Jeongseon Baekjeon-ri Waterwheel

Baekjeon-ri Waterwheel is the oldest waterwheel in Korea and was designated as Gangwon-do Folklore Cultural Heritage in 1996. It was built by indigenous people who lived an agricultural life in the late Joseon Dynasty to process agricultural products using the power of nature. To this day, residents of Baekjeon-ri, Hwaam-myeon, Jeongseon-gun and Hanso-ri, Hajang-myeon, Samcheok-si have formed a mill guild and operate it. When it was first built, there were six waterwheels in the vicinity. Currently, only this waterwheel remains. Since ancient times, it was common to build waterwheels near valleys with abundant water, and this Baekjeon-ri Waterwheel is also located near a valley with abundant water. The waterway that brings valley water to the waterwheel is 6m in total length and 60cm in width, and everything from the waterway to the devices that can block it is made only of wood. The mill house was newly built in 1992 and is a typical mountain village house style, with two bays in the front and one bay on the side. The roof is a jeodeupjip (a thatched roof with hemp stalks) covered with the inner stalks of hemp, and the walls are made of pine boards. Nearby attractions include the Jeongseon Arirang Market, a traditional market, Jeongseon Rail Bike, and Jeongseon Hwaam Cave, where you can appreciate both the history of gold mining and natural scenery, with natural and artificial caves together. It would be good to visit these places as well.