Important Notice: Please note that I have stopped updating all South Korea-related content published before 2020 on this blog. You may find all updated South Korea travel content at my dedicated, new travel site here: www.thecalmchronicle.com 

In an online poll of  “Countries that Singaporeans want to have an Air Travel Bubble with” conducted by The Straits Times, South Korea scored 40.7 per cent of votes, claiming its place as Singaporean’s favourite destinations after the COVID.

So here are my insider tips of 10 hidden Winter Wonderland destinations you should consider post-pandemic. Who knows, maybe we’ll have a travel-bubble with South Korea someday!

1. Jeonju Hanok Village

If you are an avid foodie at heart and interested in Korean traditional culture, Jeonju (전주) in Jeolla-do province is where you should head to. It is arguably the culinary city of South Korea where a long list of mouth-watering food experiences awaits. And if you are lucky enough, the snow painted Jeonju Hanok Village ( 전주 한옥마을) will be a sight to behold during your trip. Check out our Jeonju Hanok Village Street Food Guide and our 3D2N Jeonju itinerary here.

2. Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm 

Pyeongchang county (평창군)  in Gangwon Province is a snowboard capital of South Korea. And Daegwallyeong (대관령)  is nested within this beautiful county famed of its sheep farms and snow-covered landscape in winter. These enormous sheep farms offer a rare opportunity for city kids to enjoy the beauty of mother nature. Read my dedicated post regarding Daegwallyeong Yangtte Sheep Farm, a delicious Tangsuyuk and Jjajjang Myun restaurant in the region, as well as my recommended accommodation in Degwallyeong at Queen’s Garden Guesthouse.

3. Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌 한옥 마을) in Seoul is a traditional Korean housing cluster inhabited by the elite Yangban Noble class during the Joseon Dynasty. It has developed into a tourist site packed with independent cafes, tea-houses, and interesting shops or museums in recent years. Experience the enchanted atmosphere of Bukchon Hanok village after the snow here.

South Korea, Seoul, Jongno-gu, Gahoe-dong | 서울특별시 종로구 계동길 37 

4. The Palaces

I love going to the palaces in Seoul after heavy snowfall. Gyeongbok Palace is one of my favourites. The frozen lake, blue sky and the red, green, yellow motifs of the traditional architecture make a striking contrast against the white snow. Complete your palace tour experience wearing a traditional hanbok here!

5. Jeongdongjin

Located in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Jeongdongjin (정동진)  is a picturesque town with a train station closest to the ocean in the world. The beach right behind the Jeongdongjin station is also a well-known sunrise spot. Sunrise spectators would take an overnight train to Jeongdongjin station on the new year’s eve for the first sunrise of the year. The nearby Jeongdongjin Sun Cruise Resort is a beach resort modelled after a cruise ship perched on top of a cliff!

Jeongdongjin Station:
Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, South Korea

Jeongdongjin Sun Cruise Resort:
950-39 Heonhwa-ro, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea 

6.Hahoe Folk Village

Tucked away in a secluded valley in Gyeongsang Province, the Andong Hahoe Folk Village (안동 하회마을)  is an idyllic place to unwind and experience traditional Korean rural life. Visitors can immerse in a rich array of cultural traditions such as Korean Mask Dancing and enjoy a wide variety of ancient culinary delights such as Andong Gangodeungeo (Salted Mackerel), Heotjesabap (A type of Bibimbap for the nobles) and Andong Guksu (A local noodle delicacy). Sleepover at one of the traditional hanok within the village and enjoy the fuzzy, magical and ethereal view the next morning!

40 Hahoe, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea | 안동시 풍천면 하회남촌길 63

7. Gamaksan Mountain

This beautiful photo of winter at Gamaksan Suspension Bridge (감악산 출렁다리) located in Paju definitely warrant a mention on the list! It just feels straight out of the Disney “Frozen” to me. The bridge spans 150 meters across Silmari Valley, and is easily accessible from the car park area! (No hiking required!). Be early to enjoy this majestic winter view all to yourself!

365, Gisan-ro Gwangtan-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기 파주시 광탄면 기산로 365

8. Paju Heyri Art Village

Located just 1 hour away from Seoul, Paju is a heaven for any art and book lover. The Hyeri Art Village (파주 헤이리 마을) is home to filmmakers, publishers, book writers, and artists. Expect quirky museums & architectures, beautiful cafes, enormous book store and book cafes, interesting studios and art spaces in this village. Paju is the nearest South Korean city to North Korea. And the north’s winter is known to be harsher than the south, so you can imagine Paju to be a winter wonderland after a heavy snowfall.

There is a “Paju English Village” (파주 영어 마을) filled with European styled buildings to create an immersive environment for the students to learn the language. The space is open to the public so you may spot couples taking pre-wedding photos there too!

