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Gangneung City in Gangwon Province: Okgye Beach
Designated as a tourist destination on April 10, 1982, Okgye Beach boasts a clean and spacious white sandy beach along with a pine forest area of trees aged 30 to 40 years. Influenced by the stream of water flowing from Seokbyeongsan nearby, the water temperature is relatively warm, making it an ideal summer resort. During the summer season, the beach can accommodate up to about 20,000 people, and the Gangwon-do Women’s Training Center is located in the beautiful pine forest. Okgye Beach features a pristine white sandy beach and an old pine forest, offering a unique and breathtaking scenery not found elsewhere. The distinct color of the East Sea’s water is so clear that its depth seems immeasurable, and the shimmering blue hues under the sunlight are indescribably beautiful. Adjacent to the beach, Okgye Port is famous for its strong waves and is a picturesque spot in the winter sea. Notably, Okgye Port was designated as a port for transporting cement in the Okgye City Planning Project, leading to the construction of the Gangneung Okgye Industrial Complex next to it, which plays a significant role in the cement industry in Gangwon Province. Camping at Okgye Beach is a delightful way to create lasting memories. With a pine forest adjacent to the beach, setting up a tent in designated areas allows visitors to spend a night under the densely packed stars in the sky, enjoying the relaxing sea breeze, soothing sound of waves, and a tranquil atmosphere unique to Gangneung.
• Address (location): 104-32 Geumjin Solbat-gil, Okgye-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province, South Korea
Gangneung City, Gangwon Province ‘Jumunjin Beach’
*Beautiful White Sand Beach and Annual Squid Festival at Jumunjin Beach*
Jumunjin Beach is located in Hyeongho-ri, Jumunjin-eup and boasts a 700m long, 9,608㎡ wide white sand beach with shallow waters and clear seawater, making it a perfect family-friendly getaway spot. The white sandy beach sparkles under the sun, and the waves create white foam along the shoreline, helping visitors forget about the summer heat. The dense pine forest provides shade for beachgoers, creating a cozy atmosphere where romantic stories and youthful energy bloom throughout the night. Additionally, the sports park within the pine forest allows visitors to enjoy leisure activities while also training their physical strength. Surrounding the area are family hotels, well-maintained guesthouses, and a camping site with space for 440 tents in a 6,600㎡ pine forest. Adjacent to the beach is the Hyeongho Reservoir where freshwater fishing is possible, and not far away are numerous ports such as Jumunjin Port, Uamjin Port, and Orijin Port offering fresh seafood at affordable prices. In spring, you can enjoy saury, in summer, squid, and in autumn and winter, fugu and rockfish are abundant, available at great prices during their seasons. Moreover, there are many raw fish restaurants and seafood centers lined along the coast, allowing you to taste freshly caught sashimi on the spot.
• Address (location): 210 Jumunbuk-ro, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
Gangneung City, Gangwon Province: Geumjin Port (Gangneung)
Originally known as ‘Mokjin’ or ‘Heukjin,’ which means ‘black port’ in reference to its dark soil, Geumjin Port was renamed in 1916 when it merged with the neighboring Geonnam Village to become Geumjin. Situated along the coastal road between Jungdongjin and Okgye Beach, two popular tourist spots in Gangneung, Geumjin Port serves as a convenient pit stop for travelers. Particularly, the stretch of the coastal road from Singok Port to Geumjin Port is renowned for its picturesque beauty, attracting visitors seeking a scenic drive by the sea.
