The Jindo dog is a breed of dog raised by people since the Stone Age, and its pure bloodline has been well preserved due to the unique environment separated from the mainland. In 1962, the Jindo dog was designated as a 'Natural Monument' by the state under the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, and it is protected and fostered through the 'Korean Jindo Dog Protection and Promotion Act' and the Cultural Heritage Protection Act. The Jindo Dog Theme Park consists of the Jindo Dog Promotion Center, a racetrack, an agility course, a medical center, and a children's sledding area, where Jindo dog sports can be watched daily.
Located opposite the Jindo County Office, Cheolma Park breaks away from conventional designs and is developed into various themed parks such as Sunlight Yard, Milky Way Hill, and Starlight Hill. Many residents and tourists enjoy light walks or relaxation here, and the night view attracts many visitors as well. Two horse statues stand in Cheolma Park. Originally, this place was called Jintero and was used as a military training gathering site during the Joseon Dynasty. During the Japanese occupation, it served as a five-day market. Additionally, Cheolmasan, the mountain behind Jindo-eup, had a fortress built during the Unified Silla period and was used as a military post. The names Cheolma Square and Cheolma Park are derived from Cheolmasanseong (Cheolma Mountain Fortress).
Jindo Eupseong is a town fortress located below Cheolmasan in Seongnae-ri, Jindo-eup. It was established in the 19th year of King Sejong's reign (1437) when Jindo-gun became independent, constructing a fortress with a circumference of 3,400 cheok and a height of 11 cheok, featuring three gates. According to the 『Yeojidoseo』, it had 14 ongseong (protective bastions) for fortress gates, 58 lower walls called chicheop built on fortress walls protruding outside the walls. Inside the fortress, there was a pond with a circumference of 4,500 cheok and a depth of 5 cheok, along with five wells. The original fortress shape was rectangular, with the west wall built shorter than the east wall. The most remains are on the northeast corner near Gungang Park, with walls 2 to 3.5 meters high and about 50 meters long. The northern wall encloses the outer site north of the county office and Jindo Elementary School, with about 50 meters of wall behind the county office (now the Cultural Arts Center) standing 1.8 to 2 meters high. Only the lower part of the wall, about 1 to 1.2 meters high, remains behind the current county office. About 50 meters of the west wall remains on the west side of the school site.
Jindo Island is the principal island among the cluster of 230 islets in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula. The island is blessed with abundant fertile land, therefore much of it is used for agriculture. The sea around it is teeming with fish and wildlife.
The island has many park reserves like the Dadohaehaesang National Park, historical relics and sites; and visitors can enjoy traditional artistic performances everywhere. With the Jindo Bridge construction completed, the island is connected to the mainland. Every year during the month of February on the lunar calendar, the sea parts and mimics the parting of the sea by Moses. Many tourists come to watch this rare spectacle.
Jindo-gun consists of over 230 islands in the southwestern sea of the Korean Peninsula where the West Sea and South Sea meet. The main island, Jindo, has extensive farmland and abundant agricultural products, as reflected in the saying "One year's farming feeds for three years." The surrounding sea produces many fish and seaweeds. The island's name means "Island of Treasures." Jindo has 8 scenic sites and 3 treasures. The 8 scenic sites include Uldolmok Coast, site of the Battle of Myeongnyang; the mysterious sea road; Gwanmae 8 Views on Gwanmae Island; Namdo Jinseong Fortress; Unlim Sanbang; and Yongjang Sanseong Fortress. The 3 treasures are the Jindo dog, gogija (a type of berry), and wild stone seaweed. Every year around the lunar calendar's last day of the second month, a 2.8km long, 40m wide sea road opens between Hoedong-ri in Gogeun-myeon and Modo in Uisin-myeon. This mysterious sea road, widely known as the Korean version of the Moses miracle, coincides with the Yeongdeung Festival attracting numerous tourists. Also, Uldolmok Strait of the Myeongnyang Battle, where Admiral Yi Sun-sin won a great victory against Japanese forces during the Imjin War, is scattered with various historical sites throughout the island. Ssanggyesa Temple is located 7km from Jindo-eup, near the evergreen forest designated as a natural monument and Unlim Sanbang, a restored exhibition hall featuring relics of Sochi Heo Ryeon, a master of Southern-style painting in the late Joseon Dynasty, preserved by his grandson Namnong Heo Geon.
Hyanggyo were educational institutions established by the government to hold memorial rites for Confucius and other sages and to provide education and moral instruction to local people. Jindo Hyanggyo was first built in the 20th year of King Sejong of Joseon (1437) but was completely burned down during the Japanese invasions of 1597 (Jeongyujaeran). It was rebuilt in the first year of King Injo (1623) and is believed to have been moved to its current location in the 7th year of King Hyojong (1656). The front area was used for education, and the rear was for memorial ceremonies. The Myeongnyundang, a lecture hall where students gathered to study, is 7 kan wide and 2 kan deep, with a hipped-and-gabled roof shaped like the character 팔 (pal) when viewed from the side. The Daeseongjeon, which enshrines the memorial tablets of Confucius and other sages of China and Korea, is built on a high stone platform. It measures 3 kan both in width and depth, with a gabled roof shaped like the character 인 (in) from the side. There are also smaller buildings for rituals, called Dongmu and Seomu, as well as dormitories for students, Dongjae and Seojae, and inner and outer three gates serving as entrances. (Source: Cultural Heritage Administration)
