The Monsta X Gyeongju school trip is easy to follow from Seoul: about 2 hours by KTX, and one night is enough. The two spots officially confirmed in the video, Hwangridangil and Daereungwon, are a short walk apart. In the evening, you can end the day at Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, lit up at night.
This guide is based on the Mon Meogeodo Go (Can’t Eat, Can’t Go) spin-off that Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) supported, plus official tourism information. I’ve kept “what appears in the video” separate from “what I recommend on top of it,” so it works as a first-time Gyeongju plan even if you’re not a fan.
What Was the “Mon Meogeodo Go” Spin-Off?
Mon Meogeodo Go is Monsta X’s own reality variety show on their official YouTube channel. This June it came back as a spin-off after about 10 months, and this time the setting was Gyeongju.
The spin-off has three episodes. The first aired on June 19 and the last on July 3. KTO supported the production as part of a campaign aimed at K-pop fans overseas, so Gyeongju’s signature sights show up naturally in the scenes.
The concept is exactly what the title of this guide says: a school trip. The members wore school uniforms and took on a “Gyeongju 4-cut” mission, posing for group photos around town. A twist was added: one member was secretly the mafia, so the members spent the episodes suspecting each other.
There was also a shooting-range game, a hanbok lucky-draw (king, warrior and nobleman outfits), and games back at the lodging. On June 19, Monsta X’s official account also posted a prompt encouraging fans to take photos at Hwangridangil and Daereungwon.
The Monsta X Gyeongju School Trip Route, Step by Step
The places officially confirmed from the video are Hwangridangil and Daereungwon. This route is built around those two. I added Cheomseongdae, which is a walk away, and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond for the evening view.
- Day 1: Hwangridangil (hanbok or school uniform) → Daereungwon → Cheomseongdae → Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at night
- Day 2: Gyeongju World, or the classic school-trip route
If you want to know exactly where each scene was shot, watch the three spin-off episodes on Monsta X’s official YouTube channel before you go. It makes the same alleys a lot more fun to walk.
How to Get From Seoul to Gyeongju
The easiest way is the KTX. From Seoul Station to Gyeongju Station (Singyeongju) takes about 2 hours. According to the Gyeongju city tourism guide, a standard-class adult one-way fare is ₩49,300. The SRT from Suseo Station also takes about 2 hours, at ₩42,300 standard class.
Singyeongju Station is a bit outside the city center. Allow about 15 minutes by taxi to Hwangridangil, or 15 to 20 minutes more by bus.
Fares and timetables can change, so check the Korail or SRT app before you book. The last train back to Seoul is said to leave around 9 PM. If you want to see the night view, I recommend staying one night.
Day 1 Morning: Start in Hwangridangil in Uniform or Hanbok
The school-trip mood starts with the outfit. According to the Gyeongbuk tourism guide, shops around Hwangridangil rent out not only hanbok but also old-style school uniforms. Prices and booking methods differ by shop, so check before you go.
Hwangridangil is in the Posoek-ro 1080 area of Gyeongju. It’s a free street you can walk at any time. Renovated old buildings now hold cafes, restaurants and small gift shops, so it’s an easy place to snack as you stroll. Hwangnam-ppang, Gyeongju’s signature pastry, is easy to find here too.
Trying the “Gyeongju 4-cut” mission from the video is fun. With friends or family, pick four pose themes and complete one shot for each. Add a round of guess-who’s-the-mafia and your evening at the lodging gets a lot longer.
Day 1 Afternoon: Daereungwon and Cheomseongdae
Daereungwon, close to Hwangridangil, is a park of ancient Silla-era royal tombs. According to the official Gyeongju city guide, admission is free, and it’s open 09:00 to 22:00 (last ticket 21:30). Walking slowly along the paths between the tombs takes about 1 to 2 hours.
Only Cheonmachong, the tomb you can go inside, charges a fee: ₩3,000 for adults, ₩2,000 for teenagers and military, ₩1,000 for children.
From Daereungwon to Cheomseongdae is about 300 m, around a 5-minute walk. Cheomseongdae is free to enter, and KTO describes it as the oldest surviving observatory in the world.
