In Damyang, an area famous for its
bamboo trees, is a village called Samjicheon, which was designated as a
“Slow City” in 2008. Prior to its designation, Samjicheon, a small
village with little over 500 residents, was easily overlooked by
tourists visiting the Damyang area. This charming rural village
contains well-preserved traditional hanok houses and 3.6km of
stonewalls that meander around the town.
Of the original hanok houses, the most famous ones are those owned by
the Go family of the Changpyeong region, and have been handed down
through the family for generations. The Go houses, which have been
designated as important cultural assets and are now protected by the
government, offer a glimpse of Korea’s fascinating past. Despite its
small size, Samjicheon village is well-known in Korea for its tasty
local delicacies, such as the Changpyeong taffies, hangwa sweets,
soybean paste (doenjang), red pepper paste (gochujang), and others.
These are all made from natural ingredients and prepared in the
traditional way.
Samjicheon village is located close to the Korea Bamboo
Museum, the Jungnogwon and Soswaewon gardens, and Sigyeongjeong
pavilion, which are all good places for a relaxing stroll while
enjoying the subtle scent of bamboo in the fresh air. Damyang region has
also been the location for several famous films and TV drama series
including <Traces of Love>, <Wanee and
Junah>, <Sword in the Moon>, <Daejanggeum, Jewel in the
Palace>, <Summer Scent>, <Damo>, <Winter Sonata>. |
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| Local Specialties |
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 One
Samjicheon’s most popular local specialties include rice-based
taffies, most of which are made in the town’s small households or shops
in the traditional way. Rice syrup is first melted over a wood fire
in a huge pot and then carefully made into individual taffies by hand.
Visitors will get a chance to see how the local taffies are made, which
is part of the fun of enjoying yeot (taffy).
Samjicheon also produces a local version of hangwa,
the Korean traditional sweet, from the rich crops of the Damyang
region. Hangwa is made using rice, beans, sesame, and other ingredients
that are all mixed with jocheong (grain syrup). The sweets are crisp
on the outside yet sweet and chewy in the center. These hangwa sweets
are often packed in beautiful boxes that are made from hanji
(traditional paper), bamboo, or wood. Prices can vary widely depending
on the quality and type of the packaging and sweets.
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| Nearby Attractions |
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 Samjicheon Village |
From the entrance to the village, follow the
stone-piled, ivy-covered walls until you reach some of the finest
examples of original hanok houses. If the weather is fine, you can spend
a tranquil afternoon strolling around this village.
 Make
sure to look for the hanok houses of the Go Family, who have been
living in this village for many generations. For a really special
experience, you could spend a night in a hanok guesthouse, and there are
plenty of other types of accommodation on offer in this charming
village. Visitors can also watch, or even take part in dying fabric,
which in Samjicheon village is still done by hand in the traditional
way. |
Address: Samcheon-ri, Changpyeong-myeon, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do province
Information: +82-61-383-7877
Tourist Information: +82-61-1330 (KOR, ENG, JAP, CHI)
Getting There: From
Seoul take a train to Gwangju-> From Gwangju Train Station take bus
303-> Get off at Changpyeong Police Station and walk to the
village. Or take the bus to Damyang Inter-city Bus Terminal and then
take a regional bus or taxi to the Samjicheon village. |
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| Bamboo Museum |
 The
Bamboo Museum is a multi-functional complex that preserves, exhibits,
and produces bamboos and Damyang’s unique bamboo art. The museum has
five exhibition halls and a collection of approximately 2,600 pieces of
bamboo art and various bamboo products, all of which are on display.
The bamboo arts of Damyang have a history of 500 years, dating back to
the early Joseon Dynasty. Some 500,000 guests visit this museum every
year.
Visitors can watch three masters of bamboo craft at
work in the Intangible Cultural Asset Training Center, as well as
having a go at making bamboo products themselves. There is also a
garden, where visitors can try out the swings made of bamboo branches,
walk across a bamboo bridge, and go through a bamboo. Visiting the
museum is also a good opportunity to purchase quality bamboo products at
reasonable prices.
For More Details on the Bamboo Museum 
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| Metasequoia Road |
 Metasequoia
Road is one of the Damyang region’s most scenic spots and actually is
regarded as one of the most beautiful roads in Korea. The road, which
stretches for 8.5km, is lined with metasequoia trees, which can get up
to 20m tall. It is one of the most popular driving routes in Korea,
however, some people prefer to bicycle along this route and appreciate
its beauty at a more leisurely pace. These elegant trees make you feel
like you are driving through an ancient forest, and they provide
welcome shade even on the hottest days.
The road appears in the movie, <Traces of Love>, and it was also the setting for numerous TV commercials and dramas.
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| Junknokwon Garden
(Bamboo Garden) |
Junknokwon garden contains a spectacular dense bamboo
forest that covers an area of approximately 160,000㎡. The garden,
which opened in May 2003, has various walking paths (around 2.2km in
length) that wind their way through the bamboo forest.
