Enjoy Ice Fishing and a Snow-covered Landscape
(Published January 11, 2013)

[Gyeonggi Province two-day winter excursion guide 2] Ice fish festival, snow-capped mountains
Clear water ‘Yangpyeong Ice Fish Festival’, Ungilsan Mountain in Joan-myeon, Namyangju City
 

◇ Yangpyeong Ice Fish Festival. ⓒ G-NEWS PLUS
 
Enjoy a two-day one-night stay in Yangpyeong during the winter festival!
 
Let’s go to Yangpyeong now to enjoy ice fishing through small holes made in the center of ice!
As well as the annual ice fishing festival in Yangpyeong, there are many other fascinating tourist sites worth a visit in the area, such as the Freshwater Fish Ecology Learning Center, Dumulmeori, and the Sonagi Village.
 
‘Yangpyeong Ice Fish Festival’, an invitation to a fairytale land of silver lights
 
The Clear Water Yangpyeong Ice Fish Festival is being held for the second consecutive year (from December 28, 2012 to February 17, 2013) at the Dotorigol Reservoir in Sumi Village, Yangpyeong and the Baekdong Fishing Area.
 
Fishing for ice fish through small holes made in an ice field is so relaxing that it will melt away the winter blues, while the thrilling adrenalin rush of a wild sled ride will help you forget your daily stress. Experience programs involving traditional Korean activities such as kite flying, top spinning, making steamed pork buns, and dalgona (melted sugar and baking soda) making will add to the excitement of this winter festival.
 
Numerous filling winter snacks will warm your heart, including fried ice fish and raw ice fish salad, as well as hot fishcake soup, roasted chestnuts, and rice cake soup. In particular, if you make a reservation for an experience package, you can enjoy the festival and the generosity of farming villages all day long without paying any additional fees.
 
Inquiries: +82-70-4229-1154 http://양평빙어축제.한국 (Internet prior reservation)
Location: 531, Bongsang-ri, Danwol-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province
Period: December 28, 2012 – February 17, 2013 (Subject to change depending on the condition of the ice)
 
Spend a night at Sumi Village where clean water and air are abundant
 
How about having a memorable time at a farming village where you can enjoy a wide range of experience programs. At Sumi Village (in Bongsang-ri, Danwol-myeon), where the Ice Fish Festival is being held, there are seven condominiums including Deulmaru Pension, Pink House, Sumi Nonga Minbak, Dotori Pension, and Oetton House. Why not spend a night in Sumi Village and scatter your memories across the winter sky.
 
Lotus leaf set menu fills your mouth with soft aroma◇ Lotus leaf rice ⓒ G-NEWS PLUS
 
Yangpyeong is famous for a tasty dish made of lotus leaves, while its famous eateries include the lotus leaf noodle houses around Dumulmeori and the lotus leaf sweet rice restaurants near Semiwon Garden, where visitors can see lotus flowers all year round.
 
According to Dongui Bogam, an encyclopedic compendium of Korean traditional medicines, lotus leaves are effective in increasing vitality, relieving fatigue, and curing diseases. The light scent of lotus leaf rice made of lotus roots, ginkgo nuts, and jujubes will stimulate your taste and olfactory senses even before you open up the lotus leaves. When the lotus leaf scent of chewy sweet rice fills your mouth, you will instantly feel as healthy as if you have taken a nourishing tonic.
 
Rice fish, sweet fish, and ice fish
 
The Freshwater Fish Ecology Learning Center is one of the fascinating facilities of the Gyeonggi Maritime & Fisheries Laboratory. Visitors can see a wide variety of freshwater fish in addition to our familiar rice fish, sweet fish, and ice fish. The center is equipped with an Ecological Aquarium, twenty-three experience exhibition halls, and an ecological pond, so it is a popular venue among children for hands-on learning experiences and well as bringing back adults’ childhood memories.
 
