Warm hearted people in deeply nestled Jeongseon | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

When traveling from the Seoul metropolitan area toward the East Sea or Samcheok, people often use the course Pyeongchang-gun Jinbu-myeon → Najon-ri → Imgye-myeon → Baekbokryeong → Donghae-si once traffic starts to slow down from the Daegwallyeong section of the Yeongdong Expressway. Songgye-ri in Imgye-myeon, located midway on this route, has become a key transportation hub connecting Gangneung, Taebaek, Jeongseon, and Donghae-si, no longer a remote mountain village. The Imgye Market in Songgye-ri, Imgye-myeon, benefits from this strategic location, making it quite large. The Imgye 5-Day Market, held on the 5th and 10th, sees fewer outside tourists compared to Jeongseon Market in Jeongseon-eup but is popular among residents of Gangneung and Taebaek-si. The market is held in front of the Nonghyup next to the bus terminal and at the parking lot across by the police substation. It is characterized by a wide variety of agricultural products grown by local residents. Items range from farming tools such as hoes, sickles, aluminum carrying frames, and manure carts to wooden root carvings, fish-shaped bread, cast-iron pot lids, mouse traps, and compasses. Especially in May, a fleeting wild vegetable market opens at dawn and closes within about an hour.

Hwaam Cave is located within the Hwaam Tourist Complex in Jeongseon-gun. It is the world's only cave that combines a gold mine and a natural limestone cave, and it is Korea's first themed cave. This site was originally the Cheonpo gold mine during the Japanese occupation, where a limestone cave underground was discovered during mining. It has since been transformed into a themed cave tourist attraction. Inside Hwaam Cave, visitors can observe large stalactites, stalagmites, dripstones, flowstones, cave corals, and other formations. The total length is 1,803 meters, and the upper gallery section of 515 meters vividly simulates the entire process from the discovery of the gold vein to the extraction of gold ore. Additionally, symbols of Hwaam Cave, the Geumkkaebi and Eunkkaebi, are featured inside, making cave exploration engaging for children.

Hwaam Mineral Spring, which gushes through the rock deep in Geurim Rock Mountain, is a natural sparkling water containing iron, carbonic acid, calcium, and nine other essential health elements, with a tingling taste. It is one of the Hwaam Eight Scenic Views and is a mysterious oxidized iron carbonated water believed to be effective for stomach diseases, anemia, eye diseases, and skin diseases, attracting many visitors. Around 1910, it is said that a person named Mun Myeong-mu discovered it after dreaming of two dragons, a blue and a yellow dragon, entwined, shining their rays and rising to the sky. Hwaam Mineral Spring has beautiful natural scenery with well-maintained walking paths, allowing a leisurely stroll to enjoy the views. The autumn foliage is especially beautiful from October to November. The nearby Auraji Ferry, famous for Jeongseon Arirang, and the scenic Garibong Mountain are popular tourist spots, as well as the Hwaam Eight Scenic Views including Hwaam Cave, Turtle Rock, and Molundae.

Molundae, the 7th scenic spot among the Hwaam Palgyeong, is situated on a cliff carved from hundreds of stacked rocks, where a pine tree over 500 years old stands with its twin ancient pines across, preserving a grand view throughout the ages. According to an old legend, celestial immortals descended on cranes and were enchanted by the scenery of Siheung, and even the clouds rested here, attracted by its beauty. Below the cliff at Molundae lies a vast flat rock that can accommodate hundreds of people, with clear water flowing in the valley, making it a popular picnic spot during summer. The hiking trail starting along a small ridge offers views of five of the Hwaam Palgyeong (Hwaam Mineral Springs, Turtle Rock, Hwapyoju, Sogeumgang, Molundae). The salt river valley (Sogeumgang) seen from Biseondae, Sinseonam, and Geumgangdae resembles an oriental painting along with Seoram. After hiking, soaking your feet in the river at Sogeumgang valley beneath Molundae gives a sensation of becoming an immortal. However, caution is necessary due to risks of falling at Biseondae, Sinseonam, and Geumgangdae, especially in winter. ◎ Travel information to experience the charm of Hanryu (Korean wave) - In the film , Molundae appears as the summit of the fictional Homisan mountain, with a 500-year-old dead tree at the cliff edge. The book-shaped monument at Molundae, where even clouds rest because of the scenery, bears a poem that says the world's end is a new beginning of love. The snowy night scene brings to mind the encounter of Haejun and Serae.