Hampyeong Cheonjigil Barefoot Road, Expo Nightscape, and Drive-in Theater Abundant
Dolmeori Beach, Anak Beach, and Sea Water Spa as Healing and Relaxation Spots
"Experience the 'summer vacation paradise' of Hampyeong-gun and soothe your body and mind tired from the heat. Feel the sweet family love through a summer getaway in Hampyeong."
Hampyeong-gun in Jeollanam-do is overflowing with rich summer vacation spots. On the 8th, the county announced, "We have prepared various attractions to welcome summer visitors around Hampyeong Expo Park." It aims to provide special memories and joy to local residents and visitors alike.
Hampyeong-gun is located in the southwestern part of Korea, embracing the West Sea's Hampyeong Bay. There are diverse programs everywhere to cool off the summer heat during the vacation season. With abundant sights and food, it is considered an ideal destination to fully enjoy your holiday.
Cool off the heat at the refreshing 'Hampyeong Expo Park Water Playground'
If you want to plan a fulfilling summer vacation this year, we first recommend the refreshing 'Hampyeong Expo Park Water Playground.' Hampyeong Expo Park transforms into a water playground during the summer. It is also the venue for the spring 'Butterfly Festival' and the autumn 'Korea National Chrysanthemum Exhibition.'
The water playground operates on a 2,400㎡ site from the 19th of this month to the 18th of next month, for one month. It features various water play facilities such as a wave pool, children's pool, toddler pool, and slide pool, making it a place for people of all ages to enjoy.
Every year, the water playground is the most popular summer attraction in Hampyeong. It is well-known not only among locals but also in other regions, with entrance queues often packed with visitors.
It can accommodate up to 2,000 people per day. For visitor convenience, bringing in delivery food is allowed. The water quality is well-known for cleanliness as only tap water is used. Various amenities such as free shade tents, rest areas, and picnic tables are provided.
The special event at the water playground, the 'DJ Bubble Party,' is also popular. The bubble party takes place every weekend and public holiday at 5 p.m. On the opening day, the 20th, it will be held at 2 p.m. The water playground operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with admission allowed until 4 p.m., and it is closed every Monday.
Tickets for the Hampyeong Expo Park Water Playground can be pre-booked via Ticketlink until the 18th of next month. On the opening day, the 19th, tickets can also be purchased on-site.
Escape the busy daily life and walk in nature on the 'Hampyeong Cheonji-gil'
"Escape the busy daily life and spend healing and resting time in nature by walking the 'Hampyeong Cheonji-gil.'"
Hampyeong Cheonji-gil is a total 6 km walking trail composed of the Susanbong Dulle-gil, Hampyeongcheon Ecological Wetland, and the urban park trail (Hwayang Neighborhood Park). Along the forest paths, you can enjoy the cool breeze and explore the natural ecological wetland. It unfolds as a slow-paced aesthetic course, including the 'Bald Cypress Trail' and others. With photo zones and sculptures set in the beautiful natural environment, it is a perfect spot to capture memories.
Recently, a 0.6 km barefoot trail called 'Manbaro(路)' was created on the small Susanbong. This barefoot walking section attracts tourists by offering great benefits for boosting immunity, improving blood circulation, and relieving fatigue and stress.
At dusk, colorful nightscape lighting illuminates the Expo Park area. You can freely walk the Hampyeong Cheonji-gil even late at night.
The Expo Park's nightscape lighting offers a total of 12 types and 4,424 points of bright lights. Thirty-one types of nightscape sculptures harmonize together, presenting a colorful lighting display that offers a different attraction from daytime. The nightscape lighting operates daily from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Enjoy a new movie on a summer night at the 'Hampyeong Drive-in Theater'
On hot nights when you can't sleep due to tropical nights, we recommend watching a new movie at the 'Hampyeong Drive-in Theater.'
The Hampyeong Drive-in Theater operates two venues: the Butterfly Hall and the Golden Bat Hall. New movies are released and screened weekly. It has established itself as a unique cultural space for families, friends, and couples.
An official from the theater said, "The unique charm of this theater is that food delivery is possible until the movie starts. You can freely enjoy conversations and snacks inside your car while watching the movie, making it very popular."
Advance online reservations can be made through the official website. On-site ticket purchases are also available, and the screening schedule can be checked on the website.
Special Exhibition at Hampyeong County Art Museum inside Expo Park
Hampyeong art has been formed and grown through the activities of many artists connected to Hampyeong. It has produced outstanding painters from Hampyeong such as Odang An Dongsuk (1922?2016), Pyeongbo Seo Heehwan (1934?1995), and Baekyeol Kim Youngtae (1927?).
Currently, many artists are active, including those working individually and associations such as Hampyeong Art Association, Hampyeong Gong Association, and Hampyeong Calligraphy Association, which hold annual group exhibitions. Although each pursues different art styles, they are connected through Hampyeong, and each of their activities serves as healthy nourishment for Hampyeong's rise as a cultural city.
