Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
old and new housing in Gangwon-do
Culture
Barring the odd annual celebration, such as Chuncheon's International Mime Festival,
international-class displays of contemporary art or music are uncommon in Gangwon-do.
However, there's certainly no shortage of historical sites to explore; national parks such as
Seoraksan and Taebaeksan have long lists of temples, tombs, and hermitages with hundreds
of years' worth of legends behind them.
Daily Life
There are few organized expatriate groups or activities in Gangwon-do beyond a few
Facebook-based associations, such as Gangneung Open Mic. Foreign residents inevitably
tend to meet each other and form bonds quickly due to their relative rarity. Strangely
enough, Seoul-based companies and clubs such as Adventure Korea, which runs regular
hiking and rafting trips in Gangwon, seem most active in planning excursions for foreign
residents of the province.
Shopping
Major retailers such as E-mart have a limited presence in Gangwon-do, with most con-
centrated on the outskirts of Wonju and Chuncheon. All cities have traditional-style mar-
