Aug. 12: RASKB will take a boat ride on Soyang Lake in Gangwon. Formed by Soyang Dam, which was completed in 1973, the lake spans 63 kilometers (39 miles). During the ferry ride on the lake, visitors will be able to appreciate the lofty surrounding hills. The group will see the vast lake narrow into a serpentine shape. At noon, the group will cross the 38th parallel, the famous pre-Korean War border between the North and South. There, the group will have lunch.
The last destination of the boat ride is Yanggu County, the front line for much of the war, which the group will tour by bus. Sights will include the intersection of the Han and Soyang Rivers and many artificial reservoirs and lakes, formed from the region’s concentration of dams. The tour costs 39,000 won ($42) for members and 46,000 won for non-members.
The bus will leave from Yongsan Post Office, near subway line No. 4, exit 1, at 8:30 a.m. and will return at 8 p.m.
(02) 763-9483, www.raskb.com
Aug. 15: To commemorate Korean Liberation Day, RASKB will tour South Chungcheong, where traces remain of historic Koreans who struggled for independence.
The first stop will be Hyeonchungsa Shrine, dedicated to Yi Sun-shin, a famous general during the Japanese invastion in 1592.
In the shrine’s museum, Lee’s war diaries and personal effects are on display. Next is the Onyang Folk Museum, famous for its artifacts that represent the past lives of ordinary Koreans. The final stop will be the Independence Memorial Hall, constructed in 1987 and dedicated to those who died during the Japanese occupation. Here, paintings and miniature reconstructions depict the Korean fight for independence from Japan. The tour costs 35,500 won for members and 42,600 won for non-members. The bus leaves from Yongsan Post Office, near subway line No. 4, exit 1, at 8 a.m. and will return at 8 p.m.