A South Korean New Year's... Day 6 of the visit (NYE-Dec. 31-NYD-Jan. 1)

Homigot is the red Point A on this Google Map.
Below is the image of the tiger supposedly
in the shape of the Korean peninsula

I do believe that Korea offered me one of the more humanity-inspired New Year experiences I have yet to have in my quarter-century life. On the eastern-most point of the Korean peninsula lies the Homigot  (호미곶) Sunrise Plaza. It is commonplace reference that the Korean peninsula (including North Korean land as well) is seen to be in the shape of a tiger. Homigot, in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is at the tip of the tail. Anyway, thousands of people for the last 15 years have come to gather at this location to be the "first" in the country to greet the sun as it dawns on a new year. Many years, unfortunately, the sun is covered by clouds, or bad weather deters the throngs of people. But this year was magical.

On the eve of the New Year 2013, Anthony and I went back to his church for a midnight prayer service. We ushered in the New Year with the congregation during a three-hour service (or was it four?). It was hard to stay awake. We shared snacks and Communion and Fellowship in the spirit of the dawn of a new year. Then after a couple hour's rest/nap, we hopped in the little Chevy Spark-sized car of a friend, Emmanuel ("Sneaky brother," as some of you may know him--a member of Anthony's Korean church family). We drove about 90 minutes north of Pohang to park our car in the company of thousands of other cars. There, we waited for sunrise. Just at the crack of dawn, we bundled up, and under the protection of many layers and a blanket, we waddled our way down to the beach Sunrise Plaza, waiting to greet the sun through the fingers of the symbolic hand-statue on the eastern shores. The Harmony Hands are positioned with one on land and one in the sea, drawing the two elements together. The sun is supposed to rise into the hand in the sea, and unites the scene in harmonious beauty.

Just as the sun peered over the horizon, greeting us and 10,000 other people with its orangey beams of light, the warm rays reminded me of the vigor of life. Wrapped in the warmth of many layers, I gazed upon breathtaking scenery. We, of course, took many photos, some of which I have selectively shared here.

Pre-sunrise mist over the shoreline at dawn.

That greenish-looking hand off in the distance is where we want to see the sun rise.

We (me, Anthony, and Emmanuel) await the sunrise into that hand! 

Welcome, 2013!

The hand-shaped bronze sculptures on the waterfront and one on land,

palms facing each other to symbolize harmony and coexistence.

At this plaza, there were all sorts of booths with traditional wares and treats. Earlier in the night, a Gangnam Style organized flash-mob took place (oh, Korea, basking in its spotlight of Crossover-International Fame). And then we partook, with the masses, in the traditional tteokguk (rice cake soup).

Probably the only people who were SWEATING that frigid morning,
bestowed with the noble task of tteokguk stirring.

Soup distribution

MMM! Tteokguk!

After eating soup, we trekked back up the hill to the car, and braved the insane traffic on our way back to Pohang (that drive took a couple hours, but we had hot chocolate and cookies to enjoy, that I had prepared for the journey the night before). Oh, traditions.

Some cars maybe never got out...
(look carefully, cuz that wheel is in midair)

Upon returning to Pohang, Anthony went for a polar bear dip at this fantastic beachfront, just a five-minute walk away from his house. I took photos and was there for moral support. (My lungs would NOT have agreed with an arctic dip like that!)

Bukbu Beach (북부해수욕장). The Posco Steel factory is on the jetty to the far right.

We spent the afternoon/evening recuperating and resting from the night's activities. Whew!
Happy New Year 2013!


Look through the album of photos from my Korea trip, with more details and images of the day's sights and doings. Follow this link. (also see link on the photo menu to the right)