[Jo Yongjun's Journey] The Profusely Blooming Cherry Blossoms Are Bittersweet... But I Just Pass By

Jecheon Spring Flower Ending Leaving by Drive-Thru

National Route 82, known as a scenic drive along Cheongpung Lake, features winding light pink cherry blossom paths stretching over 11 km. The picturesque lakeside and spring flowers create a fantastic landscape, but this year, please be patient and make sure to drive here next year.

Even inside the car with clear air~

National Road 82 viewed from Cheongpung Lake Observatory

People walking on the Gwaegok Seongbyeok-gil Trail

Although the view is hazy due to yellow dust, the scenery of Cheongpung Lake seen from the Cheongpung Lake Observatory is spectacular.

[Asia Economy, Yongjun Cho, Travel Specialist] The intensive 'social distancing' campaign due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has been extended for another two weeks. It will last until April 19. Even after this period passes, it will likely take time to return to normal daily life. For a while, social distancing remains an important matter to keep in mind. The body and mind naturally stir at the temptation of the spring flowers blooming profusely. This year, the cherry blossoms blooming fluffy like snowflakes are exceptionally more splendid. However, spring outings in the usual way are difficult. Travel should be done by minimizing travel distances and avoiding public facilities where people gather. If an outing is necessary, drive-thru could be an alternative. Last week, I saw several travelers taking a drive-thru on the Jecheon Cheongpung Lake Road. At Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Complex and famous tourist spots, signs saying 'Though the spring flowers are in full bloom, for safety, see you next year' are posted without fail. That's right. It's not just because officials enforce it, but for the safety of yourself and others, it is wise not to get out of the car or have contact. Considering these conditions, the journey of 'social distancing' continues this week as well. I visited the Cheongpung Lake drive and the Jadeurak 6 Course, Gwaegok Fortress Wall Trail. The places introduced now are emphasized repeatedly not as places to visit but as places to postpone travel. This year, just pass by and keep it in mind to definitely visit next year.

Due to COVID-19, I am introducing travel destinations that avoid crowded places. However, the places I am sharing now are spring day spots I have always wanted to recommend in my heart. Although they are very famous tourist spots and I hesitated to introduce them, spring days will come again next year, so I am putting them on paper.

After exiting Namjecheon IC and entering Geumseong-myeon, Mt. Wolak stands guard in the distance, and Cheongpung Lake, called the inland sea, spreads widely. In Jecheon, the upper stream of Chungju Lake is called Cheongpung Lake. It probably means a lake with clear wind. The 82 National Road that circles around Cheongpung Lake is this week's destination. As a famous drive spot around Cheongpung Lake, every place you go is like a painting.

Geumwolbong, Cheongpung Land, Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Complex, Oksunbong, Sangcheon-ri Village Sotdae, and other attractions wind along the way. The spring Cheongpung Lake is a deep blue. The water is so blue that it confuses whether it is the sky or the lake. There is a picturesque lakeside road and a light pink cherry blossom path. The lakeside road connecting Geumseong-myeon to Cheongpung-myeon is only 11 km long, but it feels two to three times longer because the surrounding scenery captivates the eyes.

In fact, most travelers using this road have the Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Complex as their final destination. This year, it is completely closed due to COVID-19, making it desolate, but the spring flowers are blooming profusely. At the parking lot entrance, a notice says, 'Cheongpung Lake Cherry Blossom Road is a drive-thru. Please do not get out, just pass through.' Although I could not go up to the Cultural Heritage Complex, here is an introduction. It is a place where numerous relics from the Cheongpung-myeon area were moved before submersion to recreate the old town. You can see the treasure Hanbyeokru Pavilion and the Stone Buddha statue, as well as the splendid old culture of the upper Namhan River. The relics are not just for display like movie sets but have the warmth of human touch for hundreds of years.

