Picnic in Naju: Deudeul River
Written and photographed by Karina Prananto
As spring slips away and summer enters in, I am sure many of us have already started to think about vacation plans. While most of us might think of going to beaches or mountain streams, there is one place near Gwangju that offers peace and quiet yet at the same time provides fun: Naju’s Deudeul River.
Naju offers many places to take an excursion close to Gwangju. Deudeul River (드들강) is a perfect location for picnics, camping, and fishing. The river is located about 20 kilometers from downtown Gwangju, which takes around 40 minutes to reach by car due to the lack of direct highways. I visited the site recently and although it is lacking in beach and sand, it still is a nice place to relax.
Upon arriving, you will need to cross a bridge, approximately 300 meters long, that separates you from the main road. Fortunately, the river is wide enough to block the sounds of cars from the other side. The hills surrounding the area provide shade from the scorching sun, while tall trees and the apparent lack of nearby houses give you the impression that you are no longer anywhere near Gwangju. In fact, it is so green that I thought I was in the middle of the countryside! On the weekday I was there, there were about five tents around us. I expect that the area could be much busier on weekends, as evidenced by the spacious parking lot that can accommodate many visitors. Families frequently come here and set up camp. One bonus is that you do not have to reserve any space in advance, as you can set up your equipment in any available space.
Nature along Deudeul River is rather secluded, but a perfect quiet getaway, provided you do not visit on the weekend or during peak season. The river is clear but somewhat cold and deep, so it is not recommended for swimming. Fishing is allowed but not hunting. You may cook, but the use of coals is forbidden; it is recommended that you bring a gas burner instead. Although the area is flat, due to the tall, thick trees, sports activities such as playing catch or badminton may be difficult. Still, you can enjoy camping or staying in a caravan instead if you bring lots of board games!
In addition to being a quiet and secluded place, the site also has a dark history. If you research the river, you will definitely come across articles of two murder cases that happened in the area. Although these incidents happened more than ten years ago, the cases were pretty big at the time, so these incidents are probably what come to mind for many Koreans living in the surrounding region when they hear talk of “Deudeul River”!
But this history should not deter you from making a visit, as it is a nice place to relax with family and have a chat or deep conversation with friends. I truly recommend this place as a short excursion from Gwangju to enjoy nature with a picnic or by camping. Try visiting the area on a weekday and bring your own tent and supplies. The local government has provided basic facilities such as toilets, a shower area, and a small convenience store. Just make sure you come with your own garbage bag as it is difficult to find bins in the area.
To get there, you can type into your GPS “드들강 솔밭유원지 (전라남도 나주시 남평읍 남석리 732).” Unfortunately, there are no buses going directly to the area, so you might want to rent a car. There is, however a bus option that gets you to about 10 minutes or so from the area: bus 999 from downtown with a transfer to 201 will take about one hour and a half. Put Deudeul River on your list of go-to getaways for this summer.
THE AUTHOR
Karina is from Indonesia and has been living in Gwangju since 2006. She loves reading, traveling, and driving with her family. She also loves watching horror movies whenever she has the chance!