[Enjoy Korea] Bakdaljae

[Enjoy Korea] 

Bakdaljae

There are some popular and old songs that everyone knows in Korea. Among them, ‘Bakdaljae crying over’ is related to the place where I’ll introduce today.

When you hear this song, you might feel so sad. Do you know the song has a sad story?

Long ago, a countryside scholar named Bakdal was on the way to Seoul to take Gwageo, the highest-level state examination to recruit ranking officials. Because it takes several days to get Seoul, he decided to stay in a village in Jecheon. He wanted to stay a farmer’s house and the farmer has beautiful daughter named Geumbong. As you can guess, Bakdal and Geumbong fell in love each other. However, he couldn’t help leaving the village to take a test.

He arrived Seoul, but he couldn’t concentrate his study and examination because of her. So, he failed the examination. So did Geumbong. She waited and prayed for him at the hill all day long, and as time went by, eventually she got tired of wating and died. She had already died when Bakdal returned to the village. He lost his composure and cried at the hill where she had waited for him. Suddenly, he saw the phantom of her and hugged. He died there, too. Because the place he stood was cliff. After that, people called this hill ‘Bakdaljae’.

Visit here, and you can feel the heartrending love of them. 

[Enjoy Korea] Cheongpung lakeside

[Enjoy Korea] 

Cheongpung lakeside

Cheongpung lake was made by construction of Chungju dam in 1985. With the building of a dam, lots of villages in Jecheon, Dannyang and Chungju was submerged. Among them, villages in Jecheon take up more than 50%.

Cheongpung lake is so beautiful that lots of people call it ‘inland ocean’. Jecheon has become hot spot on the basis of superb natural landscape where tourists want to visit. It makes visitors peaceful.

Cheongpung Cultural Properities Complex is a rteconstruction of Cheongpung, a village that became submerged after the construction of Chungju Dam located above Chungju Lake. Especailly, SBS Jecheon Setting, co-located on the site of Cheongpung Cultural Properties Complex, recreates a historical Korean folk village used in the SBS produced TV mini-series “Daemang” and “Jang Gilsan”. Several other historical SBS TV productions were filmed on this set as well.

Do you want to enjoy both natural and traditional place?

Visit Jechoen, and you’ll go for the effect of killing two birds with a stone.

[Talk Talk Market] Jecheon Yeokjeon Hanmaeum Market

[Talk Talk Market] 

Jecheon Yeokjeon Hanmaeum Market

Where is a major transportation point? There are many traffic points. Especially, Jecheon is one of them because it borders on Chungcheong-do, Gyeongsang-do and Gangwon-do. If someone loves to travel by train, he must stop off at Jecheon station and take a picture in front of the station.

Jecheon was selected as a special zone for medicinal herb by government. So, it is famous for its great medicinal herb and superb natural landscape. To make use of these strong points, Jecheon Market placed in front of the station is offering healthy foods and tour programs.

Its name was changed to Jecheon Yeokjeon Hanmaeum Market in 2011, and its interior was also changed. The market readjusted the division of lots to make visitors enjoy shopping and foods in clean environment.

If you enter the market, you can see lots of tables and stools in a row. You can enjoy delicious foods such as jeonㅡa kind of pancake, noodles, gimbap and dongdongjuㅡsuspended rice wine. I guess you’re so surprised because they are so cheap and heavy.

Visit this market, and you’ll get energy from mountain and lake around Jecheon.

[Talk Talk Market] Jukdo Market in Pohang :-)

[Talk Talk Market] 

Jukdo Market in Pohang :-)

 Do you know where the biggest market is in Pohang? 

Yes, it is Jukdo Market!

Jukdo market is divided into fishery section, agricultural section and a section for manufactured goods. Among them, the market for manufactured goods was the matrix of Jukdo Market. It had gained commercial supremacy by 1990s’ and compared with Dongseong-ro.

Jukdo market has various things to sell. And, there are lots of alleys such as Octopus street, Hoe street., and chicken street. We can guess it has lots of attractions and food.

Especially, we recommend you to enjoy ‘whale meat’. You can see some sellers cut the whale meat and we’re sure that you can enjoy it only in this market!

Some people says,

“If something cannot be bought in Jukdo Market, You can’t buy it anywhere.”

If you want to make your eyes and mouth happy,

Visit Jukdo Market in Pohang :-)

[Talk Talk Market] Jangheung Jeongnamjin Saturday Market

[Talk Talk Market]  

Jangheung Jeongnamjin Saturday Market

 Have you ever heard about Jangheung? It is a little strange place for both foreigner and some Koreans located in Jeollanam-do, KOREA. It is a place in the cleanest environments because Korea government has propelled national land development except Jangheung. So, environment and people in it are too clean and pure. This is why we called it ‘saved land’.

Jangheung Market is also keeping pure and traditional things like Jangheung. Do you know ‘Daemul’, a famous Korean drama which was the first drama to deal with a female president along with politics and government power around her? It was in Jangheung Market that Kwon sang woo’s father ran the Gukbap restaurant in the drama.

