Neungkang Sotdae Art Museum in Neunggang-ri of Jechun-si City in Chungcheongbuk-do Province is a museum of 'sotdaes,' which are ancient prayer poles with a duck or bird-shaped figurine on top that were usually placed at the village entrance. Many of these artifacts can be found inside and outside of a modern structure at the museum site, which is located near the vast Chungju Lake. Other nearby tourist attractions include Neunggang Valley that is situated at the foot of Geumsusan Mountain and surrounded by lush pine forests, rocky cliffs, streams and waterfalls. There is also Jeongbangsa Temple, which is told to have been built by the renowned Buddhist priest, Uisang, during the Silla Kingdom.

The Gochang Pansori Museum was established in the old residence of ‘Dongni’ Sin Jae-Hyo (a musical theorist and arranger and a sponsor of Pansori) with the aim of honoring the great Pansori singers of the past (including Sin Jae-Hyo) and preserving and developing the indigenous tradition of Pansori. Of the original rooms of the residence only Sarangchae (an annex where men used to study or welcome guests) has been renovated and is open to the public. Right next to Sarangchae is the Dongni Gugakdang (Korean Traditional Music Hall).Over 1,000 pieces related to Pansori and great local singers are on display at the museum, included personal possessions once owned by Sin Jae-Hyo (penname ‘Dongni’). For those interested in learning more about the traditional art of Pansori music or experiencing high-quality Pansori, the Gochang Pansori Museum is a must-visit travel destination.

Constructed in the eighth year of King Gyeongdeok of the Shilla Dynasty (749), Mihwangsa Temple is located on the west side of Mt. Dalmasan (489m), the Mt.Geumgangsan of Southern Sea, and is situated the furthest south of all temples in the Korean peninsula. The beautiful sunset and the view of the graceful Mt. Dalmasan from the temple attracts numerous tourists. The foot of the mountain found behind the temple blends well with the suitable-sized temple and the appearance of Daeungbojeon gives out an aura of comfort and tranquility. The cornerstone of Daeungbojeon is carved with sea creatures, such as turtles and crabs that cannot be observed elsewhere. Moreover, you can enjoy observing various stone and statues, such as Gwebul (national treasure no. 1342), where people pray for rain during the dry season. Other attractions include 18th century murals on the walls of Daeungbojeon and Unginjeon, and Buddhist statues such as bosal, nahan, dongja and shinjangsang.

Paroho Lake (파로호) is a manmade lake created when Hwacheon Dam was built in the valley of the Bukhangang River (북한강). The lake is capable of holding up to one billion tons of water and the Dam of Peace is located further upstream. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mt Il and Wolmyeongbong Peak as well as the thick forest and pristine valleys in the surrounding area. As Paroho Lake’s unpolluted water is home to many kinds of freshwater fish such as carp, crucian carp, catfish and mandarin fish, the lake is gaining popularity as an excellent fishing spot.

Starting from Subun-ri, Jangsu-gun of Jeollabuk-do, Geumgang River flows from the east to the west passing through Chungcheong-do and the northern region of Jeollabuk-do before it reaches the Yellow Sea at Gunsan. In the old days people had to cross the river from Gunsan to Janghang by boat but over the years an estuary has formed at the mouth of the some 400-km-long river so that today people now come and go in their cars between the two cities.Geumgang estuary became a famous tourist attraction because of its majestic beauty but it has changed quite a bit compared to how it was before. Waves of reeds stretch along the riverside, and behind it are some hills that include Dolsan Mountain at about 100m and the more substantial Mt. Oseongsan at 230m. Come November a flock of swans fly into the estuary. It is truly a sight to behold. As well as being the breeding grounds for swans, the estuary has become a sanctuary for many rare birds including oyster catchers (Haematopus ostralegus) and Saunder’s gulls (Larus saundersi). So, visitors in winter can feast their eyes on the many birds that have made the estuary their home.

