Water, Nature, and Humankind

Inseori Park

• Turn daily routine into art

  If you want to feel the energy of spring ahead of others, go to Inseori Park where traditional Korean houses called hanok in various sizes located in Gwangyang-eup, Gwangyang City have been reinterpreted. The park has lovely stories to tell about different individual spaces.
  
  As soon as you get to the entrance, you will see two buildings of very contrasting styles. The gray building straight in front of you is the gallery and the hanok on your right is a café.
  
  An abandoned storage has been remodeled into a gallery named “Banchanggo,” where works of local artists feature their sophisticated sense of art. Themed “a Delightful Spring,” the exhibition seeks to get a message of consolation across to all those who have survived the harsh winter. The exhibition runs until April 30.
  
  Café Aat serves food and wine as well as drinks. If you want to enjoy them in the peaceful setting of a hanok, you are advised to take a seat on the toenmaru, a long wooden porch running along the outside of the room. Please be sure to visit all of the different places including the food market and the art shop that are scattered across. You can view artworks of local artists and check out goods that make for great souvenirs.
  
  Instead of simply viewing art, you can turn your daily routine into art as you get hands-on experiences. Art Market or art classes are held on an as-needed basis, and you can stay at a hanok for a day in the life of an Inseo-ri villager. For a hanok stay, you have three options to choose from: Hoegyeongdang, a hip hanok reinterpreted in a contemporary design; the House of Yerin, a modern-style hanok; and Dagyeongdang, a recreated 100-year-old hanok. Choose a hanok that best suits your preferences.

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Gwangyang Wine Cave

The aroma of wine permeates the mysterious cave.

Gwangyang Wine Cave was filled with the unpleasant smell of steel until 1987. Steel freight was transported for 70 years from 1913 through this cave, which was a tunnel back then. The tunnel was closed as a result of the Gwangyang Steelworks Line improvement project and was later turned into Gwangyang Wine Cave, a cultural space for enjoying wine.

As soon as you step into the cave, you will see the origin and history of wine engraved on the wall in relievo. Moving past the relievo, you will get to the Tunnel of Magical Lights and the trick art photo zone that allows visitors to have eye-deceiving, fun experiences according to the changing angles. You can also make romantic memories while taking in the relaxing aroma of wine in the wine café and enjoying the foot bath area.

If you want to look deeper into the world of wine, you can sign up for the experience programs. In the apricot wine-making class, you can learn all about how wine is made and fermented. You can also make your own one-of-a-kind wine using apricots, a local specialty item of Gwangyang. You must make prior reservations for these programs. If you are interested, please be sure to sign up in advance on the website.

It takes around 2 hours to look around the entire Gwangyang Wine Cave. If you want to taste the wine after touring the cave, you can stop by the wine store on your way out and buy a bottle of wine.

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Seomjingang Starlight Sky

The dream ride over Seomjingang River

Seomjingang Starlight Sky that connects Mangdeoksan Mountain and Baealdo waterfront park is emerging as a new landmark of Gwangyang. The two locations are connected by a zip wire, making the place a hot spot filled with screams all day long.

You have to climb up a fairly steep slope to get to the zip wire platform located 197m above sea level. Fortunately, a mono rail is in operation. The mono rail starts at Mangdeok Port and runs every 20minutes starting at 10am. As the train climbs up, a fascinating landscape unfolds before your eyes. You will find yourself arriving at the platform in no time as you enjoy the view. Waiting to depart on the zip wire, you grow increasingly excited as your eyes catch the romantic view of the glittering waves on Seomjingang River, islands that are scattered across the sea, and Admiral Yi Sun-sin Bridge. Then, you are ready to go on a dream ride. You take a deep breath and get your feet off to start a thrilling ride. The zip wire starts from Mangdeoksan Mountain and runs 898m through the Start-Counting Bridge, Baealdo Islet Garden, and Haemaji Bridge to the waterfront park. The zip wire ride relieves stress in a flash.

Although a shuttle runs from Baealdo Waterfront Park—the zip wire destination to the ticket office—it is also a good idea to walk when the weather is good since it is only 20minutes away on foot.

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