The city of Chuncheon in Gangwon Province holds many memories for Korean people, both sad and happy. The city's station was where new recruits leave their loved ones and family members and head to their military units. For university students, it was a popular destination for fun and freedom only two hours away from Seoul.
The place is important to non-Koreans as well. The drama “Winter Sonata” which helped launch the Korean Wave was filmed in the city, taking advantage of its natural beauty. The drama became a major hit throughout Asia, feeding the Korean culture boom. Since then, many tourists have started visiting the city to get a taste of the drama and romance from the TV series.
Even though it's been years since “Winter Sonata” aired, the city still attracts tourists, and is expecting even more now that the new railway linking Seoul and Chuncheon opened on December 21. This new Seoul-Chuncheon Railway line makes it even easier to get to Chuncheon from the capital, and helping the local tourism industry.
| Left: Downtown area of Myeongdong/Right: Chuncheon/Right: Chuncheon Dakgalbi (Courtesy of Chuncheon City) |
The city is now a perfect day trip from Seoul, with express trains from Sangbong Station taking only an hour to get to Chuncheon, and regular train trips only taking 79 minutes. The new railway fare to Chuncheon costs only 2,500 won and is free for seniors, while the old Mugunghwa train service used to cost 5,600 won each way.
For food lovers, the city offers two famous local specialties. Dakgalbi is a spicy stir-fried dish of chicken and vegetables, while chilled buckwheat noodles called makguksu provide a refreshing counterpoint. The downtown area of Myeongdong is almost entirely lined with restaurants specializing in these local delicacies.
| Left: Bike riders traveling around Gangchon/Right: Autumn in Jungdo resort (Courtesy of Chuncheon City) |
Chuncheon is also popular among bicyclists, who enjoy the scenic routes by Chuncheon Lake and Chuncheon Dam. The city has built a total of 264.9 kilometers of bike path, including one winding all the way around the lake. There are also plans to extend the bike roads to the Soyang Lake area. The new subway trains have been specially equipped to handle bicycles and related equipment, making it even easier for dedicated cyclists to enjoy the beauties of Chuncheon. (Left: Winter in Nami Island, Courtesy of Chuncheon City)
For those who want to spend more than a day and explore more of the city, Jungdo Resort to the northwest offers accommodations, camping, barbeques, bicycle and motorcycle roads, and sports in the quiet natural setting of Uiam Lake. To get to Jungdo Resort, take the local bus to Jungdo wharf and catch the ferry to the resort.
Other popular tourist areas near Chuncheon include Gangchon and Nami Island. Gangchon is a popular spot for students or those who want to have fun and boost team spirit with their fellows. There's plenty of inexpensive accommodations available, and the area offers plenty in terms of the outdoors, including bike paths and campsites. Nami Island is also a popular spot for tourists, thanks to the beautiful scenery of the North Han River. This island was featured in “Winter Sonata,” helping to make it an important and charming spot for Hallyu fans to visit. Nami Island is also home to a number of different festivals throughout the year.
To learn more about Chuncheon and its environs, please visit Chuncheon City's tourism website (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese available) or here. (Korean, English, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Thai and Turkish). More information about Nami Island is available at its homepage (Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese). More information is also available from Korea Travel Phone: Call+82-64-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese, 24 hours)
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
