For Classic Korean Flavor, Off to Chodang Tofu in Gangneung | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Chodang sundubu, one of the most famous foods in Gangneung, is made by grinding soybeans and coagulating them with seawater from the East Coast, resulting in a very soft and savory tofu. You can enjoy various unique tofu dishes such as dubu jeongol (tofu stew), modubu (soft tofu), and jjambbong sundubu (spicy seafood tofu stew). The name of Gangneung Chodang Sundubu Village comes from 'Chodang,' the pen name of Heo Yeop, the father of the famous Korean novelist and poet Heo Gyun and his sister Nanseolheon. The birthplace of Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon is still preserved in this village. There is a related story that Heo Yeop lived in Chodang-dong, Gangneung-si, and used the good-tasting spring water from in front of his house to process soybeans and season the tofu with clean seawater, which became popular for its taste, leading to the village being named Chodang after his pen name. Besides tasting sundubu, you can also enjoy murals that simply and enjoyably depict the process of making Chodang tofu.

Heo Nanseolheon Birthplace in Gangneung is a site created to honor the artistic spirit and literary achievements of Heo Nanseolheon, one of the greatest female poets of the Joseon Dynasty. She was the sister of Heo Gyun, the author of 'Hong Gil-dongjeon,' and showed genius poetic talent from the age of eight but lived a tragic life and died at 27. Her works, which delicately expressed her unhappy fate, were posthumously compiled by her brother Heo Gyun as the 'Nanseolheon Collection.' Restored in 2001, the birthplace is a typical noble family hanok building that appears after passing a beautiful pine forest. Inside the high gate and low fence, the daecheong (main hall), sarangchae (men’s quarters), and anchae (inner quarters) are neatly arranged, and next to the well and mill, there is a narrow door for women’s entrance, clearly showing the gendered space division. Inside the house are portraits of Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon, and a plum blossom tree grows beautifully in the yard. This site is designated as a cultural property of Gangwon-do, and in addition to the birthplace, Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon Memorial Hall and Memorial Park are also established and can be visited together.

Heo Nanseolheon Pine Forest in Gangneung is a dense pine grove surrounding the birthplace of Heo Nanseolheon. Heo Nanseolheon was the greatest female poet of the Joseon Dynasty who died at age 27 and was the sister of Heo Gyun, the author of 'Hong Gil-dong Jeon.' The clean front yard where Heo Nanseolheon played with her younger brother Heo Gyun until she was seven years old is directly connected to the wide pine forest. It is a place visited by many families because of the cool and fragrant pine breeze throughout the year. In 2010, Heo Nanseolheon Pine Forest was honored with the 'Beautiful Harmony Award' and the 'Beautiful Nuri Award' at the National Beautiful Forest Competition jointly organized by the private environmental group Saengmyeong-ui Sup, Yuhan-Kimberly, and the Korea Forest Service. Nearby, in addition to Heo Nanseolheon's birthplace, there is a memorial hall and a park, providing abundant attractions. Every spring and fall, Heo Nanseolheon and Heo Gyun cultural festivals are held here to honor the two literary figures.

‘거울처럼 맑고 아름답다’ 해서 얻은 이름이 경포호다. 동해안에는 백사장이 막혀서 생긴 석호가 많은데, 그 중 하나다. 경포호의 봄은 벚꽃으로 말한다. 남도의 벚꽃이 지고 난 후 피어나는 경포호 벚꽃은 봄이 무르익었음을 보여주는 존재다. 봄바람이 한 번 살랑거리면 연분홍빛 벚꽃이 눈송이인 듯 바람에 휘날리며 선경을 펼쳐낸다. 벚꽃도 솜사탕마냥 풍성하다. 하얀 벚꽃이 마치 흰 구름 깔아놓은 듯 여행자를 안내한다. 수천 개의 꽃잎이 눈앞에서 춤을 광경을 관람하며 호수 주변 산책로를 걷는다. 곳곳에 쉼터와 전망대도 설치되어 있어, 거닐고 쉬기에 좋다.