VOL.95/2026.06

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A Literary Journey to Gangneung in June:
When the Plantain Flowers Bloom

 

 

2026.06

 

 

My heart is a lake,
Row toward me, love.
Your white shadow I’ll take in my arms,
I’ll break like jade on your prow.

 

Like the poetic lines of Kim Dong-Myung, Gangneung is a city where quiet resonance and deep lingering emotions reside. His literature no longer stays confined within the pages of a book. Instead, his words have gently dissolved into the sea, the open fields, and the serene, timeless pathways of this beautiful region.

 

 

 

 

Kim Dong-Myung Literary Museum

 

Following the quiet, secluded paths of Sacheon-myeon, where the Kim Dong-Myung Literary Museum is located, the birthplace where the poet was born and raised quietly reveals itself. In the center of the courtyard stands a monument inscribed with his famous poem Plantain, while the actual plantain trees planted nearby raise their white flower stalks in late spring. Spending time in this space feels less like a mere visit and more like stepping directly into the world of literature.

 

As you venture just a little further from the birthplace, the sea of Sacheon unfolds before you. The scenery of the East Sea stretching far beyond the wide open fields naturally makes one realize why the poet so frequently sang of the ocean in his verses.

 

 

 

 

 

Gyeongpodae, Gangneung Municipal Central Library, and Independent Bookshops

 

The landscapes of Gangneung naturally inspire literary contemplation. Climbing up to Gyeongpodae Pavilion brings the lake, the sea, and the dense pine forests into a single, breathtaking view. Celebrated in the verses of the Joseon-era poet Jeong Cheol, this pavilion is a timeless sanctuary where the hearts and minds of poets have layered over generations. Walking along the lakeside at dusk, you might find yourself naturally composing a line of poetry.

 

When you wish to pause your steps for a moment, the Gangneung Municipal Central Library reveals yet another layer of the city’s literary texture. If you prefer a lighter, warmer atmosphere, cozy independent bookstores like Gorae Bookstore or Midday Ocean are wonderful alternatives. The harmonious blend of books, coffee, and the warmth of these spaces gently softens the overall texture of the journey.

 

 

 

 

The Gangneung Danoje Festival

 

The most beautiful moments of traveling through Gangneung arrive alongside the seasonal gifts nature bestows. From mid-May to early June, the plantain trees in the courtyard of the poet’s birthplace quietly raise their white flower stalks. Around the very time these flowers bloom, the exact ones that once inspired a line of poetry from Kim Dong-Myung, Gangneung raises the curtain on the Danoje Festival. In this brief, magical window, the city seamlessly harmonizes into a capital of literature where vibrant tradition and cultural heritage intertwine.

 

 

 

 

 

Gangneung and Coffee

 

When autumn arrives, the city’s atmosphere transforms completely. In October, the time when Gangneung heats up most passionately as a city of coffee, the Gangneung Coffee Festival raises its curtain, filling the entire city with a rich coffee aroma. Crimson autumn leaves, the autumn sea, and a warm cup of coffee harmoniously intertwine, leaving a uniquely deep and lingering resonance that belongs only to Gangneung.

 

Spring and autumn are two seasons where poetry, tradition, and coffee seamlessly blend. Whichever you choose, Gangneung completes its literary canvas with a distinctly different texture.

 

Standing for a moment beneath the white plantain flowers, a line of poetry naturally catches on your lips before you even realize it. Gazing at the very ocean Kim Dong-Myung once stared at, holding a warm cup of coffee, and pausing for just a brief moment, that short window of time is more than enough. For Gangneung is not merely a city to be read, but a place that slowly saturates your heart, lingering long after like a beautifully crafted sentence.

 

 

 

 

 

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Editor. The Contents Factory Co., Ltd.

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