<Gwangju Mangweolsa>

The Sad Stories of the Temples of Dongmun

Namhansanseong is a great place for autumn excursions. We can see the stone tower of Tower Park, which is said to have been built by an old man, at the end of Dongmun, which is connected to Road No. 308. The wind rose in the thick forests, and leaves fell like rain. Sanseong is such a great place for an excursion to see maple leaves in autumn. I moved from Namhansanseong Rotary to Dongmun, and turned left to go to Mangweolsa and Janggyeongsa.

It is said that Janggyeongsa was built by Geumdanseonsa to pray for a mother and a son who died miserably, and that the stone tower of Mangweolsa was built by a lady who failed to marry the one she loved, and so pursued Buddhist values for the rest of her life. Two temples with sad legends are located near Dongmun of Namhansanseong.

Mangweolsa with the Sad Love Story
Mangweolsa is magnificent. The temple is located on the foot of a steep mountain. It is like a gallery in a mountain, as the large windows of Daewungjeon reflect the autumn scenery and the newly built stone tower. There are Geungrakbojeon and large-scale Daewungbojeon at the back. We can see the castle of Dongmun from Daewungbojeon. Jeokmyeolbogung Tower in the yard of Daewungjeon and Mountain Byeongpung are popular among visitors of Mangweolsa. The stone tower symbolizes the story of the hopeless love of a lady.

There was a couple that loved each other so much, but they had to break up because their families became sworn brothers. The lady failed to forget her lover, and decided to take the veil. She came to Mangweolsa, and laid down stones whenever she missed her lover, ultimately building a tower. Meanwhile, her lover came to Janggyeongsa, the temple located on the opposite side of Mangweolsa, after breaking up with his lover, and studied Buddhism. In order to renounce worldly desires, he took a walk around the temple. He saw and saved a lady who had fallen while building a tower. Surprisingly, she was his lover from long ago. He asked Gongyangju Bosal to take care of her and went back to Janggyeongsa. A few days later, he visited her again, and heard the story of her over the wall. He wanted to see her smile, but he decided to enter the Buddhist priesthood that night. She recovered, and returned to Mangweolsa, not knowing anything. She continued to build the tower, waiting for her lover who would not come back.

The story reminded me of the essay of Pi Cheon-Deuk. “We miss someone for life, but life separates lovers. I have met Asako three times. I regret the third meeting with her. I am going to Chuncheon this weekend, and the autumn scenery of Soyang River will be beautiful.”

The legend of Mangweolsa is as sad as the essay of Pi Cheon-Deuk.

[Tourist Information]
Monument No. 111, Gyeonggi-do
Gaewonsa, Mangweolsa and Janggyeongsa are the oldest temples remain among nine temples of Namhansanseong. Sites of other temples remain, and Mangweolsa has been newly built on the old site since 1990.

◆ Location
Research Keyword: Namhansanseong Mangweolsa
Address: 14 Sanseong-ri, jungbu-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province
By Car: Namhansanseong Rotary → Go to the direction of Dongmun → Turn left when Dongmun appears → Go up the hill to get to Mangweolsa
Yangjae IC of Gyeongbu Expressway → Heolleungro → Segokdong Sageori → Yakjinro → Sanseong Tunnel → Jungng Parking Lot → Go to the direction of Dongmun → Turn left in front of Dongmun → Mangweolsa

Public Transportation: Get off at the final stop of Sanseong and walk to the direction of Dongmun until there is a sign.
No. 9: Sanseong Rotary
No. 15-1: Gwangjiwon Jungbu Myeon Office  Sanseong Rotary (intervals of 30 minutes)
No. 52: Sanseong Rotary  Nammun  Sanseong Station  Jonghap Market  Moran  Sangdaewon (intervals of 50 minutes)

◆ Adjacent Tourist Destinations
Namhansanseong, Namhansanseonghaenggung, Chimguaejeong, Jisudang, Hyeonjeolsa, Janggyeongsa, Catholic Site of Namhansanseong and Namhansanseong Historic Museum

The Best Mountain in the North of Hangang (River)

Soyosan of Dongducheon

It is autumn with cold air, the blue sky and mountains tinged with red. It is great to go to see the scarlet maple leaves in this season of reading and the season of high sky and stout horses.

Sogeumgang of Gyeonggi-do
Soyosan (587m) is called Sogeumgang of Gyeonggi-do. It was early morning, but the mountain was already crowded with visitors who came from across the nation. It took ten minutes from the parking lot of Soyosan to Iljumun on foot. The path to Iljumun was a great course to enjoy the autumn scenery of the mountain. There were fallen leaves on the path, the messenger of the autumn.