Paju Hyeri Art Village:
1652-239 Beopheung-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do |경기 파주시 탄현면 법흥리 1652-239

Paju English Village:
Paju-si Tanhyeon-myeon Uleumsil-ro 40  |경기 파주시 탄현면 얼음실로 40 

9. Seonunsa Temple

Seonunsa Temple (선운사) is one of the largest temples in the Southern part in Korea with over 1,500 years of its history. And winter is considered one of the best seasons to visit the temple as the camellia flowers bloom and the persimmons ripen. The fiery orange persimmons covered in snow, together with the blooming camellias from shrubs to shrubs make for an alluring sight in winter.

567, Samin-Ri, Asan-Myeon, Gochang-Gun, Jeollabuk-Do, Korea |전라북도 고창군 아산면 선운사로 250 선운사

10. Boseong Green Tea Field 

Located at Jeollanam-do Province, the Boseong Green Tea Field (보성 녹차밭) is another beautiful place to visit after a snowfall in Winter. Enjoy a tranquil walk and soak in the picturesque landscape at Daehan Dawon (대한 다원), the largest green tea plantation in the country as the snow turned the plantation white. Do note that the plantation closes at 5 pm daily during winter.

Daehan Dawon Greentea Plantation:
763-67, Nokcha-ro, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do | 전라남도 보성군 보성읍 녹차로 763-67 

All photos are provided by KTO unless otherwise stated.
Please note that information of the article is accurate at the time of publishing. 

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Li

Important Notice: Please note that I have stopped updating all South Korea-related content published before 2020 on this blog. You may find all updated South Korea travel content at my dedicated, new travel site here: www.thecalmchronicle.com 

For those who enjoy the beautiful scenery of South Korea, and would love a free & easy trip to their coastal provinces, I highly recommend the Gangwon province. It has gorgeous sheep farms, endless mountains and breathtaking ocean view, suitable for nature lovers, couples and family with kids.

I embarked on a quest for a place to stay in Daegwallyeong after deciding to bring dad and mom for our first family trip in Gangwon-do. After some search on Naver, I found Queen’s Garden, a beautiful guesthouse located in Hoenggye (횡계), a town in Pyeong Chang that is a 19 minutes drive away to Daegwallyeong Yangtte Sheep Farm. It is a family-run guesthouse famed for its beautifully decorated garden.

As our family trip took place a few weeks before the arrival of autumn, the changing of the season brought a sudden thunderstorm. We were all drenched by the time we reached the guesthouse. The owner set up a cosy fireplace at the lobby cafe and served towels and herbal tea as a welcome drink. Though with limited English capacity, we were delighted by the friendly, thoughtful and authentic service.

We booked a “Pension” room, which is a type of lodging widely found in quiet towns or countryside in South Korea. A pension usually comes with family-friendly facilities, such as separating bedroom, bathrooms, kitchen and ondol-style flooring, which is a excellent amenities for old-folks. Each pension comes in different configuration, and our room has a mezzanine level which has 3 beds and a sofa that can easily be converted into a single bed – great for a 4 pax family!

The room has a veranda that has direct access to the garden, a perfect place for a BBQ party, especially from spring to summer. We did opted-in for their in-house BBQ dinner package which was supposed to take place at the veranda. However, due to the bad weather, we had to move the dinner venue to the lobby cafe.

We had Hanwoo beef and BBQ pork prepared by the owner of Queen’s Garden. The meat was fatty, tender and juicy. We also loved the side-dishes made by the owner’s wife. Though we did not get to experience in-room dining, the atmosphere at the cafe was warm and invigorating, as if we were dining at a friend’s place.

We woke up in the morning feeling refreshed at our pension. The sky has cleared up, and the crisp autumn morning air makes us feel vibrant and excited. We went out at the veranda and inhaled the natural forest fresh air — a much-needed forest bathing indeed.

The complimentary breakfast was a simple and hearty spread consists of salad, juices, soup, bagels with butter and assorted homemade jam. We finished up our breakfast and decided to take a tour at Queen’s Garden’s famed garden. Unfortunately, the damaging storm left the plants flattened – my photos certainly do not do them justice as it was taken right after the storm. I believe the garden will look stunning after tidying up, especially when the weather is good!

Writer’s Note: 

Queen’s Garden is a lovely guesthouse at Hoenggye, perfect for those who are visiting Gangwon-do (or Gangwon Province), especially the Daegwallyeong area. Traditionally known as the best winter destination, this province is exceptionally beautiful in winter. However, I would also recommend you to visit this place even in the summer because it is reportedly 6 degrees cooler than Seoul. This would also mean that the winter in Gangwon-do will get even colder in winter, so do dress appropriately. During the warmer season, you may have a picnic or a swim by the valley which is a stone’s throw away or have an ATV ride session against the scenic wind generator area.

