Suddenly, the weather turned cold, and I worried autumn might skip right over us and winter would arrive. Feeling disappointed, I set off on an autumn trip to Chuncheon. While my eldest son was visiting Uldongdo for a university camp program and my second son was on a math field trip to Tokyo, Japan, I took my youngest to Legoland Chuncheon. Perhaps because it was a weekday and the weather had already turned chilly, there were very few visitors at Legoland. Thanks to this, we could stroll comfortably and leisurely through the amusement park and experience the rides. The buildings, people, and all the decorations made from Lego bricks were an incredibly fascinating and fun experience for both children and adults who are Lego fans. It felt like stepping into the world of Lego itself, and I felt like I had become a character in Lego’s world.

Especially in the Miniland installed at the center of Legoland, major buildings in Seoul, Busan Port, Sajik Baseball Stadium, K-Tower performance hall, and even the changing of the guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace are recreated as Lego models. While the development of Legoland sparked controversy from the outset due to ancient ruins unearthed during construction on Jungdo Island, I couldn’t help but wonder: if Jungdo had been developed solely as a museum and exhibition space for ancient artifacts, would it have attracted so many visitors? However, I questioned whether it was the right decision to build such an amusement facility in Chuncheon, paying royalties to the global company Lego. This concern arose because, barely a few years after opening, the facilities already looked outdated. The outdoor rides and Lego models, likely due to weather exposure, appeared significantly damaged, making me worry about the park’s long-term viability. Whether due to the royalties paid to LEGO headquarters, the admission fees, the hotel rates at Legoland, and the souvenirs were all quite expensive. The overall scale was also smaller than I had imagined. While it might be worth a visit for children who love LEGO, I’m not sure if it’s worth purchasing an annual pass to come multiple times.

In the evening, a church brother drove an hour out of his way to guide our family to Chuncheon’s dakgalbi alley. He made a reservation at the original restaurant where we enjoyed delicious chicken bulgogi grilled over charcoal, and also recommended a place serving delicious cold buckwheat noodles. So our family stayed at Sangsang Stay, had a delicious lunch the next day at the cold buckwheat noodle place he recommended, and rode the Samaksan Cable Car up to the observation deck. At the mountain summit, we soaked in the autumn atmosphere, took family photos to document our trip, and even took pictures for a foreign family who looked like tourists from Hong Kong. Thanks to that, we also got some lovely photos of our own family. Riding the cable car, gazing at the beautiful lake, and ascending the autumn mountain made me think Chuncheon is truly a beautiful place. And seeing how each city in South Korea has its own unique character, safe and convenient facilities, and above all, the sight of people overflowing with freedom, I saw the hope of South Korea. So today too, I woke up at dawn to write my blog, reaffirming my resolve to absolutely pass on this free democratic nation to our descendants, and started the day energetically.