Gangwon-do: See a different side of South Korea in this province

When it comes to travelling to South Korea, most of us have been to the bustling Seoul, the picturesque Jeju and the iconic Busan. If you’re thinking of switching things up, consider visiting the Gangwon Province (or search for Gangwon-do), which is about a two-hour drive from Incheon Airport.

Thanks to an invitation from Korea Tourism Organisation Singapore, I was pleasantly surprised to experience a different side of South Korea in Gangwon-do. Specifically, Gangwon stands out with its mountainous and forested sceneries that are uncommon in cityscapes. Its mountainous terrains also give rise to wind farms, making them a common sight in Gangwon.

As you travel from the airport to Gangwon, you’ll enter tunnels after tunnels that cut through towering mountains. Although two hours feels like a long drive, you’d never be bored by the scenic landscapes that pass you by.

Gangwon also feels a lot less busy and relatively more peaceful as it is surrounded by nature—majestic mountains when you’re further inland at Chuncheon, Pyeongchang and Jeongseon; and the vast East Sea when you’re near the coast at Gangneung, Yangyang and Sokcho.

As Gangwon may be better known for tourist hotspots like Nami Island and Seoraksan, I’ll skip the obvious and dive into newer and/or lesser-known travel activities and interesting cultural experiences. Check them out below if you’re thinking of giving Gangwon a try!

TRAVEL ACTIVITIES IN GANGWON

1. Legoland Korea Resort

Opened just last year in May, Legoland Korea Resort is the first and only Legoland on an island. It is home to seven iconic sections, such as Lego City and Lego Ninjago World, and more than 40 rides and attractions.

From now till 20 November, Legoland Korea Resort is holding the Bricktastic Autumn Festival, featuring seasonal shows and events, such as the Great Monster Chase 4D movie. You can also enjoy the park after sunset until 9pm every Friday through Sunday till 29 October and watch the fireworks light up the sky at around 7:40pm.

This is definitely the place for young families to bring their children out for a day of fun and laughter.

2. King Canoe & Samaksan Cable Car

If getting hands-on while admiring scenic mountainous views is your thing, sign up for a canoe session at King Canoe. This canoe experience takes place on the man-made Uiam Lake, which has Samaksan (three-peak mountain) as the backdrop. But don’t worry if your stamina cannot keep up because King Canoe has a motor boat to give you the extra push when you’re tired from rowing.

If you prefer to just take in the views, you can hop over to the Samaksan Cable Car nearby that takes you up the mountain effortlessly. You can even choose the Crystal Cabin, which has a see-through glass bottom for an exciting bird’s-eye view.

3. Balwangsan Skywalk & Deep Dive Museum

Balwangsan, which has an elevation of 1,458 metres, is where the renowned Yongpyong Ski Resort is located at. To experience the massiveness of the mountain, and of course, the breathtaking views, you can take a ride on the Balwangsan Cable Car. It stretches over Asia’s longest course of 7.4 kilometres—about 20 minutes to get to the top.

Over at the peak, you can get a panoramic view at the Balwangsan Skywalk. Although the region is best known for its ski season, which runs from November to early April, you can also witness picturesque autumn hues in October. It was a pity though, that on the day we visited, we couldn’t see anything but thick fog, no thanks to the rain.

But all hope is not lost. If you need a weatherproof activity, take your time through the Deep Dive Museum. Featuring interactive and immersive art, the museum is composed of differentiated concepts and works that you have never seen before.

My favourite is Waterfall, which features the mysterious and colourful fantasy world of the sea. The design of the screens makes it such that it's as if you're at the seabed surrounded by abundant marine life.

Other highlights include Mother Nature, a room with LED screens as the walls and floor showcasing wondrous views, and Magic Stone, an interactive art that displays a magical four-season landscape beyond the rocks.

4. Samyang Ranch

If you appreciate farm life and enjoy getting in touch with nature, you will love Samyang Ranch, a vast meadow home to milking cows and fluffy sheep. Some of the notable landmarks include the East Sea Observation Deck, which is located at 1,140 metres above sea level; and the Cheongyeon Arboretum, where you can find trees that are hundreds of years old and beautiful wildflowers.

