Notable sites
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Daecheon Beach[edit]
Daecheon Beach is about 3 km away from Boryeong (up to 12 km, depending on the original or destination point). It is linked to Boryeong by a public bus line.
Daecheun Port[edit]
Daecheun Port shelters Republic of Korea Navy's 3rd Fleet since 2013, including a patrol class corvette (1,270 t, 88.3 m length, 10 m width, 25.2 m height).
See also Incheon-class frigate and Daegu-class frigate.
Wosando island[edit]
Wosando, or Wonsan Island, formerly known as Koman Island, is the second biggest island in Chungnam Province (behind Anmyeondo in Taean County). It is accessed by a 30-minutes boat journey from Daecheon Port, landing at Jeodu. It is also connected to mainland Taean-gun by the Wonsan-Anmyeon Grand Bridge (National Highway 77) to the north, and by a 7-km long undersea tunnel to the south - the longest submarine tunnel in Korea.
The largest village is Seonchon, a 10-minutes walk away from Jeodu.
Wonsando beach has long been known for its fine quartz sand, gentle gradient, clean seawater, suitable water temperature and gentle tide due to its south-facing position. Fishing in the rocky part of the beach can bring greenlings (ray-finned fishes), arenomya (clams) and black porgy (a species of wrasse); various shellfishes can be found in the sand, and the rocks shelter Macrophthalmus (Mareotis) laevis (a species of crab). As of 2024, heavy tourist development is planned for the island.
Wonsando has 3 main specialties: the salted sand lance, the Wonsando laver and the small green onion. The mass-produced salted sand lance, well-known in Boryeong, is an anchovy with a size range between 15 cm and 25 cm, salted solely with sun-dried salt then preserved at room temperature for one year.
Hodo Island[edit]
Hodo, or Ho Island, 24 km offshore from Daecheon port, is a small and quiet island with 60 households mainly gathered in a village located on its north-east coast. It boasts a 1.5 km long, bow-shaped beach of fine sand. A good place to eat abalone, turban shell or sea urchin, the island has so far avoided tourist developments.
Hodo Island was severely affected by the 2007 oil spill in Taean area to the north. Hundreds of volunteers worked to clean the area and prevent the oil from spreading in the sea with the tides. Many of the volunteers came from the public schools as a result of a direct appeal by the South Korean government relayed through the provincial school districts.
Seongjusan National Forest[edit]
The Seongjusan National Forest (or Seongjusan Recreational Forest), east of Boryeong, is in the Charyeongsan Mountains. It is linked to the town by a bus line and can be reached by driving to the entrance of Mt. Seongjusan ("san" means "mountain" in Korean). Seongjusan's altitude is 677 m. A hiking trail leads from the visitor's parking area to the top and around. The water is pure and unspoiled as there are no large domesticated animals living above the flow of the water; the wooden spoon provided is used by all visitors.
Temples[edit]
There are a few Korean temples in this region, notably Seodoksa, Muryangsa, and Goransa ("-sa" being the Korean word for temple).
Goransa is in an unlikely location at the bottom of a steep hill near the Han River, in the part of the province that is famous for having been the center of the Baekje Dynasty. Goransa is reached via the city of Buyeo, by car or bus.
Muryangsa can also be reached by car or bus.
Seodoksa can be reached by car, bus, or train.
Dinosaur footprint fossils[edit]
Dinosaur footprint fossils are found near Yeongseong Beach, on the small island of Hakseong-ri, in Cheonbuk-myeon, some 25 km north of Boryeong.
Other sites[edit]
Other notable sites are Seongjusaji temple, Ocheon Chungcheong Suyeongseong fortress, Boryeong fortress and gate, Nampo Gwanamun (gate), Oeyeondo evergreen forest, Mugunghwa Arboretum, Boryeong Museum, Cheongso station and Galmaemot catholic shrine.
Festivals[edit]
Besides the now internationally famous Boryeong Mud Festival, the area holds several other festivals:
Cheonbuk Oyster Festival, mid December in Jangeun-ri (in Cheonbuk-myeon), about 26 km north of Boryeong
Muchangpo Mystic Sea Road Festival, held in mid-August when the sea parts over 1.5 km between Muchangpo Beach and Seokdaedo Island at the full moon and at the end of the month, at Muchangpo Beach (in Gwandang-ri, 12 km south of Daecheon port)
Muchangpo Shrimp & Gizzard Shad Festival, held mid-September – early October in Muchangpo port (just north of Muchangpo Beach), at the time of year when the dotted gizzard shad (Konosirus punctatus) is at its fattest and most savory
Muchangpo Jukkumi and Dodari Festival, held mid-March – early April at Muchangpo port, with a focus on jukkumi (Webfoot octopus)
Seongjusan Autumn Leaves Festival in Meokbanggyegok-gil (Meokbanggyegok one-way street), Seongju-myeon; with drawing contest, pumbaa's performance, youth trot song festival, prize lottery and fireworks
Jusan Spring Flower Festival in April in Jusanbeokkot-ro ("ro" meaning a 2 to 7-lane street), Jusan-myeon, about 20 km south of Boryeong
Daecheon Winter Sea Love Festival in December at Daecheon Beach, with lights & Korean paper lanterns at night, fireworks...