Gangwon Province · Hoengseong-gun · South Korea

Hoengseong-eup (횡성읍) — South Korea Travel Guide: Things to Do, Access & Local Food

Situated in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon Province at 130 m elevation, Hoengseong-eup (횡성읍, pop. Official Municipality) is known for its Korean heritage architecture, agricultural valleys, and rotating 5-day markets.

Official / Local Name횡성읍
Region / ProvinceGangwon Province (Hoengseong-gun)
PopulationOfficial Municipality
Coordinates37.4967°N, 127.9883°E · 130 m

Overview

Situated in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon Province at 130 m elevation, Hoengseong-eup (횡성읍, pop. Official Municipality) is known for its Korean heritage architecture, agricultural valleys, and rotating 5-day markets.

Official / Local Name횡성읍 (Hoengseong-eup)
Region / ProvinceGangwon Province · Hoengseong-gun
PopulationOfficial Municipality
Elevation130 m above sea level
Nearest Rail / Subway StationWonju Station (원주역) (16.0 km)
Nearby Landmarks & SightsUnam-jŏng (우남정) (0.7 km) · Pogwang-sa (보광사) (3.0 km) · Ch’ŏngsan-sa (청산사) (5.0 km) · Yonghwa-sa (용화사) (5.3 km)
Local Neighborhoods & Sub-AreasŬpsang-ni (읍상리) (0.7 km), Hoengsŏng (0.8 km), Masal-li (마산리) (1.1 km), Malmi (말미) (1.1 km), K’ŭn-gol (큰골) (1.4 km)
Neighboring MunicipalitiesHoengseong-gun (횡성군) (1.0 km) · Gonggeun-myeon (공근면) (5.0 km) · Ucheon-myeon (우천면) (10.2 km) · Hojeo-myeon (호저면) (10.6 km) · Socho-myeon (소초면) (10.7 km)

Getting There & Local Transit

Nearest rail/transit hub: Wonju Station (원주역) (16.0 km). KTX Gangneung Line from Seoul to Pyeongchang & Gangneung (1h 30m–2h); ITX-Cheongchun to Chuncheon; Express Bus to Sokcho. Tap a nationwide T-money card on local buses and subways, and search "횡성읍" in Naver Map or KakaoMap for real-time directions.

What to See & Do

  • Unam-jŏng (우남정) (0.7 km) — Hoengseong-eup (횡성읍)
  • Pogwang-sa (보광사) (3.0 km) — Hoengseong-eup (횡성읍)
  • Ch’ŏngsan-sa (청산사) (5.0 km) — Hoengseong-eup (횡성읍)
  • Yonghwa-sa (용화사) (5.3 km) — Hoengseong-eup (횡성읍)

Local Food & Regional Specialties

  • Hearty regional 국밥 (Gukbap rice soup) and handmade 칼국수 (Kalguksu knife-cut noodles) simmered with anchovy, radish, and seasonal greens from Gangwon Province.
  • Charcoal-grilled local pork belly (Samgyeopsal), marinated short ribs (Galbi), and savory 해물파전 (scallion and seafood pancakes) served at family-run 식당 (Sikdang, ₩9,000–₩16,000).
  • Earthenware-aged 된장 (Doenjang soybean paste) and 고추장 (Gochujang), sun-dried regional produce, traditional 한과 (Hangwa rice sweets), and local brewery 생막걸리 (unpasteurized draft Makgeolli).
  • Locals gather for weekday 백반 (Baekban home-style lunch sets, ₩9,000–₩12,000) where every table receives 6–10 complimentary refillable banchan side dishes, and browse the traditional 5-day market (오일장) for seasonal harvest specialties. Across Hoengseong-eup (pop. 12,000) in Hoengseong-gun, neighborhood alleys combine family-run soup and BBQ spots with modern Korean bakery-cafes.

Best Time to Visit

Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov (Autumn Foliage), Dec–Feb (Winter Snow). Gangwon Province → · 3,651 All Cities →