Hantangang River: 3 Free Car Parks Within 2 km and 33 Places to Stay

A practical guide to Hantangang River in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi: the Meongguri basalt gorge and trekking trails, three free car parks within 2 km, the nearest emergency hospital at 2.0 km, 33 places to stay and four campsites.

Hantangang River flows through the Jeongok-eup area of Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province, and the Korea Tourism Organization lists it as a National Geopark. Its best-known sight, according to the tourism organization, is the Meongguri Gorge, a stretch of basalt canyon. The distances below are measured from the registered point in Jeongok-eup, so they will change depending on which part of the riverbank you head for.

What is Meongguri Gorge?

The Korea Tourism Organization describes Meongguri as the place that best shows how lava once flowed down the river. Because the river bends, the two banks look very different. One side has been heavily eroded, so the basalt is mostly gone or only partly left, and the slope is gentle. The other side still has its basalt columnar-joint cliffs. These joints can be seen all along the river.

Trekking routes, including the Hantangang trail, now run around the gorge, so you can walk and take in the scenery. The name is said to come from a saying that if you walk here after drinking and fall, you will end up with bruises (meong in Korean).

Parking: free from 1.2 km, three free car parks

These are the five nearest public car parks within 3 km in Korea's national parking registry. Three of them, all within 2 km, are free.

Car park (Korean name)	Distance	Spaces	Fee	Hours
Jeongokyeok public car park (전곡역 공영주차장)	1.2 km	69	Free	00:00-23:59
Jeongok-eup office car park (전곡읍사무소 공영주차장)	1.2 km	10	Free	00:00-23:59
Jeongok roadside public car park (전곡노상공영주차장)	1.52 km	111	Free	00:00-23:59
Jeongok traditional market car park (전곡 전통시장 공영주차장)	1.6 km	125	400 won per 30 min, then 100 won per 10 min	09:00-18:00
Jeongok old market car park (전곡재래시장 주차장)	1.63 km	11	400 won per 30 min, then 100 won per 10 min	09:00-18:00

These are registered details and may differ on site. Follow the signs when you arrive.

Water and safety

Hantangang is classed as a river, and its maximum depth is recorded as 4.0 m. There are 2 managed water-play points. The data lists no danger spots and no accident records. This is registry data, though, and may not match what you find on the day, so follow the managed points and on-site signs near the water. Ten toilets are registered in the area.

If you need a doctor

The nearest emergency facility is Yeoncheon-gun Public Health and Medical Center, a regional emergency medical institution 2.0 km away. Dongducheon Jungang St. Mary's Hospital, registered as an emergency room operator, is 12.9 km away. Three pharmacies are close: Chorok Pharmacy (1.3 km), Jeongok Pharmacy (1.4 km) and Saehimang Pharmacy (1.4 km). Only Saehimang is open on Sundays. In an emergency, call 119.

Where to stay

There are 33 licensed places to stay within 3 km: 27 motels and inns and 6 residence-type lodgings. Pensions and farm stays are registered under a different system and are not included in this count. Four campsites are nearby, listed here from the closest.

Pet Hotel Labdogville: general campsite, 1.6 km
Laguna Camp: caravan site, 1.9 km
World Camping Experience Zone: general campsite, 2.5 km
Hantangang Tourist Site Auto Camping: auto campsite, 2.7 km

Distances are straight-line. Opening hours and fees can change, so check again before you travel. Emergency 119 · Coast Guard 122