Relieve the romantic moments of your favorite TV dramas

The natural scenic beauty of Gangwon Province makes the province a superb setting for movies and dramas.



Indeed, a number of melodramas that were shot in province have become hot favorites with audiences abroad, attracting a growing number of foreign visitors to the region famous for its majestic mountains and pristine beaches.



Perhaps no single drama did more to boost the image of Gangwon Province than the hugely popular “Winter Sonata” which captured the winter scenery of the province at its best. The melodrama tracing the tangled love among high school friends starts out in Chuncheon, where the characters went to school.



Yu-jin (Choi Ji-woo) and Minhyeong (Bae Yong-joon) get to know each other in Jungdo, well known for its picturesque beauty.



Take a photo at the prehistoric settlement site, which is the first thing you will see upon arriving at Jungdo. Cycle leisurely on the extensive lakeside bicycle path or just sit and take in the sun by the lakeside.

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To get there

- Chuncheon (10 minutes by car, 30 minutes by walk) Jungdo Wharf (by boat) Jungdo

- Admission fee to Jungdo Amusement Park: 2,700 won (Includes the round-trip boat fare. The boat operates from 8:50 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

- Bicycle rental: Bike for one person costs 2,000 won for 30 minutes, 3,000 won for one hour. Bike for two persons costs 4,000 won for 30 minutes and 6,000 won for one hour.



Nami Island is where Yu-jin and Jun-sang have their first date. Their snow fight and first kiss also took place here. Enjoy a walk through the snow-covered Road of Redwoods lined with chestnut trees, white birches, gingko trees, maple trees and others.



Love Song (Yeon-ga) cafe is filled with the memories of “Winter Sonata.” Photos and autographs of the drama’s stars are on display. Memorabilia from the drama are also on sale here. The Nami Island Amusement Park features several old-fashioned rides including the mini train and merry-goround.



To get there

- Chuncheon (About 30 minutes by car) Gapyeong (About five minutes by car) Nami Island Wharf (About five minutes by boat) Nami Island

- Admission fee to Nami Island: 5,000 won (Includes the round-trip boat fare. The operates from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.) Yujin and Junsang are to meet at Myeong-dong in Chuncheon for New Year’s Eve.



The compact shopping district is filled with fashionable stores and boutiques offering the latest in fashion.



When in Chuncheon, be sure to taste the original Chuncheon barbeque chicken at the Chuncheon Barbeque Chicken District, linked by alleys to the glitzy Myeong-dong. The spicy barbeque chicken is cooked with all sorts of condiments, including sweet potatoes and rice cakes.



The Chuncheon Underground Shopping Center is as famous as its cousin above ground in Myeong-dong. This subterranean shopping center is located near the City Hall. Shops specializing in similar items are clustered here, making shopping a breeze.



Other tourist attractions in the vicinity of Chuncheon include Cheongpyeong Temple. A boat ride on Soyang Lake will take you to this Buddhist temple.



On the boat, enjoy the breathtaking mountain trail. Soyang Dam is better known as a beautiful lake than as a dam.



The Smelt Festival held every winter on the lake allows visitors to enjoy fishing on the frozen lake. Gongjicheon is famous for its mysterious misty dawns. When the dusk falls, pojangmacha, or tents and covered carts selling liquor and side dishes, spring up along Gongjicheon, offering a unique experience.



Another love story set in Gangwon Province in “Autumn in My Heart.” Jun-xi (Song

Seung-hun) and En-xi (Song Hae-gyo) spend the last days together in Hwajinpo, Goseong.



The lake at Hwajinpo is a world-famous wintering ground for migratory birds. In the fall, the field of reeds and thousands of migratory birds darkening the sky is a grand spectacle.



Along the lake there is a one kilometer stretch of bicycle trail. Another attraction in Hwajinpo is the summer country house of Kim Il-sung, former head of North Korea, located on the cliff above Hwajinpo seashore. The beautiful scenery of the beach seen from the stairway to the villa is spectacular. Inside the house, you can see the photo of Kim Jong-il, the current North Korean leader, as a young boy. The admission fee is 1,000 won.



The village of Abai, En-xi’s home, is where people from North Korea sought refugee during the Korean War. When they could not return home, they settled here permanently.



Authentic North Korean dishes such as cold noodles with raw fish, fermented flatfish and Abai sausage are the signature dishes unique to this area.



The ferryboat on which En-Xi and Jun-xi cross paths without recognizing each other is a unique boat that is linked and pulled on ropes. It is still used as a major means of transportation in this village which seems to have escaped the passing of time.



Sangwon Craft Shop, former an elementary school, was portrayed as the workshop of Junxi where Jun-xi and En-xi lived together. A ceramics artist lives here now, using the place as her workshop. She also runs a small cafe for the visitors who can buy cups featuring the photo of the two lovers, which they gave to each other as presents in the television drama. At the workshop, you can also make your own pottery for a truly memorable keepsake.



Samyang Pasturage in Daegwallyeong where En-xi and Jun-xi spent their honeymoon is the largest grassland pasturage in the country. It takes approximately two hours to just circle the pasturage by car. In the fall, the yellowish eulalia that covers the entire grassland is quite a scenery, presenting a striking picture against the vast blue sky.



Herb Nara, an herbal farm, is another attraction that you want to catch while in the area.



More than 100 types of herbs grow in the herbal garden and there is a restaurant specializing in herb dishes. Odae Mountain, unlike the majestic Seorak Mountain, has gentler features. Located in the national park are the forest of fir trees known as the “Forest for Sweethearts,” and Woljeong Temple, surrounded by the fir forest.



(khooran@heraldm.com)