeastern Corner Pavilion of the fortress, is where Sun-jae taught Sol to ride a bike. VisitKorea calls it a Joseon-dynasty pavilion and a beloved picnic spot, with a tranquil pond, fortress walls, spacious grounds, and romantic views at sunset.
The pavilion repays a longer look. It was one of the fortress’s four watchtowers and was originally built as a military command post; its unusual floor plan and roof shape make it the fortress’s most creative structure, looking different from every angle. Nearby sits Yongyeon Pond — “a pond where a dragon stays” — a small park where locals walk, exercise, and picnic. In summer, lotus leaves and blossoms cover the water.
The Herald notes the short downhill from the pavilion brings you to Hwahongmun, which stands right around the corner below it. Allow 30–60 minutes, and time your visit for sunset if you can.
Walking order and getting there
Walk the loop in either direction. The Herald’s route starts at Yongyeon Pond, visits Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion, walks downhill to Hwahongmun Gate, then follows the fortress trail about 10 minutes to Haengnidan Street. The stop cards above follow VisitKorea’s course order, which runs the other way. Either direction works; pick the one that matches where you arrive.
Fares and schedules change. Prefer official pages on your travel day.
Seoul → Suwon (rail)
Seoul Metro Line 1 and Korail services reach Suwon Station. Confirm same-day trains on Korail or metro maps at seoulmetro.co.kr/en.
Suwon Station → Haenggung-dong / Hwaseong
Plan the last leg with the Kakao Map and Naver Map links on each place card. VisitKorea’s listed course distance inside Haenggung-dong is about 790 m once you are on site.
If you want the full fortress
The drama loop is short, but the full fortress wall runs about 5.7 km, and the complete walk usually takes around three hours including photo time. If the full loop is too much, the Hwaseong Fortress Tourist Trolley boards at Yeonmudae: the circular route takes about 20 minutes and the tour route about 50 minutes, with audio commentary in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese. Confirm times on the day.
Same day, two dramas
Hwaseong Haenggung, the palace inside the fortress, is in the same Haenggung-dong neighborhood. Love in the Moonlight used its Bongsudang Hall as the Crown Prince’s quarters; see the Love in the Moonlight Suwon guide to add the palace to this walk. Plan the route between them on Naver Map or Kakao Map.
The palace itself is worth the detour: with 576 rooms where the king and his entourage could stay during royal processions, it was Joseon’s largest temporary royal palace. Restoration began in 1996, and it opened to the public in 2003.
If you get hungry after the walk, Suwon Tongdak (Fried Chicken) Street is a small alley about 100 m long with shops operating since 1970; tongdak is a whole chicken fried in oil in a traditional iron pot.
How we checked
Places named by both VisitKorea and the Korea Herald are confirmed. All four stops on this page are confirmed.
Sources used: VisitKorea’s official Haenggung-dong course, the Korea Herald’s Jun 15, 2024 drama-tour article, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Haenggung-dong feature. Each spot’s sources are listed in the guide’s frontmatter.
Last checked: Sep 23, 2026 for spot status; Oct 18, 2026 for enrichment. We re-verify spot status periodically and update when places close, change, or gain new sources.
Sources
All sources for this guide
Accessed Sep 23, 2026 (Asia/Seoul) unless noted.
- VisitKorea — Suwon Haenggung-dong Walk: “Lovely Runner”
- Korea Herald — Follow Suwon’s fortress to find traces of ‘Lovely Runner’ (Jun 15, 2024)
- Korail — https://www.letskorail.com/ebizcom/cs/guide/guide/guide11.do
- Seoul Metro English home — http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/en/index.do
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — Haenggung-dong / Hwaseong Fortress feature (mcst.go.kr) (accessed Oct 18, 2026)
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