I love how near Queen’s Garden is from Hoenggye Bus Terminal, and you can easily hail a cab to the guesthouse. As for touring around the area, I figured it is best to hire a taxi driver that drives you around the whole day. However, making a reservation wasn’t exactly a breeze. You’ll need a Korean bank account for a deposit, which I find most overseas tourist would find this a hassle. However, if you’d like an experience similar to local Korean, you may still write in to enquire. The owner might be able to help with your booking without a deposit but please do your part by not backing out!

Contact Details:

Queens Garden
Tel.:  +82 10-9012-2583
Email: queens700@naver.com
https://queensgarden.co.kr/ (Korean)

퀸스가든
강원도 평창군 대관령면 경강로 5425-21

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If you are currently located in South Korea, please download Kakao Map App and navigate by clicking the map below:

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It is indeed an excellent place for winter vacation. But I’d like to cast light on the summer in Pyeongchang. The summer temperature in Pyeongchang is claimed to be 6 degrees Celsius lower than in Seoul, makes it a perfect getaway to escape the sweltering summer heat in Korea. If you are planning a summer vacation to South Korea, Pyeongchang is worth checking out, especially for those who would like to explore beyond Seoul.

The sheep ranches in Daegwallyeong are one of the best places to check out while in Pyeongchang. The 3 sheep ranches that are open for public visits in Daegwallyeong are Yangtte Sheep Farm (양떼 목장), Samyang Sheep Farm (삼양 목장) and Sky Sheep Farm (하늘 목장). They are all one-of-its-kind, so it’s hard to select just one farm to visit. For this post, we’ll be talking about Yangtte Sheep Farm, and I’ll come back to the rest in future.

Yangtte Sheep Farm is South Korea’s first and the only ranch that raises sheep. The owner started building the farm in 1988, and it gained popularity after a few TV dramas and commercial took place here. The barn and fences were painstakingly built by the owner and his team.

One thing you should probably note when travelling to Pyeongchang in summer is that the season is usually shorter compared to other provinces. We visited Pyeongchang in the 2nd week of August. While Seoul was still in the dead heat of summer, the maple trees in this region were starting to turn red. Rain is frequent during the transitional season so a poncho will be handy.

It rained on and off all day during our visit, and a thick fog enveloped the ranch. Though inconvenient, the sight of the foggy farm was a true sight to behold.

Down the slope across the ranch is a feeding barn, where visitors would be able to get up close with these fluffy creatures. Just show your entrance ticket in exchange for a small basket of hay – I bet kids would enjoy this activity!

We were lucky as it was a brief shower and by the time we finished feeding the sheep, the rain stopped, and the sheep were out again. Isn’t it soothing to see the fluffy creatures roaming freely on the green fields? Please do not forget to visit the wooden shack in the middle of the ranch on your way up or down the feeding barn. It is an iconic sight in Daegwalleong that is certainly not to be missed.

Writer’s Note: Daegwallyeong Yangtte Sheep Farm is great place to check out in Pyeongchang. I love the rustic and natural landscape, and the long circular walkway that surrounds the entire ranch. I went there for that beautiful wooden shack though, but I’d say it is a destination suitable for all seasons: You’ll see about 300 sheep graze on the vast field from March to late October and a magical winter wonderland in the winter. However, the sheep will go indoor during winter.

Contact Details:

Daegwallyeong Yangtte Farm 대관령 양떼목장
483-32, Daegwallyeongmaru-gil, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwondo
강원도 평창군 대관령면 대관령마루길 483-32

Transportation:

It is not exactly convenient to go to the farm using public transport, but it is not entirely impossible.

1. Take the subway Line No.2 to Gangbyeon Station (강변 역), and take exit 4.
2. This will bring you to the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울 터미널), where you can take an intercity bus to Hoenggye (횡계) Intercity Bus Terminal. The bus journey will take about 2hr and 30 minutes, and the ticket cost KRW 14,500 per pax.
3. Once arrived at Hoenggye Intercity Bus Terminal, you may take a red colour shuttle bus to the farm, OR take a taxi to Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm. The taxi will cost you about KRW 12,000, and it takes about 10 minutes.)

Maps:

2019.6.29 | 지도 크게 보기 ©  NAVER Corp.

If you are currently located in South Korea, you may download the Naver Map app to navigate. 

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So we were checking out Daegwallyeong sheep farms, and our guesthouse host recommended this place for lunch. Though it was summer, it was a rainy day and the temperature dropped to 18 degrees Celcius, perfect weather for Jjajjangmyun and Tangsuyuk!