Driving again on the lakeside road leads to Oksun Bridge. Oksunbong and Gudambong, which are part of the inner beauty of Cheongpung Lake and also belong to the Eight Scenic Views of Danyang, pass by outside the window. Even if you do not take a cruise ship, just passing by in the car can make you feel like you are looking at a painting.

The second destination, the Cheongpung Lake Jadeurak 6 Course called 'Gwaegok Fortress Wall Trail,' starts at Oksun Bridge. Jadeurak Trail is a walking travel path that warmly blends with the mountain village around Cheongpung Lake. Jadeurak means a narrow path on a low mountain slope in pure Korean.

The trail goes from Oksunbong Rest Area through Gwaegok-ri and Dabul-ri to Jikok-ri Gosugol. It is named 'Gwaegok Fortress Wall Trail' because it was once part of a fortress wall. It is a not-so-short course of about 10 km round trip. Due to going up and down ridges, it is rated 'high' difficulty among the Cheongpung Lake Jadeurak Trails.

However, for general travelers, it is common to climb from the trailhead to the Cheongpung Lake Observatory for about an hour and then descend. From Oksunbong Rest Area, cross Oksun Bridge and walk about 5 minutes to see a signpost on the right. This is the trailhead. It takes quite some effort to reach the observatory. You need to sweat for about 40 minutes.

Entering the fortress wall trail, you soon meet dense forest where the sky is not visible. Wildflowers blooming beside the narrow forest path beckon and peek out. Above the wildflowers, cherry blossoms, forsythia, mountain cherry blossoms, and all kinds of flowers emit splendid colors.

It is a mountain trail with almost no environmental damage, so much so that there is a rumor that many ginseng diggers have harvested wild ginseng on the fortress wall trail. The uphill that gradually quickened pace changes back to a leisurely forest path, and Cheongpung Lake can be glimpsed to the east. The 82 National Road following Cheongpung Lake is visible below. Along the road, splendid cherry blossoms line up in a row, bidding farewell to passing vehicles.

After about an hour, I stood at the Cheongpung Lake Observatory. The observatory, open on all sides, has charming Sotdae standing. In front of the eyes, the ridges of Malmoksan, Geumsusan, Oksunbong, Gudambong, and Mangdeokbong ripple and spread out. This ridge was a fierce battlefield among Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekje during the Three Kingdoms period, with the Cheongpung River in between. The Gwaegok ridge itself was a natural fortress at that time.

About 100 meters above the Cheongpung Lake Observatory is Baekbong Observatory. From here, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the Cheongpung Lake surroundings. On the way down, stopping by Sanmaru Tavern to quench your thirst with Makgeolli would be nice. It is about 300 meters from the fork.

The Jadeurak Trail Jeongbangsa Course is also good. Jeongbangsa Temple is located on the ridge extending from Sinsunbong of Geumsusan. The temple embraced by the huge rock cliff, Uisangdae, is beautiful, but the scenery unfolding below is much more outstanding. Standing in front of the Daeungjeon Hall, you can see Mt. Wolak and the Cheongpung Lake area where the blue wind ripples at a glance.

Jecheon = Text and photos by Yongjun Cho, Travel Specialist jun21@

◇Travel Notes

△Getting there= If you are driving from the metropolitan area, it is best to exit at Namjecheon Interchange on the Jungang Expressway. From there, transfer to Local Road 82, which is the Cheongpung Lake lakeside road.

△Food= There are many famous restaurants around Cheongpung Lake. Hwanggeum Garden is famous for healthy-style Tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties). It is unique for its flavoring with turmeric. Gyori Garden is known for its spicy freshwater fish stew. They also serve dishes like spicy braised chicken, but the main menu is the spicy stew made with various fish caught in Cheongpung Lake, such as bagasari (a type of catfish). Sanarae (photo) is famous for Ureong Ssambap (rice wrapped in fresh vegetables) with organic vegetables. For snacks, the 'Red Odeng' on Hwasando Island is famous. It is fish cake skewers dipped in spicy chili sauce.