I turn on the news every morning while getting ready for work.

Right before the weather forecast at the end of the news,a short video about 20 seconds longcomes up.

I remember being hypnotized by a "Jeju Island rapeseed flower video" and impulsively booking a day trip to Jeju Island. 😆

There are many programs that introduce Korea's various regions, but I think many people might not know about this corner of the news,

so I wanted to introduce it to you.

Gwangokji

Address: 208, Hajung-dong, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do

It was designated as a Siheung-si local historical site on March 3, 1986. The pond is 23m wide and 18.5m long.

Kang Hui-maeng, a scholar and agriculturalist of the early Joseon dynasty, brought lotus seeds from the Ming Dynasty and planted them here. When they spread widely,

the area was called "Yeonsung (蓮城)."

The lotus flowers that bloom here are white lotuses, characterized by their white color and pointed petals.

The pond has been owned and managed by the descendants of Kwon Man-hyeong, Kang Hui-maeng's son-in-law, for generations.

Recently, a lotus farm covering about 30,000 pyeong (approximately 99,000 square meters) has been established near Gwangokji, attracting many tourists.

(Source: Doosan Encyclopedia)

To honor the symbolism and historical significance of Gwangokji, a lotus theme park has been created on 19.3 hectares of paddy fields around Gwangokji.

Walking paths and bicycle paths have been built around the cultivation area, making it a popular destination for citizens.

Lotus flowers begin to bloom in mid-July, reaching their peak in mid- to late August and lasting until mid- to late September.

(Source: Korea Tourism Organization)

Seocheon Fortress

Address: Gunsari, Seocheon-eup, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

It is a fortress from the Joseon dynasty located in Seocheon-eup, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do.

It was designated as Cultural Heritage Material No. 132 of Chungcheongnam-do on May 17, 1984.

A fortress is a fortification that protects the residents of a county or district and serves military and administrative functions.

The Seocheon Fortress, built of earth, surrounds the entire district and has gates built in various locations for communication with the outside world.

According to legend, 100 women built the fortress and a strongman built the Hongyeodae bridge in a competition.When the women finished building the fortress and cheered with joy, the strongman hurriedly inserted the last stone, resulting in a tie.

The fortress wall is 1,068m long and 3m high. Only a portion of the fortress wall at the East Gate remains today.The current fortress is recorded as having been built in the 27th year of King Yeongjo's reign (1751).

While the exact construction date is unknown, it is presumed that the fortress was built in the early Joseon dynasty to protect the common people from the Wokou pirates who invaded from the west coast.

(Source: National Heritage Administration)

Restoration work is currently ongoing.

Unsan Artificial Wetland Park

Address: 950, Unsan-ri, Jinan-eup, Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do

It is a natural park located about 2km northeast of Jinan County Office.The park is located on a 57,000㎡ site along the Jinancheon River, which flows through Jinan-eup and empties into Yongdam Lake.

It opened on June 3, 2020, and is planted with various aquatic plants, including Iris ensata, Miscanthus sinensis, Iris, and Pennisetum alopecuroides, which are water-purifying plants.

(Source: Doosan Encyclopedia)

Chopyeongho <Mir 309> Swing Bridge

Address: 820, Hwasan-ri, Chopyeong-myeon, Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do

It is named "Mir," meaning dragon, and 309, referring to the total length of 309 meters.Designed to accommodate 1,650 people at the same time, it is the longest swing bridge in Korea and opened in April 2024.

On the way to the swing bridge, you must first crossJincheon Nongdari (Stone Bridge), which was built by General Im, a powerful figure during the early Goryeo period.

It is the oldest stone bridge in Korea.

Designated as a local tangible cultural property, it is 93.6m long, 3.6m wide, and has bridge piers of 1.2m.

It is built without applying lime or other materials, and despite this, it is sturdy and has maintained its original form without being washed away by heavy rains.

Facilities such as a pavilion, walking paths, and a waterfront deck connecting to Chopyeong Reservoir have been built, making it a new tourist attraction.

The mysterious shape of the bridge and the surrounding scenery blend well, making it a popular location for filming dramas.

(Source: Korea Tourism Organization)

If you walk along the trekking course after crossing Jincheon Nongdari, you will reach the Mir 309 Swing Bridge.

Operating hours (Summer/March-October) 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM / (Winter/November-February) 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

※ However, usage may be restricted depending on weather conditions.

Admission cutoff: 30 minutes before closing time

If the facility is crowded, it is recommended to use the nearby Yellow Earth Barefoot Forest Trail before using the facility.

Usage course (Based on Parking Lot 1)

Nongdari ~ Swing Bridge: Roundtrip 3km, 40 minutes

Nongdari ~ Swing Bridge ~ Sky Bridge: Roundtrip 4.5km, 1 hour 30 minutes ~ 2 hours

※ Connected to the existing Sky Bridge and walking path

Gojeong-ri Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site

Address: 659, Gongryong-ro, Songsan-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do

This is where the first dinosaur fossils in Korea were discovered in their original state. On March 21, 2000, it was designated as aNatural Monument.

It is a place of historical and academic value, as not only dinosaur egg fossils, but also dinosaur fossils with fully preserved skeletons, which are unique in Korea, have been discovered.

The fossil site was an island before the Sihwa Lake was created. On April 25, 1999, about 30 nests measuring approximately 1m in size were discovered by the Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute and a joint research team during a preliminary survey of the Sihwa Lake tidal flat, which was becoming land due to land reclamation.

Based on this, it is presumed that the Sihwa Lake area was a mass nesting site for dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period, approximately 100 million years ago.

Inside the Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site Visitor Center, a model of the <Korea Ceratops Hwaseongensis> dinosaur skeleton, the first discovered in Korea, is on display.

This fossil was discovered by a Hwaseong City Hall official while preparing for a yacht race at Jeonghang Port.It was a new species of dinosaur that had never been discovered anywhere else in the world, and it was named <Korea Ceratops Hwaseongensis>.

Across from the Visitor Center, a walking trail unfolds. A wooden deck path extends about 3km from the entrance to the dinosaur egg fossils, making it easy to explore.

The vast grassland is said to resemble the Serengeti in Africa, earning it the nickname "Korea's Serengeti."

The nameless island at the end of the trail was given a new name as a walking path was created.You can also find traces of faults and dinosaur eggs in this area.

You can also see dinosaur eggs shaped like eyeglasses here. These were the first egg fossils discovered at the fossil site.

Dinosaur egg fossils have been discovered in other areas of Korea, including the Seonso Coast in Deokryang-myeon, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do.

Not only has this enabled the Korean paleontological community to begin dinosaur research at a higher level, but it has also become an opportunity to introduce the Korean Peninsula as a world-class dinosaur fossil site to the world.

(Source: Korea Tourism Organization, Doosan Encyclopedia)

https://dinopia.hscity.go.kr/user/index.jsp