Once you go to Seoul, you could be forgiven for spending all of your time within the metropolis. However enterprise simply past into Korea’s lovely countryside and also you’ll discover Jecheon – the place our buddy Bethan lives! She’s a neighborhood within the space now, so we requested her to place collectively an inventory of her favorite issues to do in Jecheon!
If you happen to inform any Seoulite that you just plan to go to the town of Jecheon, you could be met with incredulous faces and exclamations of “Nevertheless it’s in the course of nowhere!” or “However there’s nothing there!” However don’t be fooled! Because of the KTX prepare, put in in 2020, the standard countryside metropolis of Jecheon has by no means been extra accessible.
Jecheon is positioned within the coronary heart of the Korean countryside and is called ‘The Therapeutic Metropolis’, named for the standard medicines it produces. However this identify goes past the native exports: the juxtaposition between metropolis and countryside that may be discovered right here is actually a therapeutic expertise, particularly if visiting from the hustle and bustle of busy Seoul. Round an hour from Seoul on the KTX prepare (or round two hours by different means), a go to to Jecheon is ideal if you wish to go to the Korean countryside simply, while sustaining good transport hyperlinks and on a regular basis facilities.
Similar to Seoul, central Jecheon has common buses and a comfort retailer, a restaurant and a restaurant on virtually each road. And unbeknownst to most vacationers and Seoul residents, there’s a big array of issues to do right here. If you happen to’re visiting Seoul and need to decelerate a bit and expertise life outdoors of the capital metropolis, listed here are our favorite issues to do in Jecheon!
Learn how to get to Jecheon
If you’re travelling from Seoul, it’s straightforward sufficient to get to Jecheon due to the KTX service. This prepare runs each few hours from Cheongnyangni Station and prices 15,400W (round £10) for a one-way ticket. I like to recommend reserving tickets as much as per week prematurely if attainable as some trains, particularly at peak journey occasions, will promote out shortly. Nonetheless, for those who can’t take a KTX there are different rail providers (Mungunghwa, Nuriro and ITX) that may take you from Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul to Jecheon in simply over two hours for between 9,200 – 12,800W. There’s additionally the choice to get a bus to Jecheon Bus Terminal from the Categorical Bus Terminal in Gangnam. The bus normally prices between 15,000W – 17,000W and takes round two hours and thirty minutes relying on visitors.
Issues to do in Jecheon
Uirimji
Jecheon is legendary for the Uirimji Reservoir which has turn into the principle attraction for vacationers and residents alike. From the walkway lined with conventional pagodas to the native cafes and tiny amusement park, there’s leisure to be discovered for everybody. Stroll alongside the glass bridge over the waterfall, trip the Swan Boats throughout the lake or go to the museum to study concerning the historical past of Uirimji and perhaps even catch a conventional efficiency or two. In case you have time to take a seat and calm down, convey a picnic blanket right down to the waterfront or seize a e book and calm down within the hammocks.
If you happen to keep till darkish, the picket walkways across the lake illuminate, and you may catch a ten minute gentle present projected over the lake each thirty minutes that includes a very spectacular dragon. If you happen to like a stroll and need to wander additional afield, there’s a close-by park with a stream that leads as much as one other, smaller lake, which is far quieter and extra peaceable than the principle reservoir – however nonetheless simply as lovely!
Jecheon Airstrip
If you’re a fan of the Okay-pop group BTS (or only a fan of scenic walks), you should go to the outdated airstrip, only a few minutes away from Uirimji. Edged in vibrant pinwheels and surrounded by flowers, this airstrip is not in use by aircrafts, however has turn into a soothing walkway lined with cafes and eating places. BTS followers could recognise it from the group’s ‘Younger Without end’ music video, and it’s a should add to your Okay-pop tour itinerary. Come right here to marvel on the seasonal flowers, together with towering sunflowers in the summertime. I like to recommend the close by cafe Bihaeng, which has rooftop seating and is a good place to catch the sundown over the airstrip and mountains.
Samhan Inexperienced Street
If you happen to prefer to spend time in nature and take within the countryside surroundings, there’s a strolling path resulting in Uirimji which gives simply that. Winding via the rice fields, this path, like so many hidden spots in Korea, doesn’t should be as fairly as it’s! It’s particularly lovely within the spring and summer time, when the seasonal flowers are all in bloom. As you stroll, you’ll be met with the sound of peaceable jazz music from hidden audio system within the lampposts, and for those who occur to be strolling at evening, you may even discover some tiny frog pals having fun with a sunbathe within the lamplight. The trail begins at Kune Kids’s Park and could be recognized by the bike rental store. If you happen to stroll at a leisurely tempo, it is best to arrive at Uirimji inside an hour, however you received’t even discover the time passing as you are taking within the beautiful surroundings.
