Ready for the end of social distancing? Let's go on an exciting trip to Gwangyang!

Introducing Eight Representative Tourism Resources Themed by Light, Taste, Islands, Ports, Night Views, and More

Developing Tourism Infrastructure and Detailed Hospitality to Meet Travelers' Preferences and Values

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] Since the social distancing measures were virtually lifted in full from the 18th, expectations for tourism recovery are growing, and Gwangyang City has grouped its distinctive tourist resources into eight themes for guidance.

Gwangyang is filled with unique and competitive tourist attractions that adorn its days and nights, such as Baealdo Island Garden, Seomjingang Mangdeok Port, and Gubongsan Observatory.

Additionally, the rich natural environment and abundant sunlight have produced diverse ingredients like gorosoe (sap), maesil (plums), and Seomjingang freshwater clams, along with developed grilled dishes that bring out their unique flavors, captivating even the taste buds of the MZ generation.

▲ Gwangyang, the city of flowers beautiful in all four seasons

Gwangyang is known as the city of flowers, where the beautifully blooming plum blossoms color the Seomjingang River, creating a floral palace that draws people who have awaited spring throughout the winter to flock to Gwangyang Maehwa Village.

The Gwangyang Maehwa Festival, which opens the curtain on Korea’s festivals, is fragrant with the serene plum blossoms and beautiful human flowers.

By the end of the plum blossom festival, the city center, especially around Seocheon in Gwangyang-eup and Baegundae in Geumho-dong, bursts into splendid cherry blossoms, while the red camellias of Okryongsa Camellia Forest and the bright yellow canola flowers on the riverside of Osari in Jinwol-myeon dye the heart with floral colors.

In May, roses and poppies bloom in Seocheon one after another, and the purple lavender spectacle of Sarasil colors Gwangyang’s June in soft pastel tones.

▲ The deep and blue pause in my life, Gwangyang Baegunsan

Baegunsan Mountain, standing at 1,222 meters above sea level, is a sacred mountain holding the three spiritual energies of phoenix, pig, and fox. It branches off from Baekdudaegan, completes the Honam Ridge, and gathers the 550-ri (approx. 216 km) waters of the Seomjingang River.

The four major valleys of Baegunsan?Seongbul, Okryong, Eochi, and Geumcheon?feature jagged rocks, refreshing waterfalls, and a harmonious mix of various tree species. Along with nine Baegunsan Dulle-gil trails totaling 126.36 km, it offers a deep and blue life pause to soothe the weary body and mind.

Baegunsan Natural Recreation Forest, nestled on the mountain’s foothills, is a wellness space with a dense primeval forest so thick that the sky is barely visible. It offers various accommodations such as forest houses, auto camping sites, and campgrounds, as well as seminar rooms and a forest culture recreation center. Visitors can also enjoy unique experiences like healing forests and wood culture experience centers.

▲ The port sings to the stars: Seomjingang Mangdeok Port

Mangdeok Port is where the Seomjingang River, originating from Demisaem in Jinan, Jeonbuk, flows southeast through Gokseong and Gurye, gathering its 550-ri waterway before flowing into Gwangyang Bay.

Following the gentle and clear arc of the Seomjingang River, one encounters the Registered Cultural Heritage No. 341, the ‘Yun Dong-ju Manuscript Preservation Jeong Byeong-wook House,’ which holds the handwritten poetry collection ‘Sky, Wind, Star, and Poem’ by Yun Dong-ju.

Yun Dong-ju, a senior at Yeonhui College to Jeong Byeong-wook, dreamed of publishing a poetry book to commemorate his graduation in 1941. He personally bound three copies of 19 poems titled ‘Sky, Wind, Star, and Poem’ and gave them to his advisor Lee Yang-ha and his cherished junior Jeong Byeong-wook.

Jeong Byeong-wook, even when conscripted as a student soldier, entrusted the handwritten manuscript to his mother in Gwangyang. Wrapped neatly in a silk cloth, the manuscript survived quietly in a jar beneath the floor of his house.

Yun Dong-ju passed away in Fukuoka Prison six months before Korea’s liberation, but the manuscript preserved at Jeong Byeong-wook’s house was published posthumously on January 30, 1948, reviving Yun Dong-ju as a poet.

Near Jeong Byeong-wook’s house, there is the Yun Dong-ju Poetry Garden and resting area, where his precious poems are commemorated with a poetry monument.

▲ The querencia of my soul, Baealdo Island Garden

Baealdo Island Garden, floating gently where the Seomjingang River meets the sea, is a spiritual resting place where heart and scenery meet.

The island garden, where beautiful flowers like peonies and hydrangeas bloom seasonally, is easily accessible via the Star Counting Bridge and Sunrise Bridge that gracefully cross over the sea.

Crossing the blue sea, travelers are greeted by ancient trees etched with time, and the island yard, marked by a red sign sculpture reading ‘Baealdo,’ offers infinite space and peace.

Following the wooden deck surrounding the island while overlooking the deep blue sea, reaching the summit reveals Haeunjeong Pavilion, surrounded by elegant pine trees, casually embracing the blue sea and free-floating clouds.

