Published by the Gwangju International Center since 2001
By Neha Bisht As winter slowly loosened its grip, I began noticing the subtle signs of spring in Gwangju, South Korea – the crisp air felt gentler, the sun lingered … Read More
By Neha Bisht Encompassing the vibrant city of Gwangju, Jeollanam-do hosts a plethora of festivals from March through September, each celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and local … Read More
By Vibhanshu Maurya Owning a motorbike is liberating in a way that a car can never match. There’s something about the freedom it offers – no stress about parking, tolls, … Read More
By Yousra Feriel Drioua “Let go of your pre-existing prejudices and beliefs concerning the discussions we’ll be having during the summit.” These words are quoted from the welcoming speech of … Read More
In fact, arguably the first mountain you’d think of when South Korea comes to mind is Bukhansan, nestled in its eponymous national park spread out over 30.86 square miles along the northern periphery of Seoul. Unsurprisingly, it tops most peoples’ to-do list and would likely be your first port of call as a hungry hiker newly moved here. But there are many more mountains to be explored beyond Bukhansan.
Now any seasoned festival-goer will tell you, getting to the site is always a gruelling slog, which leaves you exhausted before the first chord is even strummed. I have had motorway breakdowns, cancelled coaches, and overcrowded trains. But this festival was different – we actually arrived in style.
Korea is known as a peninsula which has four distinct seasons and four distinct landscapes according to each season. Since Koreans enjoy seeing red and yellow foliage in the autumn, there is a specific Korean word called danpungnori (단풍놀이, directly translated as “autumn foliage play”), which refers to the act of going out to enjoy the autumn leaves. For this year, it is expected that we will be able to see the first fall leaves from late October (in the southern provinces). Below are the spots that are famous for danpungnori.
While the big cities in Korea get all sorts of attention with their newfangled technology and shiny buildings, some of the most overlooked areas in the country are the southern coastal regions. There is a plethora of destinations along the coast, all within a two-hour drive from Gwangju, that offer unparalleled natural beauty, wide-open spaces, fantastic beaches, and plenty of good times. Shinan, Jindo, and Goheung (but not Yeosu, an area that has become much too congested for my liking) all have many hidden treasures, but if I had to pick one that offers the most bang for your buck (or “wow for your won”), it would have to be Namhae.
