Types of Activities to Consider During the Holiday Chuseok is a great time to get outside! The weather is often gorgeous since the summer heat has faded and a cool breeze often blows across the rice paddies. Since restaurants in the area you are interested in might be closed, it is a great time to plan a picnic! Also join the Pyeongtaek Food and Fun Facebook group to find out more information about what is happening in the area. 7 Things to Do in or Near Pyeongtaek Over Chuseok Visit one of Pyeongtaek’s many wonderful parks. Over Chuseok the Sosabeol parks are a great choice since a variety of businesses remain open in the area. Grab the kids and go for a long bike ride together on one of the many river bike paths. The Pyeongtaek Lake Recreation Area businesses will mostly be closed, which makes it the perfect spot for a Chuseok picnic with friends. You can’t BBQ in the park but you can certainly pack some sandwiches and head that way. Hiking is always a great choice over the Chuseok holiday. Maybe it’s time to try a new trail. We recommend the Jangan Hiking and Biking trails because they are only about a 20-minute drive from Sinjang-dong (near Osan Air Force Base) which has many businesses that remain open during the Chuseok holiday. You can find more local Pyeongtaek hikes in the South of Seoul app by searching “hike” or “hiking” There are actually two bowling alleys in Sosabeol that will be open throughout the Chuseok week, this one is the most visually fun! You can download the South of Seoul app to discover more stuff to do in Sosabeol. Many Sosabeol places are open throughout Chuseok. Maybe it is time you gave the skate park in Godeok a try. The skating area isn’t huge, but the park is gorgeous and skateboarding or inline skating makes any week better! You can easily bring a picnic here! Be warned, the area has not officially opened, which means access to the park can be tricky. Prepare to drive around a little before you figure it out. When in doubt, you can always go to the mall! Grab the family and head to Anseong to enjoy the malls many restaurants and activities. Read Two More Important Blogs About Chuseok! There is more to know about Chuseok! Be sure to read these two blogs as well Supporting & Celebrating Chuseok Best Pyeongtaek Neighborhoods for Chuseok 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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Looking for cool historical sights in Taean-gun? Here are some places I loved visiting with my family. About Taean-Gun Taean-gun is a beautiful coastal region located in South Korea’s Chungcheong province. The area is known for its pristine beaches, natural beauty, and delicious seafood. One of the top attractions in Taean-gun is Mallipo Beach, which boasts a long stretch of white sand and clear blue waters. Visitors can swim, sunbathe, and participate in various water sports like jet skiing and parasailing. Another popular beach is Cheollipo Beach, which is surrounded by picturesque cliffs and is known for its tranquil atmosphere. In addition to its beaches, Taean-gun is also home to the Taean Haean National Park, which is a protected natural area that includes a diverse range of landscapes like rocky cliffs, forests, and wetlands. The park is an ideal destination for nature lovers and hikers, with a variety of trails to explore. Visitors can also take a boat tour around the park’s islands, which offer stunning views of the coastline and the surrounding mountains. For those interested in cultural activities, Taean-gun is also home to the Taean Tulip Festival, which takes place every spring and features thousands of colorful tulips in full bloom. However, in addition to all the fun and beaches, Taean-gun also has some cool historical sites. If you live nearby in an area like Pyeongtaek-si, make sure to visit these Historical Sights in Taean-gun. Accessing Taean’s Historical Sights You will not find a great deal of information about Taean’s historical sites on English language sites. Since Taean does not have easy public transportation and the roads have only been improved in recent years, Taean has been off the radar for international travelers. All that started to change in 2020. Public transit remains limited, but more international tourists have taken to visiting via car or motorcycle. Taean’s historical sights are not huge or massive. Instead, Taean’s sites offer a quiet and reflective look at the past. There will not be throngs of people. You will not be swept away in the spectacle of travel bloggers and Instagram stars. However, you will be in the beautiful countryside seeing how the past and present exist in the modern reality of Korea. How Can I Find More Information About Taean’s Historical Sights? To learn more about visiting Taean’s historical sites, contact 1330 to learn more about the logistics of each individual place. You may also need a bi-lingual Korean concierge service to help book the tours for you. Additionally, joining local travel Facebook Groups like Pyeongtaek Travelers can help you find current information on others’ experiences. 8 Taean’s Historical Sights LeaDan Yee, M.EdLeaDan Yee holds a Master’s in Education with a focus in Secondary Education and Teaching – Language Arts and Bachelor’s in Psychology, with a minor in Speech. As a Cultural Liaison and Content Creator at South of Seoul, Ms. Yee focuses on creating content for families interested in traveling and those with toddlers.  She is especially interested in opportunities to share her Native Hawaiian background and empower others to be cultural ambassadors. Prior to joining South of Seoul, LeaDan worked as a High School Speech Teacher and Adjunct Communications Professor. She specializes in Public Speaking, Argumentation and Debate, Team Management, and Event Planning.

