New Year, New Atmosphere: Sunrise Check-in Spots in Korea.
New year, new atmosphere. Today, we embark on a new journey again.
If you are in Korea on New Year's Day?
Let's welcome the moment of the new sunrise together, GO GO GO ~
⛺【Jeongdongjin】:
Located about 18 kilometers south along the east coast within Gangneung City.
Named as 'the village with a ferry in the east direction of Gwanghwamun in Hanyang.' In terms of latitude, it is located directly east of Dobongsan in Dobong-gu, Seoul Special City. Since the Silla period, this has been a place where the king personally worshipped the Dragon King of the Four Seas. In 2000, as a nationally designated event, a grand millennium sunrise celebration was held here, making it a famous sunrise spot~~
🛬【Travel Tips】: It is recommended to go at midnight, fewer cars, and the timing is just right. You can also book a KTX to get there~ Jeongdongjin Station is very close to the port and is recorded in the Guinness World Records as the closest station to the sea in the world. Jeongdongjin Station became famous after being the filming location for the 1994 drama 'Sandglass,' and the sunrise train runs from Cheongnyangni Station, making it a famous tourist destination. Many stations nationwide, such as Busan, Dongdaegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Jeonju, Uijeongbu, and Chuncheon, also run tourist trains here. Nearby are small-scale beaches like Jeongdongjin, Goseongmok, and Deungmyeong, as well as Hourglass Park, Gyeongpodae, Ojukheon (Treasure No. 165), Jinsung Gramophone Sound Museum, Deungmyeongrak Temple, Cheongok Cave, Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock, and Hwanseongul Cave, among many other close tourist spots.
🏨【Accommodation Tips】: If you are there for the day, you can take a nap nearby after watching the sunrise before heading to other attractions like Coffee Street.
⛺【Homigot Sunrise Plaza】:
Pohang City invested 12.4 billion KRW to create a historical space for the start of the new millennium, wishing for the peaceful reunification of the country, and symbolizing the future direction of the new millennium. On a land area of 13,920 pyeong, they built the Hands of Harmony, the Sacred Fire Altar, the Millennium Eye, and the statues of Yeon O-rang and Se-yeo-nyeo.
🛬【Travel Tips】: The Hands of Harmony have the left hand on land and the right hand in the sea, built to encourage all citizens to help each other at the start of the new millennium. In front of the left hand on land is the Sacred Fire Altar symbolizing harmony with the sun. The Millennium Eye uses a sunlight collector to convert the sun's infrared rays into heat. The 'Fire Box in the Millennium Eye' preserves the last fire of the 20th century collected from Byeonsan Peninsula, the Earth's fire collected from Fiji in the South Pacific, the millennium fire collected from Dokdo, and the new millennium fire collected from Homigot, among other 'eternal fires.' The statues of Yeon O-rang and Se-yeo-nyeo were erected to commemorate the story's background of welcoming the sunrise. It is said that the rock climbed by Yeon O-rang emerged from here. At the entrance of the plaza, there is a canola flower garden area where canola flowers bloom every April to May. Besides this, there are many attractions around the plaza, such as Korea's first National Lighthouse Museum, wind turbines utilizing the strong sea winds of Homigot, and more.
🏨【Accommodation Tips】: It is recommended to play for 2-3 days as it is quite far from Seoul city center.
⛺【Haegeumgang Sunrise on a Cruise】:
Designated as Scenic Spot No. 2 of the Republic of Korea in 1971, it belongs to Hallyeohaesang National Park. Its name comes from its shape, which resembles Geumgangsan Mountain in the sea. It is a magnificent landscape that is hard to find on the Korean coast and has been a representative scenic spot of Geoje City since ancient times, also being the oldest sunrise sightseeing spot.
🛬【Travel Tips】: There are two routes from Haegeumgang Cruise Terminal to Haegeumgang. Route 1 is Oedo-Haegeumgang, and Route 2 is Haegeumgang-Dabido. Due to the large number of people entering Oedo on Route 1, the boat is larger and does not go to every corner of Haegeumgang but just circles around. If you want to truly tour Haegeumgang, the Dabido route is recommended. Both online and on-site reservations are available, and you can book any available seat.
⛺【Ulsan Ganjeolgot Sunrise】:
You can see the earliest rising sun on the east coast. The sunrise is 1 minute earlier than Homigot in Yeongil Bay and 5 minutes earlier than Jeongdongjin in Gangneung. Together with nearby Ulsan's Jinha Beach and Seosaengpo Waeseong, it is gaining popularity as a new scenic spot, attracting many tourists. The Ganjeolgot Lighthouse stands tall looking out to the sea, and in front of the lighthouse is a pine forest that, although not lush, has a very friendly winding appearance.
🛬【Travel Tips】: Ulsan Ganjeolgot is the earliest place to see the first sunrise of the new year on January 1, 2024. On January 1, to welcome the first sunrise of the new year, a delightful program is prepared. Popular singers will perform at the 'Sunset Event,' and to commemorate the first sunrise of 2024, there will be a 'Drone Light Show,' 'Fireworks,' and 'New Year Rice Cake Soup' among many other colorful activities.
🧡【Tips】: Most sunrises require departure at midnight or early morning. I don't need to say more about the harsh temperatures at this time, right? So before you set off, be sure to bring warm packs, hot water, and cold-proof hats and gloves~~~ I personally wrapped myself in a blanket~~~ You will find many people wrapped in blankets, and at this time, it's better to prioritize warmth over style~
Jeongdongjin Sunrise Park