Now In Korea
The Island of King Danjong’s Sorrow: Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol
Creatrip Team
a month ago
Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, is a secluded “island within land” where King Danjong (1441–1457) was exiled. Surrounded by the Seogang River and steep mountains, the site remains accessible only by ferry; guides still break river ice each morning in winter to keep boat access open. The forested area preserves layered memories of Danjong’s exile: memorial stones (단묘유지비, 금표비), the bereft ‘Manghyang Tower’, and ancient pines like the 600-year-old ‘Gwaneum Song’ and the oddly bowed ‘Eom Heung-do Pine’—the latter honoring the loyal retainer who recovered Danjong’s body. A 44.5 km “Danjong Exile Trail” traces the grueling route from Solchijae to Cheongnyeongpo; core sections are popular for day hikes. Danjong was later moved to Gwanpheongheon in town and eventually poisoned; his tomb, Jangneung, became a royal mausoleum only after posthumous rehabilitation. Some heritage sites have suffered recent changes—fires and new tourist infrastructure such as a scenic bridge—and locals feel mixed about development. Yeongwol’s local cuisine preserves memory too: eoseuri (a wild herb) dishes, served at restaurants like “Parkgane,” are promoted as “Danjong’s table,” featuring eoseuri rice and 12 side dishes. The new film “The Man Who Lived with the King” filmed key scenes around Yeongwol, recreating old Cheongnyeongpo in a nearby village set because the original site has become more touristic.
Like the information?