Meeting the true face of Byeonsanbando National Park | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Maechang Park was created to commemorate the Buan renowned beauty and female writer Imaechang, famous in the Joseon Dynasty along with Hwang Jini and Heo Nanseolheon. Imaechang (1573~1610) was a female poet during King Seonjo's reign; her name was Gyesaeng or Hyanggeum, her courtesy name Cheonhyang, and her pen name Maechang. Born as the daughter of Itangjong in Hyeon-ri, Buan, she learned literature from her father and excelled in classical Chinese poetry, as well as dance and especially the geomungo. She was also skilled in sijo, with several poems attributed to her. Her representative work, "Ihwau Heunillje," is considered a masterpiece of farewell poetry. Buan-gun has established a cultural park including stone monuments inscribed with her poems, forests, Maechang Theme Exhibition Hall, wetland park, Buan Culture Center, and Yuheegyeong Plaza. Additionally, facilities like a children's playground, walking paths, and basketball courts are provided. Trees and flowers are planted along park trails, accompanied by sculptures and resting spots. At night, the park is illuminated for pleasant evening walks. The Buan Masil Festival is held in May at Maechang Park.

Jikso Waterfall, a representative tourist attraction of Naebyeonsan in the Buan area, is about 30 meters high. It is named 'Jikso' because water falls straight down into a round pond supporting the waterfall. Jikso Waterfall is the 2nd valley of Bongrae Gugok, and below the waterfall is Yongso, a pond of unknown depth. Legend says a dragon lived here, and during severe droughts, the local government official held rain rituals in front of Yongso. It is designated as a notable site in the West Coast National Geopark, where visitors can understand the formation process of Jikso Waterfall and columnar joints composed of Byeonsan tuff. Around the waterfall, various shapes of columnar joints can be observed, with pentagonal and hexagonal columns up to about 1 meter wide, arranged vertically in colonnade form spanning dozens of meters. These columnar joints were formed by the rapid cooling and contraction of volcanic clastic deposits, creating polygonal joints and elongated colonnades. Hidden like an inland treasure, Jikso is called the inland Seolgong. The gentle slope is easy for people of all ages to climb, making it a popular 2.3 km trail in Byeonsan Peninsula National Park that takes about 50 minutes. Visitors can encounter various seasonal flora and fauna, and the surrounding scenery including Bongrae Gugok, Injang Rock, and Silsangsa Temple is outstanding. Many photo shoots are held in late April featuring the cherry blossoms blooming behind Jikso Waterfall, so visiting during this time is recommended.

[Selected as a ‘Baeknyeon Gage’ by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in 2018] Gyewha Hall is the first local food restaurant in Buan-gun known for its exclusive dish ‘Buan Ihwaja Baekhapjuk,’ which is trademarked, and it also holds a patent for the ‘Baekhap steamed dish manufacturing method.’ It is a specialized clam dish restaurant using only pure clams, sesame oil, salt, and mulberry leaf powder. Its cooking method highlights the natural flavors without being stimulating. You can enjoy various clam dishes ranging from single dishes like clam porridge, clam pancake, and grilled clams to a full clam course.