The rooms at "Surak Hue," Seoul's first nature recreation forest accommodation, which is officially opening on the 17th, reportedly sold out within just three minutes of reservations opening, demonstrating explosive popularity. Citizens who successfully made reservations expressed their excitement online, posting comments such as, "I'm so excited to be able to enjoy a summer vacation in Seoul without having to travel far," and "My parents seem as happy as they were when they got tickets to the Lim Youngwoong concert."

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According to Nowon-gu on July 8, Surak Hue is a project that has been in planning since 2018 to create a space for rest and healing in the Suraksan forest. A total of 23.1 billion won was invested, including 11 billion won from the district budget.

Except for the restaurant and cafe, all facilities are directly operated by the district office. After a trial operation period, Surak Hue will officially open on the 17th. During the trial operation, residents selected through events such as a "Story Contest" and an "LP Donation Event," as well as those involved in the creation of Surak Hue and local volunteer organizations who contributed to the district, were given the opportunity to stay.

A district official stated, "The response from those who had the opportunity to stay during the trial operation was enthusiastic," adding, "There was a lot of praise for the accessibility, the comfort of hotel-level facilities, and the pleasant and emotional landscaping and atmosphere."

Interior view of the 4-person room at Surak Rest. Nowon-gu

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Reservations for July, which opened last month, reportedly sold out in just over three minutes, demonstrating immense popularity. Posts sharing reservation dates and methods have been continuously uploaded to local Nowon-gu community cafes since last month.

Those who succeeded in making reservations expressed their anticipation online, posting comments such as, "I don't need to go abroad for vacation this summer," "I'm so excited to enjoy a summer holiday in Seoul without traveling far," "My parents seem as happy as when they got tickets to the Lim Youngwoong concert," and "Just looking at the photos makes my heart flutter." On the other hand, there were also posts saying, "I forgot to mark it on my calendar and missed the reservation," "My parents wanted to go, so it's really disappointing," and "August reservations will be an even bigger 'ticketing war,' so I'm worried."

On the 7th of each month, 50% of the rooms for the following month at Surak Hue are reserved for Nowon-gu residents, and from the 10th, the remaining rooms are available for nationwide first-come, first-served reservations through the "Supnadel-e" website. Usage fees vary by peak/off-peak season, weekends/weekday, number of guests, and room type, ranging from a minimum of 70,000 won to a maximum of 250,000 won.

Surakhyu Treehouse. Nowon-gu

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The district plans to open additional experience facilities in the future, including an accessible forest trail, a valley picnic area, and a children's forest experience center. The children's forest experience center will feature three wooden treehouses, and the forest healing center is scheduled to begin construction next year and be completed in 2027. In addition to the campfire area in front of the visitor center, outdoor programs such as a nighttime playground using astronomical telescopes, forest interpretation, and Korean archery experiences are also being prepared.

District Mayor Oh Seungrok stated, "We paid close attention to every detail to ensure visitors are amazed first by the forest, then by the facilities, and once again by the activities to enjoy together," adding, "The evolution of Surak Hue will continue until it is recognized as the nation's best recreation forest."