Jecheon’s Sotdae Sculptures at the Neungg עשotdae Cultural Space by Cheongpung Lake
Neungg עשotdae Cultural Space is a free cultural venue at the foot of Geumsusan Mountain along Cheongpung Lake in Jecheon, exhibiting around 500 sotdae works by artist Yoon Young-ho. This guide covers opening hours, access information, the nature of the exhibition, and nearby valleys to help first-time visitors plan their actual route.
I’ve been here?
Your check-in helps the next traveler.
No one has checked in yet Be the first
One tap — no writing needed
The Cheongpung Lake Somut Space Opened by Artist Yoon Young-ho in 2005
Neunggang Sotdae Cultural Space is located at 1100 Oksunbong-ro, Susan-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, along the lakeside road from Cheongpung toward Oksun Bridge. Introduced as the nation’s first space created around the theme of sotdae at the foot of Geumsusan Mountain beside Cheongpung Lake, it is a good addition to an itinerary taking in both the lake scenery and the mountain slopes, thanks to its location near Chungju Lake.
Sotdae are sculptures traditionally installed at village entrances, with duck- or bird-shaped forms placed atop wooden or stone poles to express wishes directed toward the heavens, a practice dating back to ancient Gojoseon. Artist Yoon Young-ho first encountered sotdae in a painting by veteran artist Kwon Ok-yeon in 1985. After moving his studio to Hacheon-ri, Dongnyang-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, in 1999, he opened Neunggang Sotdae Cultural Space at its present location in 2005.
How the Approximately 500 Exhibits Transformed Traditional Sotdae
About 500 sotdae works are exhibited here. The space reinterprets traditional sotdae as contemporary sculptures, with the central concept being the reconstruction of works inspired by materials found in nature through a modern sculptural vocabulary. The exhibits include works such as ‘Variation on a Fever,’ which presents traditional sotdae forms in a contemporary manner.
‘Naro’ is positioned in the center of the indoor exhibition room, surrounded by sotdae exhibits and various sculptures. This is not merely an indoor exhibition hall: sotdae-related sculptural materials have been added by theme each year, while the overall landscaping is designed to show how nature changes with the seasons alongside the sotdae.
Open from 10:00 to 18:00, Closed on Mondays
The stated visiting hours are 10:00–18:00, and the space is regularly closed every Monday. Admission is listed as free, an important point for first-time visitors because this is not a facility requiring a paid ticket. The main telephone number is 043-653-6160, and visitors are advised to confirm the operating hours and closure days by phone before visiting.
The official information website is the Jecheon City tourism website: https://tour.jecheon.go.kr/tour. The available information does not specify whether hands-on learning programs are currently operating or their fees, whether photography is prohibited, whether English information or an audio guide is available, or which indoor and outdoor areas have restricted access. If you are interested in making a sotdae or receiving a foreign-language explanation, it is safest to inquire first at 043-653-6160.
Understand the Lakeside-Road Location Before Setting Out from Jecheon
The address is 1100 Oksunbong-ro, Susan-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. Since the site is on the lakeside road from Cheongpung toward Oksun Bridge, it is not a place that can be reached simply by walking from a station exit like a typical downtown tourist attraction in Jecheon. The transportation information mentions local buses toward Susan and Cheongpung, as well as routes toward Neunggang Valley, but the latest bus route numbers and service frequencies are not specified.
For foreign visitors coming for the first time, a practical approach is to use the transportation information on the Jecheon City tourism website together with 043-653-6160 to check same-day bus services. This is not a tourist site requiring a long uphill walk from a ticket office, and no separate admission ticket booth information is available. Parking is listed as available, but the number of spaces and parking fees are not provided in the published information.
Local Culture Revealed by the Sotdae Festival and 20th-Anniversary Special Exhibition
The main activities of Neunggang Sotdae Cultural Space include creating and exhibiting sotdae sculptures, holding a sotdae culture festival, supporting sotdae-related artistic activities, and providing education and exhibition information. The sotdae culture festival has been held annually since 2007, and a 15th-anniversary exhibition took place in 2020. At that time, the commemorative exhibition ran from November 26 to December 6, 2020.
In 2025, a special exhibition titled ‘Embracing Hope in Sotdae’ was scheduled for the entire month of November to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening. An opening ceremony and celebratory performance were planned for the first day, along with exchange events involving local artists and residents during the exhibition period. Artist Yoon Young-ho stated in a 2020 report that he had worked as a sotdae artist for 35 years, so this place is closer to an exhibition space following one artist’s long-term creative practice than simply an outdoor sculpture attraction.
How to Combine the 520 m to Neunggang Valley and 1,371 m to Jeongbangsa Temple
Neunggang Valley and Eoreumgol are listed as nearby attractions, 520 m from Neunggang Sotdae Cultural Space. After viewing the sotdae exhibition, it is possible to continue toward the natural scenery around the valley, although the available information does not include the valley’s current water level or trail conditions.
