Small Villages near Nakdong River Valley Harbor Intact Beauty of Nature

The reporter gave a deep valley near the Nakdong River a name `the Nakdong River Gorge`. The valley is so deep that no paved road is allowed. There are only swift currents running through the river.

The passage to the valley begins with the 16.5km-long railway connecting Hyundong Train Station of Youngdong Line, where the road from Mt. Chungryang and Taebak region parts with the river, with Seungbu Station known for the beauty of `Blue Sky and Colorful Flowers`.

The gorge has kept intact beauty of nature for almost half a decade, denying access from people riding a car. And now we begin to explore the hidden beauty of the gorge and small villages nearby.

The railway passing through the gorge was completed in the end of 1955 after the Korean War. The fact that 23% (20km) of the 87km-long railway consists of 55 bridges and 33 tunnels indicates construction work was a daunting task. The gorge track (Hyundong Station - Bucheon Station - Yangwon Makeshift Platform – Seungbu Station) is not accompanied by a road yet. The railway is seated in small space arranged near the riverside. The gorge stations are, therefore, all located on the waterfront.

The most untapped area is Yangwon, which barely has a makeshift platform. There is a paved road along the mountain that leads to the No. 36 road, but it is cut off in winter times, which is why about a half of the 13 households living there go out to larger villages during winter. For residents in Yangwon, the railway is the only passage to the outer world in winter times. Tongil trains, which stop four times a day, serve as the lifeline to Yangwon.

The charm of a remote village is that there is little human interference. You can see bats flying over the twilight sky and wild rabbits crossing the road at night. You will also find snakes on the road in daytime. The unpaved road below the railway is about as high as the river running beside. Jujube trees stand tall in the midst of the field and an older farmer ploughs the field, while a cow giving the breast to its baby. These idle scenes of nature are a part of everyday life in Yangwon.

The next stop is Seungbu, which is known for the beauty of the blue sky and colorful wild flowers. You have to go about 12km further from Seokpo Station located alongside No. 35 road, and cross several bridges from Seokpo Station to get there.

On the foothill of the mountain, you can see jujube trees scattered through the highland fields. The station is seated on the opposite side of the swift currents, under a big cliff. The phrase of `the beauty of the blue sky and colorful wild flowers` is written under the cliff.

There used to be a swaying bridge connecting the station with a road. Yet, it was swept away when typhoon Rusa hit the area last year. Since then, villagers have had to walk some 20 minutes along the railway to get to the station.

Some two years ago, there were three students who took Tongil trains to go to school in nearby villages. Those students, however, have left the village to study in large villages. Now Mugunghwa trains (Eastern Daegu – Gangreung) also stop at this small station. It is good for the officer working at the station, who finds it hard to meet people.

Along a road leading to Taebak out of Seokpo, Hwangji Stream, where the Nakdong River starts, meets with Cheolam Stream. And this place is called Gumunso. Gumunso has a unique topography. A stream cut a hold through a huge rock.

Passing the Gumunso Tunnel, you can enter the downtown of Taebak. Go past the downtown and climb the Dumundong Hill, you will be able to taste fresh spring water. Water is supplied through pipes and you can drink it from taps. You might have expected to have water from a spring, but still it tastes great. You will feel just great drinking fresh spring water at the end of your trip to Nakdong River Gorge.

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