Tour explores quiet beauty of Korea's countryside, blending history with healing
Somewhere between the soft strum of a guitar and the scent of old-fashioned snacks drifting down the aisle, the Retro Romantic Train Tour to the south-central region of the country pulls its passengers gently out of the present and back into Korea’s past. This vintage-themed rail journey, co-organized by the Korea Tourism Organization, Korail and seven cities and counties in South Chungcheong Province, offers more than transportation — it promises a rediscovery of regional charm through the lens of nostalgia.
Departing from Seoul Station, the train travels through key stops including Yeongdeungpo, Suwon and Cheonan before reaching its destination in the countryside. On board, passengers are treated to live acoustic music, accordion performances and classic games. Dressed in black-and-white school uniforms, some travelers pose for retro-style photo shoots while others join impromptu sing-alongs, creating the kind of communal atmosphere that’s become rare in modern travel.
The Retro Romantic Train Tour to Chungnam runs eight times between April and November, with tickets priced at 85,000 won ($59.63), including two meals and local city tours. With stops in Yesan, Seosan and other cultural hubs, the tour offers a chance to rediscover the countryside.
Upon arrival in Yesan, the journey takes a scenic turn. The town is home to Yedangho, Korea’s largest reservoir, where the country’s longest suspension bridge stretches 402 meters. Nearby, the Yedangho monorail, a mountaintop railcar that loops around the lake, offers a 22-minute ride that reveals changing scenery by day and dazzling themed lights by night.
A short drive from the reservoir leads to Sudeoksa Temple, nestled on the slopes of Deoksungsan . Visitors find a quiet beauty as monks sweep the temple grounds in the early morning light and new spring leaves flutter overhead. Sudeoksa’s main hall, Daeungjeon, dates back to 1308 and stands as one of Korea’s best-preserved wooden structures from the Goryeo Kingdom. With forest trails extending beyond the temple grounds, this historic site offers not only spiritual insight but also a deeply calming natural retreat.
Later in the day, the tour continues to Eunsung Apple Winery, an orchard estate with 6,000 trees. Founded by a Korean entrepreneur who was inspired by agritourism in Canada, the winery specializes in apple-based wines made exclusively from local apples. Visitors are invited to sample sparkling apple wines, including a rose made from red-fleshed Redlove apples, and even try their hand at baking apple pies in the on-site workshop. As apple blossoms blanket the surrounding fields in white, the experience feels equal parts tasting session and spring celebration.
Before leaving Yesan, travelers make a final stop at the town’s traditional market, where modern trends meet old-world charm. Recently renovated, the market now hosts nearly 100 vendors, with many young entrepreneurs joining longtime shopkeepers to offer regional dishes like handmade noodles and spicy beef soup. Strings of drying noodles sway in the wind -- a subtle but enduring symbol of local life.
The tour to Seosan, another beautiful city in South Chungcheong Province, includes a stop at the House of Yu Gibang, a well-preserved hanok estate surrounded by pine trees and daffodil fields. The location has served as a filming site for popular dramas such as tvN’s “Mr. Sunshine,” and provides a peaceful, cinematic ambiance that invites slow walking and quiet reflection.
Further along the coast is the Ganworam Hermitage. Built by a Buddhist monk who was an advisor to King Taejo (1335-1408), founder of the Joseon Kingdom, this small temple becomes an island at high tide and reconnects to the mainland only when the sea recedes.
Another stop is the Haemieupseong Fortress, a stone-walled town dating back to 1491. Once a site where Catholics were persecuted during the Joseon era, it remains a solemn memorial and historical park. Within the fortress walls, visitors can explore old prison cells, towering gates and the massive tree once used to bind and punish those accused of religious crimes. The location gained global attention when the late Pope Francis visited in 2014, further cementing its place in Korea’s spiritual and political history.
yoohong@heraldcorp.com
