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Where do Koreans go for an autumn picnic?
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Where do Koreans go for an autumn picnic?
Writer: Daeho Park, Jiyoung Kang
Researcher: Yul Jun
Editor: Sunny Um
Senior Editor: Regine Armann
Editor-in-Chief: Fred McNulty
Illustrator: Ah-young Kim
After Chuseok (추석), as the wind gets cooler, many Koreans go on picnics near the mountains and rivers. There are also a lot of festivals scheduled in October, including Halloween. In this issue, we will find out what places Koreans travel to before the season's change and winter comes.
Mountains
Palgongsan Mountain (팔공산, 1,193m tall)
Palgongsan Mountain, located in Daegu (대구), surrounds the northeast of Daegu like a barrier and extends from east to west. From Gwanbong Peak (관봉, 850 m) to the east, Chilgok-gun (칠곡군), it forms a mountain range of about 30 km, and stretches out over an extended area that includes one metropolitan city, one city, and two counties.
The hike along the 30-km main ridge is not easy to do in a day. If you need a break, there are Seobong Peak (서봉) or Hantijae Pass (한티재길), which also has a rest area. However, setting up camp at Seobong Peak will take you about 6 hours from the Gatbawi district (갓바위). The name Gatbawi refers to a large and wide rock that is above the head of a stone Buddha because it looks like a hat (갓) that was commonly worn during the Joseon Dynasty. Tens of thousands of people visit this Buddha statue every year to pray for good fortune. In addition, Palgongsan Mountain was the place where the life of Goryeo (고려)’s founder, Wang Geon (왕건), was saved during the battle with Hubaekje (후백제). Before the battle, the mountain was named Gongsan (공산). Wang Geon's friend, Shin Sung Gyeon (신숭겸), dressed up as Wang Geon and distracted the enemy's army so that Wang Geon could escape. Wang Geon lost eight of his friends and generals including Shin during this battle, and therefore renamed the mountain—Palgong means “eight loyal friends”—after he had unified the three kingdoms and established Goryeo.
Mudeungsan Mountain (무등산, 1,187m)
Mudeungsan Mountain is a famous mountain in Jeollanam-do (전라남도) that represents Gwangju (광주). It was designated as a provincial national park in 1972. Mudeungsan has beautiful natural scenery, such as azaleas in spring, magnolia in summer, autumnal foliage, and a snowy landscape in winter. Mudeungsan National Park spans across Gwangju Metropolitan City (Buk-gu, Dong-gu) and Jeollanam-do (Damyang and Hwasun-gun) (담양과 화순군). It features famous rock formations such as Gyubong Peak (규봉), Ipseokdae Peak (입석대), and Seoseokdae Peak (서석대), and temples such as Jeungsimsa (증심사), Wonhyosa (원효사), and Yaksasa (약사사) are located in this area as well. Ipseokdae, Seoseokdae, and Gwangseokdae are known as the three best views of Mudeungsan Mountain.
The Mudeungsan Mountain hiking course is the most popular one, starting from the downtown area, which is convenient in terms of transportation. Starting from Jeungsimsa Temple, it takes 5 hours to pass Jungmeorijae, Jangbuljae, Seoseokdae, Ipseokdae, Gyubongam, and Gomakjae, and then arrive at Wonhyosa Valley.
Surisan Mountain (수리산, 469m)
The Surisan Mountain range covers Anyang (안양), Gunpo (군포), and Ansan (안산), and also extends to Siheung (시흥), Suwon (수원), Seoul (서울), Bucheon (부천), and Incheon (인천). There is a theory about the origin of the name of the mountain: allegedly, it followed the name of Surisa Temple, which was founded during the era of King Jinheung (진흥왕) of Silla (신라). There are many rest areas and amusement facilities at the foot of the mountain.
The trail goes around Gwanmobong Peak (관모봉) to the east and Taeeulbong Peak (태을봉), and Seulgibong Peak (슬지봉) at the southern peak, and passes through Suambong Peak (수암봉) to the southwest. Suambong Peak is the lowest of the four main peaks, but from the Ansan side, it looks like an eagle with wings, and therefore provides an excellent view. The panorama is dominated by the Suri Tunnel (수리터널) to the east, the main peak (Taeeulbong Peakm 태을봉), Gwanaksan Mountain (관악산), and, on the other side of the ridge, Seulgibong Peak (슬기봉).
