탑골공원 팔각정

Supyogyo Bridge with a Water Level Gauge Supyogyo Bridge was originally constructed using stone, but during the restoration, wood was used to restore it to its original form. The name ‘Supyogyo’ comes from the water level gauge, or ‘supyo’ in Korean, which is located under the bridge. This gauge was used to measure the depth of the Cheonggyecheon Stream. The water level gauge was the first hydrological instrument, along with a rain gauge, created by Jang Yeong-sil, a renowned scientist and astronomer during the Joseon Dynasty, under the reign of King Sejong the Great. Thanks to his ingenious invention, people could prepare for possible flooding of the stream. The bridge is also famous for being the place where King Sukjong and Royal Lady Jang met for the first time. One day, while King Sukjong was returning to the palace after attending a royal ancestral rite, he encountered a commoner named Jang Ok-jeong near this bridge. The king couldn't forget the beautiful girl and later summoned her to work at the palace as a court lady. His affection for her grew stronger, and he eventually made her his queen. As you cross the bridge and continue along the stream, you can enjoy a water fountain laser show. This show enhances the nighttime view of Seoul, a city of skyscrapers. The light show, together with the fascinating history, makes Supyogyo Bridge one of the perfect places to visit in Seoul.

A bridge with Supyo, a flood warning system in the Joseon Dynasty In 1441, during the era of King Sejong the Great, a flood occurred in the area. To measure the water level of the Cheonggyecheon Stream and prepare for future flood, a water level gauge called “Supyo” in Korean was constructed at the Majeongyo Bridge. The Supyo was engraved with the unit of measurement, known as “cheok” and “chun,” to determine the water depth. On the other side, it had holes at the spots of three, six, and nine cheok units. At that time, one cheok was approximately 23 centimeters long. A water level of three cheok signified a drought, six cheok indicated normal conditions, and nine cheok represented a flood. Supyo was essential in monitoring the water levels of the Cheonggyecheon Stream and providing flood warnings. Following the installation of Supyo, Majeongyo Bridge began to be known as Supyogyo Bridge. According to unofficial historical documents, King Sukjong, the 19th king of Joseon, is said to have fallen in love with a beautiful lady at first sight on this bridge. Supyogyo Bridge has been reserved at Jangchungdan Park near Dongguk University Station. The Supyo itself is stored at the Memorial Hall of King Sejong the Great. Unfortunately, during the restoration project of Cheonggyecheon Stream in 2005, Supyo and Supyogyo Bridge couldn’t be restored to their original location. This was due to the restored stream being narrower than its original size, making Supyogyo Bridge too long for the stream.