Another key location is the Lover’s Concerto Tree, featured in the 2002 movie Lover’s Concerto that stars Son Ye-jin from Crash Landing On You. This is also where you can watch the cute sheep graze freely in the organic pasture. One thing to note is that the sheep are not out in the pasture during winter due to health concerns; you can only catch them from May to November.

5. Yangyang Surfyy Beach

For the beach lovers, Yangyang Surfyy Beach is where you not only can enjoy surfing, but also indulge in the chill vibes by the sea. There are restaurants and bars in the area, which make a good spot to unwind, feel the wind in your face and listen to the waves crashing onto the sandy shores.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

1. Gangneung Nongak Performance

Nongak, which literally translates to agriculture music, is a Korean folk dance that farmers traditionally perform to pray for a good harvest. It was recognised as a National Culture Intangible property in 1966 and became part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2014.

Nongak has five regional styles that have their own performing approaches—one of them being Gangneung nongak from Gangwon Province. The Gangneung nongak makes use of four different percussion instruments, namely the small handheld gong kkwaenggwari, the hourglass drum janggu, the barrel drum buk, and the large gong jing.

We managed to catch a short performance (the actual performance is composed of 12 parts) at Ojukheon, where the most prominent Korean Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty Yi I was born, and even got a firsthand experience with the instruments!

I tried the hourglass drum janggu, which the local performers said was the most difficult to play—it’s very true. While the other instruments only require one drumstick, the janggu needs a good coordination of both hands with one hitting the main surface on both sides of the drum and the other hitting the corner of the drum.

Unfortunately, the Gangneung Nongak Performance at Ojukheon ended in September. But you can check out their website (in Korean only) for their next performance (if any) or arrange for a private session.

2. Woljeongsa Temple

Located on Odaesan (literally five big mountains), Woljeongsa Temple is one of Gangwon’s most famous temples. To get to the temple, you have to walk through a path of fir trees by the river, which evokes a sense of peace and calm.

The temple was destroyed during the Korean War but an octagonal, nine-story pagoda and a seated, stone Bodhisattva were preserved. When we were there, though, the pagoda was under maintenance and we couldn’t witness the true glory of the structure. The stone Bodhisattva was also moved to the nearby Woljeongsa Museum.

Even if you’re not interested in Buddhism, there is also a cafe on the temple grounds that you can sit in to soak in the chill atmosphere and sip on hot coffee or tea while reading a book or watching people pass by.

3. Unamjeong

Technically a cafe that serves impeccable black tea and traditional bites (honey pastry yakgwa and rice crackers), Unamjeong is perhaps better known for its rustic hanok (Joseon house) setting with dark tiled roofs and wooden building frames.

As you make your way into Unamjeong, you’ll be greeted by a maple tree that sits right in the middle of the compound. This maple tree was said to be the tree that indicates the start of autumn in South Korea, which means its leaves are the first to turn.

Apart from the cafe, you can also try on hanbok and take beautiful photos as if you’re in a period drama. There are also traditional games like the jegichagi (similar to our chapteh) and the biseokchigi (a form of aiming game) that you can enjoy in the compound.

4. Jeongseon Arirang Musical Performance

Many of us are familiar with the Korean folk song Arirang. In this musical performance Ari Arari, the song gets a new rendition with a modern twist. The performance follows the story of a woodcutter and carpenter Shin Gi-mok, who heads to the capital to earn money, leaving behind his mother, wife and daughter, Ari.

With the stunning lights, costumes and stage effects and perfect synchronisation of the moves and beats, the performance is definitely an eye-opener not just into the Korean culture but also the Korean talents, be it the ones on stage or behind the scenes.

Ari Arari (in Korean only) is happening from now till 27 November on selected dates at Arirang Centre.

Yearning for more information on Gangwon? Stay tuned for our next article, which will explore the local food specialities and the places to stay in Gangwon!

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