Namparang Trail | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Sangjokam County Park offers a panoramic view of the southern coast’s Hallyeohaesudo and is located where the vast rock formations and dramatic cliffs create beautiful natural scenery. On November 10, 1983, Goseong-gun designated this area as a county park to preserve Sangjokam, a natural monument, and the well-preserved dinosaur footprints from the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era. In front of the youth training center’s beach, worn pebbles are spread out, shaped and smoothed by the tides, and beyond the wide rock formation with dinosaur footprints, the cliff face appears as stratified steep cliffs. Deep within the cliff, a cave winds east to west, resembling a table leg, known as “Ssangjok,” and also called “Sangjok” or “Ssangbari,” meaning multiple legs. The caves of Sangjokam vary in height and width, containing strangely shaped rocks with many legends. It is said that ancient fairy maidens descended here to weave golden clothes to offer to the Jade Emperor in Ssangjok Cave, and nearby is Fairy Bath where they bathed. Even today, rock-shaped water beds and bath-shaped pools remain inside the cave. Around it are Candle Rock and Folding Screen Rock, adding to the scenic beauty, and tourist cruise ships pass through the water between Saryangdo in Tongyeong-si, creating spray. The view of Hallyeohaesudo before visitors is so beautiful that tourists come all year round. The area is renowned for its dinosaur footprint fossils, sparking wonder. Discovered in January-February 1982 by Professors Yang Seungyoung of Kyungpook National University and Kim Hangmuk of Pusan National University during a coastal fossil survey from Gwangyang, Jeonnam, it is considered one of the world's top three dinosaur fossil sites, alongside Brazil and Canada. These footprints were made by dinosaurs such as Brontosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Allosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus, well-known from the movie Jurassic Park.

Hakdong Village in Hail-myeon, Goseong-gun, is a historic village said to have been established around 1670 when the Jeonju Choi family dreamed of a crane landing in the village and incubating eggs. Upon daylight, they discovered the area’s beautiful landscape and the terrain resembling a crane incubating eggs, considering it an auspicious site, settling there and naming it Hakdong. Behind the village lies the Sutasan ridge, with Jwaisan mountain rising in front, creating the so-called left blue dragon and right white tiger terrain. Haknimcheon stream flows beside the village, exemplifying the traditional auspicious mountain-water village layout. Many houses were remodeled with slate roof tiles during the Saemaeul Movement, but some traditional houses such as cultural heritage sites Yukyeongjae and Choe’s Old House are well-preserved, maintaining the village’s traditional character. The village’s stone walls are uniquely built by combining flat stones (slate 2–5cm thick) from Sutasan ridge with yellow earth, a feature not seen in other villages, harmonizing with stone foundations and rear fortress walls built in the same technique. Surrounded by bamboo groves evoking the southern province’s charm, the long stone wall path within the village creates a beautiful scenic view, with the yellow earth-colored stone path allowing visitors to feel a nostalgic hometown atmosphere.

Munsuam, a subsidiary temple of Ssanggyesa of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, is a hermitage located on Muisan Mountain in Museon-ri, Sangri-myeon, Goseong-gun. It was founded by the Silla monk Uisang. Since its establishment, this hermitage has been a training center producing many eminent monks. The mountain's scenery has been famous as a scenic spot in Haedong since the Three Kingdoms period, and it is said that during the height of the Hwarang era, elite Hwarang trainees practiced body and mind training on this mountain. However, the history of reconstruction is not handed down, and the current hermitage building is modern, rebuilt after the collapse caused by Typhoon Sarah. There is also the Cheongdam Great Master Relics Pagoda, enshrining the relics of Lee Cheongdam, who practiced asceticism at this temple, established in 1973 with donations from general believers. Nearby is Sutasan Bohyeonsa Temple. The road to the entrance of Munsuam is paved, and if you park your car at the parking lot a little below, you can reach Munsuam by walking.

The Goseong Songhakdong Burial Mounds are a cluster of about seven tombs from the Gaya period located in the Mugisan area north of Goseong-eup. Among them is Burial Mound No. 1, which resembles Japan's keyhole-shaped tumuli and has sparked heated debates between Korea and Japan. Since 1999, excavations by Dong-A University Museum have revealed key features of these burial mounds. All mounds have artificially compacted earthen embankments, with a technique of leveling hills and layering compacted earth. Burial Mound No. 1 consists of 17 stone cists and chambers combined into three independent round embankments, differing from Japanese keyhole tomb shapes. The B-1 stone chamber, the northernmost, differs from traditional Gaya tombs with red paint on the entrance, walls, and ceiling. Artifacts such as pottery, gilt-bronze earrings, horse gear, a large gilt-bronze decorative sword, a bronze goblet, and glass beads were found, indicating it as a tomb of a Sogaya king. The artifacts suggest these mounds date from the late 5th to early 6th centuries and served as central tombs for Sogaya's ruling elite or royal tombs. Goseong-gun, where the mounds are located, is known as the ancient site of Sogaya.

This park offers a panoramic view of the Goseong-eup area and the South Sea. At the park entrance, there are neatly arranged monuments commemorating the deeds of sages. Climbing the 84 stairs leads to Bogwangsa, a branch temple of Okcheon Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. To the left of Bogwangsa, there are the Memorial Tower, Bonangak, and Korean War anti-communist monuments built to honor the spirits of patriotic martyrs. Along the mountain ridge above Bogwangsa, facilities for recreational sports and a magnolia rest area have been established, providing a perfect resting space for both exercise and relaxation, frequently used by the town residents. From here, a well-kept 3–4 meter wide walking trail extends over the ridge down to Sunam-ri and Sinwol-ri, a distance that can be covered in about one hour. Namsan Park is also renowned as a winter training site for professional track and field athletes. At the summit, an octagonal pavilion offers a sweeping view of Goseong Bay and Goseong-eup, making it a cozy and beautiful spot encouraging visitors to stay, promoting health and rest for the townspeople as well as those who climb the mountain.

Haejigae Bridge, spanning the sea in Sinwol-ri, Goseong-eup, means 'the beautiful sight of the sunset over the vast lake-like sea naturally evokes thoughts of longing or loved ones,' making it a popular dating spot for couples. The bridge is 3.5 meters wide and 209 meters long. The Haejigae Coastal Walking Trail connects Nampo Port, Namsan Auto Camping Site, the marine deck bridge, and Guseonchang over a 1.4 km one-way section. Nighttime landscape lighting has been installed, increasing the number of people enjoying evening walks. The lights operate from sunset until 11 PM. Walking on the twinkling, even more beautiful Haejigae Bridge at night offers healing for tired bodies and minds.

''동피랑''이라는 이름은 ''동쪽''과 ''비랑''이라는 말이 합쳐져서 생겼다. ''비랑''은 ''비탈''의 통영 사투리인데 그 앞에 ''동쪽''을 나타내는 말 중 ''동''만 떼어 붙인 것으로 그래서 사람들은 ''동피랑''이 라고 부르게 된 것이다. 푸른 통영21 추진협의회는 2007년 10월 전국적으로 동피랑길에 그림 그릴 사람들을 모았다. 그 사람들이 마을 담과 벽 길 등에 온통 그림을 그렸고 바닷가 언덕마을이 그림으로 다시 태어난 것이다. 동피랑 골목길은 그 갈래가 수십 개다. 그 모든 골목에 그림이 있고 하늘과 맞닿은 마을, 그 곳에 그려진 그림은 마을을 동화나라로 만들기에 충분하다. 또 마을에서 내려다 보는 강구안 바다 풍경도 볼만 하다.