Fun market experience in Songtan tourist special zone | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Located in Pyeongtaek, Songtan Tourism Special District is an area centered around the US military base, featuring shopping and entertainment facilities. It is compared to the small alleys of Itaewon and is sometimes called 'Little Itaewon.' Like Dongducheon Tourism Special District, Songtan Tourism Special District was developed around a US military base, with over 90% of tourists being foreign visitors centered on the US military. The district is divided into Sinjang and Seojeong areas. The Sinjang area is focused around the Sinjang District Shopping Mall, completed in 1998. Visitors can stroll along about 300 meters of pedestrian-only road starting in front of the military base, enjoying shopping and relaxation. The Seojeong area has a cherry blossom path starting in front of the Songtan branch office. It is a cultural street where you can enjoy a cozy park in the city and local performances. Cycling on Buraksan, which has a bicycle-only path, offers a unique experience, and at Pyeongtaek International Central Market, you can taste various foods. Every fall, the Songtan Tourism Special District One Mind Grand Festival is held, providing a vibrant space for citizens, foreigners, and tourists to interact and enjoy themselves, befitting the reputation of Pyeongtaek as an international city where diverse nationalities, including the US military, live together. It is easily accessible, located not far from Songtan Station on Subway Line 1.

Pyeongtaek Haejangwang, a popular hangover soup restaurant since 1992, offers menus such as seonji haejangguk (ox blood hangover soup), pyeo haejangguk (pork bone hangover soup), and pyeo jjim (braised pork bones). Additional side dishes can be refilled self-service, and kimchi, cheongyang chili peppers, and ssamjang are provided for convenient use. The generous amount served in a stone pot and the broth, which is both clean and spicy, are superb.

The natural village name of Baramsae Village is ‘Daruuji,’ derived from the ferry crossing called ‘Daragobijin.’ The ferry crossing where people and goods gathered became the setting of the love story between fishing bachelor Dara and village maiden Gobi, as well as the living space for village residents. In the wide field in front of the village, there was a royal granary field in the late Joseon period, which holds painful stories related to tenant farmers, associated with the village name ‘Gung-ri.’ Baramsae Village was created to embody the past dream of the sea, the present wetlands, and the future symbol of hope represented by birds. In 2008, the village was selected as a Gyeonggi-do Green Rural Experience Village, designed to evoke forgotten childhood nostalgia for adults and provide children a space to breathe with nature away from city life.