• Address (location): Geumjin-ri, Okgye-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province
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Gangneung City, Gangwon Province ‘Sacheonjin Port’
Situated at the confluence of Sacheoncheon, a stream flowing eastward from Baekdudaegan, and the sea, Sacheonjin Port is a relatively small harbor with limited facilities for docking ships and marine leisure activities due to underdeveloped rocky coastlines. Unlike other ports, it is an ideal place for enjoying yachting. During the Joseon Dynasty, it was known as Sahwajin, later becoming Sacheonmyeon, and was eventually consolidated into Sacheonjin-ri in 1916 by merging various villages. Designated as a first-class fishing port in 1971, a development project was initiated in 1982 and completed in 1988. Around 70 households engage in fishing activities, catching various seafood like flounder, yellow corvina, and octopus, contributing to a thriving shellfish aquaculture industry. Encounter the charm of the Korean wave in Sacheonjin Port, featured in the drama “Boyfriend.” The picturesque scenery, complemented by the genuine laughter of the two main characters, Suhyun and Jinhuk, playing on the sandy beach, makes it a memorable place. Nearby restaurants serving fresh seafood dishes offer the perfect opportunity to enjoy a meal while admiring the sea views.
• Address (location): 68-23, Jinli Beach Road, Sacheon-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Gangneung City in Gangwon Province: Sokcho Harbor.
Sodolhang is located in Gangneung Jumunjin. Known for its shallow waters and clean beaches, Sodol Beach is a popular spot for families to enjoy swimming. The area also features attractions like Adeulbawi Rock, Seonangdang, and Sodol Port. Specializing in seafood, Sodolhang is famous for its octopus, squid, mackerel, sea urchin, abalone, and rockfish. Within Adeulbawi Park, you can find restaurants run by Sodol fishermen offering fresh seafood. Visitors can also enjoy various marine activities at Sodol Fishing Village Experience Village.
• Address (location): 1961-2, Haean-ro, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Gangwon Gangneung City ‘Simgok Port’
Known as ‘Shimgok’ for being a village nestled deep in a valley, this place used to be called ‘Jipil’ because its layout resembled paper spread out on the ground with a brush placed next to it. However, in 1916, it was officially designated as Shimgok due to administrative changes. Situated amidst mountain ranges on both sides, this remote village of Oji remained oblivious to the Korean War in 1950. Recently, with the spotlight on the sunrise hotspot of Jeongdongjin, Shimgok Port has also gained popularity. With its stunning blend of mountains and sea, this place boasts a beautiful landscape. (Source: Gangwon Provincial Government)
• Address (location): 648-8 Heonhwa-ro, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province, South Korea
Kangwon Gangneung ‘Aninhang’ – An Introduction to the Cultural Features of a City in South Korea
Anin is located to the east of Gangneung city center, with its roots in the Chilsadang, an administrative office during the Joseon Dynasty. The name ‘Anin’ derives from ‘An’ meaning comfort and ‘In’ representing the east direction, signifying a comfortable place in the east of Gangneung. Around 85 households in Anin are engaged in fishing, with approximately 42 fishing boats. The fishing season mainly runs from October to February, with plentiful catches of flounder and rockfish. Anin is where the Gyeongsun River meets the sea, attracting a lot of trout for local fishing enthusiasts. Every year on March 3rd and September 9th, a festival celebrating trout is held. In addition to abundant abalone and seaweed, both rockfish and abalone are also actively farmed in the area. The coastal fishing grounds are typically within a range of 1 to 5 kilometers from the shore.
• Address (location): 316 Aninjin-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province
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Gangneung City in Gangwon Province: Yeongjin Harbor
Yeongjin Village is located north of the lower stream of Yeongokcheon, where salmon return and plenty of delicious smelt are caught. The name Yeongjin means ’embraced by the sea.’ The annual Pungoje Festival takes place every three years on a day in lunar April. Yeongjin-ri is where the rivers flowing from Salty River and Jingogae Junryeong meet the sea. On the other side of the river is Yeongok Beach, and right next to the port is Yeongjin Beach, popular among visitors during the vacation season. Around 60 fishing households with 35 boats catch a lot of flounder and clams from February to October. The nearby port, Jumunjin Port, is about 2-5km inland and 2km offshore. About 1km west of the port, there is a burial mound from the prehistoric era that has been excavated and designated as a cultural heritage site, making it a great place for families to explore the history.
