Walk around green barley field and take a break at a beautiful temple



It’s spring. Flowers are blooming and the weather is warming up. Itching to get of out of town? How about walking around a vast green field or enjoying a quiet stroll at a beautiful temple.

Gochang, North Jeolla Province, located some 290 kilometers south of Seoul, is a perfect place for a spring outing. 

Green Barley Field Fest

The annual Green Barley Field Festival at Hagwon Farm this year is scheduled from April 21-May 23, offering visitors a unique opportunity to walk along the vast green fields and enjoy tour programs, such as a concert.

The barley fields give off a unique scent, especially early in the morning and at sunset.

After a good walk in the fields try a bowl of barley bibimbap in a nearby restaurant.


Seonun Temple

The historical temple, which dates back to the Baekje Kingdom, is located in Mount Seonun Provincial Park. The temple is surrounded by a beautiful natural scenery with camellia, maple trees and a magnificent cliff.

“At the back of the temple, there are more than 5,000 camellias. April is the best time to go as the red flowers are in bloom” said Shin Hak-jin, director of tourism office of the Gochang County.


Dolmen Park

Gochang is famous for eels, bokbunja, green tea and also many, many stones.
Gochang Dolmen Park, which is registered as the UNESCO World Heritage Site, has more dolmens, an old style of tomb, per square kilometer than anywhere in the world.

The dolmens are generally located on level grounds by the river, hills, the foot of mountains and hilltops. In 2000, the government built the Dolmen Park and museum to preserve and maintain the dolmens.

If you are interested in ancient history, the dolmen sites in Jungnim-ri and Sanggap-ri are must-see destinations.

There is another dolmen site at the center of Gochang Fortress. But the fortress built during the early Joseon Dynasty is more famous for its 600-year-old walls, which make for a popular walking route.

Gochang is also the birthplace of Shin Jae-hyo, a noted composer of pansori. You can learn about his work and about the traditional Korean narrative song at the Gochang Pansori Museum.

For more information, call Gochang County at (063) 560-2456-7.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)