Whenever you go to Seoul, you is likely to be forgiven for spending all of your time within the metropolis. However enterprise simply past into Korea’s lovely countryside and also you’ll discover Jecheon – the place our good friend Bethan lives! She’s a neighborhood within the space now, so we requested her to place collectively an inventory of her favorite issues to do in Jecheon!
In the event you inform any Seoulite that you just plan to go to town of Jecheon, you might be met with incredulous faces and exclamations of “However it’s in the midst of nowhere!” or “However there’s nothing there!” However don’t be fooled! Because of the KTX prepare, put in in 2020, the common-or-garden countryside metropolis of Jecheon has by no means been extra accessible.
Jecheon is situated within the coronary heart of the Korean countryside and is named ‘The Therapeutic Metropolis’, named for the standard medicines it produces. However this title goes past the native exports: the juxtaposition between metropolis and countryside that may be discovered right here is really a therapeutic expertise, particularly if visiting from the hustle and bustle of busy Seoul. Round an hour from Seoul on the KTX prepare (or round two hours by different means), a go to to Jecheon is ideal if you wish to go to the Korean countryside simply, while sustaining good transport hyperlinks and on a regular basis facilities.
Similar to Seoul, central Jecheon has common buses and a comfort retailer, a restaurant and a restaurant on virtually each avenue. And unbeknownst to most vacationers and Seoul residents, there’s a enormous array of issues to do right here. In the event you’re visiting Seoul and wish to decelerate a bit and expertise life outdoors of the capital metropolis, listed below are our favorite issues to do in Jecheon!
The right way to get to Jecheon
In case you are travelling from Seoul, it’s straightforward sufficient to get to Jecheon because of the KTX service. This prepare runs each few hours from Cheongnyangni Station and prices 15,400W (round £10) for a one-way ticket. I like to recommend reserving tickets as much as every week prematurely if attainable as some trains, particularly at peak journey occasions, will promote out rapidly. Nonetheless, should you can’t take a KTX there are different rail providers (Mungunghwa, Nuriro and ITX) that may take you from Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul to Jecheon in simply over two hours for between 9,200 – 12,800W. There’s additionally the choice to get a bus to Jecheon Bus Terminal from the Specific Bus Terminal in Gangnam. The bus often prices between 15,000W – 17,000W and takes round two hours and thirty minutes relying on visitors.
Issues to do in Jecheon
Uirimji
Jecheon is known for the Uirimji Reservoir which has change into the principle attraction for vacationers and residents alike. From the walkway lined with conventional pagodas to the native cafes and tiny amusement park, there may be leisure to be discovered for everybody. Stroll alongside the glass bridge over the waterfall, journey the Swan Boats throughout the lake or go to the museum to study in regards to the historical past of Uirimji and perhaps even catch a conventional efficiency or two. If in case you have time to take a seat and calm down, convey a picnic blanket all the way down to the waterfront or seize a guide and calm down within the hammocks.
In the event you keep till darkish, the picket walkways across the lake illuminate, and you’ll catch a ten minute gentle present projected over the lake each thirty minutes that includes a very spectacular dragon. In the event you like a stroll and wish to wander additional afield, there’s a close-by park with a stream that leads as much as one other, smaller lake, which is far quieter and extra peaceable than the principle reservoir – however nonetheless simply as lovely!
Jecheon Airstrip
In case you are a fan of the Ok-pop group BTS (or only a fan of scenic walks), you have to go to the outdated airstrip, just some minutes away from Uirimji. Edged in vibrant pinwheels and surrounded by flowers, this airstrip is now not in use by aircrafts, however has change into a calming walkway lined with cafes and eating places. BTS followers could recognise it from the group’s ‘Younger Eternally’ music video, and it’s a should add to your Ok-pop tour itinerary. Come right here to marvel on the seasonal flowers, together with towering sunflowers in the summertime. I like to recommend the close by cafe Bihaeng, which has rooftop seating and is a good place to catch the sundown over the airstrip and mountains.
Samhan Inexperienced Highway
In the event you wish to spend time in nature and take within the countryside surroundings, there’s a strolling path resulting in Uirimji which offers simply that. Winding by way of the rice fields, this path, like so many hidden spots in Korea, doesn’t must be as fairly as it’s! It’s particularly lovely within the spring and summer time, when the seasonal flowers are all in bloom. As you stroll, you’ll be met with the sound of peaceable jazz music from hidden audio system within the lampposts, and should you occur to be strolling at night time, you may even discover some tiny frog buddies having fun with a sunbathe within the lamplight. The trail begins at Kune Youngsters’s Park and might be recognized by the bike rental store. In the event you stroll at a leisurely tempo, it’s best to arrive at Uirimji inside an hour, however you gained’t even discover the time passing as you’re taking within the attractive surroundings.
