Prehistoric Landscape Route

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1. 1

   Heritage site

   Archaeological Site in Jeongok-ri, Yeoncheon

   1510 Yangyeon-ro, Jeongok-eup, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do

   Stamp: Jeongok-ri Site Ticket Office

   The Jeongok-ri Site in Yeoncheon (Jeongok Prehistoric Site) has garnered global attention since the discovery of an Acheulean hand axe from the Paleolithic era in 1978. Various types of stone tools, including hand axes, hunting stones, hand points, scrapers, and points, have been unearthed at the site. Notably, hand axes and flake axes with Acheulean characteristics—similar to those found in Europe and Africa—were discovered for the first time in Northeast Asia, attracting significant interest. To date, a total of 17 excavations have been conducted at the site and its surrounding areas, yielding approximately 8,500 artifacts. The discovery of the Jeongok-ri Site led to Quaternary geological research in the Hantan River and Imjin River basins. Significant Paleolithic sites have been found at various locations along the Hantan-Imjin River, establishing these basins as key areas for studying Paleolithic culture in East Asia. The Jeongok-ri Site has provided new perspectives on the cultural development processes in the global Paleolithic academic community. Through the study of site formation processes, it has made significant contributions to the development of research methodologies in Paleolithic archaeology. Photo Credit: Yeoncheon Cultural Tourism.

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2. 2

   Heritage site

   Horogoru Embankment, Yeoncheon

   1257-1 Wondang-ri, Jangnam-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do

   Stamp: Horogoru Promotion Hall

   Horogoru is a unique Goguryeo fortress constructed on a triangular plateau formed by the confluence of the Imjin River and its tributaries. Since 2001, four rounds of excavations have uncovered well-built fortress walls, wooden palisades, large water storage facilities, and various building sites. Additionally, a significant number of artifacts, including lotus-patterned roof tiles, ridge-end tiles, pottery, and iron objects, have been unearthed. These findings, alongside the fortress structure, provide crucial insights into Goguryeo's fortification techniques and its lifestyle. Located in the most critical strategic point in the Imjin River basin, which served as the border between Goguryeo and Silla for about 200 years from the mid-6th century, Horogoru has yielded a relatively high number of artifacts of superior quality. This indicates that the site likely functioned as a command post for Goguryeo's border defense. Horogoru holds great significance for its contribution to the understanding of Goguryeo's unique fortification techniques. The construction method that combined the strengths of earthen and stone fortifications is characteristic of Goguryeo and has been identified in other Goguryeo sites, such as the Gongnaeseong Fortress in China, the Daeseongsan Fortress in Pyongyang, and several Goguryeo forts in South Korea. After the fall of Goguryeo, Silla took over the fortress and, rather than demolishing the walls in need of repair due to prolonged warfare, reinforced them by adding new layers. Today, the vast interior of Horogoru has been transformed into a sunflower field, and Yeoncheon County hosts the Sunflower Festival at the site.

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3. 3

   Heritage site

   Goseokjeong, Cheorwon

   725-13 Jangheung-ri, Dongsong-eup, Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do

   Stamp: Goseokjeong Geopark Commentator Booth

   Goseokjeong, one of the nine scenic spots of Cheorwon, is a granite rock formation located within the Hantangang River gorge in Jangheung-ri, Dongsong-eup, Cheorwon-gun. In the middle of the Hantangang River, a massive rock, approximately 10 meters high, rises sharply, with clear water flowing around it on both sides. The pavilion, built during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla, and the surrounding valley are collectively known as Goseokjeong. It is said that King Jinpyeong of Silla and King Chungsuk of Goryeo visited and enjoyed this spot. It became even more famous as the base of operations for Im Kkeokjeong, a folk hero during the Joseon Dynasty. Goseokjeong is particularly notable as the best place to observe the unconformity where the granite bedrock is overlain by basalt within the Hantangang River gorge. The area is of high value as an important geological and geomorphological learning site, where one can observe the landscape before the formation of the basalt lava plateau and the fact that basaltic lava flowed over the bedrock to form the lava plateau. This formation was exposed to the surface over a long period of time, and between approximately 540,000 and 120,000 years ago, it was covered by basalt lava from volcanic activity. The area was later exposed again as the Hantangang River eroded the lava, creating a new waterway. Photo Credit: Cheorwon-gun Cultural Tourism Portal.

