Abai Village & Gaetbae Ferry

Abai Village sits on the sandbar between Cheongchoho Lake and the sea. It was settled by refugees from Hamgyeong Province in North Korea who fled south during the Korean War and expected to go home within months. The border never reopened, and the fishing village they built became their home. The name comes from 'abai', a Hamgyeong word for an older man. Today the lanes are lined with restaurants serving the northern dishes the refugees brought with them, especially squid sundae. The village also became famous as a filming location for the 2000 TV drama Autumn in My Heart. To reach the downtown side, ride the gaetbae: a flat barge that passengers pull along a steel cable across the 50 m channel. It takes a couple of minutes and costs a small cash fare.