PyeongChang: birthplace of yellow dried pollack

By Lee Hyo-sik

Not only Koreans, but also many foreigners around the world now know of PyeongChang after this tiny rural town in mountainous Gangwon Province won its bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in July last year. Since then, hundreds of travelers have visited the county, nestled inside mountains, every day to see what it is all about.

These days when PyeongChang and other nearby areas receive heavy snowfall, skiers and snowboarders are the main group of visitors flocking to Alpensia, Yongpyong and other ski resorts located in the 2018 Olympics site.

Besides a range of winter sports activities, PyeongChang has plenty more to offer travelers, regardless of their age and gender.

The county is the birthplace of "hwangtae," or dried pollack. Tourists can see how one of Koreans’ favorite foods is made by visiting a dozen hwangtae doekjang, or drying fields, the largest of their kind in the country. They present a magnificent picture of over tens of millions of pollack being dried at the same time.

There are many restaurants throughout the county that serve a variety of authentic hwangtae dishes.

For those who look to walk on a snow-covered trail and view a spectacular view of snowy mountains, Seonjaryeong is the place to go. This 1,157-meter-high point offers trekkers dazzling views from all directions.

Hwangtae deokjang

Only a few people know that residents in PyeongChang were the first to make hwangtae in the country. People from North Korea who settled in the area began making and consuming dried pollack in the 1940s.

``Inje, north of PyeongChang, is a well-known hwangtae producing district. But Hoenggye and other townships in PyeongChang are the birthplace. The weather conditions here are the most optimal for drying pollack,’’ said Choi Young-gil, CEO of Hwangtae Daegwallyeong Story, the largest hwangtae producer and retailer in the county. ``In the past, Korean fishermen caught pollack in the East Sea. But due to rises in sea water temperatures, the fish these days are caught only in waters off Russia. We import pollack from Russia and turn them into hwangtae.’’

Choi said it takes about four months to produce high-quality dried pollack. ``We usually set up hwangtae deokjang in late November and hang pollack on a two-story wooden structure in early December. We leave the fish there until mid-March and harvest it by the end of March. PyeongChang produces over 21 million hwangtae annually.’’

It is no surprise there are many restaurants in PyeongChang that offer visitors a range of genuine dishes using the region’s specialty. Located in Hoenggye, Hwangtae Hoegwan (033-335-5795) serves the full range of hwangtae dishes, from hwangtae soup to hwangtae guui (grilled pollack) and hwangtaejjim (steamed pollack).

Seonjaryeong

Once people fill up their stomach with hwangtae dishes, it is time to engage in outdoor activities. Among others, trekking an 11-kilometer-long trail created along the mountain ridge that begins in Daegwallyeong is a must-do for visitors to this snow-covered rural town.

It takes about four hours to travel the trekking path back and forth, which offers thrilling views from all directions. When climbers reach the highest point, called Seonjaryeong which is 1,157 meters above sea level, they can see the East Sea to the east and mountain chains stretching from North to South. On the west, PyeongChang and other rural towns are seen nestled inside the mountains.

On the top, there are also 37 giant wind power turbines set up along the mountain ridge, offering a rather unusual spectacle.

For more information on hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions in PyeongChang, call the county office at 033-330-2399 or visit its website (www.happy700.or.kr).