Namwon, Jeollabuk-do: A 1-Night, 2-Day Travelogue
It was a morning with a gentle autumn rain when I arrived at Namwon Station by train with my friends. It was my first time taking a train in a while, and I was so excited that I was chatting away and didn't even notice when we arrived.
Arriving at Namwon Station, the air was fresh and filled with the scent of rain. The start of a trip is always exciting, but as they say, "Even Mount Geumgang is best seen on a full stomach," so we first filled our bellies with Namwon's specialty, Chueo-tang (loach soup).
The Taste of Namwon: A Bowl of Chueo-tang
The Chueo-tang restaurant near the train station was quite famous, with many people dining there. After tasting the Chueo-tang, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Indeed!"
It seemed ordinary, but it had a deep flavor. The broth, with its savory soybean paste aroma, was thick with ground loach. A spoonful on top of freshly cooked rice from a stone pot conveyed the taste so well that I could feel I had arrived in Namwon.
The fried loach that came with it was wrapped in perilla leaves to eliminate any fishy smell, making it crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The other side dishes were also delicious and neatly arranged, as if the generosity and sincerity of the Southern region were all contained within the table.
After a hearty meal, we boarded a bus bound for Jeongnyeongchi from Namwon Station. As we passed through Namwon and headed towards the mountains, we could feel the autumn mountain air, fully immersing ourselves in the autumn travel atmosphere.
The bus slowly ascended the winding mountain road. Arriving at Banseon (Bamsagol Valley), it felt as if we had entered the embrace of Jirisan Mountain.
The air, with its slight raindrops, and the scent of the deep green forest welcomed us. I thought to myself, "This is the breath of Jirisan."
Walking Along the Bamsagol Deck Road
After passing the Bamsagol Information Center, we started walking along the barrier-free trail created with a deck road. The Bamsagol deck road is made for everyone to walk comfortably.
The wooden deck road gently followed the stream, and clear, transparent water flowed beside it. After the rain, the water was more abundant, and the sound of the valley water was so magnificent that I felt a solemn atmosphere just by listening to it.
The ground was covered with moist fallen leaves, and the ripples crashing against the rocks created an autumn rhythm. As you walk, you can see moss between the rocks and small waterfalls flowing down, creating a landscape like a painting. It felt like a welcome greeting from Jirisan to people.
The path, where the sound of the valley water accompanies you, was a reliable and warm path that didn't require conversation.
Walking along the deck road, you can find the 'Couple Trees.' As if reflecting the desire to reach each other, the two trees standing side by side were unwavering even in the traces of time. People often took pictures here, wishing for lasting happiness.
If you walk a little further up, you will come to Wawun Village, the path to find the Millennium Pine.
Climbing the wooden stairs, the Millennium Pine of Wawun Village reveals its appearance. The pine tree, which has endured a thousand years despite the harsh rain and wind, was a history in itself.
Millennium Pine No. 1 stands in the middle, and if you go up further, Millennium Pine No. 2 appears. The branches of the Millennium Pine stretch out over the quiet mountain village. Standing under the tree, even the wind felt heavy, carrying the weight of time. I felt like this place was where you could feel time.
The Generosity of a Rural Minbak and a Warm Meal
After finishing the day's journey, we returned to the Minbak (homestay) we had booked in Unbong Village. The landlady prepared a table with kimchi, seasoned vegetables, perilla seed salad, steamed pumpkin leaves, and soybean paste stew.
Her words, telling us to eat a lot because we must be hungry after walking the mountain path, warmed my heart. There was no special food, but I could feel more delicious affection and warmth than any fancy dish in a restaurant.
Because we were the only ones at the Minbak, we ate sweet potatoes baked in the fireplace and spent the long hours chatting by the hearth all night.
The breakfast we ate after taking a walk in the fresh air early in the morning was so delicious and warm that we shared our regrets, wishing we could stay for a few more days.
Namwon City - Kim Byung-jong Municipal Art Museum and Gwanghallu Pavilion
The day before was rainy and chilly, but the way to Namwon City was sunny with rays of sunshine between the clouds. We headed to the Kim Byung-jong Municipal Art Museum.
Kim Byung-jong, an artist born in Songdong, Namwon, had an extraordinary love for his hometown. The artist hoped that the citizens of Namwon could enjoy culture and art up close, so he donated more than 400 representative works and more than 5,000 materials and books to Namwon City free of charge.
Based on Kim Byung-jong's donated works, the Namwon Municipal Kim Byung-jong Art Museum was established and opened, showcasing numerous works from the artist's early work <Foolish Jesus> to his recent works <Wind Bamboo> and <Songhwabunbun> to citizens through permanent and special exhibitions.
The exterior of the art museum was so beautiful that I was busy taking commemorative photos without even thinking about worrying about falling into the water.
I enjoyed spending time looking at the works in the exhibition room and admiring the scenery outside. Kim Byung-jong's works captured the scenery of Namwon and the breath of life.
Walking slowly through the art museum, I thought that it was a space where the sensibility of Namwon, where nature and humans coexist, was 그대로 녹아 있는.
The last place I visited was Gwanghallu, the symbol of Namwon. The pavilion, which shows the essence of Korean traditional garden architecture of the Joseon Dynasty, still showed its dignity even after time passed.
Crossing the arched bridge over the pond and climbing Gwanghallu, the story of Chunhyang and Lee Mong-ryong somehow felt real. Everyone was making a fuss, wondering if Chunhyang was swinging on the swing over there or over here.
The shadow of the pavilion reflected in the pond swayed in the breeze, and the 모습 of visitors coming and going between the trees was like colorful autumn colors. Namwon's time flowed slowly, but within it was Namwon's own romance and 여유. Namwon is not fancy, but it is a city that remains in your memory for a long time.
The savory taste of Chueo-tang, the clear 계곡 water sound of Bamsagol, the silent story told by the Millennium Pine, and the warm meal at the Minbak. All these moments remained as a subtle lingering image in my heart.
Even if I return to my daily life, I will still look forward to visiting Namwon again, which will still remain in our hearts.
글, 사진 = 이난희 기자
Source :https://blog.naver.com/jbgokr/224071135812
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