By Elias Molina and Joung Haseung 

Photos = Elias Molina 

Namhansanseong Fortress is a gorgeous landmark located southeast of the nation's capital. It roughly takes around 30 minutes to get there by bus from Jamsil Station in Seoul's Songpa-gu District. 

Namhansanseong gently extends from north to south along the ridges of Namhansan Mountain (479 m) and has a circumference of 12 km. It was built on the ruins of a castle built during the reign of King Munmu of the Silla Kingdom in A.D. 672 and saw extensive expansion in the fourth year of King Injo's reign during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Namhansanseong is also where Injo took refuge at for 40 days in 1636 during the Manchu-led Qing invasion of Joseon.

The heart of Seoul's cityscape can be seen at a glance under the fortress's western sky. It almost exudes the ambiance of a futuristic city coupled with the views of bridges that stretch across the Hangang River and the nation's tallest building Lotte World Tower (123 floors). 

Looking at the city from the ancient fortress feels like going back in time. South of the complex lies Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Hanam, also in Gyeonggi-do, is to the north. 

The barbican on Yeonjubong Peak boasts the best view of Namhansanseong Fortress. A barbican is a double fortified wall meant to protect the fortress gates. 

Foreign residents taking part in the "K-UNESCO Adventures" program play tuho, a traditional game in which the aim is to throw the most arrows into a jar from a set distance. The game was mostly played within a palace court or at the home of an aristocrat. 

Participants also tried the "dalgona challenge" from the hit Netflix series "Squid Game." Dressed in Confucian uniforms, they tried to poke out the umbrella shape, one of the most difficult to complete, without breaking it. The winner received a prize. 

Around 30 participants went on the tour of the fortress, including diplomats from Tunisia, Spain and Canada. 

The reenactment of the taking of gwageo, the civil service exam of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), had participants writing short poems in Korean as part of the "test." 

After playing traditional folk games, the group walked in and around the fortress with an English-speaking tour guide. They saw beautiful autumn landscapes on the way up to the top of the structure, with Guri and Hanam in Gyeonggi-do Province, visible on the other side of the mountain's ridges. 

The participants take a commemorative group photo at the top of the fortress. 

The highlights of seeing Seoul from atop Namhansanseong Fortress include views of the nation's tallest building Lotte World Tower (123 floors) and Namsan Mountain's N Seoul Tower. 

Namhansanseong Fortress is only 25 km away from Seoul, making it a popular photography spot because it perfectly captures the capital's scenery. The tall skyscraper on the right is the nation's tallest building Lotte World Tower, the mountain behind it is Namsan Mountain and N Seoul Tower is at the top of the mountain. 

eliasmolina@korea.kr