Gochang Byeongbawi Area Designated as a 'Nationally Designated Cultural Heritage Scenic Site'

[Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Jeonbuk Gochang-gun (Governor Yu Gisang) announced on the 1st that the ‘Gochang Byeongbawi Area’ has been recognized as a rock with outstanding historical and cultural landscape value and designated as a nationally designated cultural asset, a scenic site (名勝).

The ‘Gochang Byeongbawi Area’ is located in Hoam Village, Banam-ri, Asan-myeon, Gochang-gun, encompassing Byeongbawi, Sobanbawi, Durakam (Jeonjawam), and Duam Chodang.

Byeongbawi is a rock about 35 meters high, uniquely shaped like an overturned gourd or a human face, formed by the erosion and weathering of lava and tuff from 150 million years ago.

Related legends tell that “a heavily intoxicated immortal fell down at a banquet house behind Seoninbong in Seondong Village, kicking a small tray (Soban: a small dining table), causing a liquor bottle on the tray to roll and stick upside down by the Incheon River, which became Byeongbawi.”

Also, this place, along with several surrounding rocks, is known as Geumban Okho (Golden Tray and Jade Jar) or Seonin Chwiwa (Immortal’s Drunken Recline), regarded as a prime location attracting many visitors.

In particular, Byeongbawi harmonizes well with nearby rocks such as Sobanbawi and Durakam (Jeonjabwa), offering great scenic value. Along with various historical documents about scholarly activities at Duam Chodang nearby, and numerous poems, writings, and paintings since the late Joseon period, it has long been a famous scenic spot with outstanding historical and cultural value.

The ‘Gochang Byeongbawi Area’ is an impressive and interesting viewpoint including Byeongbawi, Durakam, and Duam Chodang, and also an excellent vantage point overlooking the surrounding area. It is the second scenic site designated after the ‘Gochang Seonunsan Dosol Valley Area.’

Scenic sites belong to natural heritage and are preserved and managed under the Cultural Heritage Protection Act as “places with beautiful scenery, great artistic value, and outstanding landscapes,” with systematic preservation and utilization plans established.

Especially, scenic sites are rare among nationally designated cultural assets, with only about 120 designated in Korea, having great tourism effects. Cases where natural heritage rocks like the ‘Gochang Byeongbawi Area’ are designated as cultural assets are limited to about ten.

Governor Yu Gisang said, “Along with the UNESCO World Natural Heritage designation of the Gochang tidal flats, the designation of another nationally designated scenic site will further highlight the image of ‘Clean Gochang’ and ‘Gochang, a Historical and Ecological Healing Tourism City,’ and is expected to create excellent synergy effects in connection with existing tourism and cultural policies.”

He added, “Since the ‘Gochang Byeongbawi Area’ is located between the ‘Gochang Dolmen Site (World Cultural Heritage),’ ‘Gochang Seonunsa Temple (Treasure, Scenic Site, Natural Monument, etc.),’ and ‘Gochang Tidal Flats (World Natural Heritage),’ we will actively strive to systematically preserve it and utilize it as a world-class historical and ecological cultural tourism resource.”

Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil gjg7070@asiae.co.kr