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A view of Gosan Pavilion and the surrounding Gasong Gorge in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. / Source: Cultural Heritage Administration

A picturesque location featured in the dramas Mr. Sunshine and The Tyrant’s Chef has been officially recognized as a natural heritage site. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced Monday that the “Gosan Pavilion Area” in Gasong-ri, Dosan-myeon, Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, has been designated a national scenic site.

Gosan Pavilion was built by scholar Geum Nan-su (1530–1604), a disciple of Confucian master Yi Hwang, also known as Toegye. Geum contributed to the construction of Dosan Seowon, one of Korea’s most renowned Confucian academies, and led a militia in the Andong region during the Japanese invasions of 1592–1598.

Long celebrated for its serene beauty and scholarly heritage, the Gosan Pavilion area is nestled near Cheongnyang Mountain, where the Nakdong River winds through cliffs, forests, and pavilions in a landscape praised for its harmony of nature and architecture.

Poems and writings dedicated to the site, including Gosanje-yeong (“Verses on Gosan”), were left by Toegye and other scholars of the Joseon era. Nearby are historical landmarks such as Nongam Jongtaek, a Confucian head family residence, and the ancient pathways Toegye himself once walked.

The Cultural Heritage Administration noted that the site “offers diverse and changing scenery throughout the four seasons and exemplifies the lasting harmony between nature and human artistry.”