Inquiries: +82-31-8008-6521 http://fish.gg.go.kr
Location: 23-2, Sanggwang-gil, Yongmun-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province
 
Where the Bukhangang and Namhangang Rivers meet◇ Dumulmeori ⓒ G-NEWS PLUS
 
As well as being famous for its simple yet splendid scenic view, Dumulmeori is the place where the Bukhangang River, which flows 371㎞ from its source at Geumgangsan Mountain, meets the Namhangang River as its flows from Daedeoksan Mountain.
 
The scenic view of Dumulmeori is adorned into a new appearance in harmony with a 400-year-old zelkova tree, captivating every visitor. After crossing a bridge over a river, visitors can see the landscape of Semiwon Garden, which is famous for its beautiful lotus flowers. The mysterious-looking sea of clouds, a feast of fog, the amazing sunrise and glowing sunset, and the snowy landscape dazzle visitors with its beauty.
 
Location: Yangsu 1-ri, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province (Dumulmeori)
 
Hwang Sun Won’s Sonagi Village
 
A love story between a country boy and a city girl! A popular short novel title “The Shower” has left an indelible impression on many people’s minds. Sonagi Village is a literary village constructed under the theme of this famous novel. The Literary Center, which is built in the shape of conical sorghum bundle, consists of sections where visitors can learn about novelist Hwang Sun-won’s life and literary world. Inside the sorghum bundles at Sonagi Plaza, visitors can experience the mood of the novel. While walking along the path surrounded by forests and valleys, visitors can sense the loving feelings the boy in the novel might have felt while carrying his lover on his back across a stream.
 
Admission Fees: Adults 2000 won / Teenagers 1500 won / Children 1000 won
Inquiries: 031-773-2299 www.소나기마을.kr
Location: San 74, Suneung-ri, Seojong-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province (Sonagi Village)◇ Hwang Sun Won’s Sonagi Village ⓒ G-NEWS PLUS
 
Unforgettable snow-capped mountains in Namyangju
 
The essence of a winter travel is snow-capped mountains. From Ungilsan Mountain in Joan-myeon of Namyangju, visitors can see a fantastic view of snowscape. After walking down Ungilsan Mountain, visitors will see the Bukhangang River in the direction of Daeseong-ri of Cheongpyeong. Visitors can tour KOFIC Namyangju Studios, Organic Theme Park, and Historic Site of Dasan.
 
Ungilsan Mountain where even clouds hover temporarily

Ungilsan Mountain is located in Joan-myeon of Namyangju. Legend has it that the mountain is so beautiful that even clouds stop drifting for a moment to admire it. The ridge of the mountain is so smooth that it creates a beautiful snow scape.
 
The fantastic view of snow flowers among thick trees calls out for admirers. The beautiful scenic view of Ungilsan Mountain in winter never fails to dazzle and astonish visitors to the area. A stroll along the paths adorned with snow flowers is amazing, but a panoramic view of the snowy peak resembles a work of art.
 
About halfway up Ungilsan Mountain, there is a small temple related to King Sejo of the Joseon Dynasty. On his way back from Gangwon Province, King Sejo spent a night near the Bukhangang River. In the middle of the night he heard the soft tinkling of bells, and discovered that the sound was coming from a cave in Ungilsan Mountain. In the cave, there were eighteen Nahansang (Arhat statutes), and the water drops falling from the statutes gave out a bell-like sound as they hit the rocks below. The king built a temple on the site and named it “Sujongsa Temple”, meaning “water bell temple.”
 ◇ Ungilsan Mountain in Joan-myeon, Namyangju ⓒ G-NEWS PLUS
 
Since ancient times, Sujongsa Temple has been well known for having the most deliciously fresh spring water in Korea. In order to drink tea made of the spring water, a Buddhist monk named Choui Seonsa, a scholar of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, and a painter and scholar named Chusa Kim Jeong-hui frequently visited the temple. Even now, there is a teahouse called “Samjeongheon” in the temple where visitors can enjoy a refreshing cup of tea free of charge.
 
When admiring the scenic view of Paldangho Lake from the temple’s courtyard, visitors will be able to understand why the scholar Seo Geo-jeong praised the scenic view of the temple as the best in the East. Upon turning around, visitors will see a 500-year-old ginkgo tree outside the Liberation Gate, which was planted by King Sejo.
 