The Native Market
In the event you actually wish to expertise the lifetime of the locals, you must go to the standard market. In addition to low cost, domestically grown fruit and greens (undoubtedly strive the strawberries within the winter!), yow will discover selfmade rice truffles and an array of avenue meals to strive comparable to hodeok (a candy pancake stuffed with honey and seeds) or mandu (meat or kimchi stuffed dumplings.) You can even pattern quite a lot of selfmade kimchi and different Korean aspect dishes. If you need a quiet and genuine market expertise, Jecheon Market is the place to go.
Cheongpung Lake
For unimaginable mountain views, pay a go to to Cheongpung Lake. Simply half-hour outdoors of town by bus, Cheongpung is a village on the base of a mountain, stuffed with little cafes and eating places and is effectively well worth the journey. You’ll be able to take the Cheongpung Cable Automobile (15,000W per particular person) as much as the highest of the close by mountain to get a view of your complete lake, in addition to some nice picture spots and a comfy cafe to calm down in. I extremely advocate visiting throughout cherry blossom season in late April – early Could: that is my favorite place to see the blossom lined streets with out the big crowds you get within the common cherry blossom spots in Seoul, and I personally suppose it’s essentially the most lovely. There are additionally boat journeys, zip-lining, and bungee leaping obtainable for the extra adventurous!
JIMFF
In case you are travelling to Korea throughout August, you could possibly catch the Jecheon Worldwide Music and Movie Pageant. Held alongside the lake in Uirimji, this competition consists of performances by Korean Indie and Hiphop artists that could be sometimes onerous to see; simply this 12 months headliners included 10cm and Stella Jang, with the earlier 12 months that includes Simon D and Zico. Just a little recognized place to catch your favorite artists – and better of all, it’s free!
What to eat in Jecheon
Jecheon is in Chungbuk Province, and is well-known for its agriculture – which means that the the seasonal fruit and greens listed below are one other stage of scrumptious. In the event you’re in search of an space with plenty of totally different meals choices (together with Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese language and Japanese), Jangrak-dong has simply what you want. The Italian restaurant Chef’s Notice is a favorite amongst locals and is understood for the stone-baked pizzas piled with toppings, and the scrumptious mushroom salad.
Nonetheless, for genuine Korean meals, I like to recommend Chaesungdang Shabu Shabu restaurant. This hearty and filling hot-pot is a enjoyable, Korean do-it-yourself type meal that’s as wholesome as it’s scrumptious. Dip meat in a simmering beef broth stuffed with scrumptious greens, and add dumplings or make Vietnamese type spring rolls for an additional payment. You can even add noodles to absorb the leftover broth if you’re completed or use the leftovers to make a brilliant tasty fried rice.
In the event you’re within the temper for a drink together with your meal, the Cheongjeon-dong space is the place to seek out bars, fried rooster eating places and BBQ locations galore. Nonetheless, my favorite BBQ restaurant, Haengbokhan BBQ, might be present in Haso-dong, alongside the river. This restaurant makes use of actual charcoal-based grills, giving the meat a deliciously smoky flavour, and the aspect dishes are all selfmade by the house owners (the pickled cucumber is especially tasty).
Lastly, if in case you have a candy tooth and wish to discover a comfortable cafe, Uirimji-dong is the world you need! Go to Cafe Merrily and meet Cream, the lovable Samoyed that lives there, or Cafe Namu, which has a big tree protruding by way of the center. Nonetheless, my favorite cafe in that space (and perhaps in the entire of Jecheon) is Villa De Dohwari. This cafe has unimaginable mountain views, resident ginger cats and a brilliant tasty croffle lined in injeolmi powder (a candy powder often used to cowl rice truffles). In the event you go there within the night on a cool and clear day, you may sit by one of many hearth pits roasting complimentary marshmallows. I’ve but to discover a extra enjoyable spot!
Finally, Jecheon has all the things you want for a peaceful day within the Korean countryside surrounded by nature, with out having to depart the comforts of town behind. There’s loads of issues to do in Jecheon for each adventurers and relaxers alike!
You’ll be able to observe Bethan’s adventures in Jecheon on her weblog and her Instagram.
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