[Harumanbo] Haepalanggil Course 5 Walking Along the Hoeyagang River

‘Haepalanggil’ is a 750 km walking trail consisting of a total of 50 courses that connect the coastal paths, forest trails, and village roads along the East Coast, from Oryukdo Sunrise Park in Busan to the Unification Observatory in Goseong, Gangwon Province.

Haepalanggil is a compound word combining the symbol of the East Sea, the ‘rising sun,’ the blue color of the sea, ‘parang,’ and the particle ‘rang,’ meaning ‘together.’ It means ‘a path to walk together with the sound of waves while looking at the rising sun and the blue sea.’

Course 5 of Haepalanggil is where the Ulsan section of Haepalanggil begins. Starting from Jihahaebyeon in Ulju-gun, Ulsan, and continuing to Deokha Station, this course is 17.7 km long and takes about 6 hours. Course 5 runs alongside the flow of the Hoeya River. Walking along the winding Hoeya River offers the enjoyment of viewing the surrounding natural scenery.

The starting point of the course, Jinha Beach, is characterized by shallow waters, a wide white sandy beach, and clear seawater. At the confluence with the Hoeya River, freshwater bathing is possible, and due to the large tidal range, during low tide, you can walk to Myeongseondo Island located in the front sea. The beach and the area around Daesong Lighthouse are frequented by anglers throughout the year. Every early August, the Sea Queen Contest is held.

Near Mangyang Station, about two-thirds along the course, is Oegosan Onggi Village, which has the Onggi Hall and Onggi Exhibition Hall. The Onggi Village was formed when Mr. Heo Deok-man migrated there in 1957 and began firing Onggi pottery. After the Korean War, the increased demand for Onggi attracted many people eager to learn Onggi techniques, leading to rapid growth of the village.

Oegosan Onggi Village produces more than 50% of the nation’s Onggi pottery, and the Onggi Museum displays the world’s largest Onggi registered in the Guinness Book of Records. Additionally, the Ulsan Onggi Festival is held annually, where visitors can enjoy various experiences and events. Other facilities available include the Onggi Academy Hall, Fermentation Academy Hall, and Ulju Folk Museum.

Afterward, the course heads toward the final destination, Deokha Station. Walking through the city, you can use various convenience facilities. Deokha Station is a train station on the Donghae Nambu Line; although it is old, it has a humble charm.

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