Travel/Culture List

Iksan Station began operation on January 1, 1915, but was then known as Iri Station. After the station was completely destroyed by an accidental explosion on November 11, 1977, it was rebuilt and resumed service in 1978 and changed its name to Iksan Station in 1995.

Andong School of Korean Etiquette, which is located in Andong, is a Mecca of Korean traditional Confucian culture and provides an opportunity to experience and be coached in Korea traditional etiquette. In addition to Korean traditional etiquette, Andong School of Korean Etiquette also teaches tea etiquette and Korean traditional melodies using traditional instruments such as Janggu (double-headed hour-glass shaped drum) and Gayageum (a 12-stringed Korean harp). Students can also experience the joy of learning how to play folk games such as Yut-nori, a stick-throwing board game, and kite-flying. The school offers a wide variety of hands-on programs: Korean traditional masked dance; traditional paper craft; traditional cooking; traditional weddings; and eco rafting on Nakdonggang River. There are other popular tourist attractions nearby such as Dosan Seowon Confucian School, Forest Science Museum and Yi Yuk-sa Literary Hall.

As one of Korea’s top four fields of reeds, Sinseong-ri Reed Field (nearly 60,000 pyeong) has also been popularized as a filming location of the mega-hit Korean movie, “JSA.” To protect the natural environment, only 2-3% of the entire area of field of reed has been developed into a park. About 100,000 migratory birds (40 species) pass through every winter (especially in December and January). In fall, the golden fields of reeds create a romantic atmosphere along the banks of the glittering Geumgang River. Nearby tourist attractions include a riverbank resort, Wolmyeong Park (in Gunsan), Chunjangdae Beach (in Seocheon-gun) and Hansan Ramie Fabric Museum. ※ Tour period: July to February

Jusanji Pond (주산지) is a small reservoir located in Juwangsan National Park (주왕산). It is a man-made pond that was dug out in August 1720 and completed in October of the next year. The pond has been used as a source of water for agricultural use as well as for drinking water. Even though it is small in size, about 100 meters long, 50 meters wide and 7 to 8 meters deep, the pond has never dried up from any drought.While the surrounding thick woods of Mt. Juwangsan is quite an impressive place for those who love nature, 30 willow trees which are 150 years old are rooted in the pond, which make a fantastic balance with the surrounding, creating a picturesque scenery found nowhere else.The beauty of this forest along with the nature surrounding it culminates when the shades of the trees elongate on the still waters of the pond. Words cannot express the magnificent view of the surroundings here with the water, trees, and fog altogether.The best season to visit Jusanji Pond is spring and fall. People say the best time to go is when spring buds start to appear in April and May, or when the autumn foliage is in full bloom. In the summer, much water is drained for agriculture, so the area feels empty, and in the winter, the reservoir is frozen and it is not possible to see the trees reflected on the water.Jusanji Pond is located in the inner part of Mt. Juwangsan, which, unlike the outer part of Mt. Juwangsan where hiking courses are more developed, had been considered as a hinterland because of its inaccessibility and steep mountains. It started to become known to the general public about 20 years ago as photographers came looking for beautiful landscapes. Recently, the number of visitors has grown sharply after movie director Kim Ki-duk (김기덕) featured the picturesque four seasons of the pond in the movie Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring.Even though the movie set was dismantled for environmental and management reasons to prevent water contamination, numerous visitors continue to visit a place that has preserved nature and its wild habitat. 

Nestled in the high altitudes within the outskirts of Baekdudaegan Mountain Range's Hwangbyeongsan Mountain, Daegwallyeong Snow Town is a small farm village that pioneered Korea's high-land agriculture and is well-recognized for its ranches. It is also the birthplace of Korea's ski facilities and beholds the pride of cultural value of sports and tradition as the village's Pyeongchang Hwangbyeongsan Mountain Hunting Tradition was designated as the 19th Intangible Cultural Heritage. Eighty-percent of village land consists of forests and in year 2008, Daegwallyeong Snow Town opened a Mountain Village Ecology Center under the supervision of Korea Forest Service and Pyeongchang-gun County. Variety of experience programs are available throughout the year according to seasons such as picking dog-tooth violets, gomchwis, and cirsiums in spring, ranger training experience and cooking rice with cirsium in summer, riding on a donkey and creating individual plant guidebooks in fall, and enjoying winter sledding and other winter activities in winter. Other activities including horseback riding, ATV, peformances are also available.

Jungwon Falls is located at the eastern edge of Jungwon Valley in Jungwonsan Mountain, Yongmun-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun. It is a popular place for tourists in summer, attracting the attention for its three-tiered falls (under 10m high) surrounded by cliffs with fantastic rock formations that look like folding screens, and a pond with an impressive depth and x_width.

Onyangoncheon Station opened on June 1, 1922 as a regular railway station. The station building was relocated on June 23, 1983. On January 1, 2005, it was converted into a metro station. On September 2, 2008, the double tracked railway extension from Cheonan Station to Sinchang Station started operation.The Seoul Metropolitan Subway extended Line 1 to service the Cheonan-Sinchang extension on December 15, 2008. Onyangoncheon Station started to serve the Nuriro Trains on June 1, 2009.

National Institute of Ecology is a national organization established to find a sustainable balance between the preservation of the natural environment and citizens’ rights to pursue happiness.Ecorium has tropical, temperate, mediterranean and polar exhibitions centers where visitors can experience and learn about a variety of ecosystems. Ecological experience and education courses are conducted in a variety of outdoor spaces, including ecological wetland ecosystems.

Seonam Village (선암마을) is a small town located on the banks of the Seogang River in Ongjeong-ri, Seo-myeon, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do province. The village is famous for its land formation that is shaped like the Korean Peninsula, due to the river snaking around the village forming an outline in the shape of the peninsula. In the summer, many people come to enjoy rafting from the "East Coast" to the "West Coast" of the peninsula-like cliff formation, with Homigot (호미곶) in the south and Baekdusan Mountain in the North.

Cheongwansan Provincial Park is located on Cheongwansan Mountain, which is considered one of the best mountains in southwest Korea, along with Jirisan, Naejangsan, Wolchulsan and Naebyeonsan mountains. The name of Cheongwan comes from the fact that the surrounding boulders resemble a thorny crown worn by an emperor. In autumn, fields of silver grass unfold around the mountain peak, allowing for the Cheongwansan Silver Grass Festival to take place on Yeondaebong (silver grass plain). Also, from the top of the mountain, several grand landmarks like Dadohae archipelago, Wochulsan Mountain and Mudeungsan Mountain in nearby cities can be seen. On a clear day, visitors can even see Hallasan Mountain on Jeju-do Island. In the middle of the mountain is Cheongwansa Temple, which houses precious cultural properties including Cheongwansa Three-Story Pagoda (Treasure No.795), Cheongwansa Seokdeung (stone lantern), Five-Story Pagoda, and Jangheung Tapsansaji Seokdeung (stone lantern). Finally, the park features lodging facilities, multiple hiking trails, as well as various convenience and recreational facilities such as Cheongwansan Natural Recreation Forest and Cheongwansan Literature Park by the park.