Gosam Reservoir of Jang Seok-Ju

From Baudelaire the poet to Walter Benjamin the philosopher and Phillipe Sollers the writer, many deep thinkers have enjoyed taking walks. The well-known Korean poet, critic and self-confessed bookworm Jang Seok-Ju also emphasizes the value of walks.

It has been ten years since Jang Seok-Ju lived in Anseong. He decided to live in Anseong because it was the home of writers Park Du-Jin and Cho Byeong-Hwa, who had been judges when he was selected at the literary contest in spring in 1979. There are two white houses in the deep mountain by Gosamhosu (Lake). One holds tall bookcases packed with over 15,000 books, and the other is the place where he lives with his parents. He said, “I walk a lot. I like slowness and emptiness.”

He added, “I like to walk, and walks are important. Human ideas become mature while people walk. Let’s see. The sole of the foot is closely connected to the brain. The sole stimulates our brains. How can we stimulate the sole without walking? When we do not walk, our brains forget the existence of our bodies. That is why I walk when I am at a loss for words. Walking unites our body, our mind and the world. It completes me in the world.”

The poet nature of his words makes walking almost sound like a divine behavior. He said, “The body, the mind and the world, which had been separated, are finally united by walking. I feel as if I am returning to myself. Walks give energy, and release tension.”

He also added, “I walk around the house, and often walk near Gosam Reservoir after driving for 20 or 30 minutes. There is Mirinae Seongji, and the mountain path of the reservoir is great. As the path is surrounded by mountains, it is easy to climb up Seoulsan (Mt.), Chaeyeonsan (Mt.), Cheongryongsan (Mt.) and Seongnamsan (Mt.). I walk for one to one and a half hours without a break.”

The attractiveness of Gosam Reservoir was highlighted in the film “The Isle.” The romantic bench surrounded by dreamlike wet fog looks like something from a Chinese painting. With a diameter of 13km and the area of 3 million ㎡, the reservoir is a rare example in Gyeonggi-do of a well-preserved reservoir. Water plants grow in abundance, and the reservoir’s ideal environment for fishing brings to mind Gang Taegong, a writer in ancient times who was said to enjoy fishing. Poet Jang goes to the reservoir for a walk whenever he is at a loss for words. He guides the uninvited guest who disturb his walk, and shows us the landscape of Anseong, where 160,000 people live, surrounded by low hills that stand at heights between 300m and 500m.

After a 30-minute drive, Gosam Reservoir appears, where Director Kim Ki-Deok shot the film “The Isle,” and Jang’s favorite trail. There were a few people, and Jang’s car. Unlike other reservoirs, Gosam Reservoir has a path right beside it. He walks the path beside the reservoir and the mountain path where he reflects on ideas for poems, but carries no pen or memo pad. He said, “I do not feel sorry about forgetting some of the ideas, because the forgotten ones are usually minor ones.”

While reading 1,000 books a year, he has made it a rule to forget what he has read. He said, “Forgetting what I have read is the best way to renew what I have read. Remembering what I have read only limits the value of the books. Underlining also may make me miss important parts when I read the books again. Taking a walk is the same. I do not try to remember the poetical ideas. If I return from a walk and the ideas are still vivid, those ideas are worth using.”

He writes poems at his studio in Hongdae and his house in Anseong. When he is in Seoul, he walks at Mangwon Riverside in the Hangang Park near his office. He walks from Yanghwadaegyo (Bridge) to Seongsandaegyo (Bridge). When he has some time, he walks to Seonyudo Park on the opposite side of the river, to enjoy the beauty of the grass and trees.

“I have not changed any of my ideas or my mindset while walking around Anseong for the past ten years. I just walk and walk. The only change I have made is finding my favorite path. For ten years now, I have just walked.”

He has set up many plans in Anseong. He hopes to write a global best-seller, and build a literature museum with an area of 1,056 m². Like Lao Tzu and Zhuang Zi, he dreams of writing poems, cooking and taking a walk in Anseong. He said, “I have achieved what I have dreamt of. As I have written poems, I will continue to walk.”

Name	Gosam Reservoir
Address	Gosam-myeon, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do
Contact (Website)	Geumteo Jwadae: 031-674-3642, Anseong City Office: www.anseong.go.kr
Location (Access from National Road and Expressway)	By Car: Anseong IC of Gyeongbu Expressway à National Road No. 38 bound for Anseong à Turn left at Dangwang Sageori à Local Road No. 70 à Gosam Reservoir By Bus: Take Bus bound for Anseong at Gangnam Express Bus Terminal or Nambu Bus Terminal à Take Bus bound for Gosam and Wolhyang-ri à Final stop of Gosamji Haryu
Facility Overview	A total of 840,000 pyeong
History	Completed in September 1960
Description	Gosam Reservoir is called the Sea in the Land. It is well known as a clean reservoir in Gyeonggi Province with a diameter of 13 km, and features many popular fishing spots, including Hyangrim, Yangchon and Ggolmi. Water plants grow in abundance and the reservoir’s ideal environment for fishing brings to mind Gang Taegong, a writer in ancient times who was said to enjoy fishing. As seen in the film “the Isle,” the reservoir is also well known for its damp fog.
Tips for Visitors	There are free fishing places, but the great fishing spots are charged fishing places. With dozens of benches over the water, Hyangrim Village is popular for its exotic atmosphere.
Operating (Opening) Hours	Open 24 hours
Admission (Accommodation) Fees	Geumteo Jwadae Fishing Place - Admission Fee: KRW 7,000 Bench Rental: KRW 50,000 for three (weekdays) KRW 60,000 for three (weekends) Up to six people can use the bench, and additional fees of KRW 7,000 are charged per person.
Adjacent Tourist Destinations	Namsadang Training Center and Anseong Farm
Accommodation	Arts Center Mano 031-6767-815
Restaurant Options	Seoil Nongwon: 031-673-3171, Pungmul Gihaeng: 031-677-5282
Remarks (Information on Events and Promotions)	N/A