[Joyongjun's Travel Stories] Hot Summer, Where Are the Hidden Tourist Spots?

Selected by Korea Tourism Organization - 6 New and Hidden Summer Travel Destinations

Travelers swinging on swings at Namhae Skywalk

[Asia Economy Reporter Yongjun Cho] The spring season has disappeared and summer has quickly arrived due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Summer is the season full of vibrant travel. Dream vacations await office workers, and although students have only recently returned to school, summer break is also approaching. However, due to COVID-19, fear comes first when traveling to crowded places. Planning a trip is not easy. In times like these, how about finding hidden travel destinations where you can enjoy solitude?

Fortunately, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization have recently selected and recommended '5 newly opened tourist sites' and '1 limited-time open tourist site' as 'hidden tourist spots' for the summer season. The summer season 'hidden tourist spots' were carefully selected by a selection committee composed of experts in related fields from among 855 tourist sites recommended by the public online last April.

Before visiting these areas, be sure to check detailed information such as whether the tourist sites are open, opening hours, viewing methods, and the safe travel guide according to 'social distancing in daily life' for each travel route.

◇Be intoxicated by the scent and fall in love with the sea, Ansan Badahyanggi Arboretum

Art Hill Harmonized with the Sea

Badahyanggi Arboretum, located on Seongamdo Island in Daebudo, Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province, is an arboretum where you can breathe fresh phytoncides and enjoy the vast sea view. Opened in May last year, this place is home to over 1,000 species and more than 300,000 plants, including Korean ash and Korean pine, which grow abundantly on the west coast, spread over approximately 101 hectares (about 300,000 pyeong).

Badahyanggi Arboretum is special because it has a halophyte garden, island plant garden, and sand dune garden. You can encounter large and small plants living in mudflats or sandy beaches, such as sea couch grass and mosadal, which are hard to find in other arboretums. Also, the ecological pond called Badaneoulwon, designed to resemble the rolling waves of the sea, reminds visitors of the works of Impressionist painter Monet. Climbing along the hill, you will find the landmark of Badahyanggi Arboretum, the 'Sangsang Observatory,' meaning 'a place where all imaginations can be viewed.' From here, you can see the open West Sea and Sihwa Lake at a glance. The uphill path made of broken pottery pieces is also a famous feature.

The 70-meter-long hill path is decorated with waves, fish, clouds, sky, and sun, making it perfect for letting your imagination soar. Admission is free, visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and it is closed on Mondays. There are no convenience stores or trash bins. Inquiries (031-8008-6795)

◇Stone walls and hanok that make you stop repeatedly, Sokcho Sangdomun Stone Wall Village

A cat stone placed on a stone wall

Sangdomun Stone Wall Village boasts a natural setting with Seoraksan Mountain as a backdrop and the Ssangcheon River flowing in front, embodying the ideal geographic location of a mountain at the back and water in front. The village focused on the historic stone walls and changed its name from Sangdomun Ilri Traditional Hanok Village to Sangdomun Stone Wall Village in March last year. This marked its rise as a new village travel destination for healing in Sokcho.

The winding alleys are filled with charming stone walls and hanok houses, and the stone wall gallery decorated with various stone art on top of the walls makes visitors stop frequently. Each house has no gate, giving a welcoming feeling as if residents open their doors to greet you. Besides the stone walls, the village offers many attractions such as Hakmujeong Pavilion, built by the Joseon Dynasty Confucian scholar Maegok Oh Yun-hwan; the Sokcho Maegok Oh Yun-hwan Birthplace, which shows the evolution of Hamgyeong-do style houses (Gangwon Cultural Property No. 137); and Songlim Rest Area, a pine forest with magnificent Korean red pines. The village is also the birthplace of Sokcho Domun Nongyo (Gangwon Intangible Cultural Property No. 20). The village is always open, but since residents live there, it is best not to visit after dark. Admission and parking are free.

Inquiries (033-639-2539)

◇Colorful musical fountain at Yesan Yedangho, leisurely Slow Lake Trail

Suspension Bridge Music Fountain

Yedangho is the largest reservoir in South Korea with a circumference of 40 km. It features the longest suspension bridge in the country, Yedangho Suspension Bridge, which opened in April 2019. On April 25 this year, a musical fountain harmonizing with the suspension bridge was launched, making it a landmark of Yesan. The beautiful lake scenery is illuminated at night by colorful and splendid water lights and lively music. Against the black sky, a water screen, beam projectors, and lasers create dazzling beauty. The suspension bridge is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except the first Monday of each month. The musical fountain operates four times during the day (11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m.) and three times at night (8 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9 p.m.) on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays.

