Healing while looking at the sea off Gijang | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

멸치의 고장, 기장에서도 멸치의 주산지로 꼽히는 곳이 바로 대변마을. 대변항은 물살 센 동해에 접해 있지만 파도가 밀려와도 자연스럽게 방파제 역할을 해주는 죽도를 눈앞에 두고 있는 천혜의 어항을 낀 어촌마을이다.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple was founded in 1376 by Naong Daesa, the royal teacher of King Gongmin, and is one of the Three Great Gwaneum Sacred Sites in Korea. It harmoniously combines the sea, dragons, and the Great Gwaneum Buddha, embodying deep religious meaning. It is famous as a place where anyone who sincerely prays will receive a divine dream and have one wish granted. Destroyed during the Japanese invasions of Korea, it was rebuilt in the early 1930s by Ungang of Tongdosa. In 1974, Monk Jeongam became the temple head, vowed to restore it as a Gwaneum site, and performed a 100-day prayer; after dreaming of Gwanseum Bosal dressed in white riding a dragon and ascending, he renamed the temple Haedong Yonggungsa. Existing buildings include the Daeungjeon, Gulbeopdang, Yongwangdang (Yonggungdan), Beomjonggak, and temple lodgings. The Gulbeopdang next to Daeungjeon, also called Mireukjeon, enshrines a seated Maitreya stone Buddha since its founding, known as Deuknambul, believed to grant offspring to those without descendants if they pray. In front of Daeungjeon stands a four-lion stone pagoda.

Gongsu Fishing Experience Village in Gijang-gun, Busan, is adjacent to the clear and blue East Sea, boasting beautiful coastal scenery and pristine natural landscapes, making it a popular recreational spot for urban residents with rich potential for tourism development. Located on the outskirts of Busan, it is connected to Haeundae and Songjeong Beaches. The southern section of the Donghae railway and National Road No. 14 pass through the center of Gijang-gun, providing very convenient transportation. The village name Gongsu derives from Gongsujeon, a field in the village. Gongsujeon refers to the farmland established during the Goryeo Dynasty to cover expenses such as official maintenance fees and lodging or hospitality costs for officials on business trips. Because it was located in Gongsujeon, the name Gongsu was given. During the Joseon Dynasty, under King Gwanghaegun, it was part of Nam-myeon in Gijang-gun, but in 1914, when Gijang-gun merged with Dongnae-gun, it became Gijang-myeon Sirang-ri Gongsu Fishing Experience Village.

Songjeong Beach can be reached by following Dalmaji-gil past Haewoljeong and the cherry blossom grove. The white sand beach is 1.2 km long, 30 to 60 m wide, and covers an area of 54,000㎡, making it relatively large. Songjeong Beach features soft sand, gentle slopes, and shallow waters, making it ideal for families and children to enjoy swimming, gaining popularity as a family resort. At the entrance of the beach, Jukdo has a dense pine forest and resting spaces, with an annual prayer festival held there. Songiljeong, an octagonal pavilion that represents traditional Korean pavilion architecture, adds charm. Along the coast, sashimi restaurants specializing in natural fresh fish line up, and at the end of the coast in Gwang-eogol, a dining culture street offers different delicacies. Additionally, many events are held every year, including the Daeboreum Seaweed Festival, Songjeong Beach Festival, and Songjeong Jukdo Cultural Festival.

If you follow the Haeundae Dalmaji Hill towards Songjeong, the place visible down to the right is Cheongsapo. Between Busan's Haeundae and Songjeong, there are three small harbors lined up along the coast. Along with Gudeokpo and Mipo, Cheongsapo is one of those small harbors. Cheongsapo is famous for producing very high-quality seaweed, and the sunrise here is already well known for its beauty. The rocky shore around Cheongsapo is always bustling with anglers who come to fish, especially in the fall when mackerel is in season, attracting even more people. Along the coast runs the Donghae Nambu Line, where trains occasionally blow their whistles, making the quiet rural village scenery even more picturesque. This railway is one of only two coastal railways in the country and is well known as a filming location for the movie "Blue Warning" (파랑주의보), making it even more beloved. Also, at one side of the harbor, there are restaurants and sashimi shops lined up, where enjoying freshly caught seafood with the peaceful harbor as a backdrop is one of the great pleasures. The original name of Cheongsapo was Cheongsa, meaning "blue snake." According to a legend related to the name, a devoted couple once lived in this village; when the husband drowned at sea while fishing, the wife waited every day on the coastal rocks. Moved by her sorrow, the Dragon King sent a blue snake to the East Sea Dragon Palace, where she was reunited with her deceased husband. However, as having the word "snake" in the village name was considered undesirable, it was recently renamed to mean "harbor of blue sand."