• Address (location): 2-3 Yeongjin-ri, Yeongok-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Gangneung City’s Okgyehang Port
On May 8, 1987, the Okgye Port, initially planned for cement transportation, was granted permission to be developed as a harbor. Construction began on July 8 of the same year by Hanra Cement, and it was officially designated as a trading port on October 14, 1991 by Presidential Decree No. 13487. The port was opened on December 8, 1997. Okgye Port boasts a dock length of 940m, a breakwater of 1,304m, and one crane. It has a berthing capacity for a total of 5 vessels, including one 50,000-ton class ship (up to 55,000 tons), one 20,000-ton class ship, two 10,000-ton class ships, and one 5,000-ton class ship. The annual cargo handling capacity is 10.145 million tons.
• Address (location): 558 Jusuri, Okgye-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Autonomous Province
Discovering Jumunjin Port in Gangneung, Gangwon Province
Jumunjin Port is mainly used for cargo ships, serving as a major port on the East Coast where about 350 fishing boats come and go, taking advantage of the confluence of cold and warm currents in the East Sea. This unique location results in a plentiful catch of squid, pollack, hairtail, saury, and anchovies. The sashimi freshly taken off the boat is incredibly fresh and sure to attract tourists with its affordable prices. Visitors can enjoy a variety of sashimi dishes at a reasonable cost.
• Address (location): 1758-22, Haean-ro, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Autonomous Province, South Korea
Gangneung City, Gangwon Province: Jumunjin Lighthouse
The central region of Gangwon Province is known for its lack of major ports, resulting in a delayed installation of lighthouses compared to other areas. The Jumunjin Lighthouse, established on March 20, 1918 (under the Governor-General of Korea Decree No. 61), was the first lighthouse built in Gangwon Province. Constructed in a cylindrical shape with a maximum diameter of 3m and a height of 10m, this lighthouse is coated with white lime mortar on its exterior walls. This brick-style lighthouse is considered to have high architectural value, representing the early stages of lighthouse construction in Korea. Its light flashes every 15 seconds and can be seen from a distance of 37km. The Jumunjin Lighthouse was damaged during the Korean War but was restored in 1951. It is currently the oldest lighthouse in Gangwon Province and was the first to operate a signal station along the East Sea coast.
• Address (location): 24-7 Old Lighthouse Street, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Gangwon Gangneung City ‘Namdaecheon (Gangneung)
Namdacheon is a local river that originates near Saptangryeong in Wangsan-myeon, Gangneung City, flowing through Gangneung and into the East Sea at Namhangjin. Cutting through the heart of Gangneung’s downtown area, the southern side of Namdacheon is sometimes referred to as Gangnam. It stretches for 32.86 km with a watershed area of 258.65 km². The upper part is called Domacheon, and it is named Namdacheon after passing through the Obong Reservoir (Gangneung Reservoir). Serving as a lifeline for Gangneung, Namdacheon supplies domestic water and agricultural water to the surrounding farming areas. The river underwent purification work in 1992, resulting in well-maintained riverbanks. Surrounding Namdacheon are attractions such as Dan-o Park, Gangneung Dan-o Culture Center, Im Yeong-gwan Salmoon Memorial Site, and more. Particularly, near Namsan Bridge, the annual Gangneung Dan-o Festival takes place on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, featuring traditional rituals, shamanistic performances, the largest Nanta performance in the country, national cultural heritage events, citizen participation activities, folk games, and various rich programs, making it not only a regional celebration but also a national festival hub. ◎ Travel Information Meeting the Charms of Hallyu – Movie ‘The Swindlers’ Namdacheon in Gangneung, which serves as the actual backdrop for the warning scene in the movie ‘The Swindlers’ where the character Seong-jun warns Su-hyuk, is a river that flows through Gangneung and into the East Sea. At the ecological observation center located downstream, visitors can also enjoy the view of Namdacheon’s reed forest and natural scenery.
• Address (location): Gusanan-gil, Seongsan-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon Province