Daily Busan
No pain, no gain on the ‘Secret Coffee Road’
source: galmetgil
🏃🏻♀️ YOLO Route 2
In Korean, the expression “go jin gam rae (고진감래)” can be translated as “sweetness after bitterness.” Like the adage “no pain, no gain,” “go jin gam rae” expresses the wisdom that one must endure a bitter hardship before a sweet reward.
The notion of “sweetness after bitterness” applies to many aspects of life and perfectly describes YOLO Route 2. Also known as the “Secret Coffee Road,” YOLO Route 2 is a 16-kilometer, physically demanding course with a cumulative elevation of 580 meters. As the longest route in the YOLO collection, it takes about 5 hours to complete. Hikers who brave the journey are rewarded with breathtaking ocean vistas and charming coffee houses.
The course starts at Gijang-gun County Office, a 10-minute walk from Gijang Station on the Donghae Line (exit 2). Following the Galmaetgil signs through Woosin Neoville Apartment Complex, trekkers encounter the first “bitter” challenge, a steep 230-meter climb up Bongdaesan Mountain. At the summit, visitors are greeted by views of the Gijang coastline and the East Sea.
Descending from Bongdaesan, the trail leads to Woljeon Village, home to the picturesque Jukseong Catholic Church. Though it looks like a place of worship, this iconic landmark and popular tourist attraction was originally built as a set for the television series “Dream” (2009).
Another hike up Bongraesan leads to Daebyeonhang Port, where the “sweet” part of the route begins. From here, the route transforms into a scenic coastal walk, where waves crash against the shore, seagulls call overhead, and the deep blue sea stretches endlessly. This section, passing through the Yeonhwa-ri neighborhood to Orangdae Park, offers a refreshing contrast to the earlier, more strenuous terrain.
And finally, the “Secret Coffee Road” reveals itself. From Orangdae Park onwards, the course is dotted with an array of coffee shops. From luxurious cafes to cozy breweries, trekkers can find the perfect place to sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee.
<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>
expression: 표현 bitterness: 쓴맛 cumulative: 누적 elevation: 고도 vista: 경치 summit: 정상 worship: 숭배 reveal: 드러내다
Editor: Song Soomi
Copy Editors: Ryu Hyoseung, Anton J. Mapoy