Onyang Hot Springs

Well yesterday my friend Addison and I decided to do something new, so we went to Onyang to go to the famous hot springs. The Onyang Hotel and Hot Springs is a famous destination for many Koreans and internationals to go to relax in the natural mineral water. The hot springs offers 57 degree celcius weak alkali water directly from the hot spring hole on the natural rock layer. It helps with stress relief and skin treatment as well as diseases such as neuralgia and rheumatism. Addison and I were a bit nervous at first because everyone MUST be naked when in the hot springs and the walk fro the locker room to the water is a nervous walk. At first it was wierd, but after a while we just got adjusted to it. There were 4 pools inside and 1 outdoor with two powerful jets that would help massage your back. There was also a steam room inside and a sauna outside. Showers were also there of course to clean before entering and exiting the springs. It was a very relaxing experience. Something that I would do again. It was only 5000won which is very cheap.

A bit of history...

There are two improtant cultural properties in Onyang Hot spring hotel. The first one is Shinjeongbi(No. 229 Provincial Cultural property, December 31, 1990). In 1468, while Sejo, the 7th king of Chosun Dynasty took a bath with hot spring water, he discovered warm water came from one side near cold water. Then he named the spring Shinjeong and set up a Shinjeong Monumnet to commemorate it. It was repaired in 1483, 14th year of Seongjong.

The second one is Yeonggoedae. In 1760, 36th year of Yeongjo, the Prince Sado came to Onyang Rural Palace. It is the place where he practiced Court martial arts. Onyang Governor Yoon Yeom planted three pagoda trees at the time. Later on, in 1795(19th year of Jeongjo) King Jeongjo set up a Monument of Yeonggoedae to commemorate it. The characters "Yeonggoedae" on the front side is writings of King Jeongjo's own and inscriptions were written by Joon Haeing Im, son of Yeon Yeom.

Onyang palace was built provisionally in 5th years of Taejo, Josun Dynasty, was extended to a hot spring palace on September in 14th year of Sejong, was used exclusively by the royal family were Kings, Taejo, Sejong, Sejo, Hyunjong, Sukjong, and Youngjo, rest and performed their offical duties and a civil service examination called 'Onyang Byulsi' was carried out, and now is the Onyang hot spring Hotel where 6 former presidents including president Park Junghee stayed.

***Note: These pictures were taken off the website and not from our camera.***