Korea Tourism Organization Selects Six Destinations Including Pyeongchang's 'Haneul Farm' as Recommended Travel Spots for February

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 25th that it has selected six recommended travel destinations for February, including Pyeongchang's 'Haneul Farm.'

The theme of this travel selection is ‘Winter Experience Villages.’ It introduces places where you can enjoy the tail end of winter and create special memories. The recommended destinations are ▲ Hwangdun Samsong Village (Wonju, Gangwon), where you can experience warm winter rice steamed buns ▲ Daegwallyeong Snow Flower Village and Haneul Farm (Pyeongchang, Gangwon), where you can reminisce about the white winter ▲ Alps Village (Cheongyang, Chungnam), a winter kingdom full of sights, activities, and food ▲ Slow City Daeheung (Yesan, Chungnam), where you can feel the winter atmosphere walking along cozy village paths ▲ Cloudberry (Gimhae, Gyeongnam), offering a sweet and sour winter experience with strawberries ▲ Cheongsu Village (Jeju), where you can meet the green Gotjawal forest in winter.

Hwangdun Samsong Village, located in Sinrim-myeon, Wonju City, is a village flanked by Chiaksan and Gamaksan mountains like folding screens. This place is famous for various rice steamed buns. The dough is colored with ingredients such as baekryeoncho (white lotus herb), pumpkin, and paprika, and the filling is made with sweet red beans and sweet potatoes. There are also steamed buns filled with vegetables instead of red bean paste. The representative rice steamed bun making experience in Hwangdun Samsong Village starts with education using PowerPoint, followed by making your own steamed buns, fermenting, and steaming. While waiting for the buns to ferment and cook, visitors can take a village walk or participate in experiences like pine cone crafts or making hand mirrors.

Daegwallyeong Snow Flower Village and Haneul Farm are located on highlands at the foothills of Hwangbyeongsan (1,407m) and Seonjaryeong (1,157m), respectively, making them beautiful destinations for snowy landscapes. They also offer winter activities suitable for both children and adults. At Daegwallyeong Snow Flower Village, you can ride bobsleigh snow sleds and enjoy woodcraft and forest experiences at the village’s workshops. Spending a night here means relaxing with ‘star gazing’ and ‘fire gazing.’ At the neighboring Haneul Farm, take a tractor carriage ride to see Seonjaryeong alongside wind turbines, stroll through the simple and peaceful winter scenery of the farm, and enjoy popular activities for children such as horseback riding and feeding hay.

Monapark Yongpyong Resort, an excellent winter healing travel destination, is popular for the Balwangsan Tourist Cable Car and G Skywalk. The ‘Millennium Yew Healing Forest,’ built with barrier-free decks, offers diverse scenery throughout the four seasons. The Alpensia Resort Ski Jump Observatory is the filming location of the movie ‘Take Off.’ Visitors can watch the K-98 ski jump ramp where ski jumpers leap.

Winter play, represented by sledding, has long disappeared. However, some rural villages still enjoy winter games. Alps Village in Cheonjang-ri, Cheongyang, is a great place to visit with children during winter vacation. Chilgapsan, said to have seven auspicious spots, is rugged and called the ‘Alps of Chungnam.’ Alps Village is located on the eastern slope of Chilgapsan. When the weather gets cold, it transforms into a winter kingdom full of snow and ice, justifying its name. During this time, the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival (January 1 to February 13) is held, featuring attractions like ice fountains and snow sculptures, as well as activities such as snow sledding, ice sledding, and tin can trains.

Near Alps Village is Cheonjangho Lake, surrounded by Chilgapsan like a folding screen, offering stunning scenery with a suspension bridge in the middle of the lake. The Cheonjangho Suspension Bridge is famous for its 16-meter-high main towers shaped like chili peppers and wolfberries. Janggoksa Temple, nestled on the western slope of Chilgapsan, is a thousand-year-old temple in Cheongyang. The iron Buddha statues?Seated Iron Birojana Buddha (Treasure) and Seated Iron Yaksa Buddha (National Treasure)?have amusing sleepy expressions. Usanseong Fortress in Cheongyang-eup (Chungnam Monument) is a stone fortress from the Baekje period, perfect for a leisurely walk. From Cheongryongjeong Pavilion, you can enjoy a refreshing view of the town.

