A Five-Senses Trip Through Downtown Jeongseon | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Jeongseon 5-Day Market is a representative traditional market in Korea. It opens on days ending in 2 and 7, attracting not only local residents but also travelers from all over the country. Originally, it was a bustling rural market where locals mainly traded wild vegetables, agricultural products, and daily necessities. It flourished during the peak of the coal industry in Jeongseon but declined with the industry's downturn. The market was revived in 1999 with the Jeongseon Oiljang Tourist Train (now Jeongseon Arirang Train A-Train). The nostalgic rural market train trip stimulated travelers' emotions. The fact that it is the hometown of Jeongseon Arirang also contributed. Various performances and events further enliven the market. Especially, Jeongseon's unique local foods are enchanting. Examples include gondre rice with a slightly bitter aroma that whets the appetite, chewy susubu-kumi, and kotdeung chigi, which is delicious only when eaten with a slurping sound. Thanks to these, you can fully experience gourmet wellness. Seasonal specialties like gomchwi or chamnamul in spring, sweet corn in summer, and meoru in autumn are abundant, making the market perfect for agricultural product shopping. Visiting on oiljang or weekend market days (Saturdays) offers a richer market atmosphere. The permanent Jeongseon Arirang Market, open year-round, always overflows with the charm of Jeongseon's traditional market. The youth market Cheongarang Mall near the east gate is also worth a visit.

Located along the Joyang River, Arari Village is a recreated village showcasing the residential culture of Jeongseon and the surrounding Gangwon province during the Joseon Dynasty. It consists of traditional houses and a marketplace street. The residential style in the mountainous Gangwon area, known for heavy snow and strong winds, differs from other regions. Representative examples are the Gulpi house, Jeoreup house, and Neowa house. The Gulpi house, mainly inhabited by slash-and-burn farmers, has a roof made of thick bark from Quercus crispula. The Jeoreup house's roof is created from hemp stalk fibers peeled from the bark instead of straw. The Neowa house has thin, flat stones arranged like tiles to withstand the wind. These features reveal the wisdom of our ancestors adapting to their environment. There is also Yangbanjeon Street themed on Park Ji-won's novel , which satirizes the yangban aristocracy in Jeongseon with scenes reproduced as statues, making visitors feel as if reading the novel. Free yangban certificates are also issued and should not be missed. The village includes various agricultural tool workshops, a Seonangdang shrine, and a mill, allowing visitors to explore aspects of ancestral life beyond the houses. Nearby is the Arirang Museum, exhibiting the history of Jeongseon Arirang and regional Arirang variations across Korea.

Located near Jeongseon Station, Donggwang Restaurant was established in the 1970s and has over 50 years of history. It is a popular jokbal (pig's trotters) restaurant favored by locals. The signature dish, Hwanggi Jokbal, is served pre-shredded for easy eating, featuring a chewy texture and mild flavor. It is simmered for a long time with hwanggi (hogweed root), softening the bones and meat while subtly infusing the aroma of hwanggi, which eliminates the gamey smell and enhances the deep flavor. Jeongseon's local dish, Koteungchigi Noodles, is made by boiling buckwheat knife-cut noodles handmade in a broth of mild doenjang (soybean paste) with perilla seed aroma. The chewy noodles and savory doenjang soup are exceptional. Donggwang Restaurant offers jokbal plates at around 30,000 won, which is relatively affordable compared to other famous jokbal places. As a notable restaurant in Jeongseon, it is definitely worth visiting when planning a trip to Jeongseon.

Between Buksil-ri and Gyulam-ri in Jeongseon-eup, the Byeongbangchi Observatory offers a scenic view where the Donggang River flows around Bamseom Island shaped like the Korean Peninsula in a 180˚ curve. Byeongbangchi Skywalk is an 11-meter-long U-shaped structure protruding from a cliff at 583 meters above sea level, with a floor made of reinforced glass, giving visitors the sensation of walking in the sky. From here, tourists can enjoy the beauty of Bamseom Island shaped like the Korean Peninsula and the Donggang River, making it a popular attraction.