Ibike Korea People-to-People Program
   
 

   

Photo essay: Sangju to Gumi
   

Sangju to Gumi (34mi, 55km) Beautiful rolling countryside and farmland.
Points of Interest:  beautiful hills, rivers and valleys, locations significant in the Korean War
  One of several crossings of the Nakdong River.
  Private homes and pavilions show the lifestyle of yangban of Northern Yeongnam Region in the Joseon Dynasty period.
  From a book written by An Eung-chang. The monument shows four acts of a faithful dog: A drunk man fell asleep, a fire started to engulf him, the dog rushed to the Nakdong River, jump in, then rushed back to his master and rolled on the fire. The dog did this several times. The exhausted dog died shortly after saving his masters life.
  200 large and small graves, dating to the Three Kingdoms period. Burial objects excavated include gold and silver earrings of Shilla and oil cups for lamps and pottery of Kaya Period. The illustration (right) shows the extensiveness and density of the tomb area.
  Nakdong River near No-ri, Bugok-myeon, Changnyeong-gun Nakdong River near No-ri, Bugok-myeon, Changnyeong-gun
  Historical Note: Battle of Deagu: Five divisions of North Korean army were at Waewan, in August, 1950, to attack Deagu and continue on to Busan. The line was held by the US 1st Calvary Division. After another North Korean offensive in Sept, the US 1st Calvary counter-attacked on Sept 16. By September 23rd they had reached Sangju.

The US 24th infantry crossed the Nakdong River on Sept 19, retook Gimcheon Sept 25. Two months before this, not far from here, the US army is accused (disputed) of committing a major atrocity of the war, the No-gun-ri Massacre of civilians, Hwanggan-myeon, Yeongdong County, Chungcheongbuk-do.
    Alternative route south from Sangju towards Deagu.
  Heritage house, Korea Heritage house, KoreaJust out for a morning ride, and here is a house that is more than 400 years old!  This house was built in 1601 by Jo Jeong (1555-1636), general of the militia during the Japanese invasion, 1592. It was moved to the present site in 1661. Originally, the complex of buildings had 40 bays (space between two columns).  Currently, the main building, guest house and a building for ancestral ceremonies remain.
  rice farm, Korea Grape orchard, Koera Persimmon orchard, KoreaThe vast and intensive agriculture continued. Between the rearranging of the terracing, the mountains and the village settings the view change every few hundred meters, mile after mile.  Amongst the group we started to have jokes about how many photos we took of rice fields.  We wanted to remember them all. New in this section was large orchards of persimmons and grapes.
  Primary school, Korea Statue of studens at primary school, KoreaPoking around in a village during a snack stop, there was a school across the street.  Schools are common.  South Korea has a 98% literacy rate.  And school architecture is not distinctive -- it seems like most rural primary schools are constructed from the same architectural drawing.  But tucked up under the trees next to the gate of this school was a delightful sculpture of students.  I should check to see if there is art next to the gates of other schools.
  colorful whirly-birds, Korea The next section of the route was generally flat farm land, with the occasional lake/reservoir, village or small town.  One thing that caught my eye was a fanciful park, that amount other things, was lined with colorful whirly-birds.
     
 

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