Upon entering Jintaewon Restaurant, we were greeted by the friendly Korean ajumma. Some Chinese paintings adorned the dated wallpapers, and we were led to the very traditional Korean seating where everyone has to sit on the floor. The restaurant has only 6 tables, and the premise is rather old and unassuming, but no one seemed to care. Now when I think about it, it was the food that draws attention.

A quick background for those who’re interested: Jjajjangmyun, according to Wikipedia is a Chinese Korean noodle dish topped with a savoury and sweet, black gravy made of a Korean condiment Chunjang, diced pork and veggies. It is often consumed with Tangsuyuk, a Korean Chinese version of Sweet & Sour Pork.

We were taken aback by the boss’s generosity when they served us fried dumplings before serving the rest of the dishes. It was fried pork dumplings (퇴김만두). It is common that most Korean restaurants offer free items (often called as “Service”서비스), BUT I have never encountered any Korean Chinese restaurants that offer fried dumplings, not one but 12 dumplings all together.

These dumplings are in the most luscious golden brown colour, and is juicy and crispy that keep us wanting for more.

Next up was the Tangsuyuk. Jintaewon’s tangsuyuk was lightly coated with a layer of extra crispy skin, then coated with sweet and sour sauce, with fresh veggies to add that extra crunch. The light, fluffy yet robustly crispy Tangsuyuk was one of the best I had in my entire life. The pork was fresh and very tender, no funky smell at all. You’ll hear the crackling sound of the skin echoes as you chew, and the sweet and sour flavour kicks in… definitely one of the best tangsuyuks in South Korea.

The homemade noodles were springy. Give it a good stir and slurp it up — the chewy texture, together with the salty gravy, with bits of potato cubes and green beans in it, it was so good. Especially so when you eat it with the sliced radish. The slight sweetness emits from the radish balanced the palate and the crunchy texture compliment the chewy noodles so well. I figured this is the reason why I enjoy eating jjajjangmyun and tangsuyuk. They are so simple yet highly addictive, nothing fancy but true luxury.

Contact Details:

Jintaewon 
325-18 Hoenggye-ri, Daegwalnyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-730pm| Sun: 12:30pm-7:30pm
진태원
강원도 평창군 대관령면 횡계길 19

Note: It is an extremely popular restaurant at Pyeongchang, you’ll be prompt to leave your mobile number with them. If you do not have a local number, it is best to stay around and wait. 

Maps:

If you are currently located in South Korea, you may use the below map to navigate:

2019.5.25 | 지도 크게 보기 ©  NAVER Corp.

Other than Jeju Island, Gangwon Province (강원도 Gangwon-do) is another popular destination where Koreans flock to during summer, as the general temperature is 6 degrees cooler compared to Seoul. One of the must-visit in Gangwon province would be Terra Rosa Cafe 테라로사 커피공장, where visitors can enjoy a “forest bath” together with quality coffee brews and perfectly baked goods!

Located right in the forest, this cafe is one of the biggest coffee brewers in Gangwon Province, with about 12 branches in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Busan and Jeju Island. It is also famed as one of the prettiest cafe in Gangwon Province. There’re indoor and terrace seating, a small bakery, a coffee roasting factory within the premise of the headquarter.

The cafe is extremely popular with the locals. It was a Monday afternoon with slight drizzling when I arrived and it was already packed with visitors. We decided to take the outdoor seat and ordered some coffee and cakes from the bakery. Since the cafe is located in the mountains the outdoor seats were quite cooling, it really lived up to the official Gangwon Tourism Organization’s campaign tagline: 6 degrees cooler during Summer.

My single origin Geisha Honduras El Puente (KRW 10,000)  was a beautiful brew brimming with a floral scent, sweetness from ripe melon and some refreshing orange peel aftertaste. One of the more complex and interesting coffee profile I have ever tasted.

Like many other indie cafes in Seoul, Terra Rosa produce fresh bakeries to go with their coffee. One of the head-turners was Mr. Lemington, a chocolate cake originated from Australia. The moist chocolate cake is coated with shaved coconut, the sweetness from the dark chocolate matches so well with my Geisha coffee.

The artisan bread was fluffy and packed with cranberries and walnut. It was a very filling bread I must say, a great selection for sharing.

Writer’s Note: Terra Rosa Headquarter has moved to its current location in July 2017, which is right beside the old location. The new space is decorated with new bricks and surrounded by a chestnut forest. I’ve yet to visit this place ever since they moved, but below are some of the photos I’ve found online for your information. The cafe is *extremely* popular, so it might look slightly different due to the busy crowd. If you prefer a quieter coffee time, I would suggest visiting this place early in the morning on a weekday.