Seodaesan Mountain (서대산, 904m)
Seodaesan Mountain is the highest mountain in Chungnam (충남). Gyeryongsan Mountain (계룡산, 845 m) , Oseosan Mountain (오서산, 791 m) , and Jinaksan Mountain (진악산, 732 m) are the second, third, and fourth highest mountains, respectively. The mountain rises like a fire and stands out in the suburbs of Daejeon (대전), northeastern Chungcheongnam-do (충청남도), and southwestern Chungcheongbuk-do (충청북도). Rock tombs with sheer cliffs and rocks with strange formations are spread out like a fan throughout the rugged mountain.
Seodaesan Mountain used to be the boundary between the kingdoms of Silla and Baekje (백제) before a unified Korea existed. Therefore, there are traces of old fortress sites and beacon stations throughout the mountain. During the Donghak Revolution (동학농민운동), an army of peasants hid here, and after the Korean War, partisans from Geumsan (금산), Okcheon (옥천), and Muju (무주) used it as a hideout to attack police stations and county offices. There are many tombs at the top of the rocks of Seodaesan Mountain as well as at the top of the cliff. Local natives say it is the tomb of the police who were killed during the Korean War.
Fall Festivals
Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival
Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival (진주 남강유등축제) is a popular light festival that has been celebrated since 2000. “Yudeung'' refers to lamps that are lit with oil. Its history starts from the Battle of Jinjuseong (진수성 전투) during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592 (임진왜란). When the enemy tried to cross the river during the battle, it was the Yudeung that people threw on the river to stop them from invading. Following this tradition, various exhibitions and events using Yudeung are being held during this festival.
Although most activities at this event start during the day, the moment that all visitors wait for begins after dark. Writing wishes on Yudeung, lighting the lamps, and letting them float into the Namgang River (남강) is the biggest highlight of this festival. Visitors of all ages are welcome to join and enjoy.
Itaewon Global Village Festival
In Itaewon, Yongsan-gu (이태원, 용산구), a large-scale outdoor festival will be held for the first time in 3 years since the onset of the pandemic. It is known as the Itaewon Global Village Festival (이태원 지구촌 축제) that gathers more than 1 million visitors, both domestically and internationally, to participate and enjoy the festivities every year. In 2022, events with various themes such as a global street parade, a world food festival, and DJ parties will be held from October 15th to 16th.
The highlight of this event is the “global street parade”. A large group of people who perform in the parade make a long march all the way from Hangangjin Station (한강진역) to Noksapyeong Station (녹사평역), around 1.4 kilometers.
Festivals related to Halloween
This year, around 100 famous TikTokkers with a collective total of 10 million views will gather to join Korea’s most representative Halloween party: “World Creators’ Halloween”. (월드 크리에이터스 할로윈) This event will be held in the Rose Garden area at Everland Theme Park (에버랜드 로즈가든) on October 9th, which is also known as “Hangul Day” (한글날). As it is the first event introduced by Everland this year, it is designed to let all influencers and visitors join the creepy yet unique celebration of Halloween both online and offline. The influencers who are invited to this event are the ones who are most active on TikTok, including Expedition Man (원정맨, South Korea, 47.9 million followers) and Homa (Kazakhstan, 44.8 million followers).
The official advertising video posted on Youtube and Instagram has been getting a lot of attention since its release. On the day of the event, various photo zones decorated with the theme of Halloween will be installed, and performances of celebrities will be taking place. Additionally, online events, which include uploading or commenting on videos, will also be prepared in order to offer free tickets to visitors as prizes. Meanwhile, in Everland, additional events and content to celebrate Halloween are being prepared.
This fall, the TBWA Junior Board (TBWA 주니어보드), a university student educational program of TBWA Korea, a global independent advertising company, challenges the transformation of the National Museum of Korea. The project consists of different events: three performances celebrating Halloween, the main theme of all performances is consistent throughout; horror and ghosts.
The main purpose of operating this event is to come up with solutions that can increase the number of young people who visit the museum. The special feature of this new event is that it is totally designed based on the ideas, scenarios, and interpretations of university students.
Outro
October is the month for travel and festivals in Korea, as the weather begins to cool down after the long summer. Halloween is the biggest festival in recent years, but other than that, each region has a colorful festival with a long history. October is a great opportunity to see and learn about Korea's beauty in the mountains and its traditions at various local festivals.
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