No plans for summer vacation? Rather than searching for left-over tickets to overseas destinations, check out some of Korea’s hidden tourist spots.
Many unexpected places in Korea offer more fun than most people imagine. These sites include places President Lee Myung-bak mentioned in his latest radio Internet address speech to the nation.
* Having fun while hiking: Jeju Olle, Bukhansan Dullegil Trails
“Olle” is an old word meaning “narrow paths” used on Jeju Island. The Jeju Olle Non-profit Organization opened the Olle Roads, a series of environment-friendly trekking courses, in 2007. Currently, nearly 20 courses are opened to the public. The courses are good for hikers of all ability levels who want to find the island’s hidden beauty, especially for those who wish to travel in a more intimate and environmentally-conscious way. For more information about the Jeju Olle courses, please visit the homepage of the Jeju Olle Non-profit Organization http://www.jejuolle.org (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese).
If you live in Seoul or Gyeonggi Province and love hiking but have no time to travel far away, try Dullegil on Bukhan Mountain (Bukhansan). This mountain is already popular with rock climbers and mountain lovers. It stretches through six districts in Seoul and three cities in Gyeonggi Province. The 70 kilometer-long collection of 21 hiking courses forms a circular trail around the base of the mountain, linking together existing trails, roads, and byways. The trails are easier than normal mountain hiking, so visitors do not need to worry about special equipment or having a high fitness level. For more information about Bukhansan Dullegil, please visit the homepage of Korea National Park http://english.knps.or.kr (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese).
| (From left to right) Overseas tourists hiking along the Jeju Olle trail (Yonhap News) // Tourists having fun rafting in Naetgang Village, Inje (Yonhap News) |
* Rafting at Naetgang Village in Inje
If you love to spend time in countryside and enjoy rafting with family members or friends, visit Naetgang Village in Inje, Gangwon Province. Rafting has been a major transportation method in the area since prehistoric times. Visitors can have fun rafting down the river and fishing. People can also enjoy local specialty cuisine while staying in there.
* Digging clams at Haebari Village in Namhae
The official name of Haebari Village in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province is Sinheung Village, but “hae” means both the sea and the act of catching fish while holding a torch in the local dialect and “bari” means catching clams or oysters.
The village is famous for its mud flats, where people can catch fish and dig clams. Visitors can join in night fish-catching experience tour where they catch baby octopus and crabs at night by torchlight.
* Salt pond at Byeotgari Village in Taean
If you want to spend time at both a farming village and a fishing village with your family, head to Byeotgari Village in Taean, South Chungcheong Province. This place has various experience programs for visitors so that people can have fun while trying their hands at farming and fishing.
People can lodge with locals in the village and join tourism programs for catching fish, learning about farm animals or making salt the traditional way in salt ponds. They can also catch fish by digging in the mud flat near the village.
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(From left to right) Children having fun making salt at a salt pond in Byeotgari Village, Taean (Yonhap News) // People making cheese in Imsil Cheese Village (Yonhap News) |
* Hand-made pizza at Imsil Cheese Village
Imsil Cheese Village in North Jeolla Province is the first Korean town to produce cheese and other dairy foods, having first started making cheese more than 40 years ago. This village runs a unique cheese farm experience program using its cheese production knowledge and history.
Visitors can make their own cheese and even cook a pizza topped with the fruit of their labors through the village’s cheese experience program. This place is especially popular for overnight family trips.
* Heading to beaches, islands: Mangyang beach, Geumo Island
Mangyang Beach is located near Mangyangjeong Pavilion in Uljin, Gangwon Province. The pavilion offers a fantastic view of the area’s natural scenery, including an unobstructed view of the crystal clear ocean and beach. Visitors can also enjoy trekking on the trail near the beach.
Located 25 kilometer-long southwest of Yeosu, Geumo Island is also a good place to enjoy views of the sea. This island is especially well known for its picturesque view of Dadohae National Marine Park in South Jeolla Province.
Bireonggil Trail is the most popular spot on the island and is visited by nearly 2,000 people every weekend. The 8.5 kilometer-long trail offers visitors spectacular views from along the paths surrounding the cliff.
* Visit a traditional market at Jagalchi Market in Busan
Jagalchi Market is the symbol of Busan, the largest port city in Korea. Though the market was remodeled and modernized recently, historically, it used to be a traditional market where commoners would come to buy food and fishermen would take a rest after selling their fresh-caught fish.
When stepping into the market, visitors can feel the bustling, energetic air of the shoppers and vendors. The market offers an astounding variety of fresh fish, which can be bought right off the boat and turned to delicious sashimi or other seafood treats.
| (From left to right) Jagalchi Market in Busan is always busy with shoppers and vendors (Yonhap News) // Beopjusa Temple in Boeun, North Chungcheong Province (Yonhap News) |
* Join a temple stay at Beopjusa Temple, Boeun
If you want to meditate and spend a night at a quiet temple, visit Beopjusa Templ in, Boeun, North Chungcheong Province. This temple runs the largest scale temple stay program for people to learn more about Buddhism in Korea, teaching the basics of the religion over the course of one night and two days on Mount Songni (Songnisan).
The temple stay program is composed of lectures on Buddhism and Buddhism meditation, Buddhist culture, eating temple food and tours of the temple. It can accommodate groups of up to 300 in its temple stay programs.
The temple is also ideal for a treasure hunt, home to more National Treasures and Treasures than any other temple in Korea. The most popular treasure is Maaeyeorae Uisang (Treasure 216).
* Bike around the country
For young people, President Lee also recommended to traveling around the country by bicycle this summer. He especially mentioned the 1,600 kilometer-long bicycle road being constructed around the Han, Geum, Yeongsan, and Nakdong Rivers as part of the national Four River Restoration Project, which is entering its final stage in the second half of the year.
For more information about any of these activities or places, please visit the homepage of the Korea Tourism Organization at http://english.visitkorea.or.kr (Korean, English, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, Germany, Russian, Spanish and Thai).
More information is also available from Korea Travel Phone: Call+82-64-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese available around the clock)
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
