부록11화: 고향에 대해서 말해보기

1. Where is your hometown? 

My hometown is Chuncheon, which is located in South Korea. 

It's situated about midway through the country! 

It's also about an hour away from Seoul.

2. What is your hometown like? 

Chuncheon is geographically mountainous and features a very large river. 

It is also home to a famous dam, making it a great city for walking. 

In my opinion, Chuncheon is one of the more pleasant cities to live in South Korea.

As for the climate, it is extremely cold, earning the nickname "Chunberia," a combination of Chuncheon and Siberia, highlighting its frigid temperatures.

Economically, it may not be the best due to its environmental constraints. 

The presence of the dam means that industrial development is limited to avoid polluting the water. 

As a result, when I was young, not only my parents but also the parents of my friends were all civil servants.

3. Where is your favorite place to go in your hometown? 

My favorite place in my hometown is a quiet cafe surrounded by a lot of pine trees. 

Despite the abundance of cafes in Korea, I particularly like this one because it's not crowded.

Going to my hometown means I want to relax and spend time with my family, so I prefer not to go to busy places. 

That's why I love this cafe so much!

Another place I like is called the folk market. 

Unlike big supermarkets, this is a traditional market where I always go with my dad when we need to buy things. 

I'm not sure if things are cheaper there, but I really enjoy the cozy atmosphere and the moments of chatting with my dad while we pick out items.

4. What is your hometown famous for? 

Chuncheon is famous for its food, especially two dishes. 

One is Dakgalbi, which is chicken and vegetables stir-fried in a spicy red sauce. 

The other is Makguksu, which are noodles made from buckwheat. 

These two dishes are so renowned that there are even food festivals held in their honor! Sometimes I miss these hometown flavors because they just don’t taste the same elsewhere. That’s why I make sure to enjoy them whenever I visit home.

Ah, and Chuncheon is known for its staple crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn. 

So whenever I tell people from other regions that I'm from Chuncheon, they often joke, "Do you guys really eat a lot of potatoes? Do you pay the bus fare with potatoes?" Haha.

5. What do people do for fun in your hometown?

As I mentioned earlier, Chuncheon has many mountains and a river, so people enjoy hiking and walking. When you go to the parks, you can see many people out exercising.

And do you know Son Heung-min? He's from Chuncheon! He even established a soccer club here. That's why lately, there seem to be a lot of kids playing soccer!