Travel/Culture List

Dutasan Recreational Forest is located at the foot of Dutasan Mountain that is part of Bakjisan Mt., which rises 1,394m above the sea level and straddles the border between Jinbu-myeon of Pyeongchang-gun and Jeongseon-gun. The recreational forest is a hub of leisure activity and boasts robust and rich forests filled with a wide variety of animals (badgers, raccoons, bores, hares, etc.), abundant medicinal herbs, and trees such as a huge birch, nut trees and lime trees. Amenities and accommodations include the Forest Culture Rest Center, House of Forest, and various trekking courses and campsites. Nearby attractions are Odaesan National Park, Yi Hyo-Seok Literary House, Daegwallyeong Ranch, Bongpyeong Herb World, and Woljeongsa Temple. At some of these sites, you can try leisure activities such as rafting (Odeacheon Stream) and skiing (Yongpyeong Ski Resort).

Pungsuwon was the first catholic village in which over 40 faithful from Yongin (Gyeonggi-do), led by Sin Tae-bo (or St. Peter), settled to escape the wrath of Sinyubakhae (religious persecution of Catholics) of 1801. Over a period of 80 years, the settlers had led their religious lives without a priest until Father Le Merre (a French priest) came to the village in 1888. Succeeding Le Merre in 1896, Father Jeong Gyu-ha (or Augustino), along with Chinese engineers, began to build Pungsuwon Cathedral. Completed in 1907 by the faithful, the cathedral still remains a beautiful building; it is a popular spot for visitors, having frequently appeared in Korean dramas and films. It is the first cathedral built by a Korean priest as well as in Gangwon-do; it is the fourth cathedral built in Korea. Pungsuwon Cathedral was designated as Gangwon-do Local Cultural Property No.69 in 1982.

From Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문), the heart of downtown Seoul, straight down to the very the tip of the peninsula lies the warmest place on the Korean mainland, Jangheung County’s Jeongnamjin (정남진). The region has a diverse natural environment including stunning views of mountains, fields, the ocean, lakes, rivers and streams. It also as well as cultural sites such as Cheongwansan Mountain, Bangchon Cultural Village, and Borimsa Temple, one of the three major Borimsa Temples in Asia. The Jeongnamjin district has a wide variety of tourist attractions nearby such as the Samsan Embankment, a provincial park on Cheongwansan Mountain; a literature park; and Sodeungseom Island, the filming place of the movie “Festival”. You can also enjoy the beautiful sunrise or take a seawater bath at Anyang water gate. There are a diverse number of events based on natural resources of the area like the Jeam Azalea Festival, Pen Shell Festival, Pike Eel Festival, Aqua Festival, Gaemegi Fishing Festival, and the Cheongwan Mountain Eulalie Festival. Area size: A total of 618㎢ (farmland 23%, forest 66.5%, others 10.5%) Administrative districts: 295 villages, 7 townships, and 3 towns

Located in the southernmost part of the Korean peninsula, Sebang Nakjo Observatory is one of the best places in Korea from which to catch the sunset. From here, you can look out over a flock of small islands set amidst a sea sparkling with the glint of the setting sun’s rays. As the sun sinks below the horizon and the sky becomes tinged with a rainbow of reds and oranges, the color seem to catch in the rocks of each island, making for an indescribably stunning view. The Jindo West Coast Highway portion from Gachi-ri (where Sebang Nakjo is located) to Gahak-ri has been named one of the “Hundred Most Beautiful Roads of Korea” and is the best scenic driving course to take if you want to see unobstructed views of the islands and the expansive blue waters.  

Seonam Valley includes three of the eight sceneries in Danyang, the Sangseon Rock, Junseon Rock, and Haseon Rock (Haseon-am). The valley flows in from Mt. Wolaksan, and because it is big and has many interesting looking rocks, it has been famous for a long time. Among the rocks, the area that has the Haseon Rock is said to be the most beautiful in Seonam Valley. Divided into 3 horizontal layers, the white rock is 3 km long, and has large, round rocks stacked on top of each other. The way the area blends in with the surrounding mountains is especially beautiful in the spring, when the azaleas bloom, and in the fall when the leaves turn color. In the Haseon Rock region, there are places where you can stay overnight, so you can enjoy being near the water and stay the night. Past Haseon Rock is Jungseon Rock, where the water currents are not strong, and many trees provide shade, so you can play in the water. But it is not a fit place to spend the night. From Jungseon rock, if you go travel up the river, you will come to Sangseon Rock. This area has many interesting looking rocks, and if you go just a bit further up, you can see the Teukseon Rock. Teukseon Rock has facilities where you can spend the night. It is one of the great tour sites where you can enjoy the view of fancy rocks and clean valley water as you rest. Tourists especially frequent it in the summer looking for cool valleys and mountain water. 

