It ’ s early in the day when the morning fog has just lifted from the gently rippling surface of the river . The tranquil parking lot on the riverside is gradually enlivened with arriving tourists . Listen to the stream of visitors flocking to the island , and you will hear many languages beside the native Korean . More interestingly , tourists are greeted by a ticket office marked with the word , “ Immigration , ” where they have to buy the entrance ticket for the island . Then they are amused to find their ticket stamped with the word “ VISA . ” As a public announcement on the speaker system on the dock explains that the island that is “ a creative tourist attraction with a unique national system ” , a clean and neat ferry approaches the pier . - I came because the path lined with metasequoia trees was so pretty in the drama “ Winter Sonata . ” I came with my friends . - The autumn foliage is wonderful and the children also came to take a break . - My parents told me that the island was impressive . They said that the scenery was great and it would be good to take a stroll holding hands . The cabin of the ferry has turned into an international space with various languages - Chinese , Japanese , Thai , Korean , even the Busan dialect - exchanging between passengers . The tourists may doubt for a moment that they have hopped on the right ferry , heading to a small island in Gangwon Province . In less than five minutes , the door of the ferry opens to the island . It ’ s a cozy island where nature is adorned with art and fairytales . Foreigners who have heard about the island flew to Korea to visit the venue . Finally , they have arrived at the Nami Island tinged with a colorful autumn hue . The half - moon - shaped island floating on Cheongpyeong Lake is located 63 kilometers north of Seoul . The history of Nami Island goes back 40 years . Cho Hui - seon from the Nami Island Tourist Support Team explains . Nami Island was originally an area covered with sand , flat with a peanut field extending from Bangha - ri in Namsan - myeon . When the area was flooded , it became an island . In 1994 , when Cheongpyeong Dam was constructed , it completely turned into an island . In 1965 , when Min Byeong - do , the former governor of Bank of Korea , acquired the island and cultivated a forest , nature on the island was gradually restored . However , the small island was on the verge of turning into a featureless , common weekend getaway . But in 2001 , the island was purchased by a new owner who saw the hidden charm of the island . Here is Kang Woo - hyon , CEO of Nami Island . In the beginning , I hoped to attract many tourists . Then I thought we should first clean up the area by getting rid of the waste littered everywhere and ugly facilities or tents pitched on the island . After cleaning up the area , we planned to build convenient facilities . The most pressing issue was reviving nature . The next step was to create art . Thanks to the creative management of the fairytale writer Kang Woo - hyon , Nami Island has been reborn into an island of art and culture in only few years . Its title , “ Naminara Republic , ” indicates Kang ’ s strong will to declare cultural independence in the tourist spot . / b > It was a vast plain with only few grasses sprouting here and there . There were only small trees . The area has changed so beautifully , like a foreign country . As soon as the tourists step on the island , they are greeted by the open tree garden and an array of hand - made fountains . The island , covering 460 - thousand square meters and 5 kilometers in circumference , is like a well - cultivated “ natural garden . ” The hallmarks of the island are culture , nature , and environmental protection . That ’ s why we focus on the recycling or re - creation of culture . If you look at this stone wall , it is built with soju bottles . It ’ s a recycling culture . Weeds become flowers and liquor bottles transform into vases on this island . From used bottles to broken pieces of glass , everything turns into great architectural material here . Various sculptures created from recycled wastes have become the island ’ s trademark . Trees are planted according to themes . That ’ s why the cherry blossom road is so beautiful in spring and gingko tree road turns into golden yellow in fall . The metasequoia path is parallel with the green fir tree road in the center where tourists can a lot of pictures . It ’ s a small island ; it only takes about two hours to tour the whole area . Nevertheless , it seems like it would take more than one day to take a stroll along the paths lined with colorful trees . - The island is surrounded by a river and the air is clean . - As I walk through the metasequoia tree path , I feel something different from what I experienced in the city . I become relaxed , recover my composure , and feel really good . It ’ s seems like a nice place for couples in fall to see the tinged autumnal leaves . But now that I ’ m old , I came with my friends . It ’ s great . No cars are allowed . No cooking is allowed outdoors . Thanks to the priority on natural preservation , the island is full of paths lined with trees from fir trees to Japanese cypress . It seems like the island was created to make promenades . Tourists can also hop on an electric car that tours the island as a professional tour guide elaborates on the scenery . The tourists on electric cars and four - wheeled family bicycles are all smiles , as if they have become one with nature . - The metasequoia road and the gingko tree path glittering with yellow hue are memorable . I would like to ride the big bike that several people can pedal together . - It ’ s very quiet and a nice place for a walk . The air is clean and the maple trees are so pretty in fall . Tourists are having a hard time deciding on whether to ride a bike or take a walk . Then , how about a train ride ? Over there where the white snowman is standing is the spot where the first kiss scene of “ Winter Sonata ” was taken . That ’ s why it ’ s visited by couples . It ’ s also interesting to take the mini train ride on the island this fall under the clear sky . The lively voices of foreign tourists can be heard from anywhere on the island . Come to think of it , the island ’ s fame can be attributed to the ever - popular Korean Wave TV drama series . - It ’ s a really beautiful island . As a matter of fact , I had wanted to come here a long time ago . I ’ m glad that I came to Nami Island . It became famous because it ’ s where the drama “ Winter Sonata ” was shot . It was also fun to ride a bike on the island . - A lot of tourists come to visit the island because of the drama scenes shot here . While Jeju Island is visited by 1 . 5 million tourists yearly , some 200 - thousand tourists visit this small island every year . We are also very surprised by the number of tourists to the island . What ’ s more , the island is also filled with interesting exhibitions and galleries . The major ones are “ Art Handicraft Studio ” and “ Recycling Workshop ” that represent culture and art on the island . Do you know the road that appeared in Winter Sonata ? This is the bark of that metasequoia tree . We hand this out to the children and tell them to pound it and extract fiber like this . Tourists are amazed to witness the discarded items being reborn as art work . After making sure to take few natural , hand - made pieces of paper , they now head to the “ Song Museum . ” This is so - called “ Music Theme Park ” accommodates a K - pop exhibition hall , musical instrument experience center , and even a live café . It ’ s a result of efforts to make Nami Island an “ Island of Song . ” We only sing songs that will warm the listeners ’ heart – like the songs that make you feel like you have become the main character of a fairytale . And people who are fond of such tunes visit here . The spirit of culture and art that is engrained in every nook and corner of the island has developed a refreshing environment , appropriate for its motto : “ people and nature are one . ” The peaceful scene of children playing at the wooden playground as squirrels freely scurry about the promenades in the midst of a group of ostriches is like a scene in paradise . - This tree and the fallen leaves go along very well , so I took some pictures . - It feels different from when I was here when I was younger . I came with my old mother and a grandson to be refreshed . It feels quite new . The forest path is filled with laughter as walkers have a great time taking a stroll with good people . It ’ s the adults who are more excited as they stand in the vast open field . As they continue to enjoy themselves regardless of the setting sun , it appears that they have booked a room on the island for the night . Here is Jang Ju - yeong , the owner of hotel “ Junggwanru ” . The interiors of each of the 45 rooms are different . For instance , there is a “ writer ’ s room ” or a “ theme room . ” As such , each room is uniquely decorated . It ’ s already fully booked . Including Hotel Junggwanru , there are about 20 big and small lodgings on the island . They are always fully booked thanks to flocks of guests who have fallen in love with Nami Island ’ s charm . - I haven ’ t been here for some time . The fall scenery is so beautiful . And we can take a leisurely break . I feel proud of the island when I see so many foreigners . - It ’ s a great place where you can stay overnight and take a rest . And it ’ s a worthwhile place to stay . The employees on the island are constantly making efforts to even turn the moonbeam and starlight into art in order to impress the visitors . Although Nami Island ’ s nature was artificially generated , it has been naturalized . The nature of the island seems like it is authentic . That ’ s why we hope to develop this place into a venue where people from any country can rest peacefully in nature . The CEO of Nami Island said , “ The moonbeam of Nami Island is wonderful . Starry nights are even better . But you will find yourself speechless with the mesmerizing view of the lifting morning fog from the water around the island . ”