Into the Bustling Market | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Hwage Jangteo, famous as the setting of Kim Dong-ri's novel 'Yeokma,' is located at the border between Yeongnam and Honam regions. It was a hub for distributing seafood and salt from the southern coast, fertile grains from the Honam plains, mountain vegetables and woodenware from the Jirisan mountain area, through the developed waterways of Hadong port. From the mid-Joseon Dynasty to before liberation, it prospered as one of the nation's notable markets. However, with the development of transportation and distribution systems, it declined, disappearing its old appearance. Hwage Jangteo was a traditional market held at the confluence of the Hwage Stream, originating from Jirisan, and the Seomjin River, where a five-day market thrived. Recently, it operates as a permanent market without a separate five-day market. To meet the expectations of visitors drawn by Cho Young-nam's song 'Hwage Jangteo' and restore its traditional atmosphere, a project investing 1.6 billion won on about 2,540 pyeong was undertaken to build traditional market buildings and a green tea specialty mall with convenience facilities. It opened on April 5, 2001, with the 9th Hwage Jangteo Cherry Blossom Festival, operating as a permanent market.

화개장터 옆의 화개버스터미널 뒤편엔 50여 년의 전통을 자랑하는 동백식당이 있다.

Located on the mountain range following the ridge from Nogodan to Wangsirubong, this fortress dates back to the Goryeo Dynasty, extending from 20m below the southern peak of Chilbongsan down to the rear beneath Chiluisa. It was the boundary between Mahan and Jinhan in the Samhan period, a military strategic point as the boundary between Baekje and Silla during the Three Kingdoms period, and a fortress built during Goryeo to repel Japanese pirates invading from the South Sea. It served as a strategic stronghold in Honam to defend against Japanese invaders coming from Jeonju toward Gurye and Namwon. Towards the end of Goryeo, a military camp was established and operated as Japanese piracy increased, but it was abandoned and fell into ruin after the founding of Joseon as political stability returned. In the 25th year of King Seonjo's reign (1592), when the Japanese invasions of Imjin War began, Jeolla Province defense commander Gwak Yeong built the fortress and appointed Lee Wonchun, the governor of Gurye, to defend Seokjugwan. After the Imjin and Jeongyu wars, there were discussions at court about reinstalling a manhojin (military camp) at Seokjugwan as during late Goryeo for defense against Japanese pirates, but it was not realized and the fortress was left to ruin. The entire length of the fortress walls is about 750m, with heights mostly between 50–120 cm, and most have collapsed. It is important for research on fortification techniques from the 13th and 16th centuries. About a 3-minute drive (2.8 km) from here, after passing Ganjeon Bridge, to the left is the Seomjingang Fish Ecology Center, and about 5.7 km further along Seomjingangdaero lies the Unjoru Old House.