Gwangyang City Opens Baealdo Island Garden 'Secret Garden'

Starting from the 30th, you can walk the island trail while enjoying beautiful gardens and sea views

[Gwangyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do announced on the 28th that it will fully open the romantic Baealdo Island Garden to citizens and tourists on the 30th.

The city built stone seats to maintain the coastal embankment and planted peonies, hydrangeas, and lilyturf throughout the island to complete an island garden where beautiful flowers bloom all year round.

In addition, they laid walking palm mats that preserve the natural terrain and connected wooden decks in areas that were difficult to access, completing an island trail where visitors can walk while enjoying views of the sea.

Observation decks were installed along the trail, and a sculpture of the name ‘Baealdo’ reflecting travel trends was erected in the island’s front yard, raising expectations as a sentimental photo spot.

Above all, meticulous efforts were made to ensure visitors’ safety by installing safety railings and information boards.

Climbing up to Haeunjeong at the summit of Baealdo, visitors can enjoy views of the blue sea and encounter interesting stories.

Haeunjeong is a pavilion built in 1940 by An Sangseon (father of novelist An Young), who was then the head of Jinwol-myeon, by cutting and transporting wood owned by his family in Chadong Village, Jinwol-myeon, and donating it to the summit of Baealdo.

It is known that An Sangseon received a handwritten calligraphy plaque reading ‘海雲亭’ (Haeunjeong) from the independence activist Baekbeom (白凡) Kim Gu, with whom he had a close friendship, and hung it on the pavilion.

At that time, Haeunjeong was a popular spot where local officials met visitors and locals enjoyed gathering, but it collapsed due to Typhoon Sarah in 1959.

The city restored the pavilion in 2015, 56 years after its collapse, reflecting the wishes of local residents; however, the whereabouts of the plaque, which was believed to have been kept at the township office after the collapse, remained unknown.

Therefore, there was a suggestion to receive a calligraphy plaque from the descendant of the builder, and they were able to hang a new plaque with calligraphy by Jeong Jongseop (then Minister of the Interior and Safety), An Sangseon’s nephew-in-law who was well-versed in calligraphy, and wood carving by folk woodcarver Kim Jongyeon.

Access to the Baealdo Island Garden is only possible via the sea footbridge connecting Baealdo to Mangdeok Port, which is currently in the final stages of construction.

The city plans to complete the Baealdo?Mangdeok Port sea footbridge as soon as possible so that visitors can enter not only through Baealdo Neighborhood Park but also via Mangdeok Port.

Park Soon-gi, head of the Tourism Division, said, “Baealdo is an island garden accessible by walking over the sea, a romantic resting place where you can enjoy a stroll and relaxation while viewing the blue sea.”

He added, “It is also a place where you can look back on past history through the interesting storyline revealed during the construction and restoration of Haeunjeong.”

Meanwhile, the Baealdo Island Garden project is part of the Korea Theme Travel Top 10 project. Starting with basic and detailed design services in May last year, it completed the island garden after undergoing disaster impact assessments and river occupation change consultations.

Gwangyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik hss79@asiae.co