If water-related activities are your thing, Jecheon is the place for you

Food & Travel

Published: 22 Jul. 2021, 18:15 Updated: 22 Jul. 2021, 21:45

If water-related activities are your thing, Jecheon is the place for you

A visitor enjoys the view of the forest surrounding a stone jacuzzi at Restree Resom, a newly opened resort in Jecheon, North Chungcheong. [LIETTO]

JECHEON, North Chungcheong — Despite a surge in Coivd-19 cases, the scorching heat is making it difficult for people to want to stay at home.

Undoubtedly, the best way to get some relief from the summer heat is to cool off by taking a dip — whether that's in a private pool in a newly opened resort or in a reservoir.

Restree Resom, a sister resort to Forest Resom in the rather secluded region of Jecheon, just opened earlier this month. Away from the hustle and bustle of the nation's beaches, it is located in the middle of a mountainous area where temperatures feel much lower than in the cities crowded with skyscrapers.

Usually all Resom resorts are only available for those who have yearly membership, but it sometimes offers packages with overnight stays to allure potential members. With the opening of the new resort, some room packages have been made available to use until Aug. 19.

The new resort is a hotel-style building located next to Forest Resom, a collection of villas in the mountain. It may not be as private as the Forest, but it does offer a private spa called Vtop on the top of its building. There are four private cabanas each with a private jacuzzi and individual sunbeds.

Thanks to all the mountains around the tall hotel building, the view from each cabana makes guests feel like they are in nature. Sunbeds and sofas with cushions also make it comfortable for those who want to stay dry to listen to music or read books while their companions enjoy the jacuzzi.

Vtop Spa, a rooftop spa, offers a view of mountains and the sky at Restree Resom in Jecheon, North Chungcheong. [LIETTO]

Because there are only four cabanas available, a prior reservation is an absolute must — even before you arrive in the resort. There are three different time slots available, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and then 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The cost of using the facility for three hours is 250,000 won ($217) if you choose a bigger jacuzzi that can fit up to eight people and 180,000 won for a smaller one with a maximum capacity of six. You can still use the facilities if you have more than eight guests but will have to pay an extra 20,000 won per head.

Surrounding the spa area is a garden for those who want to take a light walk. It is particularly popular at sunset.

Have9 Spa is a less pricy option that offers outdoor jacuzzis made of stone. Only big enough to fit two comfortably, these stone jacuzzis are located right under some trees, which offer great shade from the sun. There are only six of these, so you have to wait until you spot an empty one and jump in. It is one of the hottest photo spots among visitors.

Have9 Spa offers both indoor and outdoor facilities. It is newly open after renovations last week. It has many different indoor pools with jets, a sauna and even some slides in shallow pools for young children.

Entry costs 55,000 won for adults on weekdays and 60,000 won on weekends. It is 40,000 won for children on weekdays and 45,000 won on weekends. Prices for an overnight stay that includes spa entry for two starts at 329,000 won.

For more about Restree Resom, go to www.resom.co.kr/restree or call 1600-0060 to make a reservation.

A visitor wakeboarding at Cheongpung Reservoir. [LEE SUN-MIN]

For more action-filled water activities, head out to Cheongpung Reservoir, made from the remnants of Chungju Dam in 1985. Its official name is Chungju Reservoir, but people in Jecheon still call it Cheongpung to make it clear that about half of the reservoir is in Jecheon not in Chungju. The reservoir is surrounded by many different mountains.

Banana boats, waterskiing and wakeboarding are all available to try at the reservoir. Employees on site can give you a quick lesson and help you until you can get on your feet and ride the waves created by the motor boat. If you are lucky, you can watch some professionals attempting jumps and tricks. Everything you need is available to rent on site.

Cheongpung Reservoir in Jecheon, North Chungcheong [LEE SUN-MIN]

Jecheon Water Leisure, one of companies at the reservoir, provides a great backdrop even for those who just want to hang out near the shop. It is located in the middle of the reservoir and can only reached by a boat. For those who'd prefer to relax, just grab a life jacket and float in the water while your travel companions try out some more daring activities.

For more information, call 010-4634-5020.

A cable car takes visitors to the top of Mount Bibong located in the middle of the Cheongpung reservoir. [LIETTO]

If just looking at water is enough for you to feel liberated, go for Cheongpung Hoban Cable Car. It runs from Multae-li in Cheongpung-myeon to the top of Mount Bibong, which is about 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) long. Different from many cable cars that are either located in the mountains or by the coastline, this one gives a view of greenery as well as water.

The particular mountain where the cable car arrives is located in the middle of the reservoir so when you reach the top, it will make you feel like you are in an open area. Tickets start at 15,000 won for adults and 11,000 won for children for a roundtrip. It is closed on Mondays and rainy days.

For more information, go to www.cheongpungcablecar.com or call (043) 643-7301.

BY LEE SUN-MIN [lee.sunmin@joongang.co.kr]