Since last October, the Slow Lake Trail along Yedangho’s waterfront adds a unique charm. The Slow Lake Trail stretches about 7 km from Yedangho Lakeside Park through Yedangho Suspension Bridge to Yedangho Central Ecological Park in Daheung-myeon. It has no steps or thresholds, making it easy for anyone to walk, and offers beautiful views of submerged trees and fishing platforms. Inquiries (041-339-7323)

◇Chaegyesan Suspension Bridge and Gangcheonsan Danwol Night Walk, new travel style in Sunchang

Metasequoia Road in front of Cheonwoo Waterfall

Chaegyesan Suspension Bridge and Gangcheonsan Danwol Night Walk are new icons of travel in Sunchang. The Chaegyesan Suspension Bridge, which opened in March, was closed for a while due to COVID-19 but recently reopened. It is a 270-meter-long suspension bridge connecting two mountain ridges and is the longest single-tower mountain suspension bridge in Korea. The height from the ground ranges from 75 to 90 meters. Visitors can enjoy the bridge from different viewpoints such as the middle observatory, on top of the bridge, and the adventure observatory. The thrilling experience of the suspension bridge is matched by the breathtaking views of the Seomjin River and Jeokseong fields. It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Gangcheonsan, famous for its autumn foliage, offers a night view that transcends seasons. The 'Gangcheonsan Danwol Night Walk' started in August 2018. Danwol (檀月) is the name of a country in the Korean novel 'Seolgongchanjeon' written by Chae Su during the Joseon Dynasty. The 1.3 km path from the entrance of Gangcheonsan to Cheonwoo Waterfall is decorated with colorful lights and videos themed on the novel’s storyline. Admission is 3,000 KRW for adults and 2,000 KRW for youth (elementary, middle, and high school students). It is open from Thursday to Sunday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with lighting times varying according to sunset.

Inquiries (063-650-1642), (063-650-1672)

◇Thrilling feeling of walking between sky and sea, Namhae Treasure Island Observatory

Treasure Island Observatory Cafe

Opened last December, Namhae Treasure Island Observatory is currently the hottest travel destination for visitors to Namhae. The view of the jade-colored sea from the observatory is beautiful, but the main attraction is the thrilling skywalk experience. The skywalk here is made of reinforced glass installed in the air, giving the sensation of floating and walking between the sky and the sea.

The railing installed around the exterior wall of the second-floor cafe Cliff Hill allows visitors to walk along it. After wearing safety equipment and connecting a rope to a rail attached to the ceiling, you step onto the skywalk and take a few steps while looking down at the cliff and sea far below. At the midpoint, an instructor and safety officer wait, and with their guidance, you can experience even more thrilling activities. Brave participants sometimes push the railing with their feet and swing out over the sea like a swing. They are securely connected by a strong rope, so there is no risk of falling. Walking down the stairs from the observatory leads directly to the sea, where waves crash fiercely against the rocky shore. Although overseas travel is a distant dream due to COVID-19, it is a great comfort to know that there are beautiful seas in Korea comparable to foreign countries. The observatory operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., admission is free, and the skywalk experience fee is 3,000 KRW.

Inquiries (010-6357-0043)

◇For those who had a hard time, we will make you walk only on flower paths! Geumdaebong Heavenly Flower Garden

Geumdaebong Pinamu Colony

The area around Geumdaebong (1,418 m above sea level) and Daedeoksan (1,307 m above sea level) in Taebaek is called the 'Heavenly Flower Garden' because you can see wildflowers blooming beautifully from spring to autumn. The white Anemone flaccida grows modestly under tree shade like snow, and yellow Pina flowers form colonies along the ridges. The graceful purple Corydalis flowers swaying in the wind are also not to be missed.

The Geumdaebong hike, with Dumundongjae Exploration Support Center and Sesim Exploration Support Center as its vertices, is easier to start from Dumundongjae Exploration Support Center, where the trail mostly goes downhill. The trail from Dumundongjae Exploration Support Center through Bunjooryeong and Sesim Exploration Support Center to Geomryongso Parking Lot is 6.7 km, and adding the Daedeoksan course extends it by about 2.6 km. The Geumdaebong trail is open every year from the third Friday of April to September 30, allowing 300 people per day (up to 10 reservations per person) by online reservation. During the hiking period, access hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drivers must either return via Bunjooryeong or take a call taxi from Geomryongso Parking Lot back to Dumundongjae Exploration Support Center. Inquiries (033-550-0000)

Yongjun Cho, Travel Specialist jun21@