Cheongsong dreaming of having a million tourists <4>

Mineral water.

Mineral water

good for stomach illnesses,

and hot spring water rich in minerals.

Nature has treasure within it.

Dalgi Mineral Spring, Sinchon Mineral Spring, Solgi Hot Spring, Solsam Hot Spring

Medical books written by Korean ancestors, including Donguibogam written by Heo Jun (1539-1615), often say that water is medicine. The books explain that mineral water is good for the body and treats intestinal diseases and that good hot spring water treats skin illnesses. In the past when medical technology was far behind what we have today, mineral water and hot spring water were the best medicines and treasure in nature.

Cheongsong has this treasure in abundance. Mineral water gushes from faucets installed in front of restaurants, and hot spring water, rich in minerals, makes the skin smooth and bright.

Particularly around Dalgi Mineral Spring, there are all sorts of delicacies, such as chicken dishes, wild mushroom dishes and mountain vegetable dishes, that would appeal to people's taste buds.

Wellness means a combination of well-being, well-being and fitness. Cheongsong itself is wellness.

Mineral water.

Dalgi Mineral Spring

Dalgi Mineral Spring is located in Bugok-ri, an area 5 ㎞ away east of Cheongsong-eup Office, Cheongsong-gun. During the reign of King Cheoljong of Joseon (1849-1863), Kwon Seong-ha retired to the countryside in Cheongsong after serving the governmental position of Geumbudosa. One day, residents found water spouting out from between rocks during the construction of waterways. They tasted the water and then let out belches and felt comfortable in the stomach. Kwon knew that it was mineral water and developed mineral springs at places where the water was found. There are five to six mineral springs called Sangtang, Jungtang, Wontang, etc. These mineral springs have been together called Dalgi Mineral Spring. Dalgi is the old name of the area.

The water from Dalgi Mineral Spring contains a large amount of carbonic acid and has iron content. That is why the water is known to have efficacies in treating stomach diseases and skin illnesses. There are a lot of restaurants between mineral springs, and most of the old restaurants are called "inn restaurants." They were named inn restaurants because people visited there to have their illnesses treated by drinking the mineral water and got accommodation at these inns. It was difficult to travel to Cheongsong, which was surrounded by mountains. A little past Dalgi Mineral Spring, there are Juwangsan Wolwei Trail, Dalgi Falls and Artistic Genius Republic of Korea. Tourists can visit this mineral spring before or after a meal and gain the breadth of mind, too.

Mineral water.

Sinchon Mineral Spring

If you go out of the E. Cheongsong-Yeongyang IC, Sangju-Yeongdeok Expressway and take the road toward Jinbo-myeon Office, you will immediately see Sinchon Mineral Spring. During the Joseon period, the court inspected water from all mineral springs across the country. The record says that the water from Sinchon Mineral Spring had the most heavy and unique taste and thus had efficacies in treating stomach diseases.

Sinchon Mineral Spring spans across the whole area of Sinchon-ri. Interestingly, mineral water gushes in most areas of Sinchon-ri. There are mineral water places in front of all restaurants and anyone can drink the mineral water. Water from Sinchon Mineral Spring has a large iron content, making mineral water places tinted red. For this reason, the ground in front of all restaurants looks reddish.

Around Sinchon Mineral Spring, there are restaurants serving great chicken dishes. Chicken are boiled in the mineral water for firm fleshiness and to remove odor. Sinchon Dakgalbi is cooked by seasoning chicken breast with red and spicy paste and mince it just like when cooking Tteokgalbi. It tastes better when wrapped in lettuce with some garlic added. After having a meal, tourists can go to Public Cheongsong Yasong Art Gallery at the entrance of the village to have mental food. What is unique about this galley is that there is only one piece of art work on display. It is a large-scale painting (46 m in width and 7 m in height), titled Daeryangcheongwundo, and it was written by Lee Won-jwa (pen name: Yasong), 80,. The admission is free.

Solgi Hot Spring.

Solgi Hot Spring

Solgi Hot Spring is between Cheongsong-eup and Dalgi Mineral Spring. Solgi is a combined word of sol (松, meaning "pine tree") and gi (氣, meaning "energy"). The name Solgi Hot Spring means that the hot spring water has the energy of a pine tree, which is one of the ten traditional symbols of longevity. This hot spring is frequented by Cheongsong-gun residents because it is located near the residential area in Cheongsong-eup.