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Welcome to Sosabeol the click on the locations to learn more about restaurants, cafes, and things to do in this relaxed and fun neighborhood. Pyeongtaek (평택) is made up of many different, unique little neighborhoods. Over the last 2 years these neighborhoods have been reorganized, a new address system created, and often – completely new names assigned. Combine this with the constantly changing English-speaking population that rotates through each year, and life becomes like a big game of “telephone” as half information turns into mythical information. That’s where South of Seoul comes in. We are on the ground and update the South of Seoul app (available for iPhone and Android) each time we are alerted to a change or inconsistency.  Always let us know if a business is closed, a new one has opened, or something isn’t working right! We make those changes and keep things running smoothly. Introducing Sosabeol (소사벌) The South of Seoul community voted Sosabeol the Best Date Night Neighborhood in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The Sosbeol neighborhood is made up of a few dongs (동), but mostly it is located in a new section of Bijeon-dong (비전동) called Bijeon2Dong (비전2동).  A few years ago this area was farms and pear orchards. Faster than you could say Pyeongtaek, developers filled in the agricultural land and developed it into what is one of the hippest, happening parts of Pyeongtaek.  Sosabeol offers food and fun in one centralized location. Where can I find this in the South of Seoul app? If you are looking for a place to go out and have fun,  this is where you want to go. Simply search “Sosabeol” in the South of Seoul app. The Sosabeol neighborhood has something for everyone in a very compact little area. Families, singles, couples, and friends can all find something brilliant to do together. Here is a quick look at what is happening in Sosabeol, Bijeon2dong, Pyeongtaek-si. Every week new things arrive so visits are always an adventure. It moves at record speed. Sosabeol’s fast development has caused plenty of issues in the area. For years no maps worked, not event Naver. It was nearly impossible to tell anyone how to find anything. That’s why there are so many WAZE pins entered there. Our volunteers walked all the streets and entered things so they could be found. It was a crazy amount of work but it paid off. Of course, that work also becomes antiquated since these pins often aren’t updated as the community changes. As the WAZE data becomes less accurate, Naver and Kakao have started working correctly so things have worked out. Google is still entirely unreliable in Sosabeol. The correct address will take you to a completely incorrect location. What kind of things are there to do in Sosabeol? If there is a fad in Korea, it’s almost guaranteed to show up in Sosabeol. It has all the key features that define a modern Korean city. In short, Sosabeol is a playground for people with disposable income.  It’s laden with brand-name restaurants, Instagram-ready cafes (which are often more about getting the shot than getting the flavor but still fun), dessert spots, and drinking establishments that will make you feel fancy. After dinner you can have a blast with things like archery, bowling, getting massages, tennis, darts, walking in the park with stunning skylines, strolling by the pond or streams, watching movies, etc. It’s a great place for everyone. Families, friends, dates, and co-workers will find something to do here.  Thursday to Saturday expect fancy cars and slow traffic. However, it’s not cheap. Everything here is new and now. If you are on a budget this might not be your spot. What’s the transportation situation? Parking: Parking in this area is terrible. There are parking garages below many of the buildings and we recommend paying for parking whenever you can. Make sure you leave plenty of time to drive around looking for a spot. There is no cheat or easy answer. Carpooling is 100% a great idea. If you are meeting someone, give yourself.  If you visit a business, most will offer some free parking in their building. You simply need to show them your vehicle’s license plate when you check out. The parking systems are linked to each business’s computer system that your parking discount is automatically applied when you leave. Subway: There is no subway station in this area. The closest one is Pyeongtaek Station. You can catch a taxi from there. We recommend this over parking or buses. Buses: There are no “fast” ways to get to Sosabeol right now. Often it’s faster to walk than take a bus. You can find bus routes on Naver and in Google. Taxi: We highly recommend taking a taxi here from Pyeontaek Station if you don’t like fighting for parking or public transportation. It’s just easier. Businesses in this area do tend to come and go. Rent and property prices are through the roof, parking is terrible, and there is no good public transportation. This makes it hard for them to do business. Sooo, if you love a place there tell ALL your friends. Let South of Seoul know all about it. Leave them reviews and post pictures. We have watched great places arrive and leave in months because they just couldn’t get people flowing fast enough. It’s cutthroat in Sosabeol so show them your support and love. Download The South of Seoul app from Google Play Download the South of Seoul app from the Apple App Store

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