The 2018 Sunyu Island Youth Travel Supporters International Forum

Written by Matkhiya Usmonova
Photographed by Inna Udonova

 

A few months back, I went on a trip to Jeollabuk-do with other international residents in the Gwangju area. From our experience, we found that, in some ways, Jeollabuk-do has remained the most traditional Korean province by maintaining many of the precious values of the past. This was the best trip for many of us, and it made lasting impressions and memories for all.

So, what was the reason for visiting this amazing area? It was for the 2018 Sunyu Island Youth Travel Supporters International Forum (선유8경국제페스티벌), which provided a great opportunity for us international residents to make a lot of friends, network, and have a wonderful experience learning Jeollabuk-do history. This program was hosted by the Jeollabuk-do provincial government and M Communication, with additional support offered by the Korea Tourism Organization, the Jeonbuk Ilbo, KBS Jeonju, and the Jeonbuk MICE Alliance. The purpose of the forum was to further promote cultural tourism to the islands of Jeollabuk-do in 2018, including Seonyu Island, the Gogunsan Islands, and the Saemangeum Seawall through the professional education of local and international youth travel supporters.

The program was free, but our task was to market Jeollabuk-do tourist products through information sharing on SNS as a requirement of the independent tourists’ forum. We were there for three days and two nights with five-star accommodations provided at the Riverhill Hotel. Due to the packed program schedule, there were many interesting things to do, and I am grateful to this forum for the amazing chance to see the valuable beauty of the Gunsan area of Jeollabuk-do.

Day 1: Official Ceremony and Forum
On the initial day, we absorbed several details about the province, including its past, scenic sites, and nature. We were also free to ask any questions directly to people like the Jeollabuk-do Tourism marketing team manager and MICE bureau leader, as well as to the Jeonju University Tourism manager, the Jeollabuk-do Tourism Management Team assistant manager, and professors from Honam University and Howon University.

There were many nice places to visit that I had never heard about concerning Korean arts and traditions stretching back for more than a thousand years. Visitors can enjoy festivals in Jeollabuk-do that embrace movies, scenic views, and traditional music. Through these and other activities, you can see what the ancestors of Korea kept alive through the preservation of history, and you can get the feel of nature maintained since time immemorial.

Day 2: Unique Tour
On the second day, we visited so many places, such as the Gunsan Modern History Museum, the Jinpo Marine Theme Park, Seonyu Island, and the Buan Party Week Festival.

At the Gunsan Modern History Museum (군산근대역사박물관), we saw how this area looked in the 1930s during the days of the Japanese occupation. Rice and alcohol that the Japanese “imported” from Gunsan was on display as well as many different straw houses, ships, antiquated classrooms, ceramics, clothing, and so on. After that we went to the Jinpo Marine Theme Park (진포해양테마공원), where there were various weapons, planes, tanks, and ships on display. Everyone enjoyed taking pictures with them.

Most interestingly, the scenery at Seonyu Island was tremendously beautiful. I would really recommend that others visit for camping, hiking, swimming, and participating in other water activities. There is also a 700-meter-high zip line, and you can rent bikes to explore the area. The zip line was quite exciting, especially in the middle. It was so windy that when I looked down, there was only water below. It was one of the best experiences for helping me overcome my fear of heights. In the final hours of the second day, we went to the Buan Party Week Festival. We watched many performances put on by young Korean girls and boys; we also danced and sang songs. At the end of the party, the organizers had us over the moon with their beautiful fireworks. It was truly an amazing sight.

Day 3: Unique Tour in Jeollabuk-do
For our last day together, we visited the Buan Celadon Museum, Naeso Temple, and the Saemangeum Seawall. The Buan Celadon Museum (부안청자박물괌) offered us the opportunity to make our own vases or other preferred dishes with the help of specialists. The process was quite easy and some people were able to draw ornaments or write their names on their vases. After two months, the finished products will be sent to our homes, which will make for nice souvenirs.

Our next unique experience was at Naeso Temple (내소사). There we went to a temple to have a tea ceremony with a monk. I definitely liked the ornamental temples, tea, and several traditional ceremonies. Plus, we saw a tree that is 1,000 years old. People usually make wishes to coins and then throw them under the tree.

After this, we visited the Saemangeum Seawall (새만금 방조제), which is the longest seawall in the world. It is located on the coast of the Yellow Sea and took 20 years to complete. In the beginning, nobody believed that this project could be completed. However, after seeing this seawall, it is evident that anything is possible if human beings put their hearts into it.

To summarize, I will never forget this unforgettable trip, as it left me with so much joy. Although it is hard to choose a favorite part from my experience, the most interesting aspect of the tour might have been that we met many different people from different countries and that it really helped us to socialize more with others. The next program will be held this winter and, of course, I will participate in order to make a lot more friends and understand more about Korea. Therefore, I strongly recommend you visit Jeollabuk-do with your family, friends, or partners and have many memorable moments there!

The Author
Matkhiya is from the Republic of Uzbekistan. She is presently a student at Chonnam National University (CNU) in Gwangju, majoring in English language and literature. In her free time, she learns Korean and travels with her joyful friends to beautiful parts of South Korea. She habitually strives to improve herself personally and educationally, and tries to learn from her mistakes. With all her heart, she is quite grateful for her meaningful and loving life.