'''Chuncheon''' (??,_t__) City is the capital Gangwon (??, _]__), the northeasternmost province of South Korea. For travelers weary of Seoul's crowds and big city atmosphere, Chuncheon can be an ideal place to spend several days. The area, surrounded by rivers and hills, offers a variety of relaxing outdoor activities and small town pace.

The city is now a popular destination for East Asian tourists as it was featured in the popular Korean drama serial, Winter Sonata.

Get in

  • '''From Incheon International Airport
  • Reach the city from Seoul's Incheon Internation Airport (ICN) via intercity bus. Tickets available at the bus booth in the arrivals hall at ICN. The approximately length of the bus ride is 2.5 hours (assuming no traffic).

  • ''' From Seoul '''
  • If traveling from Seoul, buses depart from the Dong Seoul Bus Station. Buses leave regularly every fifteen minutes, between 6 AM and 9:20 PM, and charge a fare of approximately 10,000 Won. To reach the Dong Seoul Bus Station, take the Seoul subway system to Gangbyeon Station and leave through exit number 4. The bus station will be visible across the street. These buses take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours or more depending on traffic.

    Buses to Chuncheon also depart from Seoul's Sangbong Bus Terminal once every forty minutes, between 5:40 AM and 9:30 PM.

    Regular Train service is also available from Seoul to Chuncheon along the Gyeongchun Line. The train leaves Seoul, from Cheongnyangni Station (Line 1, Cheongnyangni subway stop, Exit 4), every hour and takes just under two hours to reach Chuncheon. There are 21 trains daily departing as early as 5:25am. It is a beautiful trip which winds through the mountains, alongside the rivers and lakes for which the Gangwon region is famous. Arrive early at the station in Seoul if you are unsure of the scheduled time of departure. The price of a one way ticket from Seoul to Chuncheon is 5,600 won ($5.60 USD).

    Get Around

  • '''Taxis
  • Taxis are the most efficient way of getting around Chuncheon. Taxis are plentiful and you can easily find one within a few minutes if you wait on the sidewalk of most busier streets in the city. You may have trouble catching one if you are on the outskirts of Chuncheon or during rush hour when most are in use. The English word "Taxi" is used in Korean, so it's easy to ask someone where one might wait to find a taxi.

    The taxis are identified by a sign mounted on top of the car, but also have a red LED sign with Hangul lettering inside their windshield. If this sign is lit, it signifies that the taxi is available for hire. They turn this sign off when they are already transporting a customer. Stick your arm out to the street as a taxi approaches and they will stop.

    Taxis are the best option for short trips through town and are nice when you need door to door service. They are especially helpful when shopping and you have goods to carry with you as you can put them in the trunk or the back seat. Another benefit is when you have multiple people in your group as the fee is the same no matter how many people ride.

  • '''Buses
  • Though bus numbers are clearly marked and always run the same routes, most are not on any kind of schedule and you could wait 5 minutes or over an hour at a bus stop. They can also become very crowded and you may have to wait for people to get off after several stops before you can acquire a seat. Bus stops are placed throughout the city, but may be a little walk from where you are staying or from your destination. However, buses are more economical when traveling alone or going very far outside the city. Bus fare is typically 1100 won per person. Most Koreans who ride the bus regularly have a chipped card they scan when they board. As a visitor, you will need to put the exact cash into a slot in the front when boarding.

    When you approach the stop you need to get off at, press the red button to the right of the exit door located on the passenger side of the bus half way back. This signals the driver to stop and the side doors will open. Exit quickly as it seems they are often off and running again before you can hit the ground.

    See

  • '''Animation Museum''' [http://animationmuseum.com/eng/en01.html]
  • Korea's only Animation Museum is located in Chuncheon and is worth a visit of a few hours or more. The museum sits directly next to an animation studio. Patrons may also purchase tickets to view a screening of animated Korean short films for 4,000 won. The subject matter mainly pertains to the history of Korean animation, but also highlights animation from other parts of the world, including North Korea, Europe, Japan, and the United States. Although most of the displays are in Korean only, English speakers will still enjoy the variety of media presented. The sculptures outside of the museum, created with used car parts, are a popular photo opportunity.