Jeongbangsa Temple is listed at 1,371 m, Jecheon Sanyakcho Village at 2,994 m, and Cheongpung Land at 3,158 m. Therefore, rather than treating the sotdae cultural space as the sole destination on a Cheongpung Lake itinerary, it is more efficient to combine it with accessible destinations among Neunggang Valley and Eoreumgol, Jeongbangsa Temple, Sanyakcho Village, or Cheongpung Land.
Visitor Conditions to Check in Advance Despite Free Admission
Tourism information indicates barrier-free travel facilities including an accessible restroom, an elevator for visitors with disabilities, designated accessible parking, and a level main entrance with no step. However, the slopes and stairs along the complete indoor and outdoor route, as well as outdoor surface conditions, have not been confirmed. Visitors using wheelchairs or strollers should therefore contact 043-653-6160 in advance to ask about detailed routes.
The officially recommended visiting duration, whether reservations are required, and whether cash or card payments are accepted have not been separately announced. Although no admission budget is needed because entry is free, hands-on learning programs were reported as operating in 2020, while their current availability and fees are unspecified. The exhibition’s highlights are ‘Naro’ in the center of the indoor room, the surrounding indoor sculptures, outdoor sotdae works, and seasonal landscaping, making it better suited to travelers seeking exhibition viewing and movement along the lakeside road than hands-on sculpture-making experiences.
Before You Go
- Address
- 1100 Oksunbong-ro, Susan-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
- Hours
- Visiting hours 10:00–18:00; regularly closed every Monday. Telephone confirmation is required before visiting.
- Closed
- Listed as Monday, but telephone confirmation is required before visiting.
- Admission
- Listed as free.
- Phone
- 043-653-6160
- Official site
- https://tour.jecheon.go.kr/tour
- Transport
- Located on the lakeside road from Cheongpung toward Oksun Bridge. Jecheon tourism information includes materials mentioning local buses toward Susan and Cheongpung and routes toward Neunggang Valley, but current service availability could not be confirmed.
- Parking
- Listed as available. Parking fees could not be confirmed.
- Time needed
- The officially recommended visiting duration could not be confirmed.
- Accessibility
- Official tourism information indicates an accessible restroom, an elevator for visitors with disabilities, designated accessible parking, and a level main entrance with no step, but detailed on-site routes could not be confirmed.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 3
-
1
Neunggang ValleyA place to admire the clear waters of a valley originating from Geumsusan Mountain and its rocky scenery. -
2
Jeongbangsa TempleA renowned spot leading up to the thousand-year-old temple overlooking Cheongpung Lake and Geumsusan Mountain. -
3
Jecheon Sanyacho VillageA village offering herbal experiences such as natural dyeing and making herbal-scented sachets.
Food & Dining 3
-
4
Neutinamu HoetjipA sashimi restaurant serving mixed raw fish dishes with trout, cherry salmon, and mandarin fish, as well as spicy freshwater fish stew. -
5
SanmaruA Yakchaerak Korean traditional restaurant serving gondre stone-pot rice and tteokgalbi. -
6
Cheongpung Hwanggeum TteokgalbiA Korean restaurant serving turmeric tteokgalbi and mushroom bulgogi hot pot.
Events in This Area
Festivals in This Area
More Travel Guides in This Area
Travel Guide
42 Cultural Heritage Sites of Cheongpung Relocated Beside the Waters of Cheongpung Lake
Travel Guide
Jecheon's Aerial Route Across Cheongpung Lake: 10 Minutes to the 531 m Summit of Bibongsan Mountain
Travel Guide
A Lakeside Walk in Jecheon, Facing Scenic Site No. 48, Oksunbong, at the End of a 222 m Bridge
Travel Guide
How the 200 m abandoned Suyanggae Tunnel became Danyang’s nighttime media space
Korea News
![BLACKPINK’s Lisa Dominates the VMA Red Carpet in a Sheer Corset Dress and Red Fur [Star Issue]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1790557894714_010e956a_news_94409db1-fab6-40bf-bc7b-4b985b1fbac7.jpg)
News
BLACKPINK’s Lisa Dominates the VMA Red Carpet in a Sheer Corset Dress and Red Fur [Star Issue]
![BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Spotted by Surprise with BIGBANG in London… Their Special Loyalty as Labelmates [IS High Cut]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1790557854683_6ea979f5_news_caab62e5-8462-43c8-8622-da794f3df9de.png)
News
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Spotted by Surprise with BIGBANG in London… Their Special Loyalty as Labelmates [IS High Cut]
News
Tattoos All Over Her Body… AOA’s Jimin Draws Shocked Attention After Kwon Mina’s ‘Bullying’ Allegations
![You’ll Have to Look Twice… Choi Min-a-soo Perfectly Pulls Off Everything from a Daring Illusion Dress at the Awards Ceremony to Long Braided Hair [RE:STAR]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1790492384850_1f293dad_news_d834c50e-0685-43ef-9aa5-6995cd6d8848.jpg)
News