Come 2018, thousands of visitors from around the world will gather in PyeongChang to compete
or witness greatness at the latest winter games and Paralympics.
There's more to this Korean city than just ice, snow and slopes.
For our news features tonight, Kim Mok-yeon shows what the alpine resort town has to offer
during the Summer.
Pyeongchang County in Korea's eastern Gangwon-do Province will host athletes from all over
the world in less than seven months from now.
But the area,...soon to be be a haven for winter sports... is known in Korea for its
unique attractions all year round.
ed: steve "I’m standing here at the peak of Cheongoksan
mountain in Pyeongchang county.
With a cool breeze blowing around,… the temperature here at the summit is nearly five
degrees lower than down in the valley below."
The peak has the name "Yookbaekmajigi " which translates to "a land wide enough to sow 600
buckets of seeds."
This open field is where highland vegetables were first harvested in Korea.
On top of the nearly 600-thousand square meter plateau is a stretch of towering wind turbines
that create a fairy tale-like landscape.
"Before the turbines were installed, it was very difficult to come here.
Since only a handful of people really know about this place, you can feel the beauty
of nature when you come here."
Along with its clean and cool air, Pyeongchang is also known for its pure and nutritious
water supply.
During hot days, residents flock to hidden streams to cool off from the heat.
This stream, called Mulpurae ,... is one example.
A resident who came here from the southeastern city of Busan a decade ago says the best thing
about the stream is its fresh and healthy water.
"Since the water is good and the mountains are good, the air is here is terrific.
The negative ions emitted from the stream are also good for my health."
Although most of the county has been affected by a prolonged drought, residents say water
never stopped flowing at the Mulpurae stream.
This is evidenced by the moss-covered stones that dot the stream.
"The fact that there's moss here means the water never dries up.
Moss only grows in places that are damp."
The stream's ever-flowing water is a big factor that keeps Pyeongchang clean and green.
When it comes to Pyeongchang's fresh water, the biggest beneficiaries are the local trout.
Trout farming started in Pyeongchang in mid 1960s, and has since become big business.
For the past ten years, the Pyeongchang Trout Festival has been held annually offering various
activities, including ice fishing,... to the public.
Earlier this year, trout was even listed on a list of geographical indicators of PyeongChang.
Currently, more than three-and-a-half thousand tons of trout are produced around the nation
every year, and around a third come from Pyeongchang.
"Since trout are cold-water fish, the water needs to be clean and cold.
The water temperature in Pyeongchang does not exceed nine to 15 degrees Celsius, so
many people breed trout in the area."
The water is chilly because it comes directly from springs.
This also means the temperature remains the same regardless of the season, providing a
prime environment for trout to thrive.
"The difference between spring water and underground water is that spring water is rich in mineral
content.
So in the end, its good for the fish and the people who eat the fish as well."
At Gwangcheon Cave, visitors can feel a cool breeze during the summer even from its entrance.
-SOP "It sounds like there's a lot of water flowing,
but look, there's no water at all."
Because of Pyeongchang's geographical location, many caves in the area are formed from limestone,...
which usually have flowing water underneath.
"If water flows in a normal stream, it warms due to the sun's heat.
But since the water here flows below the cave, it stays cold."
The temperature inside the cave is 13 degrees Celsius no matter the season.
During summer, people can escape the heat.
During the coldest months,... the cave is a place to stay reasonably warm,... at least
compared to the outside temperature.
However, the cave only opens to the public for ten days at this time of the year,...
during the "PyeongChang Hot Weather Hunting Festival", in order to preserve the cave as
much as possible.
As such, the county wants to pass on this beautiful gift from mother earth to Korea's
future generations.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.