K-drama feels at Siheung Gaetgol Eco Park
Siheung Gaetgol Eco Park sits quietly in Siheung City, Gyeonggi Province. It is wide, green, and full of open skies. It feels like a place where time slows down.
The park is also a familiar sight for K-drama fans. The hit series “Encounter,” starring Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum, filmed scenes at its well-known Rocking Observatory.
The observatory rises 22 meters above the ground. It has six levels and is built with timber. As visitors climb higher, they can feel a gentle sway. It is not dangerous, just unusual. The movement makes people pause and smile.
A sign at the top explains it simply: the tower is safe, but it is designed to rock slightly. From the top, the view opens wide. Wetlands, fields, and the park stretch into the distance. It is calm and quiet up there.
The park itself has a deeper story. It was once a large salt field. About 1.5 million pyeong of abandoned salt flats were slowly transformed into wetlands and green space. Today, water channels run through grasslands. Birds move across the sky. Small ecosystems have returned.
Old salt warehouses still stand in parts of the park. They remind visitors of the area’s past life. The mix of nature and history gives the place a soft, layered feeling.
According to the park’s description, Gaetgol is a place where nature and people meet in balance. It is also a protected marine wetland. Life here is carefully preserved.
Another Korean drama, “When the Weather is Fine,” starring Park Min-young and Seo Kang-jun, also used this park as a filming location. The scenery seems made for quiet stories.
Today, the park offers many simple experiences. There are salt fields, a salt field experience center, water bikes, birdwatching platforms, and long walking paths. There are also campsites and open lawns where people rest or take photos.
During a recent World Journalists Conference (WJC) 2026 visit, participants from different countries including Manila Bulletin Entertainment toured the park.
The visit was organized by the Journalists Association of Korea, with support from several Korean government agencies.
But beyond the schedules and briefings, what stays with visitors is simple. Fresh air. Wide skies. And a place where nature quietly tells its own story.
