Nami Island

The island took its present form in 1944, when the Cheongpyeong Dam raised the river and flooded the surrounding land. It is named after General Nami, a young Joseon-era commander who died after a false accusation of treason in the 15th century; a memorial mound marks the spot associated with him.

From the 1960s the island was developed as a resort, and it later reinvented itself as a cultural destination styled as the 'Naminara Republic'. Its popularity soared after it featured in the 2002 KBS drama Winter Sonata, which drew many visitors from Japan and across Asia.

Nami Island is run by a private company that brands the island as a playful micronation, the Naminara Republic, complete with its own 'immigration' wharf. It is a favourite with Korean families and couples, and with international visitors who know it from Korean dramas. Weekends and autumn are busy with domestic visitors.