According to the official course guide, it’s about 1 km, a 15-minute walk, from Cheomseongdae back to Hwangridangil. Take this stretch slowly in the daytime, then head to the next stop as the sun starts to set.
Day 1 Evening: Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at Night
The highlight of the evening is Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. It’s the site of a Silla-era secondary palace where banquets were held for honored guests. It’s about a 10-minute drive (roughly 2.5 km) from Hwangridangil.
Admission is ₩3,000 for adults, ₩2,000 for teenagers and military, and ₩1,000 for children. Gyeongju city warns that because so many visitors come for the night view, arriving close to closing time may mean you can’t get in. Aim to arrive around sunset, with time to spare.
After dark, you can see the lit-up pavilions reflected in the pond. It’s a popular photo spot, and tripods or outside food may not be allowed, so check the rules in advance.
Day 2: Two Ways to Keep the School-Trip Feeling Going
On the second day, choose by taste.
Option 1: Gyeongju World. KTO’s official page says Monsta X visited Gyeongju Hanpandum, Cheomseongdae, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, and Gyeongju World on a different YouTube travel show, IDOL 1N2D. Note that this course is separate content from the Mon Meogeodo Go spin-off. KTO’s Korean-language guide says school uniforms can be rented at Gyeongju World, so it’s a good way to continue the uniform concept from Day 1.
Gyeongju World is in the Bomun Tourist Complex (Bomun-ro 544). According to the Gyeongju city tourism guide, it’s open 09:50 to 18:00 (until 20:30 on weekends and holidays) and runs year-round. The admission price is listed as “call for information,” so check ticket options on the official website to be safe.
Option 2: The classic school-trip route. Gyeongju has long been called Korea’s “number one school-trip destination,” and Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto are at the center of it. If you’d like a deeper look at Silla history, this fits better. Check admission fees and opening hours in the official guide before you visit.
Can You Do Gyeongju as a Day Trip?
You can, but it’s tight if you want the night view. It’s 2 hours by KTX each way, and the last train back is said to leave around 9 PM.
For a day trip, the realistic plan is to arrive early, see Hwangridangil, Daereungwon and Cheomseongdae, and head back in the evening. If Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond at night is a must, I recommend two days and one night.
Costs at a Glance (Per Adult, Admission and KTX Only)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| KTX Seoul ↔ Singyeongju round trip (standard class) | About ₩98,600 (₩49,300 one way) |
| Daereungwon | Free (Cheonmachong ₩3,000) |
| Cheomseongdae | Free |
| Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond | ₩3,000 |
| Hwangridangil | Free (hanbok/uniform rental, food and lodging extra) |
Not counting transport, the main admission fees come to just ₩6,000 even if you go inside both Cheonmachong and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. Rental fees, meals and lodging vary a lot by shop and season, so I left them out of the table. (For a full-trip budget, see our 7-day Korea trip budget post.)
Small Tips for Enjoying It Like a School Trip
- Watch the video first. If you know what poses the members struck in each alley, taking your own photos is twice as fun.
- Daereungwon in the morning, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond in the evening lets you enjoy both daylight and lights.
- Carry a little cash. Some snack stalls and small shops may not take cards.
- Wear comfortable shoes. It’s a full day of walking, and the paths around the tombs mix grass and dirt.
- If you have more days in Seoul, pair this with our 3-day Seoul itinerary.
Checklist: Before Your Monsta X Gyeongju School Trip
- Watch the three Mon Meogeodo Go Gyeongju spin-off episodes on Monsta X’s official YouTube channel
- Book KTX (Korail) or SRT round-trip tickets and check the last train time
- If staying overnight, book near Hwangridangil or Daereungwon
- Check booking method and prices for hanbok and uniform rental shops
- Arrive at Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond around sunset, well before closing
- Check Gyeongju World hours and tickets on its official website before visiting
- Pack some cash and comfortable shoes
Gyeongju is worth a visit even if you’re not a Monsta X fan. But after watching the episodes, walking the same alleys feels different. The earlier you book the KTX, the easier it is to get the time you want, so lock in your dates this month. Walk through the scenes of the Monsta X Gyeongju school trip yourself, and finish your own “Gyeongju 4-cut.”
