The village of Daeheung in Yesan County is certified as the 6th Cittaslow in Corea and the 121st in the world. There are Yedang Lake, a rich ecological repository of insets and aquatic plants and a natural fishing place loved by fishers all over the nation and Yedang Eco Park, attracting more visitors. 'Steamed crucian carp' and 'Freshwater Eojuk (fish soup)' are recognized as local slow food, and apples grown in the local red clay are also a representative slow food product.

Yesan is very proud of traditional Korean culture and arts. There are birthplaces and graveyards of Yun Bong-gil and Choi Ik-hyun (Korean independence activists), the old house of Kim Jeong-hui (a prominent Korean calligrapher), Sudeoksa (a Buddhist temple), Mt. Bongsu, and Imjonseong (fortress). The 600-year Daeheung Hyanggyo was originally built as a government-run provincial school for Confucianist studies, where a memorial ceremony for Confucius (551 - 479 B.C., founder of Confucianism) is held twice a year. Also "Bobusang (peddling)" is reenacted for visitors in the yard of Daeheung Dongheon (old government office building).

Community engagement

The village of Daeheung is famous for the story of "The Good Brothers", and residents do strongly value their families, neighbors and community. They still conduct “Dongje”, an old village rite under a zelkova tree at the entrance of the village and pray to the guardian spirits for their safety and good harvests. They are also actively involved in different community activities, including publishment of a monthly newsletter.

Comments from the inspection team:

Yesan is highly valued for a variety of community activities and conservation of traditional culture and nature, resulting in local resource enhancement. As Yesan is closer to the Metropolitan area than any of the other slowcities in Korea, more visitors can appreciate the philosophy of the slowcity movement.