Exploring the Transformations of Cheonyeong-ri in Dangjin, South Korea
Dangjin, located in South Chungcheong Province, has undergone significant changes with the completion of the Daehobang Floodgate and Seokmun Floodgate.
The development of reclaimed land has increased agricultural areas, with Cheonyeong-ri in Jeongmi-myeon being a notable example of this transformation.
Before the construction of the Daehobang Floodgate, boats used to ferry people and goods across the waterways. Recently, it has evolved into a vast Dangjin plain, becoming a quiet rural village.
Despite these changes, remnants of the past remain, prompting reflections on history. One such place is Baetteo Park, which offers a lovely winter landscape.
Upon entering Cheonyeong-ri, visitors are greeted by the 4.4 Independence Movement Street and the 4.4 Independence Movement Monument, which embody the history of the waterway.
The transportation hub that facilitated the flow of goods and people held a five-day market on the 4th and 9th of each month from the late Joseon Dynasty until the 1970s, making it one of the five major markets in Chungnam.
During the March 1st Movement, it became a gathering point for the 4.4 Independence Movement, which is still reenacted every March.
Additionally, Cheonyeong-ri features a time travel-themed shopping street that recreates the old marketplace, where visitors can enjoy a retro atmosphere centered around some restaurants and tea houses.
Following this historical path, Cheonyeong-cheon flows alongside the village, leading to Baetteo Park located at the upper part of the village.
Baetteo Park, once a local landfill, was transformed into a park in 2009 and completed last year, covering an area of 7,000 square meters with the installation of an octagonal pavilion and a monument.
Crossing Cheonyeong 1st Bridge, visitors find sports facilities alongside the stream. The entrance of the park features a monument that tells the story of the Baetteo market.
As visitors ascend the hill, they encounter the octagonal pavilion at the center, surrounded by trees along the walking paths.
During market days, agricultural products and goods arrived from nearby areas, and on April 4, 1919, over 1,000 people gathered to read the Declaration of Independence and sing the national anthem, dismantling the local police station.
At the end of the walking path in Baetteo Park, there is a boat-shaped observation deck facing the stream. The waterway, now narrow, runs through the village but widens only at the park area.
This is why it is sometimes referred to as the small lake park of Jeongmi-myeon. Below the gentle ridges lies a wide field, with the waterway flowing through it.
The waterway ensured bountiful harvests without concerns about water scarcity. In January, the old boat area freezes over, turning into a beautiful ice lake.
The ice lake, following the contours of the farmland, is stunning, and the village paths that mark the boundary between the river and fields are equally beautiful, leading to the small lake park surrounding Baetteo Park.
This approximately one-hour walking course showcases the changing beauty of the four seasons. The waterway that formed the boat area winds down between the ridges and flows through Cheonyeong 1-ri village.
Adjacent to the park are sports facilities, with pine and broadleaf trees planted throughout. In January, Baetteo Park features an expansive ice lake harmonizing with the bare winter trees.
It is a tranquil winter in this rural village. Cheonyeong-ri in Jeongmi-myeon offers a delightful time travel experience from Baetteo Park to the 4.4 Independence Movement Monument and the marketplace street.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/dangjin2030/224169878442
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