A Day’s Walk Along Joseon’s Yeongnam-daero to Mungyeong Saejae’s Third Gate
Mungyeong Saejae is the old Yeongnam-daero route between Juheulsan and Joryeongsan Mountains. The first, second, and third Joryeong gates, completed in 1708, demonstrate the road’s military importance. A practical plan is to take it easy from the entrance to the First Gate and the Open Set, while allowing at least half a day for a round trip to the Third Gate.
How the Three Gates of Joryeong, Completed in 1708, Guarded the Yeongnam-daero
Mungyeongsaejae is a mountain pass that runs between Juheulsan Mountain (1,106 m) and Joryeongsan Mountain in the Baekdudaegan mountain range. It was a major route connecting Yeongnam with Hanyang during the Joseon period, and according to National Heritage materials, the First, Second, and Third Gates of Joryeong were completed in 1708, the 34th year of King Sukjong's reign, serving as gateways connecting Yeongnam and Seoul as well as military fortresses.
The three gates were not built all at once. The Second Gate, Jogokgwan, was first established in 1594, after the Japanese invasions of Korea, while the First Gate, Juheulgwan, and the Third Gate, Joryeonggwan, were completed in 1708. Therefore, if you turn back after seeing only Juheulgwan at the entrance, it is difficult to understand why this route was managed like a national border defense line. You should walk at least as far as the Second Gate to see both the spacing of the gate system and the valley terrain.
Mungyeong City also introduces this route as the Path to First Place in the Civil Service Examination. The name comes from the fact that Joseon-era examination candidates and Confucian scholars from Yeongnam traveled this road to and from Hanyang. The gates, fortress walls, and old road are why Mungyeongsaejae is now a site of transportation and military history rather than merely a walking trail.
A Two-Hour Visit from 932 Saejae-ro to the First Gate and Open Film Set
The reference address is 932 Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park itself is open from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free. The park's main contact number is 054-571-0709, and official cultural tourism information is available at https://www.gbmg.go.kr/tour/.
For first-time visitors, a two- to three-hour route that includes seeing the First Gate, Juheulgwan, at the entrance and then heading toward the Old Road Museum and Open Film Set is manageable. The Open Film Set was created on February 23, 2000, for filming a period drama set in the Goryeo era. At its initial construction, it included two royal palace buildings, 42 tiled-roof houses, 40 thatched-roof houses, and 13 other buildings on a 65,755-square-meter site.
The Open Film Set is the only separately ticketed attraction. For individuals, admission is 2,000 won for adults, 1,000 won for teenagers and military personnel, and 500 won for children. Groups of 20 or more pay 1,500 won, 800 won, and 400 won, respectively. Operating hours are 09:00–18:00 from March to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to February. It may be closed on January 1, the day of Lunar New Year's Day, the day of Chuseok, and during maintenance or filming periods. For inquiries, call 054-571-4357.
The Second Gate, Jogokgwan, and Third Gate, Joryeonggwan, Are Longer Old Roads Than a “Walk”
As you proceed from the First Gate to the Second and Third Gates, you must calculate your return time first. Hiking information for Juheulsan Mountain lists the First Gate–Hyeguksa Temple section as 3 km and approximately one hour. If hiking trails are included, one route from the First Gate through Juheulsan Mountain to the Third Gate takes about 8 hours and 40 minutes. Even if you walk only the gate road, you should not treat a round trip to the Third Gate as a light day hike.
Travelers who only want to walk are better off concentrating on the area around the First Gate or setting the Second Gate as their midpoint destination and avoiding a late-afternoon departure. In summer, shade continues along the valley, but the trail may be slippery after rain. In winter, the days are shorter and the Open Film Set also closes at 17:00. If you plan to go as far as the Third Gate, prepare water, snacks, shoes with slip-resistant features, and a return-time plan.
Activities are restricted inside the park to protect the natural environment and scenery. In particular, the Mungyeong Tourism Promotion Corporation states that unauthorized drone flights and filming by the general public are not permitted, and that filming for public-interest purposes or official filming requires prior consultation and permission. For filming inquiries, contact the Open Film Set at 054-571-4357 or 054-572-1150.
From Mungyeong Station on Buses 10-3, 21, and 21-2 to the Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park Stop
If you use Mungyeong Station on the KTX-Eum Jungbu Inland Line, official information recommends taking bus 10-3, 21, or 21-2 from the Mungyeong Station bus stop and getting off at the Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park stop. The bus ride is listed as taking approximately 15 minutes, and Mungyeong City's city buses have been completely free since January 1, 2025. However, check the number of services and the timetable before departure.
From Mungyeong Public Bus Terminal, transfer to bus 10-3 or 21 for approximately 10 minutes. From Jeomchon Intercity Bus Terminal, take bus 21 at the stop across from Homeplus; the trip takes approximately 45 minutes according to the listed guidance. When using Jeomchon Station, take bus 21 at the stop in front of the Mungyeong Branch of NH NongHyup Bank; the journey takes approximately 55 minutes.
According to Mungyeong City's Culture and Tourism fee table, parking fees are 4,000 won for buses and passenger vehicles carrying 25 or more people, 2,000 won for passenger cars, and 1,000 won for compact cars. However, in January 2026, Mungyeong City stated that the park parking lots had been made free year-round starting in February 2024. For safety, confirm whether fees are actually being collected by calling 054-571-0709 just before departure.
Combining the Tea Bowl Festival from May 1–10, 2026, with the Open Film Set
The Mungyeong Tea Bowl Festival will be held from May 1 to May 10, 2026, around the Mungyeongsaejae Open Film Set. Admission is free during the festival, although experience programs may charge separate fees. For festival inquiries, call 054-571-7677. If you visit during this period over the spring holiday or on a weekend, allow more time for the entrance, parking, and meal routes than you would for an ordinary walk.
