Chongsokjong is included in the tourist route to world-famous Mt Kumgang.

A seaside scenic beauty in the north of Mt Kumgang, it is so beautiful as to be called “Kumgang” in Thongchon.

It was originally called Chongsok as basaltic stone columns washed by sea waves stand imposingly, but later renamed Chongsokjong after a pavilion was built there in the period of Koryo Kingdom.

The basalt columns are called jwachong, ripchong and wachong according to their sitting, standing and lying postures. Mysteriously shaped stone columns, from rectangular to pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal, stand along the 1 000-metre-long seashore, presenting a spectacular view.

Many legends have been woven around Chongsokjong, a naturally mysterious stone-scape with stone columns angular, upright and smooth. The Sason Peak legend says that once upon a time four spirits were so charmed by the four stone columns that they descended to the earth and had a pleasant time there. According to the Stone Bridge Rock legend, a strong man was so attracted by the beautiful scenery of Chongsokjong that he stopped laying a stone bridge leading to the Palace of the Sea God half-way. The Couple Rock legend says that the rock helped a quarrelsome couple reunite. There are also the Turtle Rock legend and the legends of the Drum Rock, Folding-screen Rock and Tombstone Rock between ripchong and jwachong areas.

The fantastic view of Chongsokjong can be seen from the sea onboard a ship.

Enchanting is the scene of rocks like a steep cliff standing as if rooted on the seashore. But it is more thrilling to see the white crested waves break on the rocks with a fine spray of water. In addition, the sunrise casting a golden glow over the blue water of the East Sea and the moonrise at night bathing the sea in silvery white light add colours to the seascape of Chongsokjong.

Chongsokjong has been known as one of the eight scenic beauties in the northeastern part of the Korean peninsula.

Lake Sijung well-known for mud therapy is in Thongchon County.

It was originally a small bay on the east coast, but its mouth was blocked by sand through the long years of the ground elevation and sea waves, to form a lagoon.

The bottom of the lake is covered with a 4-5m thick mud layer. Silver beach stretches to the sea and fresh air flows through the thick pine groves.

The limpid and serene lake blends in so well with the thick forests in the surrounding hills, red sweet briar blossoms blooming on the beach, gentle waves of the sea, pine groves and silver beach between the lake and the sea, unfolding breathtaking scenery.

But the cream of the lagoon is mud therapy, rather than its beautiful sights or sea bathing.

The mud of the lake has potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sulfuric acid and bicarbonate ions as its main ingredients. So it is very effective for the treatment of non-tuberculosis chronic osteoarthritis of different causes, chronic hepatitis, chronic cholecystitis and angiocholitis, chronic gastritis, sequela of trauma and operation, neuralgia and other nervous system disorders, and women’s organic diseases including chronic adnexitis, ovarian malfunction and uterine hypoplasia.

The sanatorium near the lake combines mud treatment with climatotherapy and physiotherapy.

Visitors have the cataplasm of full body and body parts and mud bath and receive DC pelotherapy before receiving such physical therapies as high and low frequency treatment and phototherapy and sea climatotherapies including sea bathing and freshwater bathing.

After treatment, they have a pleasant time angling carp, silver carp, mandarin fish and snakehead mullet and cooking slices of raw fish and broth with them.
It is such an inviting place for all.
By Chae Hyang Ok PT
URL:http://www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp/?bbs=27360