Soyosan is located in Soyo-dong, Dongducheon, Gyeonggi-do, and is well known as the best mountain in the north of Hangang. Although it is a small mountain, it has a unique shape and the exceptionally beautiful maple leaves, being nicknamed as Sogeumgang of Gyeongg-do. It is also well known among the Buddhists, as Wonhyodaesa found great illumination in the mountain. There are famous tourist attractions such as Jajaeam (small temple) and Wonhyo Waterfall. As there is a spacious parking lot under the mountain, it has gained popularity as a destination for one-day trip of residents of Seoul Metropolitan areas.

There Are No Clothes of Seonnye in Seonnyetang
We can go up to the mountain via full-scale mountain passes after passing Iljumun. There was Wonhyo Waterfall with the wonderful sound of falling water right by the pass. About ten minutes’ walk brought me to the pass to Jajaeam. As the very place where Wonhyodaesa had great illumination, Jajaeam has a unique atmosphere. Visitors can feel the depth of mortification amid the tranquil atmosphere at Jajaeam. There was Cheongryang Waterfall, an ideal place to take a rest before going up the mountain to see the beautiful maple leaves.

A few minutes’ walk to the direction of Habaekwundae brought me to the path to Seonnyeotang. The concealed hiding place provided the ideal setting to feel the solitude of autumn, and I could hear the loud sound of footstep on rustling fallen leaves. There were many rocks on a steep slope, but it was a great path where we can enjoy the scenic beauty of the mountain. Finally, Seonnyeotang burst into view. It was a long, narrow pond with the width of 1m, and there were two or three terraced puddles. A friend who accompanied me said, “There are no clothes of Seonnyeo in Seonnyeotang,” and my tiredness disappeared.

From Kalbawi to Uisangdae via Nahandae
There was the two-way junction to Jungbaekwundae and Kalbawi. I decided to take the shortcut to Kalbawi. It was a steep slope to cross the gorge of the mountain, but it was not so hard to climb up the path thanks to the wonderful view. It was not a high mountain, but there were six peaks covered with fantastic rocks, which were not easily achievable. I was short of breath and steps slowed down. I was all in sweat but the mountain breeze was cool. Finally, the end of the shortcut between Sangbaekwundae and Kalbawi appeared, and I continued climbing up the mountain. Many stones were telling that I was going close to Kalbawi. The stones were narrow and horizontally long. The pass covered with rocks required me to take steps carefully. After passing Kalbawi, a gentle slope to Nahandae appeared. I could see the sea of clouds through the trees. The City of Dongducheon was covered with a sea of clouds, and I had an illusion that I was going up a mountain in a remote place. I quickened my step to go to Nahandae and enjoy a beautiful view. The clouds were even more beautiful at the rock of Nahandae. I felt like stepping on the clouds. Uisangdae also offered a superb view. There was a perfect harmony of diverse shapes of stones and rocks, scarlet maple leaves and white clouds at Uisangdae.

Looking Back on Life
When we are in downtown, it is difficult to fully enjoy the beauty and the wonders of the nature. Fully encountering with the wonders of the nature allows us to realize the value of the nature and respect it. We cannot fully realize what it means to have the nature without walking in the unspoiled nature.

It took about 20 minutes from Nahandae to Uisangdae. The top of the mountain was covered with fantastic rocks and stones, offering a scenic spot perfect for having lunch. Looking back on the way to the top, it took less than two hours. The path of Soyosan (Mt.) was just as great as that of famous mountains. There were a rocky path, steep and gentle slops, and peaks with fantastic rocks. The deep valleys were desolate, showing the depth of mortification of Wonhyodaesa.

[Mountain Pass]
Course 1: Office → Habaekwundae → Jungbaekwundae → Seonnyeotang → Office (One a half hours)
Course 2: Office → Habaekwundae → Jungbaekwundae → Sangbaekwundae → Well → Office (Two and a half hours)
Course 3: Office → Habaekwundae → Jungbaewundae → Sangbaewundae → Nahandae → Geumsonggol → Office (3 hours)
Course 4: Office → Habaekwundae → Jungbaekwundae → Sangbaewundae → Nahandae → Uisangdae → Office (3 and a half hours)
Course 5: Office → Habaewundae → Jungbaekwundae → Sangbaekwundae → Nahandae → Uisangdae → Gongjubong → Office (4 hours)

