Recommended Places to Visit in Gwangyang in December

Seomjingang Small Art Museum, Neuraengigol Natural Recreation Forest, and more

Romantic Starlit Christmas in Gwangyang

Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do has unveiled a December travel course that allows visitors to enjoy a romantic Christmas and meaningfully conclude the Year of the Black Rabbit, Gyemyo Year.

The city has designed half-day, one-day, and two-day courses centered around content where visitors can savor a starlit Christmas and a magnificent sunset, including Seomjingang Small Art Museum and Neuraengigol Natural Recreation Forest.

Night View of Neuraengi-gol Natural Recreation Forest
Photo by Gwangyang City

The half-day course, “Half a Day in Gwangyang,” connects Baealdo Island Garden ~ Mangdeok Port (Jeong Byeong-wook House preserving Yun Dong-ju’s posthumous works & Yun Dong-ju Poetry Garden) ~ Seomjingang Small Art Museum ~ Neuraengigol Natural Recreation Forest.

The sunlit Baealdo Island Garden is a romantic space perfect for quietly strolling while reflecting on a hectic year, breathing in the refreshing winter sea air, and enjoying a beautiful sunset.

Crossing the Star-Counting Bridge from Baealdo Island Garden to Mangdeok Port, visitors encounter the Jeong Byeong-wook House preserving Yun Dong-ju’s posthumous works, the poetry garden, and poetry sculptures, where the spirit of Yun Dong-ju’s poetry is deeply embedded.

In particular, Yun Dong-ju Poetry Garden features 31 poems from his posthumous collection, including “The Wind is Blowing,” which recently gained attention when recited by King Charles III of the United Kingdom, as well as “Prelude” and “Counting the Stars at Night.”

Last March, Seomjingang Kkeutdeul Village, the base camp for KBS’s flagship program 1 Night 2 Days, offers diverse experiences such as camping, art cycling, and dyeing. Meanwhile, the Seomjingang Small Art Museum hosts Lee Jung-hoon’s exhibition “Emptying,” welcoming visitors until December 31.

Neuraengigol Natural Recreation Forest, located at an altitude of 450 meters touching the sky, is filled with thousands of cypress trees emitting phytoncides. The glamping site, known as a mysterious space above the clouds with 14.3 million LED lights creating a Christmas atmosphere, offers a special winter night for families, couples, and loved ones.

The one-day course spending a full day in Gwangyang connects Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art & Gwangyang Art Warehouse ~ Gwangyang Bulgogi Specialty Street ~ Inseori Park ~ Gwangyang History and Culture Center ~ Gubongsan Observatory ~ Baealdo Island Garden ~ Mangdeok Port (Jeong Byeong-wook House preserving Yun Dong-ju’s posthumous works & Poetry Garden).

At Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art, visitors can enjoy various genre exhibitions such as the 2023 special exhibition “Narrative of Water” by Song Pil-yong, the invitational exhibition “Our Family Story” by Hwang Young-sung, and Art & Tech: Vibrating Boundaries, along with a romantic Christmas tree that excites visitors.

Inseori Park, which has restored 14 hanok houses, offers the joy of viewing exhibitions, printmaking experiences, and leisurely strolling through alleys while enjoying the warm winter sunlight at cozy cafes.

The Gubongsan Observatory, located at 473 meters above sea level on Gubongsan Mountain, is a space where visitors can face vast and expansive scenery. It is a meaningful place to watch the last sunset of the Year of the Black Rabbit with the open space’s sense of freedom.

The 1 Night 2 Days course “Counting Stars at Night in Gwangyang,” dreaming of a night in Gwangyang, allows travelers to explore Gwangyang’s nature and culture and enjoy beautiful night views.

The first day’s course includes Kim Si Sik Site ~ Baealdo Island Garden ~ Mangdeok Port (Jeong Byeong-wook House preserving Yun Dong-ju’s posthumous works & Yun Dong-ju Poetry Garden) ~ Seomjingang Small Art Museum ~ Neuraengigol Natural Recreation Forest.

The second day leisurely concludes the two-day journey with Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art & Gwangyang Art Warehouse ~ Inseori Park ~ Gwangyang History and Culture Center ~ Gwangyang Jangdo Museum ~ Yi Sun-sin Bridge ~ Gubongsan Observatory.

The Kim Si Sik Site in Gwangyang is the world’s first place to cultivate gim (seaweed) and commemorates the history and location. Visitors can interestingly learn about the cultivation process and the story behind the name of gim.

Jeong Gu-young, Director of Tourism, said, “The December Gwangyang travel courses are designed with places where visitors can reflect on themselves after a hectic year and enjoy romantic Christmas moments and memorable special sunsets.”

He added, “Spaces where visitors can glimpse Gwangyang’s culture, art, and history, such as Gwangyang History and Culture Center, Gwangyang Jangdo Museum, and Seomjingang Small Art Museum, are harmoniously arranged throughout the courses. We highly recommend planning a meaningful Gwangyang trip with your precious loved ones and family.”

Meanwhile, Gwangyang City continuously offers travel courses considering duration and routes, ranging from half-day courses for casual visits centered on monthly hot places to two-day courses that discover the city’s hidden charms. These can be checked on the Gwangyang City Culture and Tourism website’s recommended travel section.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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