Asan Beyond the Ginkgo Trees

Cat Son
6 days ago
5 min read

Traditional Korean buildings with tiled roofs are nestled among trees on a hillside. Stone walls and pine trees create a serene atmosphere. — The Shrine at Hyeonchungsa

Asan is located just South of Pyeongtaek. Asan’s crown jewel is its magical trail of ginkgo trees. You’ve probably seen your social media inundated during the fall with beautiful gold foliage as far as the eye can see. While it is stunning, don't sleep on the other gems that Asan has to offer. Asan, much like Pyeongtaek, has both rural and urban areas. It has a little bit of everything for everyone.

If you are itching to learn about history, the Onyang Folk Museum, Oeam Folk Village, and Hyeonchungsa Shrine will be perfect for you. They provide a creative glimpse of what life was like before Asan became the modern city you see today.

Muinseok Statues at the Onyang Folk Museum

Culture and History Beyond the Asan Ginkgo Trees

The Onyang Folk Museum offers both indoor and outdoor exhibits showcasing traditional farming, games, crafting, and culture. The garden grounds outside the museum have traditional Korean houses as well as Muinseok Statues. These statues are often carved from stone and are intended to ward off evil spirits or bring good fortune, acting as guardians to the communities where they are placed. In Korean culture, guardian figures like the Muinseok statues are usually placed near entrances to homes or public places, where they are believed to offer protection.

Traditional straw thatched roofed houses at the Oeam Folk Village

The Oeam Folk Village is not to be passed up. It’s a perfect place for a family day trip. The village was first established over 500 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. The traditional style houses have been preserved and offer a clear example of what life during that time would be like. It is enthralling to see how expertly the houses and waterways were constructed. There are period-accurate playgrounds scattered throughout the village offering fun escapes for kids.

The Hyeonchungsa Shrine is only about a twenty-minute drive from the Oeam Folk Village. The shrine is dedicated to Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the fearless leader who designed the famous turtle ships, also known as Geobukseon. During the Imjin War (1592-1598), he went to battle against the Japanese and his iconic warships played a significant role in the defense of Korea. Today his portrait is seen on the one hundred-won coin and countless statues of him are found across Korea. The shrine is in a beautiful garden making it a perfect destination for a nice walk on a beautiful day. There is a museum within the shrine where you can see Admiral Yi’s armor and swords as well as depictions of his many difficult journeys.

Exploring the Outdoors

If you are looking to appease an outdoor enthusiast, Asan has the Asan Railbike, Yeonginsan Natural Recreational Forest, as well as Bongsusan Mountain. Asan Bike rail is a bike car that is attached to an old section of railway. The man-powered ride takes you through scenic countryside. It is great for all ages and very affordable.

Yeonginsan Natural Forest offers a variety of hikes for any level. The two-mile hike called Sangtubong is rated moderately hard due to the amount of stairs. Scheduling extra time for frequent stair breaks might help. The Yeonginsan trail is longer at just over five miles; it also offers a view of the west sea at the summit. There is a small entrance fee ranging from 1,000-2,000 won based on age.

The Bongsusan Mountain recreational forest is perfect if you are looking for an easy stroll. There is a forest bathing path through the rolling woods. The two-mile loop trail will take you to the Bonggoksa temple. While there is a way to drive up to the temple, taking this hike will allow you to stroll through a beautiful juniper pine forest before reaching the temple.

Traditional Market of Asan

For produce and street food the Onyang Traditional Market is a must while in Asan. It is located very close to the Onyang Folk Museum. I suggest you make an entire afternoon of it while visiting. At the entrance of the market, there is a public hot spring foot spa that is fed by natural hot springs. The market is packed with street food, produce, and delicious hole-in-the-wall restaurants. One of my favorite thrift stores named Gujay Department Store is located here. It has some of the best prices and selections I’ve seen in Korea yet.

Indoor Fun at the Asan Environmental Park and Yi Sun-sin Ice Rink

If you are desperate to get out of the house with kids but the weather is too hot or too cold to be enjoyed, or maybe the air quality isn’t great, try the Asan Environmental Park and Yi Sun-sin Ice Rink. These locations are just the places to visit for some indoor fun.

Child in purple shirt watches a spinning display at a science center. Background features space-themed decor and bright colors. — Enjoying the hands-on activities at the Jang Yeong Sil Science Center

There are three different attractions worth seeing within Asan Environmental Park, the Jang Yeong Sil Science Center, the Insectarium, and the Asan Green Tower. The Jang Yeong Sil Science Center has interactive displays such as a ball pit, mirror maze, and marble runs. The Insectarium offers a wide variety of insects to look at and even some hands-on interactions with doctor fish and rhinoceros beetle larvae. Above the insectarium is the fifty-story Asan Green Tower. It provides the best views of the Asan landscape. The price to get on the tower is very reasonable and can be even more inexpensive if you purchase it in a combo package with the insectarium and science museum. The hardest part is finding a day when the tower is open. It seems to be hit or miss on any given day.

Lastly, the ever-popular Yi Sun-sin Ice Rink is unbelievably cheap. It is less than 7,000 won for skate rental and entrance fee. It can become extremely crowded on weekends. The earlier you go the less crowded it tends to be. It is the perfect place to take the kids on their day off from school. Inside there are lockers to store your things as well as a small cafe to eat at.

Discover Asan For Yourself

Asan is an unexpected delight. From hiking to ice skating, museums to historical villages it is worth a day trip or two. The ginkgo trees are extraordinary but when you take a deeper dive in Asan it has so much more to offer!

[NAVER Map]

ONYANG FOLK MUSEUM

403-1 Gwongok-dong Asan-si Chungcheongnam-do

https://naver.me/Fuzu8sNE

[NAVER Map]

Oeam Folk Village

258-3 Oeam-ri Songak-myeon Asan-si Chungcheongnam-do

https://naver.me/G1wlbKhV

[NAVER Map]

Hyeonchungsa Shrine

298-1 Baegam-ri Yeomchi-eup Asan-si Chungcheongnam-do

https://naver.me/55rS6ZYw