Korean Peninsula-Shaped Landform

Stand on the lookout in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, and the wooded hill wrapped by the river really does look like the Korean Peninsula. The Korean Peninsula-shaped landform was carved by the Seogang (Pyeongchang River) as it loops sharply; the cliff on the right resembles the east coast and the sandbank on the left the west coast, so locals call it "a Korean Peninsula within the Korean Peninsula". It was designated a national Scenic Site in 2011, and the surrounding wetland is a Ramsar site.

How it formed

Before joining the Jucheon River, the Pyeongchang River makes a wide turn and has cut this shape into the land. It is the work of an incised meander, a river winding deep between hills: the outer bank is eroded into cliffs while sand and gravel build up on the inner bank. That is why the east side is a steep limestone cliff and the west side a gentle sandbank, just like Korea's east and west coasts. The site is also a geosite of the Gangwon Paleozoic National Geopark, where you can see limestone and sinkholes as well.

Discovery and a new place name

The landform became famous only recently. In 1999, pastor Choi Byeong-seong and Seonam village resident Lee Jong-man came across the view while campaigning against a planned landfill, and it soon became a tourist attraction. As its fame spread, Yeongwol County renamed the township from Seo-myeon to Hanbando-myeon, "Korean Peninsula township", in 2009, and other regions began promoting similar landforms of their own.

Ramsar wetland and wildlife

The river around the landform is the Hanbando Wetland, formed where sand and gravel collect at the meeting of the Jucheon and Pyeongchang rivers. It became a wetland protection area in 2012 and a Ramsar site in 2015. Colonies of Mukdenia grow on the limestone cliffs, Korean splendid dace and the rare Hemibarbus mylodon live in the water, egrets and mandarin ducks along the banks, and otters too.

What to see

• The lookout: a forest walk from the car park leads to the viewpoint with the classic view.
• Rose of Sharon trail: photographers have planted 1,600 hibiscus trees near the lookout since 2003, at their best in midsummer.
• Raft rides: at Seonam village you can float around the "peninsula" on a traditional log raft.
• Oganjae Lookout: another viewpoint about 700 m away shows the river from a different angle.

How to plan your visit

Walk the forest path from the car park to the lookout and take in the view from above, then, if you have time, head down to the Hanbando raft village about 1 km away and see the same landform from the river. From above it looks like a map; from the water you feel the real size of the cliffs and sandbanks. The Yeongwol Hanbando campsite is about 500 m away.

Tripto tips

• Visiting: open at all times; admission and parking are free, with space for about 200 cars and 20 coaches, plus toilets.
• The walk: a forest path leads from the car park to the lookout; the full trekking route is about 1.5 km. Night hiking is restricted.
• When to go: green summer, autumn colour and clear mornings show the river best.
• Time needed: 40 minutes to 1 hour for the lookout, half a day with a raft ride. Cheongnyeongpo and Jangneung in central Yeongwol make a good full-day combination.
• Phone: Hanbando-myeon office +82 33-372-6001.