Aiming at a Target 20 Meters Away — Traditional Archery at Seoul's Hwanghakjeong
As you draw the bowstring back, the skin on the inside of your forearm grazes against it with a sharp sting. A brief whooshing sound follows as the arrow flies, then a dull thud as it strikes the target 20 meters away. This is an experience of drawing the very kind of bow used at a Joseon-era palace archery range, right in the heart of Seoul.
At a glance: Location Hwanghakjeong Korean Traditional Archery Exhibition Hall (15-32 Sajik-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul) · Getting there 7-minute walk from Exit 1 of Gyeongbokgung Station · Hours Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00 (closed Mondays) · Experience fee 4,000 won for 10 arrows (2,000 won for an additional 10) · Eligibility age 8 and older · Inquiries 02-722-1600
Hwanghakjeong is an archery range built in 1899 by Emperor Gojong, originally located inside Gyeonghuigung Palace before being relocated to its current site. The exhibition hall displays materials on the history of Korean archery alongside traditional weapons such as the singijeon (a multi-rocket arrow weapon developed during the Joseon dynasty), letting visitors get a visual sense of a bow's structure and how an arrow flies before trying the experience themselves.
The bows used for the experience are modified bows with reduced draw weight compared to traditional Korean bows, but pulling the string back for the first time still feels far heavier than expected. Only after being coached to balance the hand holding the bow against the hand drawing the string does the arrow fly straight. The target sits 20 meters away and is a traditional-style target painted with animal motifs, giving a distinctive sense of satisfaction when an arrow hits its mark. When an early-autumn breeze blows across the archery ground, it flutters your collar, and the faint scent of the oak bow lingers on your fingertips.
Seoul has plenty of photogenic spots like palaces or hanbok experiences, but an experience that also gives you the satisfaction of aiming and hitting a target with your own hands is rare. Shooting 10 arrows takes only about 20 to 30 minutes, so it fits naturally into a half-day itinerary before or after visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace.