ROAD FROM DONGHAE TO YEONGWOL VIA JEONGSEON
One of South Korea's most beautiful and wildest roads in a remote region that still reflects traditional Korea.
It is one of the most beautiful roads in South Korea, and one of the wildest. There is not much to visit in itself except for this remote region which has kept its traditions and where you can still feel traditional Korea. And from this ultra-modern country, it feels good! It is really worth strolling around this region if you have the time (it is better to plan a long weekend). We recommend taking the train, as it passes through beautiful landscapes that are difficult to reach by other means of transport. The journey is a little long, but it is an unforgettable stroll of charm and beauty. From Seoul, we first follow the southern branch of the Han River, then enter the Gwangwon-do mountains. We pass through the highest station in Korea, lost in the middle of nowhere, then slowly descend to Jeungsan, a small mountain village where we can make the connection to Jeongseon. This small line, the bideulgiho or "pigeon line", is the last of its kind in Korea. This small train, consisting of a single subway-like car, with its wooden doors open during the journey and large fans for the summer, first makes a wide loop to the north, then crosses a beautiful and wild region stopping in small stations painted in pastel colours. It is a timeless journey that will generously offer itself to us.
This little train crapaches for about thirty minutes, taking the villagers to the market and the high school students to school, to Jeongseon. It's a most picturesque painting! From Jeungsan, we can take a train back to Taebaek. We then enter a mining region (coal), also rich in cement factories (limestone region). This creates a somewhat harsh landscape, far from the technicolour image of Korea as an economic miracle. The small town of Sabuk is a mining town with large slag heaps and houses with corrugated iron roofs. Other villages like Gohan, in a very narrow valley, cling to the slopes of the mountain. The tunnels follow one another to Taebaek. As the mining industry is in decline and many mines have closed, the impoverished region has been allowed to develop the only casino open to Koreans, in a developing tourist complex that will include ski resort, hotels, etc.
In short, if you have time ahead of you, it's an itinerary you'll remember for a long time.