The island garden, beautiful even at sunset, is a querencia (sanctuary) for the soul where one can rest and recover from the weariness of daily life by simply relaxing and gazing at the water.

▲ All the lights of the world gathered: the highlight of my life

Gwangyang, the city of light and sunshine where all the world’s lights gather, is a city more beautiful at night, offering the highlight of life.

The Gubongsan Observatory at 473 meters above sea level, listed among the Korea Tourism Organization’s Top 100 Night Views, offers a 360° panoramic view of landmarks such as the Yi Sun-sin Bridge, Namhae Bridge, and Suncheon Japanese Castle. The metal art beacon shaped like a plum blossom and the night view unfolding below create a mysterious and fantastic harmony.

The Yi Sun-sin Bridge, known as the harp made of steel between the sky and sea, connects Gwangyang and Yeosu. It is a suspension bridge with a total length of 2,260 meters and four lanes, boasting the longest span in Korea and ranking eighth worldwide.

The main span length of 1,545 meters symbolizes the birth year of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and softly illuminates Gwangyang Bay.

Other diverse nightscapes such as Neuraengigol Natural Recreation Forest, Haedalbyeol Observatory, and Haeoreum Overpass offer subtle yet sophisticated light performances.

▲ Gwangyang where culture and art bloom: Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art & Gwangyang Art Warehouse

Located in the original downtown of Gwangyang, the Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art, despite its short history of just one year since opening, has consecutively held high-quality exhibitions such as the Lee Kun-hee Collection Special Exhibition and Son Jae-hyung Exhibition, enhancing cultural enjoyment for residents and establishing the identity of the artistic Namdo region.

Especially, the touring exhibition from the Leeum Museum of Art, ‘Human, Seven Questions,’ running until May 29, is structured around seven questions about humans, the source of art, captivating art lovers nationwide.

Adjacent to the Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art is the complex cultural space Gwangyang Art Warehouse, the Gwangyang Wine Cave where visitors can enjoy the romance of wine and high-quality media art, the modest yet touching Seomjingang Small Museum of Art, and Sarasil Art Village, all enriching Gwangyang’s cultural and artistic landscape.

▲ Gwangyang tastes delicious: Gwangyang cuisine that captivates even the MZ generation

From the mysterious medicinal water gorosoe of Baegunsan, Seomjingang freshwater clams and cherry oysters, to the Gwangyang Gijeongtteok rice cake that sustains the hot midsummer, and the silver croakers that flock to Mangdeok Port in autumn, Gwangyang offers delicious flavors all year round.

Especially, grilled dishes that bring out unique flavors, such as Gwangyang Bulgogi, Gwangyang Chicken Charcoal Grill, and Gwangyang Eel Charcoal Grill, developed thanks to the oak trees native to Baegunsan, are representative foods that travelers visiting Gwangyang must try.

Recently, Gwangyang Bulgogi and Gwangyang Chicken Charcoal Grill have been launched as signature menus by food companies and dining franchises, capturing the taste buds of the trend-sensitive 20s and 30s MZ generation.

Processed plum products rich in citric acid and vitamins, such as maesil tea and maesil pickles, boost immunity and have established themselves as Korea’s health guardians.

▲ From the place where gim (seaweed) was farmed to where steel (so) is produced: Gim Farming Site & Gwangyang Steelworks

Gwangyang is home to the ‘Gwangyang Gim Farming Site,’ where gim, which has captivated the taste buds of people worldwide and risen to become Korea’s top K-food export item, was first farmed.

Designated as Jeollanam-do Monument No. 113, the Gwangyang Gim Farming Site honors Gim Yeo-ik, who first farmed gim, and its history. It includes Yeongmojae, the Gim History Museum, and an artifact exhibition hall, providing detailed information on the origin and manufacturing process of gim.

Gim Yeo-ik, lamenting the humiliating peace treaty with the Qing during the Byeongjahoran invasion, was living in seclusion on Taein Island in Gwangyang when he noticed seaweed clinging to floating wood in the sea.

Inspired by this, he pioneered and spread the raft method of gim farming, utilizing the nutrient-rich advantage of Taein Island where river and sea meet, thus expanding the sea into an area of cultivation.

There is an intriguing story that King Injo, fascinated by gim served on the royal table, ordered that it be called ‘gim’ after Gim Yeo-ik’s surname when he heard that the gim was presented by him from Gwangyang.

In the Taein Island area where gim was produced, the Gwangyang Steelworks was built, producing steel (金, pronounced ‘so’), which shares the same Chinese character as gim (金). It boasts the world’s largest crude steel production volume for a single plant specializing in automotive steel sheets, reminding us of the meaning behind the place name.

Kim Seongsu, Director of Tourism, said, “Geographically, Gwangyang lies on the meridian running north to south through the center of the Korean Peninsula, connecting the eastern part of Jeonnam and the western part of Gyeongnam, making it a well-connected city and a must-visit tourism and stay hub.”

He added, “We will continue to build tourism infrastructure to meet travelers’ tastes and values, and with meticulous tourism hospitality, steadily create the future of Gwangyang as a tourism city shining both day and night.”

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