Gyeongsangnam-do Province is the place to go for a soothing drive in nature. The view of Namhae is almost surreal in how brilliant the blue sea is. Hadong, home to the famous Hwagae Market, is the premier tea producer in Korea. You can cool off with a dip in the sea at Geoje’s pebble beaches or take the Eoreumgol Cable Car at “Yeongnam Alps” in Miryang. In the fall, head to Haman for its Sunflower Festival. Changwon’s Jinhae Marine Park offers a zipline ride along the view of Namhae and Geogadaegyo Bridge. Changwon Ziptrek takes you along a 1,400m-long stretch of the sky between the 99 Tower and Sokuriseom Island at a maximum speed of 80km/h. Jinju is famous for its Jinjuseong Fortress, which offers a beautiful view of the Namgang River. Take the Sacheon Sea Cable Car to enjoy the view of Namhae, particularly at night. Namhae’s German Village is famous not only for its beautiful and exotic buildings but also for the view of the sea.
Gyeongsangnam-do is a place where you can enjoy both mountains and the sea and there’s something to do each month, including attending unique festivals. The parks around Tongyeong and Namhae showcase the best of what Gyeongsangnam-do’s seas and islands offer.
In the spring, you can find the Hwagae Market Cherry Blossom Festival in Hadong and the Wondong Maehwa Festival in Yangsan, while red rules Geojedo Island in the winter with camellia flowers. Other activities include hot springs, ceramic-making experiences, and strawberry picking.
Kkulppang, or honey bread, is a deep-fried bread filled with red bean paste dusted with sugar syrup and whole sesame seeds. It is the specialty of Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Despite its name, Tongyeong Kkulppang does not contain any honey. Instead, its name comes from the sweetness of sugar syrup and the red bean paste filling. Kkulppang stores line the Jungang Market near the Tongyeong Port.
 | KKULPPANG STREET KKULPPANG Stores in Kkulppang Street often hand out Kkulppang for you to sample. The flavors differ according to who makes the bread, so browse the area for your favorite. Geobukseon Kkulppang, for instance, is known for its thin dough and sumptuous filling. It is a good way to bring the sweetness of the coating and the richness of the red bean paste to your loved ones. The area near Jungang-dong’s Munhwa Madang is full of Kkulppang stores. You can sample some of them before your purchase as well.
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Hwagae Market is a traditional market located at the confluence of Hwagaecheon Stream and Seomjingang River, both of which originating in Jirisan Mountain, and was famous throughout the country as it formed the border between Jeolla and Gyeongsang regions. Here, wild and medicinal herbs from the Jirisan Mountain were traded, along with rice and barley from the granaries of Jeolla Province. It is also the starting point of the 10-ri Cherry Blossom Road that leads from Hadong-eup to Ssanggyesa Temple, and in the spring, it creates a beautiful scenery with products and flowers from all over the country.
