Korea.net honorary reporters pose against a backdrop of the waterway between Hansando Island in Tongyeong in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Yeosu in Jeollanam-do Province, known as the Hallyeosudo Straits, on Oct. 28.
Following its three-day tour in Busan, a group of 12 Korea.net honorary reporters started a two-day trip in Tongyeong in Gyeongsangnam-do Province on Oct 28, a city blessed with a stunning natural landscape.
As the first destination, the group arrived at the Dongpirang Wall Painting Village in Dongho-dong, a neighborhood that houses smaller homes with wall paintings of various colors along the alleys on the steeply sloped hills. Facing Gangguhang Port in one direction, the neighborhood is one of the city’s must-visit tourist spots.
Korea.net honorary reporters Majid Mushtaq (left) and Diya Mitra, from Pakistan and the U.K., respectively, have fun posing for a photo in front of the mural ‘Wings,’ at the Dongpirang Wall Painting Village in Dongho-dong, Tongyeong, on Oct. 28.
Korea.net honorary reporters walk across a trompe-l’oeil bridge painted onto the pavement at the Dongpirang Wall Painting Village in Tongyeong, on Oct. 28.
As they were busy taking in the works of art painted onto the run-down walls and the streets, these Koreanphiles said in chorus, “It reminds us of the Gamcheon Culture Village that we visited in Busan.”
“I was told that some Korean soap operas were filmed here. It’s interesting to see the filming sites that are still intact,” said Diya Mitra from London, as she was snapping selfies in front of a mural of giant angel wings.
On the next leg of their Tongyeong tour, the group moved on to the Ottchil Art Museum in Yongnam-myeon where they were able to appreciate a series of works of lacquerware, an artistic tradition that the city has kept alive for more than 400 years.
The museum features lacquered works of art from four Asian countries: Korea, China, Japan and Vietnam. Browsing the exhibition hall, the group also had a chance to see firsthand the process by which a work of art is made, as artists Kim Jae-gon and Choi Eun-ran gave a brief demonstration.
“It’s amazing to see lacquerware from China here,” said Ma Chun Meng (马春萌) from China. “Korea and China have a lot in common, both culturally and historically. These Korean works of art remind me of Chinese works. It feels familiar.”
Korea.net honorary reporters appreciate Korean lacquerware at the Ottchil Art Museum in Yongnam-myeon, Tongyeong, on Oct. 28.
Artist Choi Eun-ran (left) explains to Korea.net honorary reporters how a lacquered painting is made, at the Ottchil Art Museum in Yongnam-myeon, Tongyeong, on Oct. 28.
The highlight of the tour was the magnificent scenery that unfolded across the Hallyeosudo Straits (한려수도, 閑麗水道) off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, the waterway between Hansando Island in Tongyeong and Yeosu, both in Gyeongsangnam-do Province.
A 10-minute ride on the Hallyeosudo Viewing Ropeway, a cable car, brings travelers to the top of Mireuksan Mountain, 461 meters above sea level, where they encounter a breathtaking scenic view laid out before their eyes.
Due to the foggy weather, the Korea.net honorary reporters weren’t able to see every minute aspect of the view, to their disappointment. Luckily, on the next morning, Oct. 29, they had sunny weather, which allowed them to enjoy the grand sight that the waterway formed under the sun and across the crystal clear, sparkling ocean.
“It’s been almost one year since I came to Korea to study, and I didn’t know that there was a beautiful city like this. It feels like I found a hidden gem here,” said Majid Mushtaq, a Pakistani honorary reporter.
Korea.net honorary reporters have fun on a cable car up to the summit of Mireuksan Mountain, where they can enjoy the landscape of the waterway between Hansando Island in Tongyeong in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Yeosu in Jeollanam-do Province, known as the Hallyeosudo Straits, on Oct. 28.
1) Nygkoni Katerina from Greece, 43, a graduate student at the Korea Development Institute
 – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 2) Vincenzo Acampora from Italy, 35, an engineer and food blogger – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 3) Majid Mushtaq from Pakistan, 24, an industrial and management engineering student at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies  – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 4) Maria Lilia Pedellume from the Philippines, 29, a housewife  – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 5) Elena Kubitzki from Germany, 23, a Korean studies student at Myongji University  – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 6) Nadine Postigo from the Philippines, 25, employee  – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 7) Esraa Elzeny from Egypt, 23, a student in engineering at Cairo University – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 
Salwa Elzeny (left) and Esraa Elzeny are twin sisters from Egypt who work as Korea.net honorary reporters in Cairo. 8) Salwa Elzeny from Egypt, 23, a chemical engineer – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 9) John Paul Vergona from the Philippines, 27, a volunteer at the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines  – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 10) Ma Chun Meng (马春萌) from China, 25, office worker  – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 11) Sun Yaqi (孙雅淇) from China, 28, office worker  – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? 12) Diya Mitra from the U.K., 39, civil servant at the U.K. Ministry of Justice  – What’s it like to see Korea first-hand and to participate in this event? – What has been most impressive on this trip and why? – After this trip, what would you like to write about concerning Korea, or what would you like to introduce to your friends and family back home? |
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han, Korea.net Staff Photographer
jiae5853@korea.kr