The water of Solgi Hot Spring gushes from the 710 m underground, and 100 % spring water is used for both cold and hot baths. The hot spring water is pH 9.58 alkaline sodium bicarbonate water. For this reason, the spring water removes dead skin cells and makes the skin smooth like silk. The spring water is good for skin care and has efficacies in treating rheumatic diseases, muscle pain and skin illnesses. It also has anti-aging effects.

Solgi Hot Spring is in Juwangsang Spa Tourist Hotel. The hot spring is perfect for tourists who want to rest and experience therapeutic effects. This hotel has western-style rooms, Korean-style ondol rooms, a banquet hall and a wedding hall. The hotel also offers a Korean buffet anyone can use.

Solsaem Hot Spring.

Solsaem Hot Spring

Solsaem Hot Spring is in Daemyung Resort Cheongsong in front of Juwangsan National Park. The water of this hot spring is gained from two spots developed, each in the 780 m underground and 1,000 m underground. The temperature of the water is maintained high, ranging from 28 ℃ to 31 ℃.

The spring water used in Solsaem Hot Spring is gained from two spots and thus have different efficacies. One of the two types of spring water is pH 8.26 alkalescent sodium bicarbonate water. This spring water has such efficacies as enhancing respiration, improving immunity and recovering from wounds or illnesses. The other type is pH 9.02 alkaline sulphate mineral water. This spring water contains sulfate reducing bacteria and thus helps dissolve subcutaneous fat and carbohydrates. It also has great efficacies in treating atopic dermatitis and gastrointestinal diseases and helps eliminate addictive substances from the body by stimulating gastrointestinal movement.

Solsaem Hot Spring offers an outdoor hot spring. It is a large-scale hot spring with the area of 1,697㎡ and thus can accommodate a lot of people at the same time.

After using the hot spring, tourists can use various facilities in the resort. Visitors can enjoy various kinds of dishes at different restaurants, such as the high-class Korean restaurant Sudalae, the Italian restaurant Patio and an outdoor barbecue restaurant. There are also Cheongsong Information Center and an apple tree park with 999 apple trees in the resort. Juwangsan National Park, Viewing Flower Stone Museum, Cheongsong White Porcelain Exhibition Hall and Simsugwan Pottery Exhibition Hall are in the vicinity of the resort, and they are interesting places to visit.

Mineral springs and hot springs in Cheongsong.

Songi Garden.

Songi Garden in front of Daemyung Resort Cheongsong

A perfect combination of Korean native chickens, chewy when boiled, and wild pine mushrooms

There is a good restaurant that can be recommended to tourists after enjoying mineral and hot springs. It is Songi Garden. The restaurant serves dishes with the perfect combination of chickens and pine mushrooms. Its best dish is "native chicken clean stew," which is cooked by putting radishes and green onions into the meat broth made by boiling chicken bones in water and then boiling Korean native chickens and pine mushrooms in the broth. As the stew is boiled longer, more chicken fat dissolves in the water and permeates pine mushrooms. Then the taste of the pine mushrooms become aromatic and savory. The Korean native chicken has a chewy texture, and the flavor of pine mushrooms fills the mouth at every chew. No artificial flavors are used and only mushrooms and vegetables are used for the taste of the broth, and the broth has clean flavor.

"Native chicken clean stew" and "native chicken spicy stew" are side by side on the menu. Although spices like powdered red pepper are put in "native chicken spicy stew," "native chicken clean stew" costs more. The reason is that making dishes with a clean and deep flavor is difficult and requires devotion and know-how.

At Songi Garden, tourists can taste various traditional dishes cooked with the chef's knowhow, such as "pine mushroom stew," "pine mushroom bulgogi hot pot," "adlay and native chicken boiled with rice," "duck bulgogi" and "Korean set menu with a pine mushroom and soybean paste stew."

Songi Garden has been a famous local restaurant in Cheongsong. After Daemyung resort was built near the restaurant, more tourists came to the restaurant. Now, it is known across the county. Recently, tourists from Hong Kong, China, Japan and other countries come to Songi Garden and compliment the dishes served.

"It has been twenty years since I began cooking dishes with chickens and pine mushrooms that Cheongsong is known for," said Kim Chun-ok, the owner of Songi Garden. "I will make efforts to keep the taste as it is now for customers visiting my restaurant."