Although it is not that big, it is crowded with lots of people in the market day. It became famous through word of mouth and many tourists visited here. So, the county decided to throw a market on Saturdays to encourage urbanities to visit the market. It is the first weekend market in Korea.

The most interesting thing in this market is that you can see grandmas who pin a name tags such as ‘Yunhwa’ and ‘Jeongja’. They are authorized vendors who sell handmade foods and greens. The county and granmas have confidence in this system and we can buy products with trust.

Do you wonder the charm of saved land, Jangheung? 

Welcome to Jangheung Market!

[Enjoy KOREA] The king of the West coast, Mt. Oseo

[Enjoy Korea]

Mt, Oseo,

 a mountain in Korea, resembling Mt. Kilimanjaro 

Why do people call Mt.Oseo the king of the west coast?

First of all, Mt.Oseo is the tallest mountain in the west coast, Korea. It is almost 709.7 meters in height.

Secondly, if you conquer the summit, you can enjoy the scenery of land, ocean and sky! It’s a place of scenic beauty where you can enjoy all everything! When you stand at the summit, you can see silver grass shaken with the wind in front of you and the horizon of the west coast behind them. There are Mt. Seongju in the south, Mt. Gaya in the north and Mt. Chilgap and Mt. Gyeryong in East. Is it like killing two birds with one stone?

Thirdly, it’s so popular for mountaineers as well as the public. The mountain is a lush green forest and there are lots of small streams in it! Also, you can enjoy climbing both a steep ridge and a gentle slope. Don’t miss the chance to catch sight of silver grass waving by the wind during autumn :)

[Enjoy KOREA] A historic park of Geoje POW Camp

[Enjoy KOREA] 

A historic park of Geoje POW Camp 

 A P.O.W. camp was completed on a site of about 10 million m2 around Gohyeon, Suwol, and Yangjeong areas on November 27, 1950. Up to 173,000 prisoners of war including 150,000 North Korean soldiers, 20,000 Chinese soldiers, and 3,000 women soldiers and militias were encamped. With the signing of truce on July 27, 1953, the camp was closed.

The Prisoner in Geoje POW Camp were allowed to self-regulate substantial part of the life in the barracks according to the Geneva Convention despite some control and discipline enforced by the rules.

A park was constructed to recreate the everyday life of prisoners of war based on the material and record of the time. The diorama hall that vividly portrays the camp at the time is a must see.

How about understanding the life of prisoners of war and tragedy of Korean War by visiting this park? We make sure that it encourages you to feel the great desire for reunification of KOREAN.

[Talk Talk Market] Energetic! Gohyeon General Market, Geoje

[Talk Talk Market] 

Energetic! Gohyeon General Market, Geoje

What is the first thing that pops to your mind when you think of the Geoje? Oe Island-Botania? Windy hill? Or Geoga Bridge?  Geoje Island, a paradise in Korea, has lots of attractions including island tours, cruise tours, and hands-on experience tours. Even though every place has its own unique charm, we recommend you to visit ‘Gohyeon General Market’ if you feel like experiencing lively Geoje :)

Gohyeon General Market isn’t that big, but it has lots of things to see.

First of all, Geoje is an island surrounded by ocean on all sides and has abundant fish because this is where the warm and cold currents meet. So, we wanna give you our word for fresh seafood! 

You can buy fresh seafood and raw fish at an affordable price at this market. Korean people usually enjoy it before they leave for many other amazing attractions in Geoje. If you buy a fish, the sellers filet raw fish on the spot and wrap it for you to get it to go. Then, you’ll find lots of restaurants near the market, go there and enjoy your food.

We want Foreigners, you guys, visiting Korea to get a chance to experience that Korean are warm-hearted and generous.

Also, Gohyeon General Market is one of the best places to buy fresh vegetables in Korea.

You also see green trees and beautiful flowers according to the season.

Welcome to Gohyeon General Market, 

where you can meet warm-hearted people :)

[Enjoy KOREA] Changpyeong Slowcity, Damnyang

[Enjoy KOREA] 

Changpyeong Slowcity, Damnyang

 

  Damnyang is known for an abundant variety of attractions such as bamboo groves and dawn redwood(aka, Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu&Cheng). Especially, Changpyeong Slowcity is the best place where you can experience Korean Traditional houses and feel aesthetics of slow.

 

  Because Changpyeong 5-day market is connected to Changpyeong Slowcity, you can go on a visit by foot after shopping in the market :)

 

 

  The movement of Slowcity was begun in 1999, Italy. The name, ‘Slowcity’, means the village where pursues a slow life with good neighbors and nature instead of following only success.

  If you visit to Changpyeong, you can feel you put the clock back. Korean old houses, low stone walls, and trees entwined with an ivy make you relieved. I guess this is the place to visit when we need to take a good look at ourselves.

 

  Some women is busy making Yeot, Korean hard taffy. Others are making Korean traditional sweets and cookies. It is too beautiful to eat them.

  How about walking along with stone walls and considering about living in agreement with nature?