Tapjeong Reservoir

East of central Nonsan, the stream coming down from Daedunsan was dammed to create Tapjeong Reservoir (Tapjeongho), the second-largest reservoir in South Chungcheong. In winter tens of thousands of migratory birds such as whooper swans and Baikal teal settle on the water, and every evening a 600 m suspension footbridge across the lake becomes the stage for a light and water show. Built to irrigate the Nonsan plain, it is now one of the region's favourite lakeside walks.

History: an irrigation reservoir completed in 1944

Construction began in 1941 and was finished in 1944; the reservoir is managed by the Korea Rural Community Corporation. The earth-fill dam is 573 m long and 17.8 m high, holds about 31.6 million m³ of water and irrigates around 5,117 ha of farmland.

From 2010 Nonsan city landscaped a waterfront eco-park, and once the suspension bridge, begun in August 2018, opened in October 2020, visitor numbers rose sharply.

What to see

• Tapjeongho Suspension Bridge: a 600 m pedestrian bridge linking Bujeok-myeon and Gayagok-myeon, certified as the longest suspension footbridge built over a lake. It is designed to hold about 5,000 people at 75 kg each and withstand winds of 60 m/s.
• Media facade and musical fountain: after dark the whole bridge becomes a screen for video and lasers, synchronised with a musical fountain. The fountain does not run in winter.
• Waterfront eco-park: about 48,000 m² of lotus and wildflower beds, silver grass and observation boardwalks. The boardwalk leads straight to the bridge.
• Winter birds: from late October to early March around 100 species visit, and some 40,000 birds, including whooper swans and mandarin ducks (both Natural Monuments), Baikal teal and northern pintails, spend the winter here.

Good to know

• The water rarely freezes and the surrounding Nonsan plain offers plenty of food, which is why the lake has recently become a new wintering ground.
• Nonsan is home to the Korean Army's main recruit training centre, and on Wednesdays you will see families spending visiting day with soldiers in the eco-park.
• During the drought of 2012 the water level dropped so far that more than 2,000 large freshwater mussels living in the lake died.

Nearby

• Donam Seowon: the Confucian academy dedicated to Kim Jang-saeng, one of the nine academies inscribed by UNESCO as "Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies".
• Baekje Military Museum and General Gyebaek's tomb: the grave of the Baekje general famous for the Battle of Hwangsanbeol, next to a museum on Baekje's military history.
• Daedunsan: a rocky mountain about 15 km east; hike in the morning and catch the sunset at Tapjeongho in the afternoon.

Tripto tips

• Bridge hours: March–May and September–October 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), June–August 09:00–20:00 (last entry 19:30), November–February 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Free; closed in bad weather and during maintenance.
• Show times: the media facade and fountain schedules change with the seasons, so check the notices if you want to arrive after sunset.
• Eco-park: always open, with parking.
• Time needed: 1 to 2 hours to cross the bridge and back and stroll the park. The bridge sways noticeably; if you are nervous about heights, hold the side rail and take it slowly.