A Journey Like Walking Above the Clouds, Driving Through Osaekryeong (Hangyeryeong) in Yangyang, Gangwon-do

The Road Crossing the Clouds, A Morning at Osaekryeong

On the road from Yangyang, Gangwon-do, heading toward Inje, the scenery passing outside the car window began to be dyed in deep green. As I reached Osaekryeong (Hangyeryeong) at 1,004m above sea level, a cold mountain breeze seeped through the cracks in the window. This is a land on the border, called Osaekryeong by the people of Yangyang and Hangyeryeong by the people of Inje. I could understand why Yi Jung-hwan picked it as the best in his 'Taengniji' during the Joseon Dynasty. As I climbed along the winding road, I felt myself drifting away from the world, and the car filled with the clear, cool scent of the forest.

Perhaps it is because of the uniquely lonely yet romantic atmosphere that the name Hangyeryeong gives. While driving along the twisty pass humming the lyrics, the heavy breathing and the joys and sorrows of the people who used to cross this place carrying daily necessities on their backs seemed to mix with the wind. Although the road was expanded in 1981, making it a path anyone can easily cross now, standing before that grand mountain range makes one realize once again that humans are just small and humble beings.

The Best Driving Course Gifted by Great Nature

The true value of Osaekryeong is the drive along National Route 44. The spectacular views of Seoraksan (Mt. Seorak), which changes its attire every season, are more intense than any flashy video. Especially on foggy early mornings, the feeling of driving above a sea of clouds is a scene I will never forget in my life. Going beyond simply looking at the scenery, it feels as if I am being painted as a single dot onto the massive canvas that is nature.

For those who love hiking, this place is a starting point. The shortest course to climb Daecheongbong (Daecheong Peak), the highest peak of Seoraksan (Mt. Seorak), starts right here. It is also the entrance to the hiking trail leading to Jeombongsan (Mt. Jeombong), so you can often see people tying their hiking boots and walking energetically from early in the morning. The phytoncides exhaled by the forest, the smell of damp earth, and the sound of rustling leaves under your feet calm and cleanse a heart that was full of city noise.

Travel Tips to Remember

Osaekryeong is beautiful in all four seasons, but personally, I love the stillness of early morning or the time when the red sunset covers the mountain ridges in the evening the most. Since it is a mountain pass where the weather changes frequently, a coat is a must. Even in summer, it is cool on the mountain, so be sure to bring a windbreaker.

The address is 1, Daecheongbong-gil, Seo-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do. When driving with a navigation system, I recommend stopping for a moment near the rest area to take in the mountain. Nearby, Osaek Yaksu (Osaek Mineral Spring) is close by, making it a good place to visit after hiking, and finishing the journey with a bowl of refreshing Makguksu (buckwheat noodles) down in Yangyang is the standard routine. Rather than rushing to your destination, simply taking in the four seasons of Seoraksan (Mt. Seorak) unfolding on the winding road will make for a trip well worth it.