The Native Market
If you happen to actually need to expertise the lifetime of the locals, it’s important to go to the standard market. In addition to low cost, regionally grown fruit and greens (undoubtedly strive the strawberries within the winter!), you will discover home made rice truffles and an array of road meals to strive akin to hodeok (a candy pancake stuffed with honey and seeds) or mandu (meat or kimchi crammed dumplings.) You can too pattern quite a lot of home made kimchi and different Korean facet dishes. If you would like a quiet and genuine market expertise, Jecheon Market is the place to go.
Cheongpung Lake
For unbelievable mountain views, pay a go to to Cheongpung Lake. Simply half-hour outdoors of the town by bus, Cheongpung is a village on the base of a mountain, stuffed with little cafes and eating places and is properly well worth the journey. You possibly can take the Cheongpung Cable Automobile (15,000W per particular person) as much as the highest of the close by mountain to get a view of the whole lake, in addition to some nice picture spots and a comfy cafe to calm down in. I extremely advocate visiting throughout cherry blossom season in late April – early Could: that is my favorite place to see the blossom lined streets with out the large crowds you get within the standard cherry blossom spots in Seoul, and I personally assume it’s essentially the most lovely. There are additionally boat journeys, zip-lining, and bungee leaping accessible for the extra adventurous!
JIMFF
If you’re travelling to Korea throughout August, you could possibly catch the Jecheon Worldwide Music and Movie Competition. Held alongside the lake in Uirimji, this competition contains performances by Korean Indie and Hiphop artists which may be usually laborious to see; simply this 12 months headliners included 10cm and Stella Jang, with the earlier 12 months that includes Simon D and Zico. A bit identified place to catch your favorite artists – and better of all, it’s free!
What to eat in Jecheon
Jecheon is in Chungbuk Province, and is well-known for its agriculture – that means that the the seasonal fruit and greens listed here are one other stage of scrumptious. If you happen to’re in search of an space with a lot of totally different meals choices (together with Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese language and Japanese), Jangrak-dong has simply what you want. The Italian restaurant Chef’s Notice is a favorite amongst locals and is thought for the stone-baked pizzas piled with toppings, and the scrumptious mushroom salad.
Nonetheless, for genuine Korean meals, I like to recommend Chaesungdang Shabu Shabu restaurant. This hearty and filling hot-pot is a enjoyable, Korean do-it-yourself fashion meal that’s as wholesome as it’s scrumptious. Dip meat in a simmering beef broth stuffed with scrumptious greens, and add dumplings or make Vietnamese fashion spring rolls for an additional price. You can too add noodles to take in the leftover broth whenever you’re completed or use the leftovers to make a brilliant tasty fried rice.
If you happen to’re within the temper for a drink together with your meal, the Cheongjeon-dong space is the place to search out bars, fried hen eating places and BBQ locations galore. Nonetheless, my favorite BBQ restaurant, Haengbokhan BBQ, could be present in Haso-dong, alongside the river. This restaurant makes use of actual charcoal-based grills, giving the meat a deliciously smoky flavour, and the facet dishes are all home made by the homeowners (the pickled cucumber is especially tasty).
Lastly, when you have a candy tooth and need to discover a comfortable cafe, Uirimji-dong is the realm you need! Go to Cafe Merrily and meet Cream, the lovely Samoyed that lives there, or Cafe Namu, which has a big tree protruding via the center. Nonetheless, my favorite cafe in that space (and perhaps in the entire of Jecheon) is Villa De Dohwari. This cafe has unbelievable mountain views, resident ginger cats and a brilliant tasty croffle lined in injeolmi powder (a candy powder normally used to cowl rice truffles). If you happen to go there within the night on a cool and clear day, you possibly can sit by one of many hearth pits roasting complimentary marshmallows. I’ve but to discover a extra enjoyable spot!
Finally, Jecheon has every thing you want for a peaceful day within the Korean countryside surrounded by nature, with out having to go away the comforts of the town behind. There’s loads of issues to do in Jecheon for each adventurers and relaxers alike!
You possibly can observe Bethan’s adventures in Jecheon on her weblog and her Instagram.
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