Okcheon is where the famous poet Jeong Ji-yong was born, and it is in harmony with the river ‘Geumgang’. When people look at Geumgang flowing by the mountain, they can bring Jeong Ji-yong’s poem ‘Lake 1’ to mind: ‘A face can take shelter/ Deep in two hands/ But the longing heart/ Large as a lake-/ can only shut the eyes.’ This poem represents the missing ones he loves. In Okcheon, beautiful poems are written on shop signs, walls and even restrooms. Wherever people go in Okcheon, they can read and appreciate his poems. -Ed
 
Okcheon’s atmosphere is quiet and restful as people can listen to the sounds of the leaves as they turn brown. The place is good for getting some fresh air and calming one’s mind.
The road ‘Hyangsu 30ri’ is a well-known road for taking drives by car or bicycle. It starts at Hagye-ri and leads to the Janggye tour site. The mountains, which are in harmony with the large river and the avenue of trees, give a great view.
Jeong Ji-yong’s birth house is located near the Okcheon bus terminal. In fact,  traces of his birth house had been preserved, but then the house was restored in 1996. A small stream flows in front of the thatch-roofed house. There is a well and several pots, and chrysanthemums and one persimmon tree are growing in the garden. His poems and his photo are displayed inside the house. When visitors read his works, they might feel what he said in his poems.
The Jeong Ji-yong Literature Gallery is next to his birth house. The Literature Gallery was established 10 years after the birth house was restored. Visitors can easily appreciate his poems and understand his life in the Literature Gallery. They might feel how the poet, who left to study abroad, missed his hometown and how he loved Korea, which was under Japanese colonial rule. Visitors enjoy not only his poetry but also his illustrated poetry and research papers. Also, they can comfortably read poems in the Literature Class, and the Audiovisual Room shows a film about Jeong Ji-yong’s life.
When going toward Janggye-ri for 20 minutes from Jeong Ji-yong’s birth house, people can see beautiful mountains in harmony with a large river. That is the Janggye tour site. It is called ‘Good New World,’ which received an award for protecting the  environment and developing a local culture. About 100 experts including architects, designers and writers tried to decorate the city for 2 years. There are many works of art everywhere, so the visitors enjoy poems and art work. ‘Modan School’ has programs where people can make bags or clocks using eco-friendly materials. If people want to rest with a cup of tea, they can enter the coffee shop ‘Cafe France.’
Okcheon is so calm and peaceful like Geumgang flowing by the mountains. If someone feels frustrated, CBT suggests a visit to Okcheon remembering ‘Could it ever be forgotten, even in one’s dreams?’ which is an excerpt from the poem ‘Nostalgia’, written by Jeong Ji-yong. Anyone who is stressed out from their city lives can be consoled in Okcheon.
By Son Eun-young
 ey30@cbnu.ac.kr