We love a good day trip to Haemi Fortress. Sometimes we stop here on the way to Mallipo or other Taean beaches. Grab breakfast before getting on the road It’s going to be a big day so we usually start with a big breakfast before heading out. Our preferred pre-trip meal is galbitang because it keeps us powered up for adventures along the way. Since we live in Godeokmyeon, we usually start our adventures off at Bangil Haejangguk which opens at 8:00 am and offers tasty soups, some that rotate based on the season. If you live closer to Camp Humphreys and want to get a later start, you can grab a galbitang breakfast at Sodam Korean Restaurant at 10:00 am and it’s very delicious. We have been known to stop off here fairly often because it’s so good. About Haemi Fortress in Seosan, Chungcheonnam-do Haemi Fortress might be one of the most overlooked fortresses in Korea. This little fortress is not only visually beautiful, but it’s also super fun and easy to enjoy in a day. A total retreat from the hectic cities. Families will love how the fortress grounds have been designed so that kids can run free and get all their energy out! The Haemi Fortress its in the middle of a tiny village called Haemi-eup in Seosan, Chungcheonnam-do . According to Wikipedia, the fortress was built between the 17th year of the reign of King Taejong (1417) and the 3rd year of Sejong the Great‘s reign in 1421 during the Joseon period. This fortress was built to protect against Japanese pirates. In 1886, thousands of Catholics were executed at Haemi Fortress during the French Invasion in 1866. Yup, that’s right, the French spend six weeks trying to invade Korea in order to spread Catholicism. Random fact of the day. What to do at Haemi Fortress Haemi Fortress is 45min to 1.5 hours from Pyeongtaek depending on where you are leaving from. You will need to drive since this is far out into the countryside and public transit is inconvenient at best. We always recommend the use of Naver Maps and Kakao Maps when traveling across South Korea. Inside the Haemi Fortress walls, the park a pleasantly organized and beautifully maintained park provides a relaxing place to frolic. And let’s admit it, everyone loves to frolic. The park area has a traditional village (the prison is cool), full-size weapons of war, an obstacle course, a place to fly kites, tons of spots for picnics, some places to get snacks, an area to play traditional Korean games, and more! Where to eat near Haemi If you are traveling alone or with others, you will find many places to eat near Haemi Fortress. Here are a few spots we recommend trying. Where to snack or dessert Personally, I’m always looking for street donuts, but if you can’t find any you NEED to grab hotteok. Where to Grab Coffee Get the Hazelnut Latte at Haemidong Cafe but NOT the Americano (don’t even look in its general direction of the Americano). We LOVE the specialty drinks here but equally avoid the regular drinks. I should note that this is often true because it’s on purpose. Korean roasters specifically blend and roast their coffee to taste best with milk. Pre-or-Post Haemi Ad-ons Here are a few things we often like to add on to our Haemi Fortress trips. It all just depends on how busy you like to be and how much time you have in your day. Haemi is small enough to make it a two-event day! Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventure across the country. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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Traveling across South Korea this summer? Here are 5 water parks to cut the heat this summer. Updated: July 2022 About Summer in Korea Summer is just around the corner and things are going to be seriously heating up. If you are like me you are going to be looking for some fun ways to cool off. This year my plan is to mix it up a bit.  July and August usually have the highest temperatures of the year in South Korea. Temps may rise to 43 degrees during the hardest of times. This means you need to take sun care seriously. About Water Parks in Korea Water parks are a popular summer activity in South Korea. The water parks tend to be filled to capacity in July and August and the wait for rides may be long. Additionally, during the weekdays some rides may be closed if the park attendance is low. Clothing You may see more western-style swimsuits at water parks than you do at the beach. We recommend wearing a one-piece suit since many slides require this. We also recommend rash guards as it’s better protection. Baseball cap/ water cap and goggles required. If you do not own these, you can often buy them at the water park store. Water shoes/booties may also be a great option to avoid slipping and falling. Water Park Culture Notes Each country has its own culture regarding water parks. This means that you may experience discomfort, frustration, or confusion when water park processes do not meet your hidden expectations. Accidently doing something incorrectly may be an experience that you have and that’s ok. Breathe deep and give yourself grace. One common area of confusion may be the locker system. You often need to leave your shoes in a small locker at the entrance of the dressing room and then put your belongings in a larger locker inside the dressing room. Another common area of confusion is the need to wear a cap or goggles. This procedure helps with pool maintenance and everyone will be required to do this together even if you are bald. Just roll with it. We recommend taking the time to read all posted signs using the Papago translation app. Go slowly and message 1330 with any questions you may have. Parking Water parks near major cities may charge for parking. Most water parks have large enough parking lots for their facilities. However, at locations near Seoul it might be a bit of a walk if you show up later in the day. Water Park in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea The most famous water park in all of Korea and packed to bursting in the summer since it’s near Seoul. Water Park in Gangwon-do, South Korea Water Park in Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea Water Park in Daegu, South Korea Water Park in Gyeong-nam, South Korea A small water park in a big city. Expect it to fill up to capacity in the summer months. Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most of who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventures across the country. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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1. Hiking at Mt. Songnisnan Bus: Weekend trip Car: Day trip   When you just want blue sky  and fresh mountain air,  without a lot of people and craziness, go here.   Actually, just go here. It’s only a few hours drive and it’s STUNNING. Read More Here 2. Swimming at Mallipo Beach (Taean-gun) Train: Weekend trip Car: Day trip This are is one of our favorite places to go.  There are actually may beaches in this area, but this is the easiest and fastest to find. We go here twice a month and it never gets old. Visiting with Dogs Visiting for Surf Lessons 3. Hiking Gyejokson. (Daejeon) Train: Day trip Car: Day trip Sometimes we are just lazy, and we went an easy hike  with lots of places to rest. That’s when we head to Gyejokson. This path actually has varying levels of difficulty. Sometimes we go over the mountain, sometimes we go around the mountain. Sometimes we just sit and do nothing, eat ramen and go home. You really can’t get to wrong. Pro tip: Visit During the Barefoot Festival 4. Paragliding (Various locations) Train: Day trip Car: Day trip What else do I need to say, you get to go run off of mountains and float about, then drink so beers. What are you waiting for? It must be done. More about it here. 5. Swimming at Daecheon beach (Daecheon Coast) Train: Day trip  Car: Day trip If you are going by train you can just go to Daecheon beach. It’s very well developed because of Muddiest and most folks love it. However, if you like something more quiet, go a few beaches further south. Quiet, family oriented.  Great price on sashimi.  Delightful. See Mud Fest Silliness Here

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