Location: 1060, Songchon-ri, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province
Inquiries: +82-31-590-2344
 
Foggy morning
 
After walking down Ungilsan Mountain towards Daeseong-ri of Cheongpyeong, visitors will find several places to stay around the Bukhangang River. The cozy riverside of the Bukhangang River is a perfect location for lovers to stay. A quiet foggy morning will make them feel like they are traveling into a magical land.
 
Reenergize yourself with a dish of high-protein freshwater eel!◇ Restaurants serving delicious freshwater eel line the path to Ungilsan Mountain ⓒ G-NEWS PLUS
 
There are several freshwater eel restaurants scattered around Ungilsan Mountain where visitors can enjoy a wholesome dish of charcoal-grilled eel. To savor the genuine taste of grilled eel, simply sprinkle it with salt.

Eels are rich in vitamins A, B, and C as well as protein, so they help relieve fatigue and revitalize the body. They also contain a lot of calcium and are known to help prevent chronic diseases. While you’re there, don’t forget to try chewy noodles served in radish water Kimchi broth. There are several restaurants, including certified organic Korean food restaurants, situated along the Bukhangang River.
 
Experience being the main character in a movie
 
The KOFIC Namyangju Studios is a key location of the Korean movie industry. Here, visitors can experience the amazing world of movie-making. Located on an extensive 132,000m², the studio is equipped with Asia’s largest film production facilities as well as an outdoor set, an indoor film studio, and sound-recording rooms.

Countless Korean movies including JSA (Joint Security Area), Chihwaseon, Silmido, Taegukgi: Brotherhood, and Gwanghae were produced here. Currently, several well-known Korean film directors are busy working here. Visitors can reimagine themselves as the main character of a movie while touring a range of facilities including the movie center, the experience hall, outdoor sets, prop rooms, and a cine theater which screens Korean movies free of charge.

Location: 100, Sambong-ri, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province
Contact: +82-31-579-0605 http://studio.kofic.or.kr
Admission Fees: Adults 3000 won / Middle and high school students 2500 won / Children 2000 won◇ KOFIC Namyangju Studios ⓒ G-NEWS PLUS
 
Experience the history and culture of organic farming
 
Joan-myeon in Namyangju City has been designated as a “slow city” of the world for the first time among the metropolitan areas of Korea. Joan-myeon, which means “A Peaceful Site for Birds”, is Korea’s representative organic farming area, as well as home to the “Organic Theme Park”, recognized as the world’s first organic farming museum. At the museum, visitors can learn all about the history and culture of organic farming. The museum consists of exhibition halls, greenhouse facilities, DIY zones, a well-being zone, a themed exhibition, and experience programs offering a wealth of practical information about organic farming.

Location: 182, Sambong-ri, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province
Contact: +82-31-560-1471~2 www.organicmuseum.or.kr
Admission Fees: Adults 2000 won / Teenagers 1500 won / Children 1000 won
 
Transmitting Dasan’s teachings to future generations◇ Birthplace of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong ⓒ G-NEWS PLUS
 
Scholar Dasan Jeong Yak-yong was born in 1762 in Majae Village in Neungnae-ri, Joan-myeon, Namyangju. The life of Dasan, who shared both sad and happy times with the common people, can still teach us a lot even now, some 250 years later. At his birthplace, visitors can learn about his frugal lifestyle. Dasan’s burial site, along with that of his wife, is also located near here.
 
There are many other interesting places to visit including the Museum of Silhak, the Dasan Culture Center, and the Dasan Exhibition Center, which feature exhibits and displays related to the Silhak teachings of the Joseon Dynasty and the life of Dasan. While touring the sites, visitors will learn about the teachings of Dasan, who was highly critical of the corruption that was rife during the Joseon Dynasty.
 
Location: San 85-2, Neungnae-ri, Joan-myeon, Namyangju-si
Contact: +82-31-590-2481 www.nyj.go.kr/dasan/index.jsp
 
ⓒ G-NEWS PLUS News | Nam Gyeong-u echo2008f@gg.go.kr
 
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