A post shared by ?슈앤블랑 _handmade (@pinkladyya) on Aug 29, 2017 at 6:51pm PDT

A post shared by 으니 (@eeennn2) on Aug 29, 2017 at 11:58am PDT

Contact Details:

Directions:

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1. The First Kiss: Hagwon Farm

This beautiful, blossoming buckwheat farm is a secret hideout for dokkaebi (Kim Shin), and it is also the place where Eun Tak and dokkaebi had their first kiss! This lush buckwheat farm is located at Hagwon Farm 학원농장, the country’s largest buckwheat farm located in Gochang county. Expect to see rapeseed flower in spring, sunflowers in summer and cosmos in autumn.

Address:
Hagwon Farm, 119-2 Seondong-ri, Gongeum-myeon, Gochang, Jeollabuk-do.
학원농장, 전라북도 고창군 공음면 학원농장길 158-6

 

 

 

 

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피곤하긴 했는데 세상에! 한시까지 꿈속에서 놀았어요 . . . #감성쟁이으니 #가을여행 #메밀꽃 Photo by @penetrar_u

A post shared by 감성쟁이으니 (@jeongeun_jo) on Oct 5, 2018 at 9:51pm PDT

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by 전라북도 (@jeonbukstar) on Jul 29, 2019 at 12:38am PDT

2. The First Summon: Jumunjin Beach

During the 1st episode, Ji Eun Tak inadvertently summoned Kim Shin for the very first time when she blows the candles on her birthday cake at a beautiful seaside. She then was gifted demanded Kim Shin’s buckwheat flower bouquet as her birthday gift. The beautiful scenery of Jumunjin 주문진 has become a popular tourist site after the episode went on air. People are flocking to the beach for photos that you may now need to queue before taking your photos.

Address:
81-32 Gyohyang-ri, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwondo.
주문진, 강원도 강릉시 주문진읍 교항리 81-32

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by 27page (@___eun.ji___) on Oct 13, 2019 at 7:34am PDT

There was even a signpost that read “Muffler, flower and umbrella can be rented for KRW 1,000 each”, for visitors to recreate the drama scene. After much media attention, the signpost is nowhere to be seen.

 

A photo posted by KEVIN(JONGIN) PARK (@stoneheadboy) on Jan 4, 2017 at 6:47am PST

Apparently Jumunjin Beach has also become a popular K-pop destination after BTS filmed a photo in their album “You Never Walk Alone”. According to visitors, this place is so popular you might have to queue for your photos taken there.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ji Yeon 지연 (@bli2s_) on Aug 30, 2019 at 2:44am PDT

Jumunjin is also famous for its seafood dishes. Freshly steamed giant red crab (홍게), anyone? There are many good restaurants around the area, but Daeyoung Yoo Tong 대영유통 is the famous among all. I mean, look at that drumstick-look-alike crab craw, I am sure it is already making everyone salivate. Crabs eggs come in a dark green liquid form, and taste the best when fried together with rice.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by 대전 유성 봉명동 리턴청춘PT전문 (대전PT/유성PT) (@1st_returncc) on Aug 30, 2018 at 4:26am PDT

 

 

 

 

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Daeyoung Yoo Tong Crab House
312-341 Jumun-ri, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung, Kangwon-do, South Korea
대영유통, 강원도 강릉시 주문진읍 주문리 312-341.

3.The Church Summon: Mirinae Holy Site

“What a beautiful church!” This came up my mind when I saw this scene in the drama. Eun Tak finally found the way to summon Dokkaebi and chooses this venue to see her beau. This scene is filmed at Mirinae Holy Site 미리내 성지, located at Anseong, Gyeonggi-do. This church was built in 1986 and was famed as one of the best church to visit during autumn as it is surrounded by a thick autumn foliage.

Address:
420, Mirinaeseongji-ro, Yangseong-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do
456-932 경기도 안성 양성면 미리내성지로 420

4. Beautiful Night Walk: Cheongnaho Lake Park

Quite a few scenes were taken at Incheon, including this one, the Cheongnaho Lake Park 청라 호수공원 where the alcohol intoxicated Dokkaebi reveals his secret to Eun Tak. Surrounded by high-rise apartment, it is a perfect place to enjoy a romantic stroll at night.  

Address:
135 Cheongna Canal-ro, Seo-gu, Incheon.
인천 서구 청라커낼로 135

5. Eun Tak’s 2nd Part Time Job: Yongpyong Ski Resort

I was once again mesmerised by Korea’s snowscape at episode 9 when Eun Tak left Goblin’s place and started working at Pyeongchang-gun 평창군, a place famous for its ski resorts. Her arbiet (part-time job) was at Yongpyong Resort, one of the South Korean’s all-time-favourite ski resort. Pyeongchang is located at the north-eastern part of the country, which is considered the colder area in S.Korea. Expect to see an enchanted winter wonderland during winter, and enjoy the natural aircon here during summer.

