Yangyang-gun: Culture, Nature and Market Days

There are several concrete points to consider when planning a stay in Yangyang-gun: an annual Dano Festival, historic sites, a 658-meter-long boardwalk along Namdaecheon, and a market held on set days of the month. The themes differ considerably: rituals and processions, stands of reeds and silver grass, views of the river, and local produce and food. If you are looking for hotels in Yangyang-gun, you can first consider whether you want to plan your trip around a festival, a market day or a visit to the park.

Cultural events and historic sites

The Yangyang Cultural Festival takes place every year during the Dano Festival in Yangyang-eup, continuing the Janggun Seonghwangje ritual. The main program includes a procession for the ritual, a parade featuring participants dressed as prehistoric people, and a Buddhist lantern parade. There are also parades by the Yangju Defense Command and the Daepo Naval Command. The various processions give the festival program several distinct focal points.

The Donghae Shrine brings together an annual ritual and a specific history of the building. The “Yangyang Donghae Shrine Summer Beach Yongwangje” is held there every year alongside the opening ceremony for the beach season. The shrine is designated Monument No. 73 of Gangwon Province and is located near Naksansa Beach. It was dismantled during Japanese rule in the second year of Sunjong’s reign; Yangyang County rebuilt it in 1993. For planning purposes, it is worth checking the specific date of the ritual.

Yangyang Hyanggyo adds an educational history to these historical themes. It was founded during the reign of King Chunghye as a local educational institution on a site identified as the location of a former school. Reconstruction and repairs took place in 1952, 1953 and 1990. The Donghae Shrine is chiefly associated with ritual tradition and reconstruction, while the Hyanggyo is associated with its founding as an educational institution and subsequent building work.

A boardwalk along Namdaecheon

Namdaecheon Salmon Ecology Park (Silver Grass Field) is located at 86-7 Josan-ri, Yangyang-eup. Its 658-meter-long boardwalk passes through stands of reeds, silver grass and cattails. Three viewpoints offer views of Namdaecheon and the reed field. The path combines a clearly measured stretch with two identifiable views: the river and the reed field. This gives it a different focus from the annual rituals and the market, which is organized around specific days of the month.

Market days and food

Yangyang 5-day Market is located in Nammun-ri. It is held each month on the 4th, 9th, 14th, 19th, 24th and 29th. Its offerings include seasonal fruit, fresh vegetables and freshly caught fish, as well as pine mushrooms, medicinal herbs, wild vegetables and shiitake mushrooms. Gamja-ongsimi is also served on market days. Other foods mentioned include tteok, kalguksu, traditionally fried chicken and twisted doughnuts. Individual stalls and products may vary. The market thus combines fresh produce with a selection of prepared foods.

Plan your travel dates

The timing of these offerings varies: the cultural festival is tied to the Dano Festival, the ritual at Donghae Shrine takes place alongside the opening ceremony for the beach season, and the market follows six fixed days each month. For a market day, you can choose the calendar date you want; for the festival and ritual, check the specific event date.

Discover more destinations: Cheorwon-gun, Hoengseong-gun, Chuncheon, Yeongwol-gun, Wonju, Taebaek-si, Samcheok-si, Donghae

For the broader travel overview: Gangwon-do.