Hwaseong Haenggung
Hwaseong Haenggung is the travel palace King Jeongjo built inside Suwon’s Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is Korea’s largest temporary palace, with 576 chambers. From October 1789 to January 1800, Jeongjo made 13 trips to his father’s tomb and stayed at Haenggung on each trip. Most of the palace was destroyed by fire during Japan’s colonial rule; restoration began in 1996 and the palace has been open to the public since 2003.
Bongsudang, the palace’s main hall, is where the king handled state business during his visits; Jeongjo held his mother Hyegyeonggung Hong’s 60th-birthday banquet there in 1795. In the drama it is the Crown Prince’s living quarters — called Donggungjeon on screen, but the real hall, not a set — introduced by Eunuch Jang as the palace of the crown prince. The drama’s first teaser was filmed in the plaza in front of Jungyangmun, the palace’s middle gate. Janglakdang stands to the left of Bongsudang; Jeongjo personally wrote and hung its plaque, wishing his mother long life.
One honest split: Korea.net places Ra-on kneeling at Bongsudang before Queen Kim slaps her, while korea.kr places the slap at Janglakdang as the place where Ra-on suffers humiliation. The two claims are kept separate here, which is why Janglakdang stays reported rather than confirmed. Other scenes the government feature names at Haenggung include Ra-on’s escape-attempt meeting with Lee Young, Lee Young’s dance in gonryongpo robe, and Lee Young’s enraged walk after hearing of Queen Kim’s pregnancy.
Hwaseong Fortress itself was built 1794–1796 by Jeongjo to defend Suwon, and UNESCO inscribed it in 1997; its walls run about 5.7 km with four main gates at the cardinal points. Love in the Moonlight (구르미 그린 달빛), also known as Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, used its main hall, Bongsudang, as the home of the Crown Prince (Park Bo-gum). Many period dramas have filmed at this palace; this guide lists only the halls that sources name for this drama.
Suwon Station, on Seoul Metro Line 1 and Korail, is the nearest rail hub, and the palace makes a straightforward day trip from Seoul — the palace halls in the morning, the fortress neighborhood after.
The palace is ticketed and keeps set hours, with night openings in some seasons. When to go: check the Suwon Cultural Foundation’s hours and prices page for this year’s night-opening dates before you plan an evening visit.
Same day, two dramas
Hwaseong Haenggung is in Haenggung-dong, the same fortress neighborhood as the Lovely Runner Suwon walk: Haengnidan Street, the mural alleys, Hwahongmun Gate and Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion. A day trip can cover both: the palace halls from Love in the Moonlight, then the Lovely Runner streets and fortress gates. Plan the walk between them on Naver Map or Kakao Map. For another Gyeonggi day trip from Seoul, the former army base at Camp Greaves in Paju is a different kind of day out. How we grade a stop as confirmed is explained in our method.
More Love in the Moonlight places
The drama’s other places are outside Suwon: Gyeonggijeon and Jeonju Hyanggyo in Jeonju, the Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, Gwanghalluwon in Namwon, the House of Choi Champan in Hadong and Gudeurae Sculpture Park in Buyeo. See Love in the Moonlight Across Korea or the Love in the Moonlight filming locations page.
Getting there
From Seoul
Seoul Metro Line 1 and Korail trains reach Suwon Station. Check same-day trains on Korail or the Seoul Metro map. From Suwon Station, plan the bus or taxi to Hwaseong Haenggung with Kakao Map or Naver Map.
From Busan
KTX runs on the Gyeongbu Line in the Busan direction and stops at Suwon, so a Busan → Suwon leg is possible; Seoul → Suwon by KTX takes about 25–35 minutes depending on the train/route, and not every KTX stops at Suwon, so confirm your train on Korail. By subway, Suwon Station is on Seoul Subway Line 1 (about 1 hour from Seoul) and is the terminus of the Suin-Bundang Line. From Suwon Station, travel guides point to city buses 11 and 13 from Exit 4 to the Hwaseong Haenggung stop; no official timetable was found, so plan the last leg with Kakao Map or Naver Map.
FAQ
Is Wolhwawon a Love in the Moonlight filming location?
