Saturday outing to Yesan

Yesan in South Chungcheong Province is a countryside county I used to pass through in bygone decades. I visited the northwestern parts of Yesan, climbing up to the top of Mount Deoksung, enjoying the hot springs at Deoksan and dropping by famous historic spots like Sudeok Temple, Chunguisa Shrine and the old residence of Kim Jeong-hui (1786-1856), a well-known Joseon-era calligrapher.

My latest outing to Yesan, on the summer solstice in June, was exceptional. Thirteen octogenarian grandparents joined the weekend outing, which included several places of interest in southeastern Yesan that preserve the rich history and cultural fragrance of the area. They were members of I-club, a gathering that has met twice a month for two decades as co-ed high school alumni, to take internet and artificial intelligence application lessons. Due to their seniority, there were some limitations on their domestic travel insurance.

To the average contemporary Korean, Yesan is recognized as the birthplace of two figures. One is Yun Bong-gil (1908-32), an independence movement fighter, while the other is Park Heon-young (1900-55 or 1900-56), a Korean independence and communist activist.

Not only is Yedang Lake ideal for fishing, but it is also well-suited for walks through a beguiling environment. The Yedangho Suspension Bridge, opened on April 6, 2019, is reputed to be Korea’s longest suspension bridge. The active development and upgrading of this bridge aims to promote urban-rural exchange and healing experiences as part of the Chungnam Visit Year tourism program.

The story of brothers Lee Sung-man and Lee Soon, passed down from the early Goryeo period (918-1392), was well-taught to members of I-Club at their elementary schools. To Koreans, their brotherly affection is a symbol of filial piety and loyalty, and a small park to exhibit their deeds of brotherhood is located adjacent to the Yedang Lake entrance as a tourist attention.

Moreover, the reputation of Yesan apples and meat is widely acclaimed due to leading advancements in apple cultivation and cow breeding established in the area.

The Yesan Oriental Stork Park is a must-visit spot. The park was established as a restoration project for the successful revival and reproduction of the species. We should encounter the Oriental storks in person to fully grasp the value and significance of the bird, reborn on April 16, 2016, after being officially extinct in Korea for over 20 years.

The expansive Sapgyo Plains and Yedang Plains both provide a majestic view reflecting undulating golden waves of rice paddies. High-quality rice is produced each year from the fertile soils of these golden fields.

The Saturday outing was an enriching experience for this summer excursion of the I-Club. Sharing their blessings, the aged yet happy-go-lucky group will continue to prolong such experiences for their own sake. As far as the I-Club grandparents can walk on foot by themselves, they can surely enjoy their twilight years in one way or another. Common phrases like “seeing is believing” and “knowledge is power” are still effective to the I-Club member grandparents.

The writer (wkexim@naver.com) is a freelance columnist living in Seoul.