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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By: Angela Alvis, South of Seoul volunteer  While there is an abundance of temples in Korea, some of the oldest and most unique temples are located in the mountains and countryside. We are fortunate to have so many in and near Pyeongtaek! Abouth Korean Temples Korean temples are welcoming to all visitors – Buddhists and non-Buddhists, locals and foreigners. Devout Buddhists go to temples to pray or meditate, those not practicing Buddhism visit Korean temples to appreciate their history, traditional architecture, and acclaimed statues, paintings, and other artifacts. Other people visit temples just to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life or as a quick stop along a hike.  Although Korean Buddhist Temples are tourist destinations as well as cultural and historic heritage sights. Always remember that a temple is primarily a place of worship and visitors should act accordingly with respect and courtesy. Here are a few additional cultural notes to keep in mind when visiting Korean Buddhist Temples.  Now that you know the basics, you’re ready to visit a Korean Buddhist temple. Here are a few in or near Pyeongtaek.  Simboksa Temple, Pyeongtaek Simboksa Temple is the smallest of the temples listed. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in history. Simboksa is named for the seated stone statue of Buddha which is said to have been made in the 10th century and was found by Buddhist fisherman in the nearby river over 700 years ago. These fishermen built a temple to enshrine the statue, where both remain today.  Mangisa Temple, Pyeongtaek Located less than 10 miles from Osan Air Base is Mangisa Temple, the home of the Iron-Seated Buddha. Mangisa Temple was founded in 962 at the beginning of the Goryeo Period. During this period the seated iron Sakyamuni Statue was also created. Visitors may enter four buildings, each containing unique artifacts and artwork dating back hundreds or thousands of years.  Bonggoksa Temple, Asan  Located in the foothills of Bongsoo Mountain, the juniper pine trees that line the entrance fill the air with a fragrant aroma that leads to the quiet and secluded Bonggoksa temple. The temple consists of 3 buildings of notable architecture. There are many hiking trails that converge at this temple which makes it a perfect place to begin and end a hike.   Gakwonsa Temple, Cheonan Gakwonsa Temple is located at the foot of Mt. Taejosan, a few kilometers from downtown Cheonan. One of the most notable features of this temple is the massive bronze Buddha statue that stands at over 15 meters tall along with one of the largest wooden halls in all of Korea. Everything at this temple is done on a grand scale, even the parking.  Seongbulas Temple, Cheonan Just south of Gakwonsa Temple, Seongbulas Temple is one of the most scenic spots in Cheonan. Beautiful stone stairs lead to the temple, stop along the way to admire the view of downtown Cheonan and Cheonhoji Lake. This temple is unique because rather than a buddha statue enshrined in the main Buddha Hall, Buddha is carved into the natural rock wall located behind the hall. Visiting Korean Buddhist temples has been an enriching experience that I want to share with everyone. Visiting a religious site for the first time can be intimidating, especially if it is not of your faith. You can help others learn about Buddhist temples by leaving reviews on the South of Seoul app, post about them on our Facebook page or group, tag us in your Instagram posts, and support South of Seoul through Patreon. Angie Alvis, M. EdAngela Alvis holds a Master’s in Education and Bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology. Ms. Alvis specializes in curriculum development and instructional design. Angela Alvis has a depth and breadth of experience in education and early childhood that has taken her across the world to work in a variety of school settings, from rural programs to large urban districts, and everything from ECSE and DLL classrooms to childcare and university settings. Prior to her work with South of Seoul, Ms. Alvis spent several years leading the wide-scale implementation of play-based learning and a formative assessment model with over 120 educators in five early childhood schools that served over 15,000 students in Washington D.C. After transitioning back to the US, Ms. Alvis became the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives at Tools of the Mind, she works on cross-departmental teams as the education and content expert. She is currently co-designing a multi-faceted teacher development model that integrates workshops, video coaching, and professional learning communities.

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