Address:
715, Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
강원도 평창군 대관령면 올림픽로 715

6. Grim Reaper & Sunny’s Fated Encounter: Yeongdap Station Pedestrian Bridge

Team #JeoseungSunny would know this place best. The fated encounter between the eye candy couple is filmed at Yeongdap Station Pedestrian Bridge 용답역 육교. A place where you can get a glimpse of ordinary life of local commuters.

Address:
159, Salgoji-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. (Subway Line 2 Yongdap Station, Exit 2)
2호선 용답역 2번 출구. 서울시 살곶이길 성동구 159.

7. Goblin & Grim Reaper’s Home: Unhyeongung Yanggwan

The exquisite looking house where goblin and grim reapers stays is filmed at Unhyeongung Yanggwan (운현궁양관), or the Unhyeongung Western House, located within the Duksung Women’s University (Jongno Campus). It is currently listed under South Korean’s cultural property, hence it is unavailable for viewing. However, you may still access to the surroundings of the building via the main gate of the university.

Address:
464 Samil-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
운현궁양관, 서울시 종로구 삼일대로 464

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by @hoyul1052 on Jun 19, 2019 at 11:13pm PDT

8. Meeting For The First Time: Samcheongdong Doldamgil

All drama has its legendary, fated meeting-for-the-first-time between the protagonists. Eun Tak and Kim Shin’s was at Samcheongdong Doldamgil (삼청동 돌담길). There are many ways to reach Samcheongdong, and this doldamgil is located right at the usual route I would take to Samcheongdong. I like it because there are many things to see along the scenic route.

Address:
Taepyung-ro 1 ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Anguk Station Exit No.1)
서울시 종로구 태평대로 1가 

 

A photo posted by 김민희 (@chloechloekim) on Dec 26, 2016 at 6:08pm PST

9. The Accidental Summon: Mocca Bookstore

This yellow graffiti wall appeared in the drama where Eun Tak was blowing off the flames on her burnt squid snack and accidentally summoned the goblin. For those who’re wondering, this place is the same location where Kim Woo Bin filmed his Maxim coffee CF. It is called the Mocca Bookstore 모카책방 and was demolished after the filming. You may still see the graffiti at the location, though.

Address:
333-93 Seongsu-dong 2 ga, Seongdong Gu, Seoul. (Seongsu Station Exit No.4)
서울시 성동구 성수동 2가 333-93

 

A photo posted by 전농동 동아아파트 상가 102동 103호 (@moderneasy) on Sep 15, 2016 at 10:21pm PDT

10. Eun Tak’s School: Jungang Highschool

Eun Tak’s school is really beautiful, isn’t it? It is not a filming set, but a real, functioning high school located in Samcheongdong. I remembered visited the school a few times for model photo shoots, and the school looks exactly like what you saw in the drama. Visitors are not allowed during school hours, so be sure to come in a weekend.

Address:
Jungang Highschool, 164 Gye-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
중앙 고등학교, 서울시 종로구 계동 164

 

A photo posted by June Soo Park (@laetus83) on Dec 14, 2016 at 6:14am PST

11. The Library: Duksung Women’s University Library

Remember the scene where Kim Shin was annoyed by Eun Tak’s summoned to the school library? The location of all the library scenes was filmed in Duksung Women’s University Library. The library is open since 1955, with a collection of over 600 thousand books. The library also appeared in another popular drama “Reply 1988” (응답하라 1988).

Address:
114 Unni-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
덕성여자대학교, 서울시 종로구 운니동 114

12. Eun Tak’s Part Time Work Place: BBQ Olive Chicken

Ever wondered where was the small fried chicken restaurant where Eun Tak works as a part-timer? It is located at Gangnam! I haven’t tried their chicken at their new Olive Chicken Cafe, as I am always just a call away from my forever-love Kyochon. But if you’re all out for a Goblin themed trip, chicken and beer at Dae Cheong outlet is a must. Because nothing feels like Korea without fried chicken and beer.

Address:
687-2 Ilwon 1 dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
올리브치킨 대청점. 서울시 강남구 일원1동 687-2

13. A Place Full of Memories: Hanmi Bookstore

I really like this bookstore with the quirky yellow colour facade. It is actually a 2nd-hand bookstore located at a hipster area in Incheon. It is so real and beautiful, you may want to recreate your own Goblin drama scene, just like the Korean couple below. Have fun!

