Hwacheon Eojuktang | Restaurant Guide | K-Travel Mate

Paroho Observatory is an observation deck where you can take in the picturesque scenery of Paroho Lake at a glance. It was built by the Army Chilseong Unit, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and Hwacheon-gun together to honor the brave South Korean soldiers during the Korean War (6.25). The observatory is located on the hill above the Paroho Security Exhibition Hall. After a short climb along a wooded path, you will reach the observatory. Although there is a slight slope, the hill is not very high, so it can be climbed easily. From the observatory railing, Paroho Lake can be seen, and there is a pavilion and benches provided. In front of the observatory, there is a monument inscribed with the text: “This Paroho Observatory was built as a joint project by the Army Chilseong Unit, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and Hwacheon-gun to commemorate our brave soldiers during the Korean War who defeated three Chinese armies and defended the homeland and freedom, and to pass this legacy on to future generations.”

Paroho Lake is a manmade lake created when Hwacheon Dam was built in the valley of the Bukhangang River. The lake was once referred to as Daebungho Lake for its resembling image of an imaginary phoenix rising with its wings spread wide open when seen from afar. The area was a territory of North Korea after Korea's independence, but became a South Korean territory after the Korean War.

Paroho is an artificial lake created by the construction of Hwacheon Dam, which was completed in 1944. When viewed from a distance, Paroho resembles a great phoenix spreading its wings in flight, which is why it was also named Daebungho. After liberation, the area belonged to North Korea but was recovered during the Korean War. To commemorate this, former President Syngman Rhee personally visited Hwacheon and named it Paroho, using the characters for 'break' (깨트릴 파) and 'barbarian' (오랑캐 노).