The Dramatic Cliffs of Hantangang Once Ruled by Im Kkeokjeong | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Goseokjeong is one of the nine scenic spots of Cheorwon and the most famous attraction in the area. Towering about 10 meters high in the middle of the Hantan River, a crystal-clear stream flows swirling between the two imposing rock formations. It is said that during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla, a two-story pavilion about 10 pyeong in size was built on the middle course of the Hantan River and named Goseokjeong. The pavilion and the valley around Goseok Rock together are called Goseokjeong. Designated as a local monument, it is said that King Jinpyeong of Silla and King Chungsuk of Goryeo visited and enjoyed this place. Goseokjeong became more famous as it was known as the base of Im Geokjeong during the Joseon Dynasty in the era of King Myeongjong. Cheorwon, formed by basalt lava flows in the Quaternary of the Cenozoic era, has the Hantan River flowing from north-northeast to south-southwest, creating columnar joints and vertical cliffs of granite through erosion. Located at the center of the Chugaryeong structural belt and later the passage of the Gyeongwon Line, Cheorwon was a suitable place for Im Geokjeong to hide, as he built a high stone wall opposite Goseokjeong as a mountain fortress base. He resisted the corrupt social class by intercepting tributes passing through this area to the royal court from Hamgyeong-do and aiding the poor. The pavilion was destroyed during the Korean War but was rebuilt in 1971 with local support as a 10-pyeong two-story structure; it was washed away by floods in 1996 and reconstructed again in 1997. Currently, a natural stone chamber where Im Geokjeong hid can be found in the massive 20-meter-high rock in the middle of the river, and a stone fortress remains on the opposite side. This scenic spot remains a national tourist site of Cheorwon’s nine views, attracting visitors year-round. About 2 km upstream are Jiktang Waterfall and about 2 km downstream is Sundam, with wide lawns and multipurpose sports grounds available, making it a favored destination throughout the seasons.

Cheorwon Peace Observatory is located in Dongsong-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon Province, offering a panoramic view of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and North Korea. Built in 2007, it is about 2km from the South-North Korea border, comprising three floors: the first floor is an exhibition hall, the second floor is the observatory, and the third floor serves as a military rest facility. From the observatory, visitors can see various areas such as Pyonggang Plateau, Seonjeon Village, Baengmagoji, and Mount Kumgang in North Korea. Inside, there is an exhibition explaining the history and culture of the DMZ and North Korea. A 50-seat monorail is installed to easily transport tourists to the observatory. The observatory features various facilities, including a high-precision telescope and a terrain model, enabling visitors to view North Korean landscapes and observe the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a key observation site. Nearby tourist spots include Woljeong-ri Station, a former stop on the Gyeongwon Line famous for , Dongsong Reservoir, which is gaining popularity as a Cheorwon security tour course attraction, and Cheorwon Fortress of Taebong Kingdom built by Gung Ye.

Woljeongni Station is the last train station closest to the southern boundary line of the Demilitarized Zone. At Woljeongni Station, you can see a stopped train next to a sign that says ‘The Iron Horse Wants to Run.’ During the Korean War, as the North Korean army retreated, they took only the front part of the train, so now only part of the rear car, used as a passenger car, remains. Located in the Iron Triangle where the fiercest battles of the Korean War took place, the stopped train at Woljeongni Station symbolically represents Korea's divided history. Currently, Cheorwon Woljeongni Station (Iron Triangle Observatory) is operated by Cheorwon-gun as a security tourism course and attracts many visitors every year.

한탄강유원지와 땅굴이 15km에 있는 읍내에 위치한 시설로 청소년 수련활동이 용이한 시설 이다. 인근에 고석정국민관광지(5㎞), 직탕폭포(7㎞), 도피안사(13㎞), 포춘사(12㎞), 삼부 연폭포(2㎞), 충열사(12㎞), 매월대(30㎞), 토성(12㎞), 제2땅굴(25㎞), 전망대(25㎞), 백마고지(20㎞), 노동당사(15㎞), 철새도래지(18㎞), 왜가리서식지(14㎞), 지석묘(12㎞)등이 있다.

The Workers' Party Headquarters located in Gwanjeon-ri, Cheorwon-eup, Gangwon Province, is a three-story building completed in 1946. Until the outbreak of the Korean War, it was used as the Workers' Party Headquarters of North Korea. Currently, the entire building is blackened and densely marked with shell and bullet holes due to extensive damage during the Korean War. However, this appearance reminds visitors of the Korean War and the reality of Korea's division, leading to its use as a filming location for famous singers' music videos and as a venue for well-known concerts. Presently, the Cheorwon Workers' Party Headquarters is operated as a security tourism course by Cheorwon-gun and attracts many tourists. It has been under government protection since being registered as a modern cultural heritage in February 2001.

Soisan is a small mountain rising 352.3 meters above the Cheorwon Plain. After the Korean War, it was a U.S. military base and part of the civilian access control line, prohibiting public entry. However, after the 6th Army Division agreed to open Soisan, civilians, government, and military cooperated, beginning construction in June 2011 and completing it in December. In 2012, the path finally opened under the name 'Soisan Ecological Forest Green Path.' Areas other than the walking trail remain minefields with fences alongside. Soisan hosted the first beacon fire station from the Goryeo Dynasty to signal enemy appearances, and before the Korean War, it was the center of historical Cheorwon. From its summit, you can overlook Baengmagoji, Kim Il-sung Hill, Cheorwon Station, the 2nd Tunnel, the Labor Party Office, as well as the largest migratory bird sanctuary and the Cheorwon Plain.