Address:
Hanmi Bookstore, 14-5 Geumgok-dong, Dong-gu, Incheon City, South Korea.
한미서점.인천시 동구 금곡동 14-5

 

A photo posted by 럽스타그램/데이트코스 (@subongpark) on Jan 1, 2017 at 5:17am PST

 

A photo posted by 럽스타그램/데이트코스 (@subongpark) on Jan 1, 2017 at 9:59pm PST

14. Fall in Love Again: Woljeongsa Temple

I was once again mesmerised by Korea’s snowscape at episode 9 when Eun Tak left Goblin’s place and started working at Pyeongchang-gun (평창군), a place famous for its ski resort. Look at the screen grabs again! The shots taken there are so magical, they make me want to brave the snowstorm and visit Pyeongchang right now. Many of the snow scenes were taken at Woljeongsa Temple 월정사, where its snowscape is known to be one of the best in South Korea. If you’re thinking of doing a temple stay during winter, I believe Woljeongsa is a good choice!

Address:
63-1 Woljeong-sa, Dongsan-ri, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwondo.
월정사, 오대산 강원도 평창군 진부면 동산리 63-1.

 

A photo posted by @itplace on Dec 27, 2016 at 1:30am PST

Important Notice: Please note that I have stopped updating all South Korea-related content published before 2020 on this blog. You may find all updated South Korea travel content at my dedicated, new travel site here: www.thecalmchronicle.com 

Introduction: Chuncheon 춘천

Chuncheon is the provincial capital city of Gangwon-do. It is a city surrounded by 3 lakes, namely Uiamho Lake, Chuncheon-ho Lake, and Songyang-ho Lake. Nestling among these beautiful and calm lakes and mountains, this city is usually foggy and misty. The numerous lakes in the region make it one of the best places in the country to do fishing, wind-surfing and all kinds of water sports. It is also a popular vacation destination in Korea.

Famous Tourist Attractions: 
Jade Garden (제이드가든)
Gugok Falls (구곡폭포)
Nami-Island (남이섬)
Gangchon (강촌)

Public Transportation to Chuncheon:

There are various ways to get to Chuncheon from Seoul.
By Subway: Travel from any line which is connected to the central line (중앙선) and alight at Chuncheon Station (춘천역).
By Bus: Buses come every 15 mins. at Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울 버스터미널)  from 6am-920pm. Travel time is about 1 hr 30 mins.
By Train: Train runs daily from Seoul Cheonyangni Station to Chuncheon Station from 525am-1020pm.

Chuncheon Speciality Dishes:

Dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken 닭갈비) is a must-eat if you are visiting Chuncheon.  It is a local speciality food made by stir-frying marinated diced chicken in chilli paste sauce, with cabbage, rice cakes, sweet potato, and perilla leaves on a hot plate. This particular dish is everywhere in Chuncheon. There is also a “dak-galbi street” in Chuncheon which has a high concentration of Dakgalbi restaurants.

Makguksu, another local speciality and a Chuncheon-Must-eat, is a traditional Korean buckwheat noodle served in chilled broth. The dish is seasoned with sugar, mustard, sesame oil and vinegar. It is originated from Gangwon-do.

Chuncheon: Summer Farm-stay Experience

Students in Korea, especially undergraduates enjoy (well, sometimes or most of the time forced to enjoy lol ) the fun of helping out at the farm in the rural areas during their summer break. Sometimes the trip is made compulsory by their school or seniors. Our 2d1n trip includes activities like picking tomatoes, making tofu and injeolmi (Korean traditional rice cake), barehanded trout fishing, campfire and etc.

First of all, let me introduce these floral patterned baggy pants, a common “fashion item” here in the rural areas of Korea. These baggy pants, the”moom-bbae baji” (몸빼바지),  often come with gaudy floral prints, were made famous to foreigners by the reality show <2 Days 1 Night>. Comfortable and stylish (?) kkkk, it is very popular in the rural area, especially for outdoor or farming activities.

Before we proceed to the activities, floral baggy pants were distributed to all participants. So this is a picture of us posing with the countryside pride, the moombbae baji. Did we carry the Kampong fashion well? kkkk Well, we kept getting compliments from the ajummas at the kitchen, so I guess it wasn’t that bad? ; p

Day 1 : 10 am – Making Korean Tofu

And so we were led to the kitchen for the tofu making workshop. The soybean was already on the table. We were told to cook the ground soybean to produce bean milk, and next pour the milk into a liner cloth to strain the milk and add in the tofu coagulant vinegar. Finally, press and shape the tofu. The procedure was pretty easy since we skipped the process of grinding and soaking the beans. We cut the tofu and ate it right away with the dipping sauce.

11 am – Picking Organic Cherry Tomatoes

After eating our tofu, we then began our journey to the cherry tomato orchards. Each of us was given one ziplock bag to pick our tomatoes. We were told that it was the last batch of the cherry tomatoes in the orchard as the summer is almost over. I didn’t expect much since the plants are already begun to rot until I took my first bite of the organic tomatoes, I became hooked. Such plump, sweet and juicy tomatoes!

