Poseokjeongji

Poseokjeongji, on the western side of Mt. Namsan in Gyeongju, was once a detached palace where kings enjoyed wine. Today the pavilion itself is gone, and only the water channel used for refined entertainment remains.

It's believed to date from the reign of King Heongang (875-886), Silla's 49th monarch. The channel measures about 35cm wide, 26cm deep on average, and roughly 10m long overall. Poseokjeong is known to have originated from an ancient Chinese riverside custom — a ritual to console spirits and ward off evil, involving a game where cups floated on winding water while participants composed poetry. What was once a vibrant thread of Silla royal entertainment culture now survives only as a quiet, empty channel.