Hello, I’m Choi Gyusik. I hope you haven’t forgotten my name in the meantime.

Throughout your walk, I hope you’ve been filled with amazement. Many people entering this path often express their astonishment, saying, ‘How can such a place exist in the heart of Seoul?’ Yes, indeed. What a tranquil and inviting forest path! They even say there are salamanders in the gently flowing brook.

Now, to listen to my story, you might want to take a seat on one of the building’s foundations or benches.

The preservation of the Baeksasilgyegok Valley that you’ve seen today is also connected to the January 21st Incident. This incident not only led to the establishment of new pathways but also increased security measures around Baegak near Cheong Wa Dae. As a result, access and development in the Baeksasil area have been restricted. These measures have allowedBaeksasil to retain its current appearance. When we delve into history, we sometimes discover that unexpected outcomes arise from particular events.

Now, let’s talk about the story of the building that used to be here, even though it’s now an empty space. During the Joseon period, scholars who had a deep appreciation for the arts and culture couldn’t resist the charm of this beautiful scenery. If you look to the left at the end of this valley, you’ll find a large rock with the inscription ‘Baekseokdongcheon.’ This inscription signifies that Baekseok is a place where even a divine hermit would choose to stay.

Here, Baekseok refers to the area behind Baegak. The name Baegak means ‘the foremost mountain,’ and also means ‘a mountain with gleaming white rocks.’ So, this area, nestled at the foothills of Baegak, was named ‘Baekseok,’ and from there, it seems the name ‘Baeksasil’ was given, representing the neighborhood within Baekseok.

For a while, the focus was on the word ‘Baeksa’ in ‘Baeksasil,’ and it was thought to be related to ‘Baeksa Yi Hangbok.’ The buildings in this area were also presumed to be associated with Yi Hangbok, a historical figure from the Joseon period. However, doubts arose regarding whether ‘Baeksasil’ truly carried that meaning. Researchers conducted searches for related documents and found records that in the 19th century, a person named Hong Woogil owned a place called ‘Baekseoksil’ in the vicinity of Baekseokdongcheon. Before that, this area had connections with notable calligraphers of the late Joseon period, like Kim Jeonghui and Cho Myeonho.

Discovering historical roots can be quite a challenging task, can’t it? The building that used to be here was called ‘Byeolseo,’ much like the villas of today. Therefore, they highly appreciated the scenic beauty. Above, you can find buildings like Sarangchae and Anchae, while below, there’s a pond and the remnants of a hexagonal pavilion platform.

To be honest, I haven’t seen this building in person either. Like you, I’ll have to imagine it. After taking your time to explore, let’s move on to the rock with Baekseokdongcheon carved into it.