Travel/Culture List

Julmudeom refers to the unmarked graves of anonymous Catholic martyrs in Darakgol (Nugok), Cheongyang (Chungcheongnam-do). Darakgol is also the birthplace of St. Choi Gyeong-hwan and Choi Yang-eop (the second Catholic priest in Korea) was also martyred in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do. Because the grave is of more than one individual, it was given the name Julmudeom (group graveyard).Although the exact number of martyrs and their exact cause of death is unknown, they were buried by family resulting in the 37 mounds in three sections. In 1982, Cheongyang Cathedral established monuments to commemorate the name-less martyrs, and Julmudeom became a well-known site for Catholic pilgrimages. In 1986, the remains of St. Choi Gyeong-hwan Francisco were relocated to the Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine reducing the total number of mounds at Julmudeom to 36. 

Included in Hapcheon's 8 Best Landscapes, Hambyeongnu Pavilion was built in 1321 A.D., during the 8th year of Goryeo's King Chungsuk by Hapcheon county lord Kim Mo. It is located on the banks of Hwanggang River, below Yeonhosa Temple and Dayaseong Fortress. The pavilion was visited by many poets, with writings from Toegye Yi Hwang, Nammyeong Josil, and Wooam Song Si-yeol hanging from tablets inside, and a rock engraved with "Hambyeongnu" behind the pavilion. Hambyeongnu is a 3 pillar wide by 2 pillar deep, 2-story pavillion, with an octagonal roof connected with a frame of five parts. The roof of the pavilion is famous in that when it rains, the water drips straight off the eaves and into the river below.

Located in Galmal-eup in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do Province, Sambuyeon is a 20-meter high waterfall. The waterfall has a mystic impression with water cascading all year round without ever drying and surrounded by strangely shaped rocks. The waterfalls in three different areas, creating a shape that resembles a Gamasot, a traditional Korean metal cauldron used for making rice since the old days. There is also a local legend that a dragon flew into the air from this waterfall, hence the name Yonghwa-dong (yong meaning dragon) for the village. The area is very clean as there are no restaurants and convenience facilities. About a kilometer away is Yeougol Village, which is the site of the legend where a father who once killed a fox almost had a fox marry his son.

Jeonui Hyanggyo Confucian School is thought to have been built in 1413 during the 13th year of King Taejong’s reign. The School features a simple spatial arrangement with only Myeongnyundang and Daeseongjeon Study Halls, each with three gates in the front. Outside the western wall of Myeongnyundang Hall is Sujiksa Temple. Several books - Jaeimnok (24cm×34cm), Seonan ( 28cm×43cm), several texts on rituals, and Eojeyuneum (22cm×35cm, 1782-1783), which was published in 1782 (6th year of King Jeongjo’s reign) and 1783, have been found at Jeonui Hyanggyo.

This village, located in Yeongdeok, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is called ‘Daege Wonjo Village’ (대게원조마을) because the legs of the snow crabs caught in the Donghae Sea (East Sea, 동해) are shaped like bamboo. Since people visited this village in wagons during the Goryeo period, it was called ‘Chayu Village.’ But recently, it has been renamed ‘Yeongdeok Daege Wonjo Village’ and a local monument has been established. The nearby Gyeongjeong Breakwater is famous among anglers.

Located on the southeastern slope of Jinaksan Mountain (732 meters), about six kilometers away from Geumsan-eup, Boseoksa Temple was founded by the great Buddhist monk Jogu Daesa in 866 (12th year of King Heongang) during the Silla Kingdom. The temple’s name Boseoksa (boseok meaning ‘jewelry’) comes from the statue of Buddha in the temple that was cast from gold found in the mountain facing the temple.The temple is comprised of Daeungjeon Hall, Euiseongak Shrine and Sansingak Shrine. Close to the temple grounds are 12 stunning waterfalls. You can also see a 1,100 year-old gingko tree (natural monument no. 365) or take a pleasant stroll along a 300 meter long fir tree road. .*Euiseongak ShrineEuiseongak Shrine stands in front of the Daeungjeon Hall, which is where the great monk Yeonggyu Daesa, who also served as a monk soldier, practiced Buddhism. He traveled back and forth between Boseoksa Temple and Gapsa Temple at Mt. Gyeryongsan in Gongju while devoting himself to spiritual enlightenment. When the Imjin War (Japanese invasions of Korea, 1592-1598) broke out, he gathered monk soldiers to join forces with the voluntary civil soldiers and lost his life with 700 other patriotic soldiers as they fought to drive out the enemy at Geumsan. He is known to have contributed greatly to each and every fight with his exceptional bravery and courage.

Sinbulsan Falls Recreational Forest is located at the foot of Sinbulsan Mountain noted for the Yeongnam Alps and the beautiful surrounding valleys. The particularly famous forest attractions are its valleys and waterfalls. The Paraso Falls are a picturesque series of cascading falls. Near the falls are old Buddhist temples and the silver grass field of Sinbulsan Mountain. The forest houses a walking path, health training facility, forest exhibition hall, and accommodation facilities such as the Cabin House, Forest Recreation Center, a camping deck and a camping site.

Geombongsan Mountain (681.6m) boasts a majestic mountain range that connects to the neighboring Sageumsan, Eungbongsan, and Yukbaeksan Mountains. The mountains pose an exciting challenge for mountain bike enthusiasts. The mountain ridge is covered with varied flower species including royal azaleas, iris, polygala, and violets. The summit of Geombongsan Mountain offers views of the boundless sea to the east, the sharply rising Eungbongsan Mountain (998.5m) to the south, and the slightly higher Sageumsan Mountain (1,092m) to the west. The mountain is only 5-10 minutes away by car from Imwon Beach, which makes a great summer vacation destination. Geombongsan Natural Recreation Forest is located at the foot of Geombongsan Mountain. Accommodations and convenience facilities are available along the valleys and forests for family visitors. Auto camping ground and general campground are located by the pine tree forest.

Hyosajeong Pavilion is where Nohan, the second Vice Premier of the Joseon Dynasty during King Sejong and King Sejo’s reign, stayed. After he lost his mother, he built the pavilion to mourn at her grave while still being able to see his father’s grave in Gaeseong to the North. His brother-in-law, then Minister of the Interior, Gang Sa-deok named the pavilion “Hyosajeong,” which means pavilion of filial piety. In order to find the original location of the pavilion, poems by Jeong Inji and Seo Geojeong and an old map of Korea “Sin-jeung-dong-gunk-nyeo-ji-seung-nam” were referenced, but the pavillion was not found because the surrounding landscapes had changed much. As a result, a location was selected and the pavilion was reconstructed at its current location. The house is 3 kan* in the front and 2 kan* on the side. The roof is a hip-and-gable roof. The pavilion has one room with under floor heating and a railing around the pavilion (*Kan: a traditional measurement that corresponds to the space between two columns)