The four artists participating in this special exhibition
Curator Lee Doheon said, "Although the artists come from different places, each has a connection with Hampyeong and is active as the present and future of Hampyeong art. We introduced this special exhibition to help promote Hampyeong and Hampyeong art."
Visitors can enjoy the diversity of subjects such as lotus flowers, sotdae (traditional Korean wooden poles), wind chimes, wildflowers, the interactive relationship between traditional and modern art, the material characteristics of Western and Eastern paintings (objects), and the artists' unique working methods, experiencing the richness of Hampyeong art.
The Hampyeong Art Museum is hosting a special exhibition [Photo by Hampyeong-gun]
Watch the sunset over Hampyeong Bay and be sure to try the delicious raw meat bibimbap
Additionally, we recommend Dolmeori Beach and sea water jjim (steamed sea water bath) around Hampyeong Bay, Haean Beach Hae-danghwa Street, and raw meat bibimbap at the town market.
The area near Dolmeori Beach in Hampyeong-eup, famous for its beautiful sunset, is a marine tourism attraction. It is also known as a popular spot where photographers nationwide come to shoot the Dolmeori sunset. The golden sunset, silver reeds, and the charming atmosphere of traditional Korean houses along the Dolmeori coast represent the pinnacle of Hampyeong's scenery.
Dolmeori Beach, located in Seokseong-ri, Hampyeong-eup, boasts a 1,000-meter silver sandy beach and a vast pine forest, creating a natural scenic beauty. The sunset at dusk naturally evokes awe from viewers. The area features a beach trail, mudflat trail, seawater pool, and auto camping site, making it very popular among tourists.
On the beach trail, you can enjoy a walk along a 612-meter-long, 6-meter-wide trail through the pine forest by the coast, resting your body tired from water play. The seawater pool is an artificial pool filled with seawater drawn in to allow swimming even during low tide. The seawater is regularly replaced for visitors' health management.
The mudflat trail is a 405-meter wooden deck path facing the sea, where families can observe live crabs, clams, and other creatures on the vast mudflats exposed at low tide. Each bridge is equipped with LED lights that change colors continuously at night, decorating the night sea with various hues. The auto camping site covers 4,850㎡ with 16 sites and includes cooking areas and restrooms.
Near Dolmeori Beach is 'Anaak Beach.' Anaak Beach features a commemorative sculpture honoring the national singer Lee Mi-ja's song 'Teacher from the Island Village.' In May, tens of thousands of white and red Hae-danghwa (Rosa rugosa) flowers flutter gently in the sea breeze along the Wolcheon embankment like the delicate hem of an old lady's skirt.
There is also a place to enjoy Hampyeong's specialty, sea water jjim. It is the 'Dolmeori Sea Water Jjim Healing Center' located on Jupo-ro in Hampyeong-eup. Opened in July last year, it offers eight separate rooms where 2 to 15 people can enjoy sea water jjim simultaneously.
Sea water jjim involves steaming towels soaked in a hot bath containing seawater, medicinal herbs like Sam-baekcho, sulfur, and germanium-infused stones, also called sea water medicinal jjim. Thanks to the components in the stones, it is said to be highly effective for chronic diseases such as neuralgia, postpartum pain, arthritis, and skin diseases.
While sitting in the bath, the open view of Dolmeori Beach through the window is also excellent. The water quality is strictly managed with five cleanings on weekdays and six on weekends to ensure a clean bathing environment. Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and extended to 8 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. The fee is 40,000 KRW for two people, with an additional 15,000 KRW per extra person.
When you visit Hampyeong, you must try the food made with 'Hampyeong Cheonji Hanwoo' beef: raw meat bibimbap. 'Hampyeong Raw Meat Bibimbap' boasts a chewy yet savory taste, combining the softness of yukhoe (raw beef) and fragrant sesame oil.
When you order raw meat bibimbap, it is served with clear seonji-guk (ox blood soup) made by boiling beef bones and boiled pork fat on the side. The seonji is soft like soft tofu, and the broth is refreshing and clean. The boiled pork fat is thinly sliced and served separately on a plate, which tastes very savory when added according to your preference.
Another secret to the flavor lies in the minced seasoning added instead of gochujang (red chili paste). This seasoning, made by mixing red pepper powder, minced garlic, and salted shrimp and aging it for a long time, is the finishing touch that determines the taste of Hampyeong bibimbap.
Lee Sang-ik, the mayor of Hampyeong-gun, said, "We are doing our best to keep the water quality clean and safety thorough so that tourists can enjoy water play in a hygienic environment and have a great summer vacation. We hope visitors will come to Hampyeong to create cool and happy summer memories by visiting the water playground, Hampyeong Cheonji-gil, drive-in theater, and more."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
![Clutching a Stolen Dior Bag, Saying "I Hate Being Poor but Real"... The Grotesque Con of a "Human Knockoff" [Slate]](https://cwcontent.asiae.co.kr/asiaresize/183/2026021902243444107_1771435474.jpg)
