Gapyeong is a mountain-and-river county in eastern Gyeonggi Province best known as the gateway to Nami Island and a handful of theme parks and gardens that draw day-trippers out of Seoul.
History
Gapyeong's modern notoriety comes largely from the Korean War: the county was the site of the Battle of Kapyong in April 1951, when UN forces including Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand troops held off a major Chinese offensive, a battle still commemorated by those countries' militaries. In peacetime, the county's mountains, the Bukhan River, and its position bordering Gangwon Province made it a natural draw for resorts, and Gapyeong has since built a tourism economy around nature attractions and, more recently, a reputation as a center of traditional Korean rice wine (makgeolli) production.
Highlights
- Nami Island (Namiseom), a half-moon-shaped river island reached by ferry, landscaped with tree-lined paths that became famous worldwide after scenes from the 2002 drama Winter Sonata were filmed there; the island bills itself as the whimsical "Naminara Republic."
- Petite France, a small French-village-themed cultural park near the Cheongpyeong Lake shoreline, built around the story of The Little Prince.
- The Garden of Morning Calm, a large botanical garden known for elaborate seasonal flower displays and winter lighting festivals.
- Jaraseom (Jarasum) Island, a set of small islands on the Bukhan River that host Gapyeong's biggest annual festival and camping grounds.
- Gapyeong Rail Bike, a repurposed stretch of old rail line along the Bukhan River that visitors pedal in open-air rail carts.
Food
Gapyeong has built a reputation as a center of traditional makgeolli (Korean rice wine) production, celebrated each year with a dedicated festival; freshwater fish dishes from the Bukhan and Cheongpyeong rivers, such as maeuntang (spicy fish stew), are also a local specialty.
Annual events
- Jarasum International Jazz Festival (mid-October) — held on Jaraseom Island since 2004, one of Korea's best-known music festivals, drawing over 100,000 visitors during peak autumn foliage.
- Gapyeong National Makgeolli Festival — an annual festival celebrating the county's traditional rice wine, held since 2011.
Getting there
Gapyeong is served directly by the Gyeongchun Line, which runs from Seoul's Cheongnyangni and Sangbong stations to Gapyeong Station and Cheongpyeong Station in roughly an hour to 90 minutes; buses also run from Seoul's regional terminals. From Gapyeong town, local buses and taxis reach Nami Island's ferry dock, Petite France, and the Garden of Morning Calm.
How long
Most of Gapyeong's attractions are single-stop destinations that take a few hours each, so it is easily done as a day trip from Seoul, though combining Nami Island, Petite France, and the Garden of Morning Calm in one day means an early start and a fair amount of local transit.