  • Chuncheon city hall [http://tour.chuncheon.go.kr/eng/]
  • Do

  • '''Jungdo Island'''
  • A large island on the Soyang River. A ferry runs to the island every half hour. Fare is 5500W per adult. The island makes a great day trip or picnic. You can hike around and see ancient Korean huts, or rent bikes and ride a paved trail that goes around one side of the island. Bike rental is approximately 10,000w per hour. Surrey bikes and four wheelers are also available to rent. The island also has places where you can camp.

  • '''Soyang Dam'''
  • At the head of the Soyang river. The dam creates Soyang Lake. Boat rides are available to tour the lake, and there is a boat ride that takes you to a hiking trail to see a Buddhist temple.

  • '''Bong Ui Mountain'''
  • Chuncheon sits in a valley surrounded by mountains. Bong Ui is a famous peak located just North of Myongdong (Downtown Chuncheon) and sits just south of the Soyang river. Trails lead to the top from all sides of the mountain, and there is exercise equipment on top. It is not a very tall peak, but makes for a good hike. It's elevation is approximately 925ft, next to the Soyang River which is 240ft.

  • '''Statue Park'''
  • A park with many marble statues and a building which contains and replica of an ancient Korean water clock. A small store provides bike rentals and across the street are docks where you can rent paddle boats on the river. The river feeds into the Soyang and from there you can see Jungdo island.

  • '''Gangchon Ski Resort'''
  • Located approximately 30 minutes drive from downtown Chuncheon. A free shuttle runs from Chuncheon to the ski resort.

    Buy

    Koreans rely heavily on small, individual stores to provide goods and services for specific things. The idea of a mega store that sells everything is more recent, but growing in popularity. There are a few of these type of "mega" stores in Chuncheon, making it easy for a foreigner to find most of the grocery and general household items they need.

  • '''Emart'''
  • The closest thing to a Walmart equivalent, Emart is a large shopping center with most everything you might need. The lower level is a food court and grocery center, the second level a department store and additional levels for parking. Emart is located on the south side of Chuncheon.

  • '''GS Mart'''
  • A bit smaller than Emart, GS mart provides much of the same in terms of product and pricing. GS Mart also has a food court upstairs that includes a McDonalds. Some local Koreans seem to prefer GS Mart due to it's "cleaner" and less crowded nature, but it doesn't offer as large of a selection of groceries and household goods as Emart. GS Mart can be found in Seoksadong on the east side of Chuncheon.

    Eat

  • '''''Dakgalbi'' Street'''
  • Chuncheon is known for its ''Dakgalbi'' Street, featuring a large number of restaurants that specialize in the dish. ''Dakgalbi'' (Hangul: ???) is a delicious grilled chicken dish with vegetables and topped off with a spicy Gochujang Sauce. Most restaurants will offer both tables with chairs and tables with floor seating. Chicken and vegetables are grilled before you on the table's skillet.

  • '''Other Options
  • If you are interested in trying other Korean foods, try walking or driving around Chuncheon as there are many restaurants to be found. Note that many restaurants specialize in just one type of food. For example, some restaurants serve only pork, others only chicken, and so on.

    The budget traveler can easily purchase instant noodles and other snacks cheaply from convenience stores.

    Drink

    Sleep

    Get out

    Buses depart regularly to most major cities, including Seoul, from Chuncheon's Bus Station. It may be worthwhile to inquire in advance at the station if unsure of the bus schedules.

    Some travelers prefer to use Chuncheon's train station to depart the city. Regular train service is available from Chuncheon to Seoul along the Gyeongchun Line. The train leaves every hour from Nam Chuncheon (Chuncheon Train Station) and takes just under two hours to reach Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul. Cheongnyangni Station connects to Line 1 of the Seoul subway system. The price of a one-way ticket to Seoul from Chuncheon is 5,600 won ($5.60 USD). The train departs at 45 minutes past the hour.

    A popular place for locals and other East Asian tourists is '''Nam-i Island''', which consists of tree-lined boulevards that are among the set locations for the popular Korean drama serial, Winter Sonata. Particularly romantic when it snows in the winter, and popular among couples.