Into the nature of Gwangju Gyeonggi do | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Namhanseong Provincial Park encompasses Namhanseong Fortress, one of the four major fortresses that protected Hanyang (present-day Seoul). The four fortresses surrounded the capital: Gaeseong to the north, Suwon to the south, Ganghwa to the west, and Gwangju to the east, where Namhanseong Fortress is located. It is situated on Namhan Mountain, 24 km southeast of Seoul and 6 km northeast of Seongnam City. The fortress walls extend a total of 12.4 km (main fortress 8.9 km, outer fortress 3.2 km, Sin Nam fortress 0.2 km), with a height of 7.3 meters. Historically, it is recorded as being King Onjo’s royal castle over 2,000 years ago (King Dongmyeong of Goguryeo's son and the founder of Baekje). Also, during the Silla–Tang War in the 13th year of King Munmu of Silla (673), a castle called Jujangseong was built in Hansanju. Utilizing this ancient site, the fortress was repeatedly repaired and rebuilt by later generations, with extensive construction during the reign of King Gwanghaegun of Joseon (1621). The stone walls of Namhanseong are about 12 km in circumference, constructed with natural stones laid with larger stones at the bottom and smaller stones on top. There were four gates and gatepavilions (munru) on each cardinal direction, 16 secret gates (ammun), and four watchtowers (jangdae) built on the east, west, south, and north sides. Inside the fortress, the Suo Office was established alongside government offices, warehouses, and the temporary royal palace (haenggung). The haenggung consisted of 252 rooms in total: 73 in the upper palace, 154 in the lower palace, and 26 in the left quarters. Eighty wells and 45 springs were created, and the administrative office of Gwangju-eup was relocated inside the fortress. The fortress’s importance and its capacity to accommodate residents can be inferred. In the first military exercise after the fortress’s construction (Injo 17th year, 1639), 12,700 troops participated. Currently, only a few buildings remain within the fortress, including the East and South Gates, West Jangdae, Hyeonjeolsa, Yeonmugwan, Janggyungsa, Jisudang, Yeongwoljeong, Chimkwaejeong, Sungnyeoljeon General Yi Seo’s shrine, walls, towers, and ramparts. Among these, the four main gates, Suwojangdae, and parts of the fortress wall near the West Gate are well preserved in their original form. Namhanseong is designated as a historic site and provincial park.

경기도 광주시 남종면 분원리에 있는 박물관 얼굴은 연극 연출가 김정옥이 지난 40여 년간 수집해 온 우리의 옛 사람들이 만든 석인, 목각인형, 도자기 등과 우리나라를 비롯한 세계 여러 나라의 사람의 얼굴을 본 딴 와당과 가면 등 한자리에 모아 [사람과 얼굴]의 공간을 구상함으로서 만들어진 공간이다.

Gangmaeul Daramswi is a specialized acorn food restaurant located in Samsong-ri, Namjong-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. Situated near Paldang Dam, the restaurant attracts visitors on both weekdays and weekends with a variety of healthy dishes made primarily from acorns. The beautiful scenery overlooking Paldang Lake and the charming restaurant interior enhance the taste of the food. The main menu includes various dishes such as acorn noodles, acorn jelly cold soup, and acorn jelly rice. Coffee and herbal tea are sold as desserts. The outdoor garden, accessible via a walking path, is a great space for conversation after meals.

Paldang Lake is a lake spanning Toechon-myeon and Namjong-myeon in Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. It is a lake formed by the confluence of the Namhan River, Bukhan River, and Gyeongan Stream, created by the construction of a dam in 1973. In the past, it was a center of water transportation trade and supplies water to 27 million residents in the metropolitan area. Currently, it serves as a recreational space for metropolitan residents, known for its beautiful natural scenery where mountains and water harmonize. (Source: Gyeonggi Provincial Government)

Cheonjinaam Holy Ground is a historically significant site as the birthplace of Korean Catholicism, housing the remains of the country's founding Catholic ancestors (Ibyeok, Jeong Yak-jong, Gwon Cheol-sin, Gwon Il-sin, Lee Seung-hoon). The site features numerous attractions including a statue of the Virgin Mary, the site of Cheonjinaam Cathedral, and the Virgin Mary Church. On an area of approximately 360,000 pyeong, with 30,000 pyeong set aside for the cathedral construction site, tens of thousands of believers gather annually to hold commemorative events celebrating the founding of the Korean Catholic Church.