DIARY

Hallyu Diary Vol.8

Hey guys! Is everyone making the most of their summer?
As for me, I wanted a change of scenery, so I decided to head over to Danyang!
Summer is all about fun-filled activities, am I right?
And in Danyang, you get to enjoy both breathtaking nature and heart-pounding excitement!

Danyang has thrills, vibes, and activities that take you to scenes straight out of K-variety shows!
Let’s dive into the activity-packed adventure planned for you by yours truly, Joy!

The first place I went to after arriving in Danyang was the Mancheonha Skywalk!
It’s a 25-meter-high observatory sitting on the top of a cliff,
and to get there, I had to walk up a winding, spiral path!
The climb left me a little out of breath, but when I got to the top,
I couldn’t help but think, “What a perfect way to kick off this trip!”

Remember those stunning views that made Lee Young-ja, Yoo Byung-jae, and Jun Hyun-moo
gasp on Omniscient Interfering View?
It felt like I was walking on air with the Namhangang River stretching dizzyingly below,
and before me, Danyang’s green mountains spread on endlessly!

Each time I took a step, I felt my heart sink and my palms get sweaty,
but in the end, I got to fully soak in the beauty of Danyang’s nature.
Since I made it all the way up here, I captured photo proof on top the famous glass floor! -★

Not only that, but the skywalk also offers ziplining and an alpine coaster activity.
I went for the alpine coaster, which races 960 meters down the mountain.
You can control your own speed settings, but turns out, I’m a thrill-seeking dopamine nut!
Speeding down the track totally blew my stress away.
I totally recommend trying out Danyang’s ultimate adrenaline triple combo!

After the thrilling skywalk experience and the ride on the alpine coaster,
I was good and ready for something to eat.
That’s when I thought of the most amazing place, Danyang’s traditional Gugyeong Market.

As soon as I stepped inside, I was hit by the smell of garlic!
From garlic short rib patties and garlic soondae (blood sausage) to garlic fried chicken,
every step I took led me deeper into a never-ending parade of garlic.
It felt like everything that could ever be made with garlic was right here!

The whole market was buzzing with energy,
and the food in people’s hands and the food being served in the restaurants looked so good!
I ducked into a nearby eatery and ordered the famous sizzling garlic short ribs.

And it turns out, this is the very spot where ITZY’s Yeji and Yuna ate
on the YouTube web variety show Who Ride?!
I remember drooling as I watched the show,
and now that I was actually trying the rich, juicy galbi paired with the punchy garlic flavor,
I can honestly say it packed just as much of a punch as the activities I tried earlier.

Apparently, Danyang’s limestone-rich terrain makes it ideal for growing garlic.
That’s why garlic is a local specialty here, and why it’s used in so many incredible dishes.
After burning all those calories through the adventure rides,
this meal was the perfect way to recharge.
Gugyeong Market is definitely a must-stop midway point on any Danyang trip.

You can’t visit Danyang without making a stop at Dodamsambong Peaks,
the three towering stone pillars rising straight out of the river.
This spot was even featured on the variety show 2 Days & 1 Night,
but the rock formations were much more majestic in person.

Just like Park Bo-gum introduced on the Danyang episode of 2 Days & 1 Night,
the largest stone pillar in the middle is called Janggunbong (the Husband Rock),
while the smaller ones on either side are known as Wife Rock and Concubine Rock.
According to legend, a childless general took a concubine, and when she became pregnant before the wife, the furious wife turned her back on them.
This interesting human folklore, added to the majestic natural formation,
transforms the scenery to a special place that excites your imagination.

Here’s some fun trivia!
The same Park Bo-gum who introduced Danyang is the 2025 Korea Tourism Ambassador!
Can you think of anyone better to promote Korea’s appeal to the world?
(※ Watch the promo video: YouTube Link)

I got to see Dodamsambong Peaks from a speeding motorboat,
and I was nervous because I didn’t expect to go so fast on the river!
The second we took off, we raced across the water
and I was hit by a blast of cool wind, which made me burst into laughter.

Gazing upon the Dodamsambong Peaks from the boat felt like something straight out of a movie.
As the three distinctive peaks rose dramatically above the water and drew closer,
I felt completely refreshed from the speed and the crisp, cool air against my skin!

The gust of cool wind from the river made me forget all about the summer heat.
If too much thrill isn’t for you, there’s also a cruise you can choose instead.
Where majestic nature and exhilarating activities can both be enjoyed,
this is the place to go for the coolest moments in Danyang!

Want to absorb all of Danyang’s scenery in one sweeping glance from the sky?
Paragliding with the help of a professional is the ultimate highlight!

At first, I wasn’t sure soaring through the skies of Danyang was even possible,
but when I strapped into my paragliding gear
and stepped into the launch site, my heart started pounding!
I was honestly scared in the beginning but when I let go, everything changed.
There was nothing but blue sky above me,
and the winding Namhangang River and grand mountains as far as I could see.

From up high, I could see why TWICE’s Jihyo was blown away on the YouTube show Seibja.
You can’t quite grasp the scale or beauty of the landscape from the ground,
but when I was in the air, the view was truly spectacular.
It felt as if time came to a stop when I was gliding slowly on the wings of the wind.
The only time I was scared was when I took off; later, I was sorry it was over so quickly!

After the flight, I grabbed a seat at a café with amazing views near the paragliding site.
Enjoying a cup of coffee while gazing up at the sky I’d just soared
through left a lasting impression of the experience I’d just had.
If you want to make that moment last, stroll along the Jando-gil Trail by Namhangang River.
Walking on the same landscape you just flew over is the best way to close a truly exciting day.
From thrills to relaxing and vibes all around, my day in Danyang had it all!