Want to blow stress away after the finals? Bored on a Friday night? Planning a romantic getaway? Just feel like leaving the hectic city life behind for a weekend? Here is the solution for you all! Go to Chung Ryang Ri Station, take a night train and head to Jeong-Dong-Jin.

Jeong-Dong- Jin a popular spot on the East Coast of Korea to watch the sun rise. It became famous after a popular Korean television show, “Hourglass,” which is one of the most watched heart-breaking love stories in Korean Television history, was filmed there. If you catch a night train at 10:40 from Chung Ryang Ri, you will arrive in Jeong-Dong- Jin by 5:00am the next day. The first thing you will see when you get off the train is the ocean and the area’s famous pine tree. The train station is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the train station located most closely to the seashore. On a clear day, you can see a dramatic and unforgettable sun rise.

On the nearby hills at the very edge of the mountains sits the famous “Sun Cruise Hotel,” which is an exact copy of a big ocean liner. At first glance, a 5,000 won entrance fee might seem a bit pricey, but you will see that it is worth every won once you get inside. From its observation platform, you can enjoy a spectacular birds-eye view of the whole Jeong-Dong- Jin area, including its 1km of fine white sandy beach, the East Sea, Jeong-Dong- Jin Station and the seaside road. There is also a special stand on the very end of the platform for you to spread out your arms and scream “I’m the King of the World!” as Leonardo did in Titanic. You will feel as if you are on an actual ship drifting at sea.

Opposite the station, there is a hiking trail leading to Goseong Mountain. You can walk up the wooden steps to the top for a full view of Jeong-Dong- Jin station, the village and the blue sea. There are also a wide range of fun activities to choose from. You can go to an outdoor sculpture park, take a walk, or enjoy a cup of tea at the Train Café or Beomseon Café.

With its beautiful scenery, sandy beach, emerald-colored sea, railway station featured in “Hourglass”, ship-shaped hotel on the cliffs and sculpture park, Jeong-Dong- Jin is definitely worth a visit, and is possibly the most romantic place in Korea.

By Hana Du (2008 MBA, Korea)