Seoul's first urban nature retreat took the city by storm from day one — a 'premium' getaway that sells out a month's worth of rooms in three minutes. Now visitors can share their memories and win overnight stays in a photo contest open from July 17 through the end of the month, one entry per person.
Seoul's Nowon-gu announced it will hold a photo contest to mark the first anniversary of Surakhu, Seoul's first urban nature retreat.
The contest is a special event prepared for the one-year milestone, inviting visitors to revisit and share their memories of the beloved retreat.
Entries must fall under one of three themes: "Nature," capturing the coexistence of Surakhu and the natural environment; "People," depicting families, couples, or friends enjoying the retreat; and "Rest," showing a moment of complete relaxation at Surakhu. The contest is open to anyone nationwide and will accept submissions through the Nowon-gu website from July 17 through the end of the month. Each person may submit one photo, with a file size limit of 4 MB.
A total of 20 works will be recognized. The top prize is the "Treehouse Award," named after the treehouse cabin — the most sought-after of Surakhu's 25 rooms and the hardest to book. The winner receives a one-night stay in the room of their choice along with a dining voucher worth 100,000 won ($65) at Season Seoul by Hong Shin-ae restaurant.
Two runners-up will receive the Starlight Garden Award, each earning a one-night stay in the room of their choice, while seven recipients of the Sunshine Garden Award will each receive a one-night stay in a four-person room (excluding the treehouse). The remaining 10 winners will receive the Season Seoul Award — a dining voucher worth 50,000 won at Season Seoul by Hong Shin-ae restaurant.
Before Surakhu opened, a pre-launch accommodation giveaway drew 10,247 entries, and the district expects similarly strong participation in this contest. Judging will be conducted by a five-member panel that includes three outside reviewers, who will evaluate entries on thematic relevance, creativity, and other criteria.
A district official said Surakhu has undergone many improvements and additions over the past year — including the creation of a children's forest experience area — so even guests who stayed in the early days will find something new to enjoy on a return visit.
Surakhu drew considerable anticipation even before it opened, thanks to its distinction as Seoul's first nature retreat and its exceptional accessibility — just 1.6 kilometers from Buramsan Station on subway Line 4. When it officially opened July 17 last year, attention quickly shifted from its symbolic status to the quality of the facility itself.
The retreat's strategy of placing LP record players instead of televisions to help guests focus on relaxation, and of running a restaurant helmed by a celebrated chef — culinary researcher Hong Shin-ae — in lieu of barbecue or self-catering, struck a chord with visitors seeking a premium wellness experience. Attention to detail, from skylights above the beds to high-quality bedding, further raised the bar.
Glowing reviews from actual guests sustained the buzz surrounding its first-of-its-kind status, translating into steady popularity within the nature retreat industry. In fact, every room — including those available on weekdays and during the off-season — has been fully booked throughout the first year of operation, a 100 percent occupancy rate unmatched among nature retreats nationwide.
Room reservations at Surakhu are made through the Sunnadeul-e website, with 50 percent of rooms available to Nowon-gu residents starting on the 7th of each month and the remaining 50 percent open to the general public starting on the 10th.
District Mayor Seo Jun-o said Surakhu "has been full of remarkable stories over the past year and is still evolving," adding that he would work to ensure "the values Surakhu stands for and the exceptional experiences it offers reach even more people."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