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4. 4

   Heritage site

   Bidulginang Falls, Pocheon

   415-2 Daehoesan-ri, Yeongbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

   Stamp: In front of Bidulginang Falls Tourist Information Center

   Bidulginang Waterfall, like the Pocheon Hantangang River columnar jointing gorge, was formed as the lava plateau of the Hantangang River was eroded by Bulmucheon Stream, which originates from Bulmusan Mountain. The surrounding terrain is shaped like a pouch, resembling a dove's nest, hence the name "Bidulginang" Waterfall. Another legend suggests that the name comes from the wild doves that have long inhabited the caves around the waterfall. This site, along with the Pocheon Hantangang River columnar jointing gorge, provides crucial insights into the geomorphological and geological formation processes of the Cheorwon-Yeoncheon region, with its large and small erosional caves, columnar joints, planar joints, gorges, and lava plateaus. Bidulginang Waterfall is especially significant for understanding the development of waterfalls within a lava plateau, serving as valuable data for comprehending the geomorphological and geological formation processes centered around the Hantangang River. Geologically and geomorphologically, Bidulginang Waterfall allows for the observation of various erosional landforms created by river action, including erosional caves, gorges, and headward erosion. It also reveals diverse geological structures such as columnar joints and planar joints. Additionally, the various layers of lava that flowed along the Hantangang River can be observed in a single view, making the site of great academic value. During the Korean War, the dense vegetation and its concealed location made it a shelter for local villagers and a retreat for soldiers. Today, Bidulginang Waterfall is designated as a Natural Monument in 2012, protecting its natural beauty and scenery, and it continues to attract numerous tourists.

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5. 5

   Heritage site

   Pocheon Art Valley

   234 Artbilli-ro, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

   Stamp: Pocheon Art Valley Ticket Office

   Pocheon Art Valley, with its picturesque emerald lake and sheer granite cliffs rising like a screen, is a cultural and artistic space that has been beautifully transformed using abandoned stones. Located in Gijiri, Sinbuk-myeon, this site was a granite quarry for 30 years starting in the 1960s, known for producing Pocheon stone—a material so renowned for its strength and beauty that it was used in major national buildings such as the Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae), the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and Incheon International Airport. After the 1990s, as the production of high-quality granite decreased, the site became abandoned and desolate. However, Pocheon City later revitalized it into a multifunctional cultural and artistic space. Pocheon Art Valley is a unique place where visitors can experience history, culture, art, and education all in one setting. The site has been environmentally restored while preserving some aspects of its former landscape. Notably, since 2014, an astronomical science center has opened, allowing visitors to observe the night sky. This has made it a popular destination for educational experiences for children and a favored dating spot for couples.

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6. 6

   Heritage site

   Hantangang Geopark Center, Pocheon

   55 Bidulginang-gil, Yeongbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

   Stamp: Information Desk inside Hantangang Geopark Center

   The Hantangang Geopark Center is Korea's first museum dedicated to geoparks. It is a must-visit location for tourists and students exploring the Hantangang River, providing easy-to-understand information on the river’s geology, history, archaeology, ecology, and cultural resources. Key facilities include exhibition halls, a special exhibition room, a 4D canyon escape ride, an outdoor ecological playground, and a geology elevator. Visitors can observe a variety of geological features formed by the interaction of lava and rivers, such as columnar joint canyons, erosional caves, and waterfalls. The center also showcases the formation of the Hantangang River and its historical transformations, from the prehistoric cultures of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods to the stories of the Three Kingdoms era, marked by numerous wars, and the leisurely lifestyle of the Joseon Dynasty. Today, the well-preserved natural environment of the Hantangang River is home to numerous species of flora and fauna and serves as a vital living space for local residents.

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7. 7

   Heritage site

   Hwajeokyeon, Pocheon

   Jail-ri, Yeongbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do (Geopark Visitor Center - 67 Sajeong-ri, Gwanin-myeon)

   Stamp: Exploration Information Center

   Hwajeokyeon is one of the eight scenic spots of Yeongpyeong, featuring a 13-meter-tall granite rock that rises above a pond. The name "Hwajeokyeon" comes from its resemblance to a stack of straw sheaves piled in the middle of the pond. In Korean, Hwajeokyeon is called "Byotgariso," meaning "a pond that looks like a stack of straw sheaves," using the characters " hwa" for straw, "jeok" for stack, and "yeon" for pond. The granite rock stands tall where the Hantangang River swirls, resembling a stack of straw, and has thus earned its name. Many legends are associated with Hwajeokyeon. One such legend tells the story of an old farmer who, after three years of drought with no rain, sat by the pond lamenting his fate. The farmer, in despair, cried out, "How can the crops wither and die when there's so much water here? Even the dragon seems to have been sleeping for three years, oblivious to our plight!" Suddenly, the waters of Hwajeokyeon surged, and the head of a dragon emerged. The farmer was so shocked that he nearly fainted, but the dragon, after thrashing its tail, ascended to the sky. That night, rain began to fall, bringing a bountiful harvest. Hwajeokyeon, with its distinctive appearance, is steeped in many such legends related to agriculture, a vital part of traditional Korean society. During the late Joseon Dynasty, Hwajeokyeon became the site for state-sponsored rituals, including the gughaeng giuje, a rain invocation ceremony held during severe droughts. Records of these ceremonies appear in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. In addition, renowned scholars and artists such as Park Sedang, Park Soon, Hong Yangho, Lee Hang-ro, Lee Byung-yeon, and others wrote ancient poems (gosimun) and created true-view landscape paintings (silgyeong sansuhwa) that depict Hwajeokyeon, adding to its historical and cultural significance. Hwajeokyeon has been designated as a Scenic Site of National Cultural Heritage

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