From 18th century records to today's appearance
A comprehensive look at our land's geography, history, and culture.
It'll be more fun than you think, right?
Following in Lee Jung-hwan's footsteps, the K-Tour is a journey of discovery.

This book explains the diverse characteristics of each region of Korea within the context of geography, economy, culture, and history, starting from the descriptions in 『Taekriji』, a representative human geography book of the Joseon Dynasty, to the present day.
Starting with Pyeongchang, Jeongseon, and Taebaek in Gangwon-do and Andong in Gyeongsangbuk-do, we will look at twelve regions that are great for travel in each of the twelve months of the year, and five of those regions will be expanded to include unfamiliar yet interesting nearby regions through the 'Domestic Travel In-Depth Class' section.

While the world of young people has become noticeably smaller during the pandemic, the world's interest in our country has grown like never before.
Now is the time to take a closer look at the unique characteristics of our land, including its history, culture, and natural environment.
Why did Cheongsong in North Gyeongsang Province, lacking both local specialties and an industrial base, expel factories and instead host a prison? Is the Yeongdong region in Gangwon Province, a summer retreat beloved by our ancestors, now so beloved that it's now in crisis? What is the secret behind Gwangju in Honam overcoming a history of discrimination and marginalization to become a city of light? Hundreds of years after Lee Jung-hwan's "Taekriji," fascinating and poignant stories abound across our country.
By following these stories that enhance the resolution of the map in your head, both young readers and adult readers interested in domestic travel will gain a deeper understanding of our land's geography, history, and culture.

More than 200 years have passed since 『Taekriji』 was written.
Many regions of our country have undergone and are continuing to undergo significant changes in their social, cultural, and natural environments.
Even in the Joseon Dynasty, there was a proverb that said that the mountains and rivers change in 10 years, but in the 21st century, it may be changing every year.

If we examine how the landscapes of the various regions that Lee Jung-hwan observed have changed today and why, we may be able to rediscover the unique charm of each region.

--- p.23 From “Introduction: Before Going on a Trip”

The scholars of the Andong region were recognized for their academic depth compared to those of the central regions such as Seoul and Hoseo, but they were evaluated as being ignorant of world affairs and lacking in political ability.
Politics is sometimes about compromise and adapting to reality, but the scholars of this region stubbornly held on to the principles of Confucius and Mencius, and often ended up being labeled as hardliners or incurring the king's wrath.
Although Joseon selected officials through a civil service examination system that evaluated Confucian qualities, it was not a society so naive as to appoint officials to positions where practical ability and political prowess were important solely based on Confucian qualities.
In this respect, the region's 'Confucianism' was naive, and Lee Jung-hwan sharply criticized this very point.
--- p.56-57 「February.
In search of the lost scholarly spirit - Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do)

The population, which was not large to begin with, has been drained, and as of 2024, the population of Cheongsong County barely exceeds 20,000.
In an area larger than Seoul, there are fewer people living there than in one of Seoul's dongs.
In such cases, most local governments seek to revitalize the economy, create jobs, and increase the population by attracting industrial facilities, especially manufacturing plants.
However, Cheongsong County chose the opposite path.
They declared that they would never build a factory.
Not only factories, but even livestock farms were banned.
What on earth could be the reason?
Cheongsong County has a relatively small population and no significant industrial facilities in a large area, so its air and water are cleaner than anywhere else in the country. This is because the county chose to preserve its pristine nature instead of bringing in a few factories.

--- p.73-74 “Domestic Travel Advanced Class.”
From "Mysterious Geology Dictionary - Cheongsong, Gyeongsangbuk-do"

Even Gyeongju, which has become a mecca for young people, has an unavoidable fate.
It's fat loss.
Gyeongju City's population peaked at 290,000 in 1994 and has been steadily declining since, falling below 250,000 by 2023.
It has decreased by more than 10 percent.
Except for Yonggang-dong, Dongcheon-dong, and Hwangseong-dong, where new towns such as apartment complexes have been built, the entire city of Gyeongju is facing a crisis of local extinction.
As the overall population declines, the concentration of population in new towns ultimately means that old towns will become desolate.

--- p.157 「May.
From "The Symbiotic Relationship Between Historical Sites and Hip Downtown Areas - Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do"

Looking at the story so far, it seems like Gwangju is a city full of sorrow.
But the reality is completely different.
Despite its painful history, it boasts a relaxed and warm urban atmosphere and calls itself a melting pot of democratic spirit.
Mudeungsan Mountain, a symbol of Gwangju, is round without any sharp edges.
'Mudeung' is a Buddhist term that refers to a state where equality is so taken for granted that even the concept of equality has disappeared. Looking at the shape of the mountain, one is amazed and wonders if it deserves such a name.
The atmosphere of Gwangju also resembles that of Mt. Mudeung.
The city is round, leisurely and stylish.

--- p.186 「June.
From "Gwangju, a city shining with democracy and the biennale - Honam region"

It is true that having a lot of tourists is good for the local economy.
However, if too many tourists flock to a place to handle, the local industrial structure becomes distorted.
80 percent of Gangneung City's population is engaged in self-employed businesses that depend on tourists, such as restaurants and lodging.
The tourism industry is very sensitive to trends, so when trends change, there is a high risk that the city's economy will collapse in an instant.

In fact, Gangneung's population rapidly decreased in 2020-2021, when the tourism industry was in a slump due to COVID-19.

--- p.219-220 「August.
From "The best vacation spot recognized by our ancestors - Yeongdong region, Gangwon-do"

Through Asan Bay, Mokji State exchanged with countries in the north, south, and west, including Nakrang, Wa, and mainland China, and introduced advanced civilizations.
Thanks to that, the first Iron Age civilization was developed on the Korean Peninsula.

The name Naepo also originated from this time.
Looking at Asan Bay, it appears to extend deep into the land, like the mouth of a large river.
So, most of the ports formed in Asan Bay were built deep inland rather than on the shore, which is where the name Naepo, meaning ‘port within the land’, came from.

--- p.246 「October.
From "Naepo region of South Chungcheong Province, a region with a 2,000-year history of trade"

Unfortunately, both King Mu's grand palace and Mireuksa Temple are now in ruins.
All that remains are the desolate site of Mireuksa Temple, its foundation stone, and the Mireuksa Temple Stone Pagoda.
However, if we add a little imagination to this, we can easily guess the splendid national power of Baekje.
This would have been impossible without the high productivity of the plains around Iksan, Gunsan, and Wanju.

--- p.263 「November.
Is Korea's Mesopotamia right here? Among the areas of Gunsan, Iksan, and Jeonju in North Jeolla Province