Slow City Daeheung in Yesan, Chungnam, encompasses villages around Yesangho Lake, including Gyochon-ri, Dongseo-ri, and Sangjung-ri. True to its slow city status, it combines nature, culture, and historical elements. The best way to explore Slow City Daeheung is on foot. Walking the ‘Slow Curvy Path’ connecting various parts of the village allows you to see most of the attractions. On Course 1 (Old Story Path), you encounter the ‘Boat-Tied Tree,’ where Tang Dynasty general So Jeongbang is said to have tied his boat while attacking the allied forces of Silla and Baekje restoration troops. Course 2 (Slow Path) connects Aegi Waterfall, Daeheung Dongheon, and Daeheung Hyanggyo. Daeheung Dongheon (Chungnam Tangible Cultural Property) is the only remaining government office building in Yesan County. Daeheung Hyanggyo (Chungnam Monument) overlaps with Course 3 (Love Path). The ginkgo tree in front of Daeheung Hyanggyo, over 600 years old, is also called the ‘Love Tree’ because about 150 years ago, a zelkova tree took root inside the ginkgo tree, and now they live as one.

Across the village is Yesangho Lake, completed in 1963. There is a 5.2 km ‘Slow Lakeside Path’ along the shore and a suspension bridge. Yesan is home to the birthplace of the calligrapher Kim Jeonghui. The traditional large noble house from the Joseon Dynasty makes you feel as if you can hear Kim’s sharp cough from somewhere in the room. Sudeoksa Temple is a representative temple of Yesan and the Naepo region.

Cloudberry is a smart farm village located in Gonji Village, Chilsan Seobu-dong, Gimhae City, Gyeongnam. Its program combining harvesting experience and cooking classes is popular. Visitors make salads or hamburgers with leafy vegetables and cherry tomatoes, and complete sweet potato cakes using sweet potatoes harvested directly from the field. In winter, after strawberry harvesting, participants make strawberry cakes or strawberry chocolates. The harvesting area uses smart farm hydroponic cultivation, allowing strawberries to be picked while standing. Since it is pesticide-free cultivation, the strawberries picked on-site are fresh and safe enough to eat immediately. Currently, eating on-site is not allowed due to COVID-19. Cooking classes are based on cooking kits and photo recipes.

A place where you can find dense forests even in midwinter is Jeju Gotjawal. Gotjawal refers to an area of irregular lava rock formations created as lava cooled, forming an ecosystem with diverse flora and fauna. Once considered abandoned land, it has recently gained attention as the ‘lungs of Jeju’s ecosystem.’ Cheongsu Gotjawal, part of the four major Gotjawal forests of Jeju?Hankyung and Andeok Gotjawal?hosts various rare plants such as island azalea, Bille tree, and slender bracken. From February, the white flowers of Baekseohyang bloom, adding a sweet fragrance that enhances the charm of Cheongsu Gotjawal. In Cheongsu Village, local guides lead Cheongsu Gotjawal exploration programs and summer night firefly observation programs. Besides Gotjawal exploration, there are experience programs such as decorating nostalgic rubber shoes, making your own mug, and creating sleep lamps.

Art Got San-yang, located five minutes by car from Cheongsu Village, has transformed the closed San-yang Elementary School into an exhibition space. Nearby Yongsu Port features the Memorial Hall of St. Kim Dae-geon’s Arrival in Jeju, adding more attractions. This Catholic holy site marks where Father Kim Dae-geon drifted ashore at Yongsu-ri coast and held his first mass. Visible from Yongsu Port, Chagwido Island offers trekking through untouched nature.

Meanwhile, when visiting these destinations, it is essential to check detailed information such as opening status, hours, and viewing methods in advance with relevant local governments or tourist information centers, as entry restrictions may vary depending on COVID-19 social distancing levels. Also, be sure to review the safe travel guide according to daily life social distancing measures introduced on the Korea Tourism Organization’s Korea Travel Online website’s Safe Travel page.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.