One of our group mission was to make a commercial video promoting the cherry tomatoes and here it is! We spent about 10 minutes completing the whole ad.

By the way, if you are interested, it was an impromptu 28 seconds ad made possible by a smartphone app named “Snap Movie”. It comes with a decent selection of background music and filters which made it a simple and convenient app for short video making.  Just follow the instructions and you’ll make short videos of reasonable quality.

12 pm – Lunch at the Korean Countryside

Lunch was served right after we picked our tomatoes. The kitchen ajummas served us with utmost hospitality and kindness, their warm gestures were inviting. We were showered with abundant side dishes. Simple, hearty and fresh, everything on the dining table was a delightful combination.

Highlight: 2pm – 4pm – Hand Fishing Trout

The highlight of the day was catching trout barehanded. After lunch, we embarked on the quest to catch trout at a valley nearby. The mission was to catch 5 trouts, each about 8-10 inches long. Gosh, these water creatures are so sensitive to noise and movements and any single ripple you made while moving can scare them away. After a full episode of drama with 20 adults screaming for mama and running after the fast-moving fish in the valley, we finally managed to catch all 5 of them.

Fresh in the Valley

After a round of hard work chasing after the trouts, we went to refresh ourselves at the valley nearby the farmhouse. Valleys make an excellent place to cool off the summer heat. It is especially the case here in Korea. Here at the valley, you’ll see families having barbeque party here beside the valley. Kids were really happy splashing the crystal clear water, while adults chit-chatting over a bottle of soju or makgeolli.

6pm – Making Fusion Pizza

Soon enough we returned to the farmhouse and settled down at the fusion pizza workshop. The crust of the pizza is made of potatoes and the whole process does not require an oven!  Interesting enough but I still prefer pizzas from an oven.

7pm – Dinner at the Korean Countryside

Dinner was Bossam (Hardboiled pork) and the fusion pizza we made earlier, together with sweet potatoes, salad, sausage, zucchini pancake, Japchae (fry glass noodles with assorted vegetables), topped off with some sweet Korean rice wine (makgeolli) and soda.

930pm – Camp Fire + Fireworks

As soon as our stomachs filled up with the sumptuous meal, we gathered at the centre of the farmhouse, where a huge bonfire was already set up for the night. Sparklers were distributed and everybody seemed to enjoy the night beside the bonfire.

The 2nd round party began after dancing and playing games by the fire. Grilled trouts we caught earlier in the day were served. Surrounded by clean lakes and rivers, Chuncheon is known as a rich fishing ground for freshwater fish. The salt grilled trout did not disappoint us. It is a little milder but as flakey and tasty as salmon, and above all, the fish is extraordinarily fresh!

Day 2: 10 am – Making Injeolmi (Korean Rice Cake)

After breakfast at the dining hall, we return to the workshop to have some hands-on Injeolmi making experience. Injeolmi is a kind of Korean rice cake coated with finely grounded nuts powder, which is widely popular in the country.

Free Time Before Departure

The farm stay trip ended after the Injeolmi making workshop. Before bidding goodbye, the younger ones from the trip gather at the centre of the farmhouse for some games while the older  wiser ones gather for some casual chats.

It was a great chance to free my mind from the anxiety and stresses of daily life, especially since school is going to start in a week’s time! Looking at the endless line up of the picturesque mountains and watching the morning sun rise and swiftly melt away the morning mists was a one-of-a-kind experience in the farmhouse.

The above farmstay program is done at Wonpyeong Farmstay and costed KRW 80,000, including 1-night pension accommodation, 3 meals, campfire,  all tofu, fusion pizza, injeolmi making fees, cherry tomato farm entrance fee, and trout fishing fees.  

Disclaimer: This trip is sponsored by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). However, opinions are my own.

IMPORTANT UPDATES ON FARMSTAY BOOKINGS
(ENGLISH AVAILABLE): 

To many of you who are interested to do a farm stay in Chuncheon, I am very sorry that the farm I went is a full Korean environment. Many of you requested a farm that speak some English for easier communication and I have been searching high and low for it … but this have been a tough one.

HOWEVER, I have found one very good alternative. There is an organization arranging non-monetary exchange program between volunteers and farmers in Korea — The WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).

Basically, you sign up on the WWOOF website as a volunteer and select an organic farm to help out, and WWOOF will help to connect you and the host that will offer food and accommodation in return. (no money exchange at all, but you need to pay USD55 to become a member to be eligible for the exchange program.) Well, treat it as accommodation/ experience payment like you would pay for Airbnb. I have yet to try their service but I think this is a pretty good deal. Volunteer at the same time gaining experience at a farm! Read the reviews on their site to find out more.

Also please refer to their official site to know more about how the whole thing works!

WWOOF official website (Click Me) 
WWOOF Facebook