These walking paths each have a distinct theme. The
walking paths begin at the Junknokwon observatory tower, which offers a
panoramic view over Damyangcheon Lake, the Damyang Gwanbangje forest,
where the trees are 300 years old, and the tree-lined Metasequoia Road.
Inside Jungnogwon garden, there is an ecological exhibition center,
featuring waterfalls, ponds, and outdoor stages. The subtle lighting
along the bamboo groves means visitors can enjoy a romantic stroll in
the evenings.
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| Daenamugol Theme Park |
 The
Daenamugol Theme Park contains bamboos that are at least 30 years old.
It’s an area of great scenic beauty, and is a popular destination for a
camping trip. The park covers approximately 99,173㎡, and contains
outdoor camping sites, bamboo and pine forests, and gardens and lotus
ponds that are decorated with brightly colored seasonal flowers.
The theme park has appeared in movies like <The
Last Witness>, <Sword in the Moon>, and <Blue Swallow>
as well as in the popular TV drama series <Summer Scent>. Take
your time strolling around this peaceful garden, and admire the elegant
bamboo trees, which are one of Asia’s treasures.
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| Soswaewon Garden |
Soswaewon Garden has been designated as one of the
top three most beautiful gardens in Korea. It was created by a Joseon
period Confucian scholar called Yang San-bo. It was formed using only
natural materials and paying attention to the contours of nature.
Following its creation, the garden was visited by many scholars who
were so inspired by its beauty that they were moved to write poetry or
other works of literature.
Visitors are enchanted by the dense green forest, deep
valleys, and old pavilions. Low stonewalls wind their way through the
trees, and visitors can enjoy a contemplative walk in this exquisite
garden. After exploring Soswaewon, you will find a small, quiet village
just outside the garden. Next to the garden, visitors will also find
the National Museum of Literature, which displays those works of
literature that were inspired by the garden’s beauty.
For More Details on Soswaewon Garden
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| Sigyeongjeong Pavilion |
This small pavilion that dates back to 1560, is
nestled on the hill next to the National Literature Museum. The hill
overlooks a stream that meanders through the city of Damyang. The
pavilion has a rather poetic name, it means the place where even the
shadow wants to take a rest. This lovely pavilion is surrounded by
zinnia trees.
Sitting on the wooden floor of this pavilion,
watching the water of the Gwangjucheon stream flow by, you might be
inspired to compose a couple of poems yourself.
This is always a pleasant spot to visit, but it is particularly
beautiful during the summer, when the zinnia flowers are in full bloom.
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| Local Festivals |
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| Damyang Bamboo Festival |
The Damyang Bamboo Festival began in 1999 and is
held every year in May. The festival is inspired by the traditions of
the Goryeo period, when during spring time all of the residents of the
village were enlisted to plant bamboos on the mountain.
During the festival period, all sorts of items made from
bamboo are on display, including household items, musical instruments,
decorations, and more. There are plenty of exciting activities for
visitors to try out, such as a bamboo fencing contest, bamboo log raft
riding,bamboo water pistol fights over stepping stone bridges, bamboo
archery, and catching fish with bamboo baskets.
Bamboo had a variety of uses in Korea’s past and
visitors can try making traditional Korean wine in bamboo caskets and
making hand-held fans and other accessories that use bamboo.
The festival will feature plenty of entertainment; a
number of concerts and mime performances are planned, as well as
exhibitions of bamboo products, giving visitors an insight into
Damyang’s unique culture.
For More Details on the Festival
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| Recommended Local Delicacies |
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 While
in Damyang, make sure you try tteokgalbi, juktongbab and juksunhoe
(slightly boiled bamboo shoots, which are eaten as a side dish).
Tteokgalbi is a delicious marinated beef dish that used to be eaten at
the Korean Royal Court and there are dozens of restaurants in this area
that specialize in this dish.
Tteokgalbi is made by mincing beef ribs  carefully,
then they are marinated and grilled over charcoal. They are succulent
and chewy and quite addictive. Restaurants for this delicacy are
clustered around the Bamboo Museum and the traditional marketplace.
Juktongbap, which is also called daetongbab, is rice, bamboo shoots and
other vegetables, which are actually steamed in the hollow of a
bamboo, this unique dish is a specialty of the region. |
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| Getting to Damyang |
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| By Train |
From Yongsan Train Station in Seoul take the
train to Gwangju (06:05-23:10; trains run 17 times a day, Mugunghwa
(second class) train: 21,400won / 4hr 20mins,
Saemaeul (first class) train:
31,700won
/ 4hr 10min, KTX (express)
train: 35,900won / 3hr)
-> From Gwangju Train Station take a bus to Damyang (06:00-22:30, departs every 10mins, 40min bus ride)
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| By Bus |
From Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Central City)
take an express bus to Damyang (10:10, 16:10, buses run twice a day,
3hr 45min ride, Normal bus fare 16,200won, Deluxe Bus Fare 24,000won)
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| Getting to Samjicheon Village |
 From Gwangju Train Station, get on bus 303 ->
Get off at Changpyeong Police Station and walk to the
village. Or take the bus to Damyang Inter-city Bus Terminal and then
take a regional bus or taxi to the Samjicheon village.
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