It is widely accepted that Hwangji, in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, is the source of the Nakdong River — the waterway immortalized in a trot medley that opens with the line, "Is the Tumen River the only river?"
Some alternative accounts suggest the true source may be a spring or stream deep in the Baekdudaegan mountain range, much like Geomnyongso in Taebaek, which is recognized as the source of the Han River. Even so, Hwangji is generally regarded as the first major gathering point for southward-flowing waters off the Baekdudaegan.
Samsuryeong — the mountain ridge that gives rise to three rivers flowing in different directions: the Han River toward Seoul, the Nakdong River toward Busan, and the Osipcheon toward Donghae — lies in the northern part of Taebaek, a short distance from Hwangji.
Hwangji carries a legend of its own. A daughter-in-law, defying her cold and tyrannical father-in-law, secretly gave alms to a wandering Buddhist monk. The monk told her to leave without looking back when she heard a great rumbling. She fled, but when the noise came and her home collapsed into a pit that filled with water, she turned to look — and was turned to stone. The Hwangji legend is considered the original version of this type of story, and the pool that formed in that pit is said to be Hwangji itself.
The area around Hwangji Pond, steeped in that legend, opened Friday as the "Hwangbuja Daughter-in-Law Weekend Night Market." The market runs through Sept. 26, and a festival-style opening ceremony is scheduled for June 19.
Local merchants and youth vendors will offer distinctive street food alongside hands-on programs for visitors, with organizers hoping the market will help boost nighttime tourism in the area.
The night market operates every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The opening ceremony will be held June 19 at 6 p.m. at the market venue, featuring celebratory performances and visitor participation events to mark the official launch.
"Merchants have put their hearts into preparing a wide variety of food and entertainment so the weekend night market can be a success," said Jeon Young-su, head of the merchants' association. "We hope many residents and tourists will come and enjoy it together."
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