"Enjoy Delicious Food and Exciting Fun for 30,000 Won... Namwon Day Trip [Digging Travel]"

(17) Spring Days, the City Where Love Blooms, Jeonbuk Namwon
Various Programs Including Daltteok Experience, Gugak Performance, Gwanghallu Pavilion
Government-Supported Train Travel 'Here in March'
Transportation, Meals, Admission Fees, and Experience Fees All 30,000 KRW

Is it possible to fall in love just one day after meeting? In the story of Chunhyangjeon, Chunhyang and Mongryong spend the night together on the day they meet, with the help of Bangja. Given the short life expectancy and early marriage age of that era, it may be unreasonable to view their meeting by today's standards, but one thing is clear: the romantic image of Namwon, the backdrop of their love.

A fearless love that transcends social status. Whether it is a novel or imagination, the reason why Miss Chunhyang stands out among countless beauty contests nationwide is probably because it reflects that poignant first love and passionate heart. As the spring breeze blows and various events across the country entice spring visitors daily, I joined the one-day train trip “Here in March.” The 80 tourists selected by lottery were reminiscing about old memories while enjoying the singer’s songs as they roamed the aisle with a snack cart full of nostalgic vibes and an acoustic guitar.

Kim Deok-gyun, head of Korail Tourism Development, explained, “The local travel package ‘Here in March’ by train is designed to offer various experiences including tourism, activities, meals, transportation, and performances. Although the regular price is 120,000 to 130,000 KRW, winners can enjoy everything for 30,000 KRW, which attracted many applicants.”

'Heungbu Feast Rice' provided at Inwol-myeon Rural Traditional Theme Village. It is impressive to mix the rice directly in a gourd.
[Photo by Kim Heeyoon]

Dal Tteok Making Experience Program operated by Daloreum Village in Inwol-myeon, Namwon City.
Photo by Kim Heeyoon

The special train arrived at Namwon Station in about three hours. We headed straight to ‘Daloreum Village’ in Inwol-myeon, Namwon City. This area has been developed by Jeonbuk Province and Namwon City as a rural traditional theme village leading in relaxation, healing, and experiential programs.

Inwol-myeon was also a backdrop to fierce historical events. In 1380, at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty, General Yi Seong-gye won a great victory against the Japanese pirates who were looting and killing, in the Battle of Hwangsan, which took place here. During the battle, it was a new moon night, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe in the darkness. Yi Seong-gye earnestly prayed for the moon to shine, and soon a bright full moon rose, enabling the Goryeo army to defeat the enemy. The place name Inwol (引月) originated from Yi Seong-gye’s prayer to bring up the moon.

Tourists participated in making daltteok (moon rice cakes) named after the village. Using equipment and ingredients such as sesame oil, rolling pins, rice cake dough, and red bean paste, they colored the rice cakes with natural pigments like beet and gardenia to create three-colored daltteok. After the daltteok-making experience, everyone moved to a nearby restaurant to have ‘Heungbu Feast Rice’ for lunch. In front of each participant was a gourd ladle and rice, with generous servings of locally grown bracken, radish strips, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, carrot strips, and spinach. Mixing rice in a gourd was a novel experience, and many praised it as a fresh way to enhance the taste of the meal.

Namwon, the setting for two of the five pansori stories, ‘Chunhyangga’ and ‘Heungboga,’ is also famous as a cradle of Korean traditional music. With institutions such as the National Gugak Center, the Municipal Gugak Center, and the Gugak High School concentrated here, Namwon has established the ‘Sanctuary of Gugak’ to carry on this spirit. Located in Unbong-eup, the ‘Sanctuary of Gugak’ serves as a museum and exhibition hall, and on this day, a special performance was held in the second-floor gugak performance hall for participants of ‘Here in March.’

