Visiting the different cities in Gyeongsangbuk-do felt a bit like travelling back and forth in time, as we witnessed a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity.
Whenever Korea travel is mentioned, Seoul or Jeju Island are usually the first destinations to come to mind. But this time round, Weekender Singapore was invited by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) Singapore to explore Gyeongsangbuk-do, the largest province in South Korea, also known as the North Gyeongsang Province.
There is a good reason why Gyeongsangbuk-do is known as “Korea in Korea”. What awaited us was a richly cultural tour lined with picturesque landscapes and gastronomic delights. While Korea travel is the “in” thing now and many may already be familiar with the country, the following 5 cities take you slightly off the beaten path to experience a lesser-known side of Korea. Whether you are new to Korea, or have already visited Korea numerous times, there will be a fun and enjoyable itinerary in store for you.
Andong
Sights
There is a reason why Andong is called “the capital of Korean spirit”. Even with little prior knowledge about the city, we could sense the deep cultural atmosphere when we reached Andong. The Andong Hahoe Folk Village is a must-visit thanks to its excellent preservation of Joseon period-style architecture and traditions. The village was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, and the entire region can easily take at least half a day to properly explore. As we were heading out via a riverside path flanked by green trees, a fellow guide told us that this path is actually a cherry blossom path, which would be even more beautiful in springtime.
For night activities, we highly recommend taking a romantic moon boat ride in the Nakdonggang River, against the backdrop of the beautiful Woryeonggyo Bridge. The moon moats are crescent-shaped electronic leisure boats with driving motors and direction controls. One can safely and freely drive them without prior experience.
Food
If you visit Andong, you’ll notice that many restaurants serve this local speciality called Andong Jjimdak, which is a dish of braised/ steamed chicken and vegetables marinated in soy sauce, and served with rice noodles. The chicken we had at Ihwa Sikdang (이화식당) was very juicy and tender, and just the right mix of sweet, savoury, and spicy, but you can also request for it to be not so spicy if you like.
The Cherry on the Cake
Catching a traditional Hahoe mask dance drama performance at Andong Hahoe Village. The performance is comical and light-hearted, with English subtitles for non-Korean audiences. We even got to dress up as the masked characters after the show! Feel free to try out some acting with your friends in this quaint rustic setting.
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