We found no official or press source that says so. The Gyeonggi article that features Wolhwawon ties it to Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.
Do I need a ticket?
Yes. Hwaseong Haenggung charges admission; see the Suwon Cultural Foundation page for current prices and free-entry days.
Can I pair this with another drama in one day?
Yes. Haenggung-dong is the same fortress neighborhood as the Lovely Runner Suwon walk, and the palace halls and the fortress streets fit in one day trip from Seoul.
Is Suwon a day trip from Seoul?
Yes. Suwon Station is on Line 1 and Korail, and the palace is in Haenggung-dong, on foot from the fortress neighborhood. Check live train times on the day you travel.
Will this page use drama stills?
No. The only drama footage is KBS’s official episode upload, embedded from YouTube.
Good to know: Visiting Korea’s palaces (고궁)
Hwaseong Haenggung is a Joseon-dynasty royal palace. Here’s what to know before visiting any of Korea’s grand palaces.
Seoul’s five grand palaces (고궁) are Joseon-dynasty treasures that double as K-drama royalty — Gyeongbokgung alone has hosted scenes from countless sageuks (historical dramas). A few things to know before you go. Gyeongbokgung charges admission, but here’s the beloved loophole: visitors wearing a full hanbok (traditional Korean dress) enter free. Rental shops cluster near the gates, and the hanbok-and-palace photo is practically a rite of passage. The palaces close on Tuesdays, and last entry is an hour before closing. Don’t miss the Changing of the Royal Guard ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate (10:00 and 14:00 daily except Tuesdays) — it’s free and no palace ticket is needed. Budget at least two hours; three is better. Free guided tours in English run regularly — check the schedule at the information center inside Heungnyemun Gate. If you plan to visit multiple palaces, the Royal Palace Pass covers Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Jongmyo Shrine for three months — check current prices before you buy.
Nearby inside the fortress
None of these is a Love in the Moonlight filming spot, but all sit inside the same fortress walls:
- The fortress wall walk, following the UNESCO walls past all four gates — Janganmun (north), Paldalmun (south), Changnyongmun (east) and Hwaseomun (west).
- Paldalmun, the south gate, built in 1794 and designated Treasure No. 402; it now stands in a traffic circle, separated from the wall walk.
- Hwahongmun Gate, the northern floodgate over the Suwoncheon stream, built of seven arched watergates of varying sizes.
- Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion, built as a military watchtower that doubles as a pavilion and recognised as a National Treasure in 2011.
- Suwon Hwaseong Museum, on the history and culture of the fortress and the city, covered by the same integrated ticket as the palace.
- Haengnidan-gil, a roughly 612 m café-and-shop street running from Hwahongmun Gate to Hwaseo Park.
- Hwaseong Fortress Tourist Trolley, a dragon-headed road train running a sightseeing course from the palace past the main gates; reservations are required on its website.
FAQ additions
Which hall was the Crown Prince’s home?
Bongsudang, confirmed — introduced by Eunuch Jang as the palace of the crown prince, and the real hall, not a set.
Where was the slap scene filmed?
Sources differ on the exact hall: Korea.net places Ra-on kneeling at Bongsudang, korea.kr places the slap at Janglakdang. That split is why Janglakdang remains reported.
Sources
All sources for this guide
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 (Asia/Seoul) unless noted.
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VisitKorea — Journey to “Love in the Moonlight” Filming Sites
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Korea.net — Filming locations of ‘Moonlight Drawn by Clouds’
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Korea policy news (korea.kr) — Romance at Hwaseong Haenggung and Wolhwawon (2016)
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Suwon Cultural Foundation — Hours and prices
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Netflix — Love in the Moonlight
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VisitKorea — Temporary Palace at Hwaseong Fortress (Hwaseong Haenggung Palace)
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Gyeonggi Global — Hwaseong Haenggung (576 chambers, Jeongjo’s trips, restoration)
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UNESCO — Hwaseong Fortress (inscription, walls, gates)
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Korea Trip Tips — Hwahongmun Gate and Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion
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Korea Trip Tips — Suwon Hwaseong Museum and trolley
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