[Tourist Information] 
Admission Fee: KRW 2,000 per adult, KRW 1,200 per soldier and student, and KRW 650 for minor
Contact: 031-860-2065

◆ Location
Search Keyword: Soyosan
Address: Sangbongam-dong, Dongducheon, Gyeonggi-do
By Car
Parking fees – KRW 2,000 for small vehicles, KRW 3,000 for mid-sized vehicles and KRW 5,000 for large vehicles
National Road No. 3  25km from Uijeongbu  Seoul   Uijeongbu  National Road No. 3  Dongducheon City  National Road No. 3 bound for Jeongok  5.3km  Turn right at Soyo-dong  400m  Soyosan Parking Lot
Uijeongbu IC of Seoul Ring Expressway  Turn left to the direction of Uijeongbu (distance: 30km)  Turn left at Jangam Jugong Samgeori to the direction of Yangju (distance: 26km)  Singok Underground Passage   Turn left at Geumo Sageori to the direction of Yangju and Goyang (distance: 23km)  Turn right at the intersection of Yangju City Hall to the direction of Dongducheon (distance: 19km)  Turn left at Songnae Samgeori to the direction of Yangju (distance: 9.5km)  Go straight with the stream on the left side  Turn right at Sangpaegyo Sageori (distance: 4km)  Turn left at the first three-way junction to the direction of Soyosan  Turn right at Soyosan Sageori  Soyosan
Songchu IC of Seoul Ring Expressway  Turn right to the direction of Ilyeong (distance: 31km)  Turn right at Songchu Checkpoint Samgeori of National Road No. 39 to the direction of Uijeongbu (distance: 18km)  Turn left at Gyeongmin Square of Uijeongbu to the direction of the Court and the Prosecutor’s Office (National Road No. 39)  Underground Passage  Turn left at Nokyang Sageori to the direction of Dongducheon (distance: 21km)  National Road No. 3 Turn right at Sangpaegyo Sageori (distance: 4km)  Turn left at the first three-way junction to the direction of Soyosan  Turn right at Soyosan Sageori  Soyosan

Public Transportation
By Subway:
Soyosan Subway Station, Subway Line No. 1 >> 10 minutes’ walk
By Bus:
Suyu Station, Subway Line No. 4  Bus No. 36, 39, 136 and 139  Soyosan Stop
  
◆ Adjacent Tourist Destinations: Sinbuk Spa Fantasium, Herb Island, Sanjeonghosu (Lake), Myeongseongsan, Ildong Spa, the Garden of Morning Calm, Namhangang Driveway and Korea Film Council in Namyangju

Beautiful Station and Amusement Park Filled with Great Memories

<Ilyeong Station and Ilyeong Amusement Park, Yangju>

The main characters (played by Jeon Ji-Hyeon and Cha Tae-Hyeon) in the film “My Sassy Girl” say their good-byes at a beautiful, quiet train station after burying a time capsule together. The station is Ilyeong Station, in Yangju.

With Seoul Ring Expressway fully opened, we can now visit Ilyeong Train Station and Ilyeong Amusement Park more easily. A short trip from Songchu IC of Seoul Ring Expressway will bring us to Ilyeong Station and Ilyeong Amusement Park, via National Road No. 39 and Local Road No. 349.

Ilyeong Station is a small train station located between Byeokje Station and Jangheung Station on Seoul Suburban Line, which started operation on July 10, 1961. Local residents would take the trains every morning to go to work or school, couples and families would enjoy day trips, and university students would enjoy overnight barbecue parties. As more roads were built in the Seoul suburban areas, the number of passengers decreased, eventually resulting in the suspension of passenger trains in 2004.

It is just a closed train station with one station building and an outdoor waiting area, but it give visitors a chance to walk along the railway tracks and enjoy a romantic trip to a quiet, tranquil place. It is quite popular among amateur photographers, and is also a recommended tourist destination for couples and families.

Ilyeong Station is located adjacent to Seoul and the Seoul Metropolitan Area, and the adjacent Ilyeong Amusement Park and Jangheung Tourist Park feature a wide range of great restaurants, beautiful cafes, and museums, as well as Songam Observatory and numerous historic sites.

We can visit Ilyeong Amusement Park, which is located along the curvy streams of Gongneungcheon, by crossing Local Road No. 349 from Ilyeong Station. Facilities such as soccer fields, kickball fields, restaurants, basketball courts and pools are located at both sides of the stream at regular intervals.

