Gongjicheon Stream (Gold Scales Theme Street) (공지천)

Gongjicheon Stream is a celebrated site popular among not only citizens of Chuncheon, but also tourists. They say Gongjicheon Stream is like the Hangang River in Seoul. Gongjicheon Stream is associated with a story about Toegye Yi Hwang, a scholar in the 1500s whose portrait appears on the KRW 1,000 bill. This story takes place while Toegye Yi Hwang was staying at his mother’s parents’ home in a location that is equivalent to Toegye-dong in the present time. He trained a puppy that was in fact the son of the Dragon King. As a teacher for the Dragon King’s son, Toegye was invited to the underwater palace of the Dragon King and was given a sheaf of straw as a gift. It was a sheaf of magical straws that turned into fish when put into water. Toegye made fish by putting this sheaf of straw into the water of Gomjinae, which is the old name of Gongjicheon Stream. The fish was named Gongjieo. After the name of the fish, Gomjinae was renamed Gongjicheon, which means a stream where Gongjieo lives. Around Gongjicheon Stream, you will find a number of tourist attractions including the Gongjicheon Recreation Area, Memorial Hall for Ethiopian Veterans in the Korean War, folk flea market, and KT&G Sangsangmadang Chuncheon. The Gongjicheon Recreation Area is equipped with a walking trail, a sculpture park, and an outdoor performance area. In particular, you can enjoy the water of Gongjicheon Stream on a pedal boat.

"The Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950. 16 countries entered the war as dispatched UN forces. From Africa, Ethiopia sent Kangnew Battalions, which were the only ground forces. In the Ethiopian language, Kangnew means to give a decisive blow or to wipe out the enemy. Kangnew Battalions were a number of military units from the Imperial Ethiopian Army with 6,037 soldiers. The troops sent by Ethiopia were the fourth largest following those of the U.S., the U.K. and Canada. There is a story behind Ethiopia’s participation in the Korean War. Invaded by Italy in 1935, Ethiopia asked for help to countries around the world. But, the request was turned down. Over the next ten years, Ethiopia defended itself at the sacrifice of 270,000 people. Having suffered tragedy, Ethiopia sent troops to Korea when it asked for help, hoping that Korea would not have to go through the pain it had. The Chuncheon- City Government opened the Memorial Hall for Ethiopian Veterans in the Korean War in March 2007 in order to commemorate the distinguished military service of the Ethiopian troops and reflect on the lessons of war. Built in the shape of a dome, the traditional housing style of Ethiopia, this memorial hall consists of two stories. The Memorial Exhibition Room on the first floor focuses on the performance of the Kangnew Battalions at the time and the Exchange Exhibition Room and Folk Culture Exhibition Room on the second floor introduce the culture of Ethiopia. "