[Report] 'History of Division and Peaceful Coexistence'... Goseong's Northernmost East Sea Port 'Daejin Port'

Forbidden Land Goseong DMZ, Geumgangsan Guseonbong and Haegumgang Nearby
Jedo Fishing Ground's Representative Specialty Giant Octopus and Abundant Wild Seafood
Plan to Use Empty 'Daejin Lighthouse' Official Residence as Local Artists' Exhibition Space

Haeundae Beach, Daejin-ri, Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Goseong, Gangwon-do, located at the northern end of Korea’s East Coast, is famous for its cold and clear waters.

The beaches stretching along the East Coast are considered Goseong’s premium attractions. It is also famous for octopus caught at the Jeodo fishing grounds, the northern fishing limit line.

Goseong holds touching stories from nature, making it an ideal place to create joyful memories with anyone or to enjoy solitude and rest.

Although it represents the pain of a divided history after the Korean War, split between North and South, it also symbolizes peace.

Departing from Seoul and driving leisurely for about four hours, the destination is Daejin Port in Goseong, Gangwon-do.

Daejin Port, Goseong-gun, Gangwon

Small fishing boats tied side by side sway endlessly with the waves, as if trying to withstand the chilly winter sea breeze.

Though it is a desolate and quiet small fishing village with few people, the sight of migratory birds swimming here and there on the water brings a sense of warmth.

The restaurant we happened to enter was run by an amateur painter active in the local area.

Mun Mi-jung (57), who serves as the chairman of the 'Dalhol Artists Cooperative,' has lived in Goseong for over 30 years.

She learned Western painting as a hobby and now passionately holds annual exhibitions with fellow club members.

Artist Moon Mijeong (Chairperson of Dalhol Artists' Cooperative) is painting a tiger folk painting.

She said she always gets ideas for her artwork from the beautiful beaches and mountains around her, which is why she loves Goseong even more.

These days, Mun’s biggest concern is providing exhibition spaces for local artists.

We went up to the second floor of the restaurant, her studio. Folk paintings and landscape artworks leaned against the walls.

Various tiger paintings with different expressions and patterns bring vitality to the Year of the Black Tiger.

A painting of an imaginary creature combining a turtle’s body and a dragon’s head is very unique.

Paintings capturing the natural beauty of mountains, water, and rocks also hold the viewer’s gaze for a long time.

Works by artist Moon Mijeong

After introducing several works, she guided us to another location: the Daejin Lighthouse.

The lighthouse tower is octagonal, and its light blinks once every 12 seconds, shining about 37 km out to sea.

While lighthouses are known as guides on the sea, the Daejin Lighthouse also embodies the reality of a divided homeland.

From the lighthouse where the sea meets the mountains, the cozy Daejin Harbor comes fully into view.

The sea breeze is chilly, but it feels refreshingly pure. This is definitely a must-visit spot that can captivate travelers.

Only then could we understand her plan to use the empty lighthouse keeper’s quarters next to the lighthouse as an exhibition space for local artists and a cultural experience space for tourists.

Daejin Lighthouse

Chairman Mun said, “There is a lack of places nearby to satisfy the cultural needs of Goseong residents, especially those in Hyeonnae-myeon,” adding, “I want to create an exhibition hall and workspace for local artists, as well as a space where tourists can experience culture.”

She has submitted detailed plans to Goseong County and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and is currently discussing their implementation.

Mun’s pride in Goseong extended to the ‘big octopus pride.’

The Goseong giant octopus is an important species on the East Coast. Fishing is allowed from April to December, with a rest period until March.

While other fish and seafood are caught, octopus is the most abundant catch. They say you can even see ‘giant octopuses’ weighing over 50 kg.

Daejin Port Fish Market

Every May, the Jeodo Octopus Festival is held at Daejin Port. Visitors can taste the representative specialty, giant octopus, and wild seafood.

Nearly 70 years after the 1953 armistice agreement, the forbidden land of the Goseong DMZ, buried in silence, is not forgotten.

Standing at the observatory where the DMZ and the Southern Limit Line meet, you can see Mount Kumgang’s Guseon Peak and Haegumgang nearby. On clear days, you can view the breathtaking scenery of Mount Kumgang.

Goseong County is the northern end of the Baekdudaegan mountain range on the South Korean side. A representative hiking trail is the Masanbong?Sinseonbong?Misiryeong course.

From Masan (1,052 m), on clear days, you can faintly see the peaks of Mount Kumgang, including Birobong, beyond Hyangrobong (1,296 m) from Jinburyeong.

Barbed Wire Fence in Front of Daejin Port Sea

Chairman Mun revealed her plan: “Since this is a military area, I’m thinking of creating a tourism product by characterizing soldiers surfing on the waves as crackers.”

Passing by the sea near Daejin Port, we also noticed people enjoying winter surfing. Imagining riding the waves across the sea, one can easily fall in love with surfing’s charm.

Also, the underwater terrain varies greatly, making it a well-known spot among domestic divers. You can enjoy beach diving, boat diving, and breakwater diving.

Goseong has abundant rocky areas and clear water with good visibility, featuring underwater cliffs, seaweed, coral, octopus, and schools of yellowtail and other fish.

View of Daejin Port from Daejin Lighthouse

Along the coastal pine forest paths lined up for decades, you can hear the old stories the trees hold as they face the sea breeze.

The spectacular scenery of Goseong changing colors through the four seasons, the refreshing scent of the sea breeze, and the sound of ship horns from the harbor that make you want to sail far away.

Escaping the COVID-19 pandemic, experiencing the joy of traveling the northernmost East Coast of Goseong before Lunar New Year, we look forward to a happier year.

Reporting and photography by Reporter Ra Young-cheol

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