한국관광공사 해외홍보 기자단으로서, 직접 목포 시티투어 프로그램에 참여하고, 이곳저곳을 여행한 뒤에 칼럼을 작성했습니다 :)

직접 작성한 영어칼럼을 여러분과 공유해, 목포시민으로서 외국관광객에게 목포를 소개하는 데 좋은 자료로 활용되었으면 하는 바람입니다!
우리 고장 목포 관광에 많은 관심과 홍보 부탁드립니다~

※직접 작성한 기사이니 불법복제나 유포는 금합니다!

*Tour Around the Historic Port City, Mokpo

Do you know the movie 'Mokpo, Gangster's Paradise'? Most of Koreas recall the movie when they think of Mokpo. Located at the last station of Honam line KTX, Mokpo has 80% of its land reclaimed from the sea. As an open port city, it develops while preserving the modern history. Through Mokpo, which is geographically close to Japan, what kind of culture was introduced to Korea and what history does it contain? I have traveled around to look into Mokpo, which is adopting a brand new look as a city with provincial government office of Jeollanam-do. The tour divided the city into two (old town and new town) and included Samhakdo Island, which is connected to Mokpo by a bridge


[1.Old town_Mokpo Modern Time Historical Museum and Lee Hun-dong Garden]


In old town, there are many building constructed by Japanese during the Japanese occupation period.

One of the buildings of Mokpo Modern Time Historical Museum is old building of Oriental Development Company, which was founded for the purpose of exploitation of Korea economy. This is one the 9 company buildings. Documentation process to plunder the farm rents were done here in the past. Now it displays photographic data of the past and is used as an educational space of Korean history. It is often mentioned in the history text books in Korea.

Another building of Mokpo Modern Time Historical Museum is former Japanese Consulate Building. It is a building of Renaissance structure built for consular service. With the well-preserved exterior and interior, it is highly valuable in architectural history. After the liberation of Korea, it was used as city hall of mokpo, library, and cultural center. Now, it is used as Mokpo Modern Time Historical Museum.

If you look around Lee, Hun-Dong Garden, you can see the wealthy life of the rulers of Japanese colonial rule. Built in the location with a good view of the port, it was a place to supervise the plundering of goods to Japan. In the Japanese style garden, there is a Korean peninsular shaped pond. It is said that the late President Park Chung-hee told to remove a stone in the middle of it when he stayed there.


[2. Old town_Yudalsan Mountain&Nojeokbong]

Shall we visit the historical background of Mokpo, Yudalsan Mountain? Walk along the walking trail behid the museum, you will see Nojeokbong art park. Enjoy the overlooking view of old town and look round Nojeokbong art park that was built to promote the culture of Mokpo and help to understand the culture. If you are freshen up enough, shall we begin hiking in earnest? Yudalsan Mountain frequently visited by citizens and tourists! Best hiking course!

Easy to climb and good view of Mokpo! If you reach at the top of the mountain, you w can overlook the downtown Mokpo, Mokpodaegyo bridge and cool and clear Dadohaehaesang National Park along with ships sailing between the islands.
After coming down from the mountain, you can see Nojeokbong Peak, which was used for military strategy by general Yi Sun Shin. The rocks were wrapped with straw so that they be confused with military provisions to prevent the advance of the enemy. Behind the peak is New millennium bell of citizens holding the wish of the citizens. People can make a wish, while hitting the bell. Along the walking trail connecting to the bell, there is a tree shaped like woman's leg, it is believed that if a woman touch the tree, she will have a baby.


[3. Samhakdo Island ]


Is Jeju-do the only island in Korea? No. There are many small island you can visit whenever you ride on a ship at a port near Mokpo. One of them is Samhakdo that was created after three women died to become cranes. ('Sam' translates into 'three', 'hak' is crane in English, 'do' means island.) The island is connected to Mokpo enabling you to visit by bus. It is an island you can easily go, visit it!
In Samhakdo island, there is Kim, Dae-Jung Nobel Peace Prize Memorial Hall. Did you know that the president of Korea who was awarded Nobel peace prize is from Mokpo? Retrace the course of his life and learn lesson from it!

Yi Nan-yeong Park. There is a park named after the representative singer from Mokpo, Yi Nan-yeong. You can have some time to relax while walking along the bridge connecting three islands.

[4. New town_​Gatbawi Culture Town]

I want artworks! Maritime museum! I am curious about the natural history! also want Ceramic experience.... Do you want to visit many museums and have various experiences? Come to Gatbawi culture Town! From culture and arts center to maritime museum, various types of museums and exhibition halls are located in one place.
In Mokpo, there are Training Center for Important Intangible Cultural Properties, Mokpo Museum of Literature, and Culture and Arts Center, providing chances to watch performances and learn. Through such experience you can develop artistic sensitivity!

First, there is Namnong Memorial Hall that exhibits artworks reflecting tradition of Namdo provinces. Second, Mokpo Ceramic Livingware Museum provides chances to learn history of ceramic and offers ceramic experience, in which participants can make a ceramic. Also, at the Mokpo Natural History Museum, visitors can observe dinosaur fossils to learn the birth of the earth and origin and evolution of life on Earth! Mokpo Ceramic Livingware Museum, Mokpo Natural History Museum, and Local History Building all can be visited with one ticket!
Lastly, National Maritime Museum is only one in Korea. Visitors can learn about history of maritime vessels development history and maritime culture. It excavates, preserves, and manages maritime cultural assets by itself. Here you can learn hidden story of the sea and take a rest at a cafe with magnificent view over the sea.

Gatbawi Culture Town. It seems to be unable to leave easily after exploring a whole day. Visit museums you want to learn about history and culture of Korea and have some experience!


[5. New town_ ​Gatbawi Rock & Peace Park ]

Getting out of Gatbawi culture town to walk on the Gatbawi Wooden Walkway, you will have a close look at Gatbawi rock which was formed as a result of years of weathering. The rock looks like father and son wearing a traditional hat called "gat". There is a story of a son who couldn't take care of sick father. It is preserved as Natural Monument !

Shall we go to the citizens resting place prepared along the sea, peace square? There is a cafe street where cafe shops are densely located. Choose a cafe with your favorite atmosphere and enjoy a cup of coffee with the magnificent view of the sea. At night, you can watch water fountain show. Dancing Oceanic Fountain in Mokpo is the world's first floating oceanic fountain. Audiences can write down a name of the song request and their story to float it on the sea to make a memory. If you walk along the walking trail, you will cross the Bridge of Peace and walk along the Estuary Bank of Yeongsangang River. It can be faster and more convenient to move on a bicycle. There is a cycle path, too!


Did you enjoy the tour around Mokpo? Mokpo is smaller than other cities, but the tour was rich in content and effective! Destinations with similar themes are closely located, enabling to see different features of Mokpo in each place. If speed up, popular destinations can be visited in one day. So, I could travel around Mokpo without burdens. Mokpo, city with mountain and the sea in harmony! Visit the city with the history and the present life exist in harmony to look around many places in short period of time. I'd like to share this great opportunity that allowed me to find out new aspects of the port city Mokpo.



- Korea Tourism Promotion Visit Korea Reporter Hakyung Lee