이난영의 목포의 눈물 노래비

Yudalsan Mountain: Nakjodae Where the sunset is the most beautiful Yudalsan is the final peak of Noryeong Mountains located at the southwestern tip leading to Dadohae. It is the symbol of Mokpo and Yudalsan Nujeong is a precious rest area for the citizens. Nujeong is a term that combines Nu, which means a tower, and Jeong, which means a pavilion built in a place with a great landscape. It is one of the structures utilized as a place for spiritual training, enjoying of art in nature, and quiet appreciation of the surroundings. Nakjodae is one of the 6 Nujeong installed on the Yudalsan ridge way and, because it is seated at a great location for you to view the scenery of Dadohae, you may easily enjoy the nightscape of Gohado Island lined up lengthily over the sea as well as the sunset. It is popularly used as a rest area for Mokpo locals thanks to its convenient accessibility but it is also a famous attraction of Yudalsan that greets a countless number of tourists every year. Everyone standing on Nakjodae, could you please look at the signboard? Don't you feel a force from the writing? The signboard of Nakjodae is Yeoseoche, also known as a clerical script, and is the work of Yucheon Seo Jong-gyeon, an influential figure in Mokpo calligraphy. It is interesting to note that the term, Yeoseoche, means a simple calligraphic style for even slaves to be able to understand. As long as one knows Chinese characters, he or she will be able to comprehend this style of writing. Now, enjoy your much-needed rest before a beautiful scenery of the coast offered by Nakjodae of Yudalsan.

Daehangnu A small hill from which all of Mokpo can be seen Daehangnu is the first of the five pavilions of the “Nojeokbong Course” leading up to Ildeungbong Peak, which is the head of Yudalsan. It is a small hill with an elevation of 76m that serves like an observatory. The name means “a pavilion waiting for a crane,” and is related to the〈Samhakdo Birth Tale〉. Since we are very short on time, let me skip the tale and instead guide you through a couple of vista points. First, could you please turn around to look behind you? We are standing towards the northern part of the mountain, the original city center of Mokpo. The original city center of Mokpo is a traditional village where natives have led their lives for three to four generations, and it is intertwined with maze-like alleys. And, to promote this place, the “Alley Tour Course” was set up since 2014. From the left, you see Aphaedo Island, Aphaedaegyo Bridge, Mokpo Station, Hadang New Town over the mountain, Nojeokbong Peak and New Millennium Citizens Belfry. Now, could you look towards Nampyeon, the south side? Haha, did you look at your Nampyeon, the husband, who came with you? From now on, I’ll call the north “Bukchon” and the south of this mountain “Namchon” so that you don’t get confused. In fact, these are the names generally called by our ancestors during the Japanese occupation period. Please look near the left side below the mountain. You can see a red brick building, which is the old Japanese consulate built in 1900. Besides this, there are many other modern-style buildings left in Mokpo. What do you think came to our ancestors’ minds as they witnessed more and more contemporary structures increasing in numbers on flat lands while they themselves lived in the mountains in thatched houses? Now, if you slightly shift your view to the right and look behind the church at your 10 o'clock, a flag is seen flapping about. It is a low rocky hill called Mokpojin Fort, which was installed in the 21st year of King Sejong’s reign in 1439 and is the beginning of Mokpo's history. Today, the fort no longer has the original appearance and only one lodging structure is restored. Nevertheless, it is No. 6 out of Mokpo 9 Views so make sure to stop by. Oh! And Yudalsan is also famous for beautifully blooming forsythia. When spring comes, the entire mountain and both sides of the way up as well as the surroundings of the pavilion are all colored in yellow. How is your season with mulberries? If you visited during another season, be sure to visit again for the spring. Besides this, there are many more stories still to be told about Mokpo. During your relaxing trip to Mokpo, I hope you have a chance to listen to a variety of Mokpo stories other than the one about mulberries!

Mokpo’s first primary school with features of modern architecture Yudal Elementary School This place filled with children’s laughter is Yudal Elementary School, a public elementary school located in Yudal-dong. There is an old building standing in an antique look next to a modern structure. It is the auditorium of Mokpo Simsang Public Primary School. The predecessor of Yudal Elementary School was Mokpo Simsang Public Primary School established by Japanese settlers in Mokpo in 1929. It was the first school built in Mokpo for the education of Japanese children. Since then, it had been renamed to Mokpo Simsang Public Upper Primary School and Mokpo Sansu Simsang Upper Primary School before reopening as Mokpo Yudal Elementary School in 1945. The main building that was constructed in the beginning has disappeared but the auditorium of Simsang Primary School, which was built in 1912, remains. The first floor was used for classrooms and the second floor as an auditorium, and the front and both sides of the reinforced concrete structure were finished with two-colored tiles. Narrow arch windows and chimneys add a particularly antique but chic beauty. This auditorium is the sole elementary school building from the Japanese colonial era that still remains in Mokpo, and well expresses the characteristics of the architecture at the time.

The current Mokpo Shimsang Public Elementary School Auditorium is registered as national registered cultural heritage no. 30. Mokpo Shimsang Public Elementary School is currently being used as Yudal Elementary School. The former Mokpo Shimsang Public Elementary School was established in 1929 and it was the first auditorium of the Shimsang Elementary School that was constructed for the first time in Mokpo for the education of Japanese children. It is the last remaining elementary school education facility from the Japanese Occupation still remaining in Mokpo. It has a reinforced concrete structure and the front and sides were finished with tiles of two colors, and on the second floor, there is a narrow arch window. It is the only remaining elementary school building from the Japanese Occupation in Mokpo, and it well represents the auditorium architectural features of the times.

Yudal Recreation Area refers to the 300m beach between Shinan Beach Hotel and Mokpo National Maritime University, and the streets in its vicinity. Daeban-dong Coast offers a stunning scenery of perfect harmony between Mokpo Bridge and the sea. The view of the archipelago seen from here has been part of the Nine Sceneries of Mokpo even before Mokpo Bridge was built. Mokpo Bridge was erected in the shape of a crane in 2012. The beauty of Mokpo Bridge that illuminates like a crane in the night sky, the countless lights leading to Goha-do (Is.), and the stars sparkling between them were so beautiful that it was selected as a nighttime tourist destination by the Korea Tourism Organization. The Skywalk offers thrilling excitements of walking over the sea 15m up in the sky. At night, you can enjoy the sparkling ocean that reflects the lights under your feet, the lights at the top of Yudalsan (Mt.), and the shining nightscape of Daeban-dong all at once. Panoramic views of Mokpo Bridge and the seas of Mokpo can be enjoyed on the Skywalk. It is opened from 9 a.m. To 9 p.m. Between March and October and from 9 a.m. To 8 p.m. from November to February, and it is free of charge. Entry at night is restricted to prevent accidents.