[A healthy travel in Gyeongnam] Sancheong Donguibogam Village

[A healthy travel in Gyeongnam] Sancheong Donguibogam Village

In Korea, "well-being food" has been a buzz word for some time now, which has paved the way for organics and health-related television programs. Books about fitness tips or dieting are always topping charts, especially around this time of year when people are busy making their New Year's revolutions. 

Sancheong County is one key well-being location to find healthy foodstuffs that use fresh ingredients collected from mountains nearby. 

 <Did you know there's also a health theme park in Sancheong?>

Sancheong has taken health seriously since long ago, ever since 1537, when Heo Jun, the country's most famous court physician, was born. 

In honor of the man who has written numerous medical textbooks like the famed "Dongui Bogam," his hometown, Sancheong, has erected a statue of Heo Jun and established a variety of oriental medicine experience centers.

At the Sancheong Oriental Theme Park, learn more about herbal medicine through documents and replicas showing how late doctors treated their patients. At one place called the Dongui Bogam Center, you'll smell a lingering fragrance of oriental medicine, too. 

<The Dongui Bogam Center comes with a 4-D theater and quiz games related to oriental medicine.>

As Koreans are obsessed with heights, the Donggui Bogam Center in the Sancheong Oriental Theme Park teaches visitors how to grow tall simply by stretching. Four-dimensional videos also provide education about Korea's oriental medicine, and how they developed with wisdom. 

In front of the Donggui Bogam Center, you'll find a park filled with sculptures, like a golden turtle and a statue of Heo Jun, among others. Information about domestic oriental medicine are also written on poles in the park.

<The Dongui Bogam Hiking Trail is made out of acupressure stones.>

There's a hiking trail in the theme park, where people can walk on after taking off their shoes. It hurts a bit at first, but around five to 10 minutes later, you'll feel the pain transform to tickles. At one point down the trail, you'll also find a deer farm, at which you can feed the deer yourself. 

<Energy Stone>

Make a wish upon the Energy Stone, called "gibawi" in Korean, by leaning your forehead on the rock and whispering what you want, such as pregnancy, or a decent job. 

※ Relevant information

▶ Sancheong Donguibogam Village

Address: 45-6 #555 Road, Donguibogam-ro, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam

Contact: 055-970-7201

Homepage: http://donguibogam-village.sancheong.go.kr/

How to get there: From the Sancheong Inter-City Bus Terminal, ride a village bus arriving at Bondiol Hanuiwon