[theList] "Is This Korea or Heaven?"... Where to Travel for the First Trip of the New Year

Award-Winning Works of the Korea Tourism Contest
Reviewing 9 Out of 109 Winning Entries

If you are planning a New Year's trip, consider referring to the award-winning works of the '2022 Korea Tourism Contest' held last November.

Last year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization held the '2022 Korea Tourism Contest' under the theme 'Travel Again.' A total of 7,367 entries were submitted in two categories: digital camera and smartphone, and 109 winning works were selected.

Among the winning works, 9 pieces received the Grand Prize (President's Award), Gold Prize (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award), Silver Prize, and Bronze Prize (Korea Tourism Organization President's Award). Additionally, 100 works were selected as honorable mentions.

Grand Prize 'Cheongokbit's Soesokkak'

Cheongokbit's Soesokkak. Photo by Park Heungsoon, ? Korea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery

The Grand Prize was awarded to 'Cheongokbit's Soesokkak,' photographed with a digital camera at Soesokkak in Hayeo-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Island. Soesokkak, located at the estuary of Hyodoncheon in Halle-ri, was formed where water flowing beneath the basalt ground rises near the coast. Soesokkak, where freshwater and seawater meet, is known for its particularly beautiful water color.

Soesokkak is a place with beautiful valley scenery and outstanding views, surrounded on both sides by strange rock formations with dense forests above. There is also the Jeju Olle Trail nearby, making it a great place for a walk. It is famous for enjoying the scenery up close by riding traditional carved boats, tewoo (log boats), or kayaks on the water.

Gold Prize 'Samcheok Naritgol Village Snow Scenery'

Snowy Scenery of Naritgol Village in Samcheok. Photo by Hong Dabin, ? Korea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery

Naritgol Village, located in Jeongha-dong, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do, is also known as the 'Emotional Village.' Situated on a hill overlooking Samcheok Port, Naritgol Emotional Village features a pink muhly grass field, a garden of wind, and a sea observatory.

Formed in the 1970s, Naritgol Village once had a large population during the active fishing period at Samcheok Port, but now the population is decreasing, with mostly elderly residents remaining. From 2016 to 2020, Samcheok City invested in the 'Naritgol Emotional Village Development Project' to revitalize the village into its current state.

Gold Prize 'Metasequoia Stepping Stones'

Metasequoia Tree-lined Road in Damyang photographed with a smartphone. Photo by ⓒKorea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery - Jang Hana

The Metasequoia Tree-lined Road in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, boasts beautiful scenery throughout spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and has appeared as the backdrop for many films and commercials.

This road was originally part of National Route 24, but after a new road was built, the old road was closed to vehicle traffic and converted into a walking path. The total length of the tree-lined road is about 8.5 km, with metasequoia trees ranging from 10 to 20 meters tall lining both sides.

Silver Prize 'Cupid's Arrow'

The work "Cupid's Arrow" photographed at Seonyudo Beach in Gunsan. Photo by ? Korea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery - Bae Youngsoo

In front of Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, lies the Gogunsan Archipelago, consisting of 63 islands including Sinshido, Munyeodo, Seonyudo, and Jangjado. Notably, major islands like Sinshido and Seonyudo are accessible by land, making them convenient to visit.

The central island of the Gogunsan Archipelago is Seonyudo. Legend says that fairies once played on Seonyudo, which offers beautiful views from the sea to the gentle mountain landscapes. Seonyudo Beach has shallow waters and clean sand, making it ideal for swimming, and it is also a famous sunset spot representing the West Sea.

Silver Prize 'Garden of Water'

'Garden of Water' awarded the silver prize. Photo by Park Yoon-jun, ? Korea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery

Uiamho is an artificial lake created in 1967 when the Uiam Dam was built in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do. Uiamho, which made Chuncheon a lakeside city, features a water trail where you can canoe around the lake.

Starting from the Hyunam-ri dock, you can visit Hajungdo and uninhabited islands. Between the uninhabited islands and Hajungdo, there are dense low aquatic plants, giving the feeling of exploring a jungle.

Silver Prize 'Byeonsan Beach Sunset Scenery'

'Sunset Scenery at Byeonsan Beach' Captured with a Smartphone. Photo by Park Gap-yeol, ? Korea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery

Byeonsan Beach in Buan, Jeollabuk-do, boasts beautiful scenery and is considered one of the three major beaches on the West Coast. It is one of the oldest beaches in Korea, having opened in 1933.

With attractions such as an auto camping site and a skywalk bridge around the beach, it is a representative spot in Buan that attracts visitors not only in summer but throughout all four seasons.

Bronze Prize 'Waves and Surfers'

'Waves and Surfer' photographed at Jungmun Saekdal Beach, Jeju Island. Photo by Jang Seung-ho, ? Korea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery

Jungmun Saekdal Beach in Seogwipo, Jeju, once known as a 'place where people just sleep,' has gained attention as the surfing population has increased.

This beach is known for its higher and more frequent waves compared to other beaches, making it a great spot for surfing. Every June, the largest international surfing competition in Korea is held here.

At Jungmun Saekdal Beach, which is 560 meters long, you can enjoy various marine sports such as surfing, water skiing, and yachting.

Bronze Prize 'Sansuyu Village under Jirisan'

'Sansuyu Village under Jirisan' awarded a bronze prize. Photo by Youngsoo Kim, Korea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery

Sansuyu Village in Sandong-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, is the largest sansuyu (cornelian cherry) cluster in Korea. It produces 73% of the nation's sansuyu.

Legend has it that the village began when a maiden from Shandong Province, China, brought sansuyu saplings when she married into this area over 1,000 years ago.

Sansuyu, along with apricot blossoms, is one of the first flowers to signal the start of spring. When sansuyu flowers bloom in this small village at the foot of Jirisan Mountain, a magnificent yellow wave spreads across the landscape.

Bronze Prize 'Buckwheat Flowers in Full Bloom at Seonhakdong Village'

Bronze Prize Winner 'Seonhak-dong Village with Buckwheat Flowers in Full Bloom'. Photo by Hong Dabin, ? Korea Tourism Organization Photo Gallery

Seonhakdong Village in Jangheung, Jeollanam-do, located on the slopes of Gwaneumbong Mountain, is a beautiful place where Deukryang Bay, rice paddies, and fields blend harmoniously. This village, selected as the most beautiful rural fishing village in 2012, captivates visitors with yellow canola flowers in spring and pure white buckwheat flowers in autumn.

Every October, the Seonhakdong Buckwheat Flower Festival, led by village residents, is held. The novelist Lee Cheong-jun, who hails from Jangheung, wrote the novel 'Seonhakdong Traveler' set in this village. Director Im Kwon-taek filmed the movie 'Cheonnyeonhak' based on 'Seonhakdong Traveler' in Seonhakdong Village. The set used during filming still remains in the village.

90,000 Workers Benefit, How About Getting Domestic Travel Vacation Expenses?

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization have been recruiting companies and workers to participate in the worker vacation support project since the 2nd to support domestic travel expenses for workers.

This project aims to promote domestic travel among workers by a system where if a worker saves 200,000 KRW, their company and the government each add 100,000 KRW, providing a total of 400,000 KRW for domestic travel expenses.

Eligible participants include workers from small and medium-sized enterprises, mid-sized companies, small business owners, non-profit private organizations, and social welfare corporations/facilities. Support is provided on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. This year, vacation expenses will be supported for approximately 90,000 workers.