| Gaeul Donghwa (Autumn in My Heart): A KBS TV Drama Series |
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A tragic love story, Gaeul Donghwa (Autumn in my Heart)
was a TV drama hit series of KBS. In the fall of 2000, the moving performances
and romantic settings of Gaeul Donghwa captured the hearts of many TV
viewers. Even after the series ended, many fans still visit the beautiful
settings of the drama: the reminiscent beach, the nostalgic Abai Village, the
green pastured farm and the small country school. |
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Scene 1: The Lingering Sadness of Tragic Love: Hwajinpo
Beach
Hwajinpo Beach was the set of the last scene
in Gaeul Donghwa where the two lovers spent their last moments together.
As young and handsome Jun-Seo carried the beautiful yet dying Eun-Seo on his
back down the beach, the deep blue winter ocean slowly comes in and out of the
shore. This unforgettable scene invites an endless trail of visitors to Hwajinpo
Beach where you can also find other attractions such as the magnificent
Hwajinpoho Lagoon, historical summer villas and a refreshing pine tree
forest.
The fame of Hwajinpo Beach does not necessarily depend solely on
Gaeul Donghwa's fame. It is originally known for its beautiful
1.7-kilometer long shoreline preserved with shallow yet clean water and fine
sand. The spectacular view of sunset is another reason many visit this place.
If you move towards inland from the beach you will find Hwajinpoho Lagoon.
This is one of the most beautiful lagoons you will find in Korea with its
graceful scenery, surrounded by a forest of pine trees and a field of sweet
briers. The lagoon presents a renewed sense of appreciation for nature. The name
Hwajinpo, in fact, originated from the numerous sweet briers blooming in the
region.
If you head down south a bit from the beach, you will also find a few
villas in the midst of the woods. They once belonged to some historical figures
such as North Korean dictator Kim Il-Seong and Korea's first president Yi
Seung-Man. Some of these historical villas have been restored to attract many
visitors. |
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| Information |
|
| - Directions |
|
| Destination |
Transportation |
Seoul (Dong Seoul Terminal)
-> Sokcho (Express Bus
Terminal) |
Time: 06:25 ~ 21:00 (30 min. intervals),
3hr40min travel time |
| Sokcho -> Hwajinpo Beach |
Take City Bus No. 1, 05:25-22:00 (8 min. intervals),
70min travel
time | |
|
| - Free admission to Hwajinpo Beach |
|
| - Parking: 5,000 won ~ 10,000 won daily |
|
- The Gallery of History and National Security
Hours:
(Mar.-Oct.) 09:00-17:20 / (Nov.-Feb.) 09:00-16:20 |
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| Admission |
Adult |
Youth |
| Individual |
1,500 won |
1,000 won |
| Groups (min. 30 persons) |
1,000 won |
800 won | |
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Scene 2: Jun-Seo's Art Studio: A Small Closed Elementary
School in the Countryside
The main character of Gaeul Donghwa,
Jun-Seo kept a small art studio in Yangyang, Gangwon-do. Even after the series
ended, this old abandoned elementary school set still maintains its charm
attracting many visitors.
In fact, the school set is the studio of the famous
potter Jeong Jae-Nam who is also the wife of the renowned novelist Kim Ha-In. If
you ever visit this small school in Gangwon-do, you will experience a
sophisticated cultural atmosphere filled with books and pottery in harmony with
the lingering sentiment of Gaeul Donghwa. You can take a tour around the
school or even make your own pottery. |
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| Information |
|
| - Directions |
|
| Destination |
Transportation |
| Seoul (Dong Seoul Terminal) -> Yangyang (Express Bus
Terminal) |
Time: 06:30 ~ 18:40 (40 min. intervals), 3hr20min travel time |
Yangyang ->
Sangun Elementary School |
Take the City Bus toward Hajodae (06:00 ~ 8:40, 1 hr. intervals), 5 min.
travel time | |
|
Scene 3: Dreams of Honeymoons: Samyang Mokjang Ranch,
Daegwanryeong
Samyang Mokjang Ranch in Daegwanryeong is not
only Eun-Seo and Jun-Seo's honeymoon destination, but also Asia's largest green
pasture on the plateau. This ancient and vast meadow is where milking cows feed.
The view from the plateau is remarkable as well. If you go up to Daegwanryeong
Observatory early in the morning, you can witness a spectacular sunrise from the
East Sea beyond the peaks of Mt. Odaesan. The lake where cows drink water is
called Samjeongho Lake. In order to get around this grand ranch, you should take
a car or bicycle. By car, it will take about 2 hours while bicycles will take
about 5~6 hours. It would be too much to try to walk the entire ranch.
|
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| Information |
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| - Hours: 09:00-17:00 (to see some cows wandering in the ranch,
arrive by 1pm) |
|
| - Bicycle Rental: 10,000 won |
|
| - Caution: The ranch offers no lodging, so you will need to get
accommodations in Hoenggye. |
|
- Ranch Driving Route: Entrance Gate ->1st Complex -> 2nd
Complex
-> Mt. Sohwangbyeongsan -> Samjeongho Lake -> Entrance
Gate |
|
| - Admission Fee |
|
| Age |
Over 20 years old |
Under 19 years old |
| Individuals |
4,500 won |
3,000 won |
| Groups (min. over 30 persons) |
3,000 won |
2,500 won | |
|
| - Directions |
|
| Destination |
Transportation |
Seoul (Sangbong Bus Terminal)
-> Hoenggye |
Time: 06:00 ~ 16:20 (1hr. intervals),
3hr40min travel time |
Hoenggye
-> Samyang Mokjang Ranch |
Take the Shuttle Bus at 11:00, 15:30 and 18:00 |
Samyang Mokjang Ranch
-> Hoenggye |
Take the Shuttle Bus at 07:30, 14:00 and
17:00 | |
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| Scene 4: Eun-Seo's home: Abai Village, Sokcho |
|
Abai Village appears in Gaeul Donghwa as Eun-Seo's home. The village
is reminiscent of the homes in the 1960s and 1970s. The scene of Eun-Seo
arriving on a sailing boat or the village's tiny grocery store attracts many who
pass by this little quaint village.
Abai Village in Sokcho is actually where
many North Koreans settled after the Korean War. After Korea was divided, North
Korean gathered in Abai ("father" in North Korean dialect) Village, but sadly,
most villagers are second generation North Koreans who settled in the south
after the war.
You can get to Abai Village by car or by boat. The boat from
Sokcho to Cheongho-dong can carry 35 people at most because it not powered by an
engine. After getting off the boat, walk southward a bit and you will find
Cheongho-dong Dock. It is an excellent course for a stroll. This area is also
well known for its 'Abai Sun-dae (Korean style sausage)'. It is made of squid
and other seafood. |
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| Information |
|
- Boat Ride:
Hours: 04:30-23:00
Fare: Adult 150 won /
Children 100 won |
|
| - Directions |
|
| Destination |
Transportation |
Seoul (East Seoul Bus Terminal)->
Sokcho
(Express Bus Terminal) |
Time: 06:20 ~ 23:00 (1hr. intervals),
4 hr. travel time |
| Sokcho -> Abai Village |
10 minutes on foot | |
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