CNN 선정, 꼭 가봐야 할 한국 여행지(5)

41. Nami Island (남이섬)

Fans of "Winter Sonata" will recognize this famous road.

Despite the fact that Nami Island is a place of historical interest (the island is named after Minister Nami, a Minister of War during the Chosun Dynasty), most visitors come to stroll down the famous Metasequoia road or see where Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo stood or sat during the filming for the original Hallyu drama "Winter Sonata."

Fun fact: Nami Island was not an island until the 1940s, when the Cheongpyeong dam was built.

Bangha-ri, Namsan-myeoon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 춘천시 남산면 방하리) 

 

42. Suncheon Bay (순천만)

The perfect respite from city life.

One of the biggest coastal marshes in the world, Suncheon Bay is home to countless plants and marine life and features the biggest field of reeds (5.4 kilometers squared) in Korea.

The Suncheon Bay Reed Festival is held every year in October, but the bay is just as beautiful and charming any other month of the year.

162-2 Daedae-dong, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do (전라남도 순천시 대대동 162-2)

 

43. Inje Smelts Festival (인제 빙어축제)

How to catch some rest at an ice fishing festival.

The Inje Smelts Festival takes place on Soyang lake every winter and offers families and couples (and the occasional single visitor) some major fun on ice.

Even if fishing is not your idea of fun, you'll enjoy the eating part. 

January 28 - February 5; www.injefestival.co.kr

Soyang Lake, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do (강원도 인제군 소양호)

 

44. Ulsan Rock, Seorak Mountain (울산바위)

Who needs carved faces when you've got legends?

This six-peaked rocky mountain has five urn-shaped holes at the top and is named "Crying Mountain," due to legends and ancient records that claim the rocks on the mountain cry just before a big wind is about to blow.

Another legend behind the mountain's name says that a rock was wandering around looking for Geumgangsan but settled in Seoraksan when it couldn't find it, and became the Ulsan rock.

Seorak National Park, Seorak-dong, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do (강원 속초시 설악동 설악산국립공원)

 

45. Bangwhasuryujeong, Suwon Hwa Seong (화성 방화수류정)

A literal setting for poetry.

Bangwhasuryujeong is one of four polygonal pavilions in Hwa Seong. 

During the Joseon dynasty, this pavilion was used to keep a lookout and for performances of King Jungjo’s archery skills; now people hold recitals of Korean traditional music and poetry surrounded by the duck pond, the willow trees and the flowers. 

Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 수원시 팔달구)

 

46. Namdae Stream, Muju (무주 남대천 섶다리)

Headbanging, Korean style.

Traditionally, a seop bridge -- a temporary bridge fashioned out of logs, mud, and pine branches -- was built to let the villagers cross Namdae River from early winter until the summer, when heavy rains would wash the bridge away.

Behold the traditions of yore at the seop bridge festival, which is part of the Muju firefly festival and will take place this year from June 8-16.

firefly.or.kr

Namdae Stream, Muju-eup, Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do (전라북도 무주군 무주읍 남대천)

 

47. Donglim Reservoir, Gochang (고창 동림저수지)

Approximately four fifths of the migratory birds that can be seen every year at the reservoir are teals.

Every year, more than 200,000 spectacled teals (the color takes its name from the bird) fly about in an orderly manner above this beautiful reservoir, which was voted "Kingdom of migratory birds" in 2004 in a national survey. 

Built in 1935, the 3.82-square-kilometer reservoir is also famous as a fishing hole. 

Heungduk-myeon/Sungnae-myeon, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do (전북 고창군 흥덕면/성내면)

 

48. The Garden of Morning Calm (아침고요수목원) 

A new kind of horticulture lecture hall.

The Garden of Morning Calm is a beautifully designed and balanced arboretum in Gapyeong, run by a professor of horticulture. 

The garden features more than 20 themes and 5,000 different kinds of plants, and will be hosting a luminarie--a decorative structure studded with 6 million LED lightbulbs--until March 1. 

When there is a luminarie, the garden is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. The luminarie lights turn on at sundown. 

When there is no luminarie, the garden is open from 8:30 a.m. until sundown. 

Tickets cost ₩8,000 for weekends and holidays, ₩7,000 for weekdays from April to November and ₩6,000 from December to March. 

255 Mountain Haenghyeon-ri, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 가평군 상면 행현리 산 255번지)

 

49. Chok-suk Pavilion (촉석루)

Where a dip in the river turned dramatic.

This beautiful, historical pavilion overlooking Nam River is most famous as the place where Nongae, the concubine of a government official in the Chosun Dynasty, jumped into the river with a Japanese general after the castle of Jinju fell into Japan’s hands.

Check out the view from the pavilion on the cliff, but don’t jump; they won’t be telling your story in the same way.

573-1 Bonsung-dong, Jinju-si, Kyeongsangnam-do (경상남도 진주시 본성동 573-1)

 

50. Samkwang Temple (삼광사 연등축제) 

The festival of lights is not just for Buddhists.

Every year, around Buddha’s birthday, the biggest Lotus Lantern Festival in Busan is held at Samkwang Temple.

The entire temple is strung with countless lotus lanterns and lanterns of other creative forms. 

This year, Buddha's birthday falls on May 28. 

131 Mountain, Choeup-dong, Busan Jin-gu, Busan (부산광역시 부산진구 초읍동 산 131)