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While you go to Seoul, you is perhaps forgiven for spending all of your time within the metropolis. However enterprise simply past into Korea’s stunning countryside and also you’ll discover Jecheon – the place our pal 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 case you inform any Seoulite that you simply plan to go to the town of Jecheon, it’s possible you’ll be met with incredulous faces and exclamations of “However it’s in the course of nowhere!” or “However there’s nothing there!” However don’t be fooled! Due to the KTX practice, put in in 2020, the standard countryside metropolis of Jecheon has by no means been extra accessible.
Jecheon is positioned within the coronary heart of the Korean countryside and is named ‘The Therapeutic Metropolis’, named for the normal medicines it produces. However this identify goes past the native exports: the juxtaposition between metropolis and countryside that may be discovered right here is actually a therapeutic expertise, particularly if visiting from the hustle and bustle of busy Seoul. Round an hour from Seoul on the KTX practice (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 road. And unbeknownst to most vacationers and Seoul residents, there’s a large array of issues to do right here. In case you’re visiting Seoul and wish to decelerate a bit and expertise life exterior of the capital metropolis, listed here are our favorite issues to do in Jecheon!
The best way to get to Jecheon
If you’re travelling from Seoul, it’s simple sufficient to get to Jecheon due to the KTX service. This practice 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 upfront if potential as some trains, particularly at peak journey occasions, will promote out shortly. Nonetheless, when you can’t take a KTX there are different rail companies (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 may be additionally the choice to get a bus to Jecheon Bus Terminal from the Categorical Bus Terminal in Gangnam. The bus often prices between 15,000W – 17,000W and takes round two hours and thirty minutes relying on site visitors.
Issues to do in Jecheon
Uirimji
Jecheon is known for the Uirimji Reservoir which has develop into the primary attraction for vacationers and residents alike. From the walkway lined with conventional pagodas to the native cafes and tiny amusement park, there’s leisure to be discovered for everybody. Stroll alongside the glass bridge over the waterfall, trip the Swan Boats throughout the lake or go to the museum to study in regards to the historical past of Uirimji and possibly even catch a conventional efficiency or two. In case you have time to take a seat and loosen up, deliver a picnic blanket all the way down to the waterfront or seize a e book and loosen up within the hammocks.
In case you keep till darkish, the wood walkways across the lake illuminate, and you may catch a ten minute mild present projected over the lake each thirty minutes that includes a very spectacular dragon. In case 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 way quieter and extra peaceable than the primary reservoir – however nonetheless simply as stunning!
Jecheon Airstrip
If you’re a fan of the Okay-pop group BTS (or only a fan of scenic walks), you should go to the previous 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 develop into a soothing walkway lined with cafes and eating places. BTS followers could recognise it from the group’s ‘Younger Ceaselessly’ music video, and it’s a should add to your Okay-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 case you prefer 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 should be as fairly as it’s! It’s particularly stunning within the spring and summer season, 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 when you occur to be strolling at night time, you may even discover some tiny frog pals having fun with a sunbathe within the lamplight. The trail begins at Kune Youngsters’s Park and will be recognized by the bike rental store. In case you stroll at a leisurely tempo, it is best to arrive at Uirimji inside an hour, however you gained’t even discover the time passing as you are taking within the attractive surroundings.
The Native Market
In case you actually wish to expertise the lifetime of the locals, it’s a must to go to the normal market. In addition to low cost, regionally grown fruit and greens (positively attempt the strawberries within the winter!), you will discover do-it-yourself rice desserts and an array of road meals to attempt resembling hodeok (a candy pancake stuffed with honey and seeds) or mandu (meat or kimchi stuffed dumplings.) You can even pattern quite a lot of do-it-yourself 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 unbelievable mountain views, pay a go to to Cheongpung Lake. Simply half-hour exterior of the town by bus, Cheongpung is a village on the base of a mountain, stuffed with little cafes and eating places and is properly well worth the journey. You’ll be able to take the Cheongpung Cable Automotive (15,000W per individual) as much as the highest of the close by mountain to get a view of the whole lake, in addition to some nice photograph spots and a comfortable cafe to loosen up in. I extremely suggest 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 stunning. There are additionally boat journeys, zip-lining, and bungee leaping accessible for the extra adventurous!
JIMFF
If you’re travelling to Korea throughout August, you could possibly catch the Jecheon Worldwide Music and Movie Competition. Held alongside the lake in Uirimji, this competition consists of performances by Korean Indie and Hiphop artists which may be usually laborious to see; simply this 12 months headliners included 10cm and Stella Jang, with the earlier 12 months that includes Simon D and Zico. Slightly identified 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 – that means that the the seasonal fruit and greens listed here are one other degree of scrumptious. In case you’re searching for an space with a lot of completely different meals choices (together with Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese language and Japanese), Jangrak-dong has simply what you want. The Italian restaurant Chef’s Word is a favorite amongst locals and is thought 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 take in the leftover broth whenever you’re finished or use the leftovers to make a brilliant tasty fried rice.
In case you’re within the temper for a drink together with your meal, the Cheongjeon-dong space is the place to search out bars, fried hen eating places and BBQ locations galore. Nonetheless, my favorite BBQ restaurant, Haengbokhan BBQ, will 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 do-it-yourself by the house owners (the pickled cucumber is especially tasty).
Lastly, in case you have a candy tooth and wish to discover a comfortable cafe, Uirimji-dong is the realm you need! Go to Cafe Merrily and meet Cream, the cute 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 possibly in the entire of Jecheon) is Villa De Dohwari. This cafe has unbelievable mountain views, resident ginger cats and a brilliant tasty croffle coated in injeolmi powder (a candy powder often used to cowl rice desserts). In case you go there within the night on a cool and clear day, you possibly can sit by one of many hearth pits roasting complimentary marshmallows. I’ve but to discover a extra enjoyable spot!
Finally, Jecheon has every part you want for a relaxed day within the Korean countryside surrounded by nature, with out having to go away the comforts of the town behind. There’s loads of issues to do in Jecheon for each adventurers and relaxers alike!
You’ll be able to comply with Bethan’s adventures in Jecheon on her weblog and her Instagram.
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