Ilyeong Amusement Park Driveway leads us to the deep mountain villages along Gongneungcheon, and it is a solitary driving course where we can see streams and forests. The driveway is connected with National Road No. 39, and then divides into the roads bound for Goyang and Uijeongbu.

As Ilyeong Amusement Park is located in the Green Belt Area, we cannot see large-scale resorts featuring cutting-edge facilities near the Park. Instead, we can see the forests and streams in the raw. We can have dinner at the tables along the riverside, and dip our feet in Gongneungcheon and enjoy tubing, enjoying the atmosphere of an old-style resort.

As the Park is located near Seoul and has spacious playgrounds and parking spaces, it has gained popularity as a perfect spot for training, company excursions and workshops. There are also a large outdoor pool and a boat pool in the Park. 

Name	Yangju Ilyeong Station and Ilyeong Amusement Park
Address	Ilyeong Station: 327 Samsang-ri, Jangheung-myeon, Yangju, Gyoenggi-do Ilyeong Amusement Park: Samsang-ri, Jangheung-myeon, Yangju, Gyeonggi-do
Contact (Website)	Ilyeong Station (031)855-5582  Culture & Tourism Division, Yangju City Office (031)820-2122  Website with Information on Ilyeong Amusement Park www.pink.co.kr/ilyeong.htm
Location (Information of Nearest National Road and Expressway)	By Car * Songchu IC of Seoul Ring Expressway → National Road No. 39 (bound for Goyang, Byeokje and Jangheung) Turn left and go straight for 3km → Local Road No. 349 (bound for Gupabal) Turn left and go straight for 2km à Samsung Elementary School → Turn right and head in the direction of Ilyeong Station   * Gupabal Samgeori → Go straight for less than 1km in the direction of Bukhansanseong à Take Local Road No. 349 on the left à Go straight for 6~7km → Ilyeong Amusement Park will appear on the right side   * Euijeingbu, National Road No. 39 (bound for Goyang) → Jangheung-myeon, Yangju, Local Road No. 349 (bound for Gupabal) Turn left and go straight for 2km à Samsung Elementary School → Turn right and head in the direction of Ilyeong Station * Goyang, Natinal Road No. 39 (bound for Euijeongbu) → Jangheung-myeon, Jangju → Turn right at Local Road No. 349 (bound for Gupabal) → Go straight for 2km à Samsang Elementary School → Turn right and head in the direction of Ilyeong Station   Public Transportation * Bulgwang-dong Bus Terminal ↔ Get on Bus No. 360 at Euijeongbu Terminal à Get off at Ilyeong Amusement Park and Ilyeong Station   * Gupabal Subway Station, Subway Line No. 3 → Get on Bus No. 15, 15-1, 7725 and 360 à Get off at Ilyeong Amusement Park and Ilyeong Station
Facility Overview	Ilyeong Station: One station building Ilyeong Amusement Park: Over 30 spots located along Gongneungcheon
History	Ilyeong Station July 10, 1961: Launched operation December 21, 1961: Completed construction of the station building August 20, 1963: Completed the entire Seoul Suburban Line August 21, 1994: Launched operation of the steam train (Mugungwha Train) May 16, 2000: Suspended operation of the steam train April 1, 2004: Suspended operation of the passenger train
Descriptions (Fact-Based Characteristics)	Ilyeong Station: The station provides the tranquil and quiet atmosphere of a closed train station. Visitors can walk along the railway tracks.   Ilyeong Amusement Park: Visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of an old-style amusement park. The Park is ideal for group gatherings. It is recommended to travel by car, as the Park is located in a secluded village near Gongneungcheon.
Tips for Visitors	Outdoor pool (Sinheung Leisure Town) and boat pool (88 Boat Pool) are located in the Park.  * Admission fee for pool: KRW 12,000 per adult and KRW 10,000 per child
Operating (Opening) Hours	Ilyeong Station: open 24 hours Ilyeong Amusement Park: No fixed operating hours
Admission (Accommodation) Fees	Ilyeong Station: Free Ilyeong Amusement Park: Free admission. Accommodation fees and meal expenses may differ by pension and restaurant
Adjacent Tourist Destinations	Jangheung Tourist Destination, Bamnamu Park, Jangheung Folk Museium, Jangheung Art Park, Songam Observatory and Olleung
Accommodation	Most of the stores operate cottages. A guesthouse, Star House, is located at Songam Observatory in Jangheung Tourist Destination.
Restaurant Options	Restaurants serving traditional chicken dishes, fish soup, duck dishes, pork barbecue, acorn-starch jelly and mountain herbs bibimbap are located in the Park.