The Open Film Set began as a location for dramas set in the Goryeo era but was later expanded to include spaces from the Joseon era. According to Mungyeong City information, 103 buildings—including Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Donggung Palace, SeLuckgwan, the Royal Palace Office, and aristocratic homes—were built on a 70,000-square-meter site. Including 22 existing thatched-roof houses and five tiled-roof houses, the set contains 130 buildings in total.
If you combine a park walk and a set visit on the same day, dividing the schedule into the gate road in the morning and the paid film set in the afternoon will reduce the pressure of closing times. Conversely, travelers focused on historical sites should allocate more time to the First Gate, the Old Road Museum, and walking toward the Second Gate, treating the film set as an optional attraction.
Wheelchair and Stroller Users Are Better Off Focusing on Parking Lot 1 and the Entrance Route
Barrier-free tourism information states that Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park Parking Lot 1 has 12 accessible parking spaces. Rather than attempting to travel the entire gate road, where inclines continue for a considerable distance, wheelchair and stroller users should realistically focus their time on relatively level areas such as the entrance plaza and the vicinity of the First Gate.
Visitors using foreign languages can make use of the Korea Tourism Organization's 1330 Travel Helpline. The Open Film Set provides its address, seasonal operating hours, closing days, admission fees, and contact information in English tourism guidance, so basic visitor information can still be checked even if reading Korean signs is difficult.
The recommended length of stay varies by purpose. Allow two to three hours for the First Gate and entrance facilities, three to four hours if including the Open Film Set, and half a day to properly walk the old road beyond the Second Gate. If you also plan to hike Juheulsan Mountain, it is best to make it a separate itinerary based on the official hiking guidance of around five hours or the 8-hour-40-minute route.
How to Choose Between a Short Visit and a Longer Walk at Mungyeongsaejae
The First Gate and Open Film Set are suitable for a short visit. The park is free, the film set admission fee is also modest at 2,000 won for adults, and it operates until 18:00 from March to October. Travelers who want to see historical drama filming locations have a clear reason to spend time at the Open Film Set, where the Gwanghwamun set and spaces with traditional Korean houses and commoners' homes are gathered.
On the other hand, a round trip to the Third Gate may not be suitable if you are expecting only a light stroller walk on mostly flat ground or if your itinerary involves arriving just before sunset. The gate road extends a long way along the valley, and the film set closes at 17:00 in winter. Clearly decide on your destination based on the First Gate, then extend your walk as appropriate to avoid wasting time.
Mungyeong City announced in January 2026 that Mungyeongsaejae recorded 4,051,765 visitors in 2025. Since this is a popular destination, securing time to walk the gate road before dealing with parking and meals on festival days, during the autumn foliage season, and on weekends is the best way not to miss the essence of this route.
Before You Go
- Address
- 932 Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- Hours
- Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park: sunrise to sunset. Mungyeongsaejae Open Film Set: 09:00–18:00 from March to October, 09:00–17:00 from November to February
- Closed
- Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park: open year-round. Open Film Set: January 1, the day of Lunar New Year's Day, the day of Chuseok, and maintenance or filming periods
- Admission
- Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park: free. Open Film Set: 2,000 won for individual adults, 1,000 won for teenagers and military personnel, and 500 won for children
- Phone
- Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park 054-571-0709 / Mungyeongsaejae Management Office 054-550-8361 / Open Film Set 054-571-4357
- Official site
- https://www.gbmg.go.kr/tour/
- Transport
- From the KTX Mungyeong Station bus stop, take bus 10-3, 21, or 21-2 and get off at the Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park stop; approximately 15 minutes. From Mungyeong Public Bus Terminal, take bus 10-3 or 21; approximately 10 minutes. Mungyeong City buses have been free since January 1, 2025.
- Parking
- According to Mungyeong City's Culture and Tourism fee table: 2,000 won for passenger cars, 1,000 won for compact cars, and 4,000 won for buses and passenger vehicles carrying 25 or more people. Mungyeong City's 2026 announcement states that parking was made free year-round starting in February 2024, so confirmation before departure is recommended.
- Time needed
- First Gate and entrance facilities: 2–3 hours; including the Open Film Set: 3–4 hours; walking the old road beyond the Second Gate: half a day; Juheulsan Mountain hike: 5–8 hours 40 minutes
- Accessibility
- Information indicates 12 accessible parking spaces at Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park Parking Lot 1. Wheelchair and stroller users are advised to focus on the entrance and area around the First Gate. The 1330 Travel Helpline is available.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official guidance again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 5
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
Food & Dining 1
-
6
Saejae
Events in This Area
Festivals in This Area
More Travel Guides in This Area
Travel Guide
The Route to the Principal Buddha Behind Glass and Along Tohamsan: The Actual Visitor Path at Seokguram Grotto
Travel Guide
The Silla Sky Left by 27 Stone Tiers: Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju
Travel Guide
Andong Wolyeonggyo Bridge, 387 m, Connecting the Stories of Moonlight and Straw Shoes
Travel Guide
Wolji, Created in 674: A Night at the Illuminated Silla Royal Palace
Korea News
![ZEROBASEONE ‘ZEROBASEONE Shining Even at Night!’ [★Video]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1786629298196_13d8a4bb_news_075face7-fb4e-402c-b833-25ccaf88cf8f.jpg)
News
ZEROBASEONE ‘ZEROBASEONE Shining Even at Night!’ [★Video]
News
Kwon Eun-bi, First Comeback Since Moving from Woollim to RBW: “Aiming for a September Release”
News
“Did Jungkook’s connection continue?” Pop star Usher spotted warmly hugging BTS’s RM and J-Hope
News