"Comprehensive Healing Destinations
Where History and Relaxation Come Together"
The city of Gwangyang in South Jeolla Province has recommended Mangdeok Port, where the Seomjin River meets the sea, the Baedo Island Garden, and the Jinwol Naval Base Memorial Hall as autumn travel destinations where visitors can escape the bustling city and find healing.
At Mangdeok Port, where the Seomjin River meets the sea after flowing for 220 kilometers, stands the Jeong Byeonguk House, which quietly preserves the handwritten manuscript of poet Yun Dongju's "Sky, Wind, Stars, and Poetry."
This house, built in 1925 as both a brewery and a residence, is regarded as the place of literary revival that introduced the once-unknown Yun Dongju-who passed away at the young age of twenty-seven without being recognized as a poet during his lifetime-to the world.
In the nearby Yun Dongju Poetry Garden, visitors can spend time in contemplation, feeling the poet's presence among 31 poems-including "Prelude" and "Counting the Stars at Night"-from his posthumous collection "Sky, Wind, Stars, and Poetry," all inscribed on stone monuments.
Walking along the curved shoreline of the port, the Baedo Island Garden comes into view, connecting the Star Counting Bridge, shaped like a gizzard shad, and the Sunrise Bridge, known for its simple beauty.
This garden, which emphasizes the beauty of empty space, is beloved as a romantic platform where visitors can recharge their emotions at any time of day, whether enjoying a beautiful sunrise, sunset, or a nightscape sparkling like starlight.
Crossing the Sunrise Bridge from Baedo Island Garden leads to the Baedo Waterfront Park, which has recently gained attention as a popular spot for earthing on the sandy beach. Walking barefoot on the sand under the warm autumn sun, visitors can experience true relaxation in nature, with the soft texture of the sand and the refreshing sea breeze blending together.
The final stop on this journey is the Jinwol Naval Base Memorial Hall. This site, which was a key maritime defense point and military base during the Japanese invasions of Korea, vividly showcases the history of the naval base and the legacy of the Joseon navy. The hall deepens the meaning of the trip with its elegant wooden truss architecture and exhibits honoring General Eoyoungdam and other militia leaders.
Lee Hyunju, head of Gwangyang's Tourism Division, said, "Mangdeok Port and Baedo Island Garden are comprehensive healing destinations where nature, literature, history, and relaxation come together amid the autumn scenery. As autumn deepens, I hope you will walk along Gwangyang's ports and islands with your family or loved ones and experience a sense of leisure and emotion in everyday life."
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