Cool down with a visit to scenic Pyeongchang: Popular attractions include paragliding, rafting and new fusion food
Views of Pyeongchang County, located along the Pyeongchang River, unfold in front of people paragliding, one of the extreme sports available in the area. [GNC21]
The extreme sport is one of several that are becoming popular in the region, which has traditionally been popular as a summer vacation destination due to its cooler weather.
With record heat and humidity in Seoul this summer, the county has been busier than ever, catering to both those in search of a cool breeze and others looking for thrills. The popularity is good preparation, as the county will soon host the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Pyeongchang, which is nestled among many hills and mountains, has been making a name for itself as paragliding heaven. Many of the mountains feature flat fields where paragliders can safely lay out their wing without fear of it being punctured by a sharp stone. After the jump, they circle the area and aim for a designated and safe landing spot near the Pyeongchang River.
First timers should always go with a professional. Once you’re all checked in with the necessary gear and firmly attached to the wing through a belt, you’ll be asked to run off a cliff.
It sounds scarier than it actually is. As you run, the wing begin to catch air and lift you up. But that comes with a tremendous amount of wind resistance, meaning that no matter how fast you try to run, you’ll be doing it in slow motion.
After kicking off land as hard as you can - flight. Comfortably seated underneath the wing as though on a swing, you’re treated to a view of a verdant landscape dotted with tiny houses and patches of flowers.
As soon as you get relaxed and settled, the instructor sitting behind you takes out a GoPro camera to take photos and videos that will serve as souvenirs. It can be challenging to keep your eyes open in the wind and sun, so to get better pictures, it’s recommended to wear sunglasses while paragliding.
If you ask, the instructors can kick up the adrenaline on the ride down. They pilot the wing in a wild circle that goes up and down, making you feel like you’re on a roller coaster.
As you near the bottom, you’re greeted by a field filled with baekilhong, or zinnia flowers. In all different shades of orange, yellow, pink, white and red, the flowers have made the field one of Pyeongchang’s most photographed spots.
“[Paragliding] is for people of all ages, and even some who are physically disabled,” said an instructor at Jonathan Paragliding, who has been running a shop in the area for about a decade.
“The sport might be seen too extreme, but once people try it out, they’ll soon realize it’s a fun, exciting way to see Pyeongchang, especially the fields of flowers.”
Two dishes developed to cater to the taste of foreigners with little Korean food experience for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic are being served at local restaurants. From left: songeo mandu, or dumplings made with trout in either a tomato or cream sauce; memil pasta, or buckwheat noodles stir fried with vegetables and garlic. [GNC21]
One of the first things you’ll notice visiting Pyeongchang is the many cranes and fences indicating the renovations of old buildings and construction of new facilities for the upcoming Olympics. Instead of sticking around the noisy urban streets, head out to the mountains to find the area’s many waterfalls, which offer a welcome respite.
Due to its hilly landscape, there are many waterfalls and small valleys in the county. One hotspot among many is Jangjeon Valley, better known among locals as Ikki Gyegok, which means moss valley in Korean. It’s home to a creek that flows quickly over massive rocks, and the contrast between the green moss and grey rocks is striking.
The speed of the water also renders it more milky than clear, adding to the drama of photos taken in the area. The water originates from Mt. Baekseok, which is 1,365 meters (0.8 mile) high, and it’s known to be exceptionally clean. The creek is home to the sensitive yeolmokeo, or Manchurian trout, which can only survive in highly pure conditions.
The creek is among the most scenic that flow into the nearby Odae Stream, but since the rocks are all covered with moss, it can be hard to find a place to sit down and rest with your feet in the water. As a result, those wanting more of a dip should head elsewhere to explore the area’s water sports.
One of the most popular activities in Pyeongchang has been rafting. Recently, more of it is being done along the Pyeongchang River, which is about 220 kilometers in length flowing through 12 towns in the county.
Noeun Gyegok is also a popular rafting spot. People usually enjoy the 7-kilometer course from Yongso to the Noeun reservoir, which takes about two hours to complete. There are some spots in between rocks with fast-moving rapids, but there are many more with calm conditions allowing families to hop in. The water in Noeun Gyegok is also known for its purity, so the spot is popular among many hobbyist fishermen.
Tastes of Pyeongchang
Another fun thing to try in Pyeongchang are new dishes that use local ingredients in more modern, western styles. The county office has been working with celebrity chef Edward Kwon to come up with new tastes that will appeal even to foreigners hesitant about Korean food. Among the 10 dishes they’ve developed, two are currently being cooked at local restaurants.
The region has an abundance of buckwheat (memil in Korean) and trout (songeo) and many restaurants already serve dishes made with them. With that in mind, the taskforce wanted to use them with small twists. Rather than making traditional, Korean-style buckwheat noodles in a spicy or icy broth, one new dish features the noodles warm and stir fried in a mild combination of vegetables, garlic and olive oil. The new approach is similar to an Italian-style pasta, so it is named “Memil Pasta.” The dish is available at the restaurant Yetgol.
“We wanted to present a dish that can be more widely enjoyed by anyone,” said one of the restaurant’s owners.
“Using garlic is key to adding flavor and helping the taste of the memil stand out.”
Another dish is a dumpling filled with grilled and mashed songeo. The fish is often consumed raw by locals, but to make it more universally appealing, it has been cooked and mixed with vegetables to make mandu, or dumplings. Served in either a cream or tomato sauce, Songeo Mandu is available at the restaurant Yonggol Songeohoe.
Left: Jangjeon Gyegok is known for its moss-covered rocks and fast-moving, clean water. Middle: A field by Pyeongchang River filled with baekilhong, or zinnia flowers. Right: Pyeongchang is known for its rivers that offer water sports like rafting. [GNC21, LEE SUN-MIN]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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