Goheung County, an 'Open-Air Museum' Popular with Campers for Its Outstanding Natural Scenery

[FAM Times = Reporter Han Jeong-a] Goheung County in South Jeolla Province has long been favored by campers for its outstanding natural scenery, earning it the nickname “an open-air museum.” Its lack of smokestacks also makes the stars in the night sky more visible than in other regions, attracting campers interested in astronomy.

Tourists also continue to visit Goheung County, South Korea’s only rocket launch site, to enjoy both its space-experience facilities and camping.

The National Goheung Youth Space Experience Center consists of a five-story space-experience activity building with one basement level and a six-story residential building that can accommodate 228 people for meals and lodging at the same time. The activity building offers a variety of facilities designed to help young people realize their dreams of space, including a multimedia theater, astronaut-training equipment, zero-gravity space-adaptation equipment, and spacecraft-control equipment.

Located near the space experience center, the Haechangman Waterfront Park Auto Campground is ideal for campers who want to enjoy both space activities and camping. The campground is situated within a 20,000-square-meter waterfront park developed on reclaimed land. Its location between a vast reservoir and the sea creates the mysterious sensation of camping in the middle of the ocean. Of its 48 sites, 21 are for auto camping, and each site is spacious enough to allow tents to be pitched freely. It also has a performance venue with a capacity of 1,500, making it well suited to group camping and a variety of events.

At the Naro Space Center, the Space Science Museum draws visitors with space science and technology exhibitions and educational programs while also serving as the space center’s visitor center.

Goheung County also has a variety of other campgrounds, including the Deungnyangman Scenic Rest Center, Palyeongsan Campground, and Palyeongsan Recreational Forest. The Deungnyangman Scenic Rest Center is a small caravan campground adjoining Jangseon Beach. Tents can also be pitched there.

This winter, campers looking to enjoy nature and a variety of activities, including experiences at space facilities, should consider a trip together to Goheung County in South Jeolla Province.

Reporter Han Jeong-a han@famtimes.co.kr