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National Parks of Korea: Hallyeohaesang

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eric Burks
  • 2nd Combat Camera Squadron
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  As summer begins to wind down, there's still time for a "day at the beach."

Hallyeohaesang National Park is one of four coastal parks in the ROK. In addition to numerous beaches, the area features attractions such as the longest cable car ride on the peninsula, as well as a few history lessons ... both recent and ancient.

Hallyeohaesang, designated as the country's first marine national park in 1968, covers an area of 510 square kilometers over six districts. In just the Geoje district, the Hallyeosudo waterway contains 69 uninhabited islands and 30 inhabited islands in the South Sea, according to the Korea National Parks Service website.

For my visit to the park, I selected two areas in relative close proximity in the Geoje district: Tongyeong City and Geoje Haegeumgang, an island known for its sunrises and sunsets. Tongyeong can easily be reached through public transportation, as buses run daily from Seoul, but it helps to have a privately owned vehicle if you plan to visit Geoje Haegeumgang.

From Seoul's Nambu Bus Terminal, an express bus leaves 16 times daily for Tongyeong. A one-way trip costs 20,000 - 22,000 Won and takes approximately 4 hours, 30 minutes. Non-stop buses run 11 times daily from Seoul's Express Bus Terminal. Tickets are 18,800 - 28,000 Won and the one-way trip takes approximately 4 hours, 10 minutes.

By POV, take Expressway 40 east from Pyeongtaek to Expressway 1 south, then follow Expressway 35 south. Expressway 35 ends in Tongyeong City, right around 400 kilometers from Osan.

There are six major beaches around Tongyeong, but I was more interested in taking the Hallyeosudo Landscape Cable Car to the summit of Mt. Mireuksan. For 9,000 Won, you can purchase a round-trip ticket to ride one of 47 cable cars across a span of 1,975 meters - the longest in the country.

At the summit awaits a commanding view of the Hallyeosudo waterway, part of Hallyeohaesang National Park. Many islands stretch across the horizon, and on a clear day, the Japanese island of Tsushima can be seen. As one sign notes, this waterway is the site of the Great Battle of Hansan, where Korean admiral Yi Sun-sin destroyed 47 Japanese naval vessels and captured another 12 ships, defeating an invasion attempt in August 1592.

From the Tongyeong Central Bus Terminal, you can take city bus 41 or 42 to the cable car depot at the Donam Tourist Complex. If driving, take National Road 14 west through central Tongyeong, then turn left on Local Road 1021. Continue on this road across the Tongyeongdaegye Bridge, then follow the signs marked "ropeway station."

As it takes at least four hours to reach Tongyeong - regardless of your means of transportation - it's a good idea to plan for a two-day trip if you want to see much else of Hallyeohaesang National Park. There are many lodging options in and around Tongyeong, and prices range from around 40,000 Won for a room at a small motel to more than 200,000 Won for a suite at a larger hotel or resort.

If you have a POV and plan to visit Geoje Haegeumgang, follow National Road 14 east from Tongyeong to the city of Geoje-si, just 17 kilometers away. From there, turn right on Local Road 1018 toward Sangmun-dong and Gucheon-ri. At Hakdong-ri, take a right back onto National Road 14, and from there it's just a few short kilometers to Geoje Haegeumgang.

Geoje Haegeumgang is a rock island also known as the "Sea Diamond of the South Sea," according to the Korea Tourism Organization website. While many visitors come just to watch the sun rise or set from Ilwollbong Peak or Lion Rock, you can also hike a number of trails, visit a large cave, take a tourist boat around the island, or even see the 1,300-year-old "guardian pine tree" of Haegeumgang.

Retracing the route back to Geoje-si, you can also catch a glimpse into the more recent past. Just off National Road 14 near the city center is the Historic Park of Geoje Prisoner of War Camp. Built during the Korean War, the camp at one time held more 170,000 prisoners of war from China and North Korea, according to the KTO website. The camp closed upon the signing of the 1953 armistice and reopened as a historical park in 1997. The entrance fee is 3,000 Won.

From Geoje-si, continue on National Road 14 west to Tongyeong, then north on Expressway 35 north. Take Expressway 1 north to Osan, then follow National Road 1 south toward Pyeongtaek to get back to base. Driving my POV, the total trip covered 862 kilometers, and tolls came to 15,100 Won.

So whether you want to learn a little more Korean history, explore the islands of the southern coast, or just soak up the last few rays of summer sun, Hallyeohaesang National Park has something for everyone.

For additional information on the National Parks of Korea, visit http://english.knps.or.kr/Knp/AboutNP.aspx?MenuNum=1&Submenu=AboutNP.

For more information on public transportation in the ROK, visit
http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TR/korea_terminal.jsp

(Editor's Note: This is the eighth article in a series highlighting national parks in the ROK.)