If you go 5 km up along the valley at Baegam-ri, under the thick woods, you will find a 180 square meter long stone named ‘Jeomjeong Rock’ and a small waterfall. This valley is Baegundong Gyegok Valley. For almost 6 km, the water of the valley flows over only rocks, with over twenty large and small falls and lakes. Large stones in the valley are gorgeous because the stones are washed with sunbeams and the strong current of water. The most famous falls are Baeun Pokpo Waterfall and Odam Pokpo Waterfall. Strong current of water flows in Deungcheondae, where the letters ‘Yeongnamjeilcheonsok’ are carved. Baegundong Valley is a clean area due to maintenance of the clean natural environment. Many tourists visit here because the valley is decorated with azaleas in spring and it is cool in summer.

Uniram Baniram Valley (5km long) falls between Myeongdeokbong Peak and Myeongdobong Peak in the northeastern region of Mount Unjangsan. The name Uniram refers to the steep walls of the valley where nothing but the sky, rocks, thick forests, and clouds can be seen. The valley is also befittingly named Baniram since it is so deep that it only receives direct sunlight for half the day. There are many strangely-shaped rocks like Jjokduri Rock, Cheollyeop Rock, and Daebul Rock scattered throughout the lush valley. At the peak of summer, the area is crowded with vacationers and is also popular for its autumn leaves.

Jukgyegugok Valley is the valley stretching from Baejeom-ri to Choamsa Temple. Joseon-era Confucian scholar Toegye Yi Hwang (1501-1570) was inspired by the scenery of the valley and the enchanting sound of the flowing water, so he came up with names for each of the nine sections of the valley and collectively called them Jukgyegugok (nine bamboo valleys). The valley presents a splendid sight indeed with crystal clear waters, lush forest, and white rocks. In summer, vacationers from around the country flock to Jukgyegugok Valley to cool off from the sweltering heat by dipping their feet in the refreshing waters of the valley. Famous tourist attractions near the valley include Sosuseowon Confucian Academy, Buseoksa Temple, and Eupnaeri Mural Tomb. * Choamsa Temple On the path that ascends from Jukgyegugok Valley, there is a small temple located at the foot of Sobaeksan Mountain. The great monk Uisang Daesa of the Silla Kingdom reached this place during his search for an ideal site to build a Buddhist temple invoking national security. He set up a small thatched hut for a temporary stay until he found the most propitious spot, on which he built Buseoksa Temple. In the site where his thatched hut once stood, he built another temple and named it Choamsa Temple. The original structure was destroyed by fire during the Korean War (1950-1953). The temple has been restored to its present state by the Buddhist monk Lee Bo-won after years of arduous efforts.

Designated as the top monument of Jeollanam-do, Sigyeongjeong Pavilion (식영정) literally means a place where even the shadow of the moon can find a place to rest. As its name suggests, this pavilion is set in a lush and remote forested area. Countless number of scholars and writers has been attracted to this pavilion as a place of profound inspiration. The pavilion has gained more fame from the legendary lyrics of Seongsanbyeolgok written by the poet Jeong Cheol. The elegant words of Kim Seongwon, a literary scholar, depict the scenic beauty of Seongsan Mountain during the changing seasons.Of all the pavilions situated at the basin of the Yeongsangang River the Sigyeongjeong is said to be blessed with a breathtaking view from the side. The current building was restored in the early 1900s. At the Sigyeongjeong pavilion you’ll find the Buyongdang, a monument with the lyrics to the Seongsanbyeolgok Poem, and next to it an old library building called jangseogak built to preserve the wooden blocks of Songgangjib, a book of poetry written by Jeong Cheol.