[Pyeongchang Winter Olympics] Get Immersed in Gangneung

In our previous post, we’ve talked about Pyeongchang and it’s tourist attractions. Now, let’s keep our focus on another beautiful destination, Gangneung – a city located in Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea. Among the many tourist attractions in Gangneung, lies Jeongdongjin, an area famous for sun-rise watching. For avid football fans, Gangneung is home to the National League football club Gangneung City FC and K League football team, Gangwon FC.

Gangneung is also one of the locations for the upcoming Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Several stadiums are located all around Gangneung :-

• Gangneung Hockey Centre

There will be two hockey venues for the Winter Olympics and Gangneung Hockey Centre will be one of it. The stadium will be the main venue for the men’s tournament and medal matches. The ice sledge hockey competition for the 2018 Winter Paralympics will also be held here.

• Gangneung Oval

The Gangneung Oval will host the speed skating competitions and will consist of a double track 400m rink and a capacity of 8000 seats. There will be three levels above ground, and two levels underground. The oval is built in Gangneung Olympic Park, and nearby Gangneung Ice Arena and Gangneung Hockey Centre

• Gangneung Ice Arena

The ice arena will be the venue for two sports – figure skating and short track speed skating. The arena was built to accommodate 12,000 spectators and designed to house two ice rinks for competition and training.

• Gangneung Curling Centre

Another indoor arena, the centre was previously used for the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Opened in 1998, the centre will be the venue for curling and wheelchair curling.

The centre was the only Olympic venue in Gangneung which has existed prior to the election for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Previously known as the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink, the centre was also the venue for the ice hockey at the 1999 Asian Winter Games and the 2009 World Women’s Curling Championships.

• Kwandong Hockey Centre

This centre is located in the grounds of Catholic Kwandong University in Gangneung. Kwandong Hockey Centre is the second venue for the Ice Hockey event.

Tourist Attractions in Gangneung

There are many attractive locations in Gangneung which may attract historians and modern architecture fans. These are locations as suggested:-

• Jumunjin Breakwater

Remember our posts for Pyeongchang, which includes a location from the drama Goblin, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God? Here’s another location which was made famous from the drama. Drama fans flocked to this location as soon as they found out the one of the scenes were shot here. The place was built to protect the coastline from effects of erosion and long shore drift.

Location 1609, Haean-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

• Jumunjin Fish Market

The seafood market was founded in 1963 and situated next to Jumunjin Port which is home to large fleet of squid boats. The market is the largest seafood market in the East Coast and is famous among Koreans and international visitors. Famous for its varieties of fresh seafood such as squid, mackerel, pollacks, pikes, and crabs, visitors may purchase the items at inexpensive prices.

Location 38, Sijang-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

• Ojukheon

Ojukheon house is named after the many black bamboo trees that surround the area. It was in this house that Shinsaimdang (1504- 1552) lived and her son Yi I (penname Yulgok; a sholar and politician of the Joseon period) was born. The house was built during the time of the 11th King of Joseon, King Jungjong (1506 – 1544) and remains as one of the oldest wooden residential buildings in Korea – designated as Treasure No. 165 in 1963 and maintained by the descendants throughout generations.

Location 24, Yulgok-ro 3139beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

• Seongyojang

Designated as the Important Folklore Material No 5 in 1967, Seongyojang is the former upper class residence of the Naebeon Lee (1703 – 1781) noble family of Gangneung-si. Built in front of Gyeongpo Lake, Seongyojang, in which Seon = boat, was accessible by boat.

Location 63, Unjeong-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

• Hassla Artworld

Hassla derived its name from Gangneung of the Shilla Era. The art garden contains the Pine Tree Garden, Time Hall, Wetlands, Field Garden, Sea Garden and Fun Garden. The Fun Garden, located by the sea, is a place suitable for artwork talks, as well as gazing at the clear view of the sea.

Location 1441, Yulgong-ro, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

• Jeongdongjin Rail Bike

Chosen by Guinness Book of World Records as having the unique distinction of having a train station located nearest to the sea, it is one of the famous spot to see the sunrise and has a rail bike that runs from Jeongdongjin station. While on the rail bike, visitors will be able to feast on the beautiful ocean view.

Location 13, Jeongdongyeok-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
Operation Hour 9:00-17:00 | Admission Fee 20,000 KRW for 2 seaters/ 30,000 KRW for 4 seaters

• Anmok Coffee Street

Being a city of coffee, a number of coffee shops in Anmok harbor street and coffee roasting museums are available here. What’s best is that you may sip your coffee while enjoying the ocean view

Hope we’ve enticed you with some of the best places in Gangneung. What’s your pick?