Only in Korea by Lonely Planet Korea

Only in Korea by Lonely Planet Korea

1. Venture insidea North Korean spy submarine near Jeongdongjin on the east coast

2. Peer inside the Korean president's bedroom in Cheongnamdae in Chungcheongbuk-do

3. Hike inside the world's largest lava tube on Jejudo

4. Get up at 3:30am to chant sutras with Buddhist monks on a temple-stay programme

5. March along a north Korea invasion tunnel under the DMZ that the North claimed was a coal mine

6. Admire giant penises at Haesindang Gong-won (Penis Park) and Totem Pole Park

7. Dive with sharks in Busan Aquarium

8. Sit inside a Buddhist version of paradise tin the replica of King Muryeong's tomb in Gonju

9. Squeeze yourself into a goblin-sized teashop in Insadong, with birds flying around

10. Discover the Secret Garden inside a Seoul palace where kings wrote nature poetry and students sweated over their exam papers

Chungcheongbuk-do Chungju Lake

Chungju Lake boat ride
http://www.chungjuho.com/ (no English version available)
Variety of tour courses available, but most popular is
Chungju -> Janghoe(vice versa, one way)adult/child under 12 W15,000/7,000
1h 20 min by small boat, 2h 10 min by big ferry

Lonely Planet Korea Pg.338
"Korea's most scenic boat ride - The trip's highlight is at Janghoe where the rocky cliffs were greatly admired by Joseon-era poets and painters and inspired much peotry and art."

My trip to Chungju Lake was on August 2008, on a rainy weekend. I and four other girls friends stayed at a cheap, old resort(Chungjuho). Water sports were available at the lake, but the weather demotivated all the means.

I insisted on the lake ferry as our alternative tour choice. Though repeatedly praised by poets and painters over centuries, ferry ride was disappointing, partly due to the cold, rainy weather. Pictures taken by others, however, seems different - perhaps it was just a wrong day to go. The ferry guide is very funny, too bad he only speaks Korean.

Two little girls and a baby boy we met at the terminal made up the disappointment. For the one hour waiting for the ferry and one and half on the ferry, we babysitted the girls. The girls kept us busy and fed us with snacks - thank god, we were starving.

View of Janghoe pier was much better than the rest of the trip, and the rain finally stopped pouring.

For sleeping :

Resorts do exist along the lake.
Chungjuho - very old and dirty, not recommendable
Cheongpung - W 111,000 (up to 3 persons) http://www.cheongpungresort.co.kr/ver2/main/php/main.php
Danyang Daemyung - Weekdays W 59,000/Weekend W95,000 (up to 4 persons)
http://www.daemyungresorts.com/danyang_index.htm

Pensions may be a better choice if you prefer private, luxurious environment.
Chungju Hoban Pension - lake view rooms W 70,000 ~ 130,000 (for 2 persons) http://www.chungjuho114.com/