Seongryugul Cave is located where Wangpicheon Stream intersects with Seonyusan (Mt. Seonyu). Surrounded by arborvitae and designated as Natural Monument No. 155, it is a limestone cave that stretches over 472m; it is adorned with a beautiful array of stalactites and stalagmites. Connected to Wangpicheon Stream, the cave consists of five ponds and twelve squares. It is also the habitat for abundant fish. The cave was initially called Seonyugul because it was a beautiful site for mountain gods to stay and rest. Its current name originated during the Japanese Invasions of Korea (1592-1598). During the war, Buddhist statues housed in the nearby temple were relocated to the cave; hence the name, Seongryugul (Cave Where Buddha Stays). The cave is shaped in a linear, horizontal form, and a variety of squares within it—Yeonmudong Seoksil, Eumhacheon Ojakgyo, Yongsinji, and Yongsinji—showcase exquisite beauty. The most famous attraction in the cave, though, belongs to Sambulsang (Three Buddhist Statues) which looks like three Buddhas standing side by side.  

Wondang Ranch became famous as it was used as a drama filming site. It includes some dangerous facilities and therefore there are certain restrictions to the public. Inside the ranch, visitors can watch horses taking a leisure walk on the pasture.The ranch is a place for training jockeys and horse-related workers, and do not serve as a citizen’s park. Hence, drinking, cooking, making noises, engaging in any forms of sports including balls, installing tents are prohibited in this area. In addition, all visitors must clear their leftovers, if any before leaving.* Area: approx. 363,638㎡ (110,000 pyeong)* Grass field: approx. 165,290㎡ (50,000 pyeong)

Hongwon Port, located near Chunjangdae Beach, is a popular place for enjoying sea fishing and delectable meals of fresh raw fish. In addition to its culinary appeal, the port offers the picturesque scene of long stretches of shoreline guarded by two beacons in red and white.Located only 10 minutes away by car is Maryang Port, which is one of the rare places where visitors can see both the sunrise and sunset. Maryang Port is the third most popular spot along the west coast after Anmyeondo Island and Daecheon Beach and is particularly loved by couples. Though Hongwon Port is perhaps not as scenic as Maryang Port, Hongwon is bigger and has more fishing boats (thanks to its small tidal range), resulting in a livelier atmosphere and cheaper sashimi prices.There is also a beautiful camellia hill, called ‘Dongbaekjeong’ located nearby. When the camellias are in full bloom, short-tentacled octopuses are in season at Hongwon Port. However, gizzard shad is by far the most popular seafood caught in the waters off the port. There are even old Korean sayings that stem from the popularity of the gizzard shad, which is said to be most abundant and delicious in the fall. According to the sayings “In the head of Gizzard Shad caught in autumn are three bags of sesame” (referring to the worth of the fish) and, “The smell of grilled gizzard shad brings the runaway daughter-in-law back home” (in reference to its taste).Hongwon Port (along with Gwangyang Port in Jeollanamdo) is the prime spot for gizzard shad. Each autumn the port holds the Gizzard Shad Festival, a festival that has plenty of events & delectable fish dises. While at the festival, visitors are also encouraged to check out the Seocheon Museum of Marine & Natural History and Dongbaekjeong. The stuffed specimens at the museum are worth the visit and the view of the Maryang Port from atop the museum is unbelievable.Representative festival of Hongwon Port: Gizzard Shad FestivalHongwon Harbor hosts the Jeoneo (gizzard shad) Festival every October. During the festival fresh gizzard shad is served up in a variety of ways (including salads mixed with spicy marinated Jeoneo, cucumbers, sesame leaves, and parsley) and the village comes alive with fish-catching activities, performances, and fireworks.Jeoneo is known as a good hangover food and a good diet food because it is low in fat and high in protein. Also said to be good for the skin, this tasty fish appeals to a wide audience (as evidenced by the diverse crowds that visit the festival each year).