One of the charms of travelling is the unexpected encounters we have with unfamiliar landscapes and new people. In particular, the countryside is more fun than the city, with its own distinct characteristics. Each village has its own stories, no matter how small it is. So it is with the villages that make up Imsil-gun County in Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province). Seeing industrious farmers at work against a backdrop of Mother Nature gives new inspiration to the traveler.


"What are you looking for in this remote mountain village," asked a woman in her 80s, speaking in a strong local dialect. The group of elderly women gathered at a community center in Gudam Village all agreed. According to them, Gudam is so small that residents can see what's happening everywhere around the neighborhood, even if a would-be thief were to show up. On the surface, this mountain village offers nothing special to see. However, it does give you a glance into people's simple, yet cozy, lives, lives that are in grand harmony with the centuries-old gigantic trees and with the flow of the adjacent river.



When spring comes, however, it creates a totally different landscape. Gudam Village becomes a wonderland covered with white plum flowers. There are lots of hills and slopes in the town, making it difficult to farm rice. During times of poverty, villagers had to plant and pick plums to make a living. Hot green plum tea and pickled green plums are the result, made and sold by the elderly women who have spent their whole life in the village. The fruit's sweet and bitter flavor can be a bit addictive. When the season of flowers arrives, the village is covered in white plum and cherry flowers, creating a picturesque scene along the Seomjingang River. A number of painters visit the village, with their easels and palettes in tow, to stay for a night of two.


To get closer to the Seomjingang River, visit Jinmoe Village in Deokchi-myeon. A new bike path was recently constructed along the course of the Seomjingang River. On the opposite bank, a hiking trail was built, giving another option for those who want to be closer with nature. Travelers can self-meditate and enjoy the chilly yet gentle breeze blown across the river while cycling or walking along the trail. It's good to enjoy the scenic view of the village at a slow pace. If you were along a cycling path in a bigger city, you would likely be surrounded by the ear-splitting sounds of horns, but in Jinmoe it's just ideal to focus on the sounds of the wind and the flowing river.

Not far away sits Baksagol Village, or Doctor's Village, in Samgye-myeon, a town known for its passion for education. The village has produced more than 160 people with doctorates. This is a matter of great pride among the villagers, as in the past it was regarded as being very lucky to have had the opportunity to receive an education. The original name of the village was Sesim Village, named after the Sesimcheon River that flows through the village. "Sesim" means to clean the mind. In great harmony with the surrounding unpolluted nature, the village is quite suitable for clean minds and for people devoted to academic pursuits.




Many travelers visit this village to get a taste of what it's like to live as a farmer. They are given the chance to make yogurt with aronia berries and to learn about cultivating a variety of edible plants, including sweet potatoes, chestnuts and pears. One of the most popular tourist programs is to make rice taffy in the traditional manner. It uses grain syrup instead of starch syrup, making it less sticky in your mouth. The taffy also has more holes in it, which makes it crunchier and enhances the flavor.

Cucumbers are one of the most well-known vegetables from Samgye-myeon. Cultivated along the hillside, Samgye cucumbers tend to be more watery and give of a fresher flavor. The farm run by the Imsil Samgye Agricultural Association is always full of yellow cucumber flowers, all year round. It takes about ten days from the bloom of the flower to harvest. With abundant juice, these cucumbers are fat and look delicious.

By Lee Seung-ah
Photos: Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
slee27@korea.kr