Welcoming the First Sunrise of the New Year in Jeongdongjin

Set out toward the rising sun over the East Sea in hopes of a brighter tomorrow. Head to Jeongdongjin in Gangneung to greet the dawn breaking through the quiet sea, sky, and soft mist. Jeongdongjin is a village located due east of the Road Distance Zero Point in front of Gwanghwamun in Seoul. It is one of Korea's premier sunrise destinations, featuring trains and scenic pine trees. Jeongdongjin Beach connects to Sandglass Park, which also houses the Jeongdongjin Time Museum. Welcome the first sunrise while reflecting on time and dreaming of the future on this true journey through time in Jeongdongjin, Gangneung.

Along the way

1. 1

   Jeongdongjin Station

   정동진역

   Located in Gangneung, Jeongdongjin Station is the train station closest to the sea in Korea. Its name originates from being located due east of Gwanghwamun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Starting operations as a regular station in 1962, Jeongdongjin once had a population of 5,000 due to the concentration of nearby coal mines. However, following the government's coal industry rationalization policy, it turned into a small fishing village with fewer than 2,000 residents, and by the early 1990s, trains rarely ran, leaving it quiet and secluded. In 1995, thanks to the sensational popularity of the TV drama 'Sandglass,' Jeongdongjin Station and its surrounding area, which served as a backdrop, became known nationwide. Since then, crowds have flocked here to watch the sunrise, turning it into a nationwide tourist attraction. The area thrives with sunrise tour trains running a 6-hour route from Cheongnyangni in Seoul, as well as tour trains from all across the country. In addition to the sunrise, nearby attractions include Jeongdongjin Beach, the famous black pine tree known as the 'Sandglass Tree,' and the Jeongdongjin Poetry Monument.MoreLess

   

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2. 2
   Sandglass Park

   모래시계공원

   Sandglass Park is cozily situated against the backdrop of the East Sea, surrounding mountains, and the village of Jeongdongjin 2-ri. A giant sandglass sits right in the center, encircled by pine trees, with benches lining the seaside. Sandglass Park directly connects to Jeongdongjin Beach.MoreLess

   

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3. 3
   Haslla Art World

   하슬라아트월드

   Haslla Art World is a comprehensive art space where nature, people, and art harmoniously coexist. Covering approximately 109,000 square meters, the sculpture park features themed zones such as 'Broadleaf Forest Path,' 'Pine Garden,' 'Time Square,' 'Sea Garden,' 'Sky Observatory,' and 'Stone Gallery & Cow Dung Museum.' To minimize environmental damage, it was crafted by hand utilizing the natural slopes and mountain topography, with paths carved out at angles that showcase nature at its most beautiful, turning the area into an artistic garden. Haslla Art World is a space delivering special experiences and happiness with art projects, performances, exhibitions, and festivals alongside domestic and international artists year-round.MoreLess

   

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4. 4

   Gangneung Unification Park

   강릉 통일공원

   Aninjin and Jeongdongjin in Gangneung, a central coastal city of Gangwon-do, are sites of national confrontation that hold the sorrows of war. This is where North Korean troops first landed and invaded the South on June 25, 1950, and where a North Korean submarine infiltrated on September 18, 1996, sending shockwaves across the nation. Embracing the painful history of the Korean War and the September 18 North Korean submarine and armed infiltrator incidents, Gangneung Unification Park was established as a large-scale exhibition park. Comprising a Warship Exhibition Hall and a Security Exhibition Hall, it aims to foster security awareness, emphasize the importance of national security, and express hope for peaceful unification by displaying military equipment from Korea's Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as the captured North Korean submarine, all in one place.MoreLess

   

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