"Arriving at Heungbu’s house, flying inside and perching on the beam, singing in the swallow’s dialect~ Jijijiji, Jujijuji, Geojiyonji, Ujibaeyo. Nakjigakji, Jeoljiyonji, Eunji-deokji, Sujicharo Hamjipoji Naejibaeyo~"

Hwaseonmu performed during a special concert held at the "Sacred Place of Gugak" in Unbong-myeon, Namwon.
Photo by Kim Heeyoon

When Im Hyun-bin, a master singer of the Namwon Municipal Gugak Orchestra, sang the ‘Swallow’s Journey’ from Heungboga with rich expression, the audience responded with cheers like “Eolsigu!” and “Well done!” After the performance, Master Im expressed gratitude, saying, “I heard the audience came from Seoul, and I’m surprised by such enthusiastic responses.”

Besides the pansori performance, stages continued with ‘Hwaseonmu,’ a fan dance depicting butterflies and blooming flowers, ‘Yegimu,’ a dance performed to boost the mood at feasts or play gatherings, and ‘Paldo Minyo Yeongok,’ a medley of folk songs representing various regions. The finale of the day’s performances was the gugak orchestra’s ‘Moon Jar’ by the Namwon Municipal Gugak Orchestra. This fusion gugak orchestral piece blends traditional instruments with modern melodies, and as the powerful performance and graceful tunes unfolded, the audience applauded enthusiastically, deeply moved.

The final destination of the trip was Gwanghallu Garden, where Chunhyang and Mongryong met and fell in love. Gwanghallu Garden, which refers to the garden area around Gwanghallu Pavilion, has been known since the Joseon Dynasty as one of the four great pavilions nationwide, alongside Buyongnu in Pyongyang, Chokseoknu in Jinju, and Yeongnamnu in Miryang, and was a must-visit spot for scholars. Even today, Gwanghallu Garden remains Namwon’s top tourist attraction. Every May, Namwon City holds the ‘Chunhyang Festival’ in the Gwanghallu Garden area to honor Chunhyang’s fidelity and to inherit and develop her spirit. The event began in 1931 with the construction of Chunhyangsa Shrine, dedicated to Chunhyang, and this year marks its 94th iteration, having grown into a nationwide festival.

Gwanghanluwon, the garden area encompassing Gwanghanlu Pavilion, has been known since the Joseon Dynasty as one of the four great pavilions of the nation, alongside Bubeokru in Pyongyang, Chokseokru in Jinju, and Yeongnamnu in Miryang. It has established itself as the most desired destination for scholars. To this day, Gwanghanluwon continues to hold its reputation as Namwon's premier tourist attraction.
[Photo by Kim Heeyoon]

The pond in front of Gwanghallu is said to symbolize the Milky Way. The pond contains three islands representing the legendary Three Sacred Mountains: Bongrae Mountain, Yeongju Mountain, and Bangjang Mountain, which are said to have been created by Songgang Jeong Cheol together with the then Namwon magistrate. Although access to the Gwanghallu Pavilion is prohibited, Namwon City plans to open it for only three days from the 29th to the 31st of this month.

‘Here in March’ is a one-day train travel program jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Tourism Organization, and Korail Tourism Development. It offers a one-day train trip opportunity to 1,700 people for just 30,000 KRW to 21 small and medium-sized cities nationwide.

Applications are accepted in advance on the ‘Traveling Month’ website and winners are selected by 100% lottery. The participation fee of 30,000 KRW covers round-trip train tickets, meals, admission fees to tourist sites, and experience fees, making it very popular. Following trips held on the 8th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, and 23rd, there will be a total of seven trips until the 30th.

On the 29th, trips will go to Hadong, Gurye, and Boseong, and on the 30th, to Taebaek, Samcheok, and Goesan. The travel destinations include tourist attractions selected by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, such as ‘Korea Tourism Stars’ or ‘Top 100 Korean Tourist Attractions.’ Besides March, tourism programs will continue in the first half of the year.

Night view of Gwanghallu.
Photo by Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province

Oh Yuna, team leader of the National Tourism Marketing Team at the Korea Tourism Organization, said, “Currently, 90,000 people have applied for the 1,700 spots, and about 100,000 applications are expected by the end of this month. We also plan to hold a one-day train travel event again in June.”