I didn’t come to Gwangju looking for a place like this.
I was just expecting good riding, maybe some solid food, and a place to crash at the end of the day.
But somewhere between the quiet roads, the mountains, and pulling into this tucked-away house in Damyang…
I realized this trip was about to feel very different.
And honestly, it started the moment we arrived.
Not because of anything flashy or over-the-top.
But because of how it felt.
Quiet. Grounded. Like someone had actually thought about what a cyclist needs after a long day in the saddle.
The Damyang House: Not Just a Stay—A Reset
The Damyang House wasn’t built to impress.
It was built over time.
Slowly. Imperfectly. Honestly.
And you feel that the moment you step in.
Owned by cyclist Sean Walker, this was once an abandoned home. Today, it’s something entirely different—quiet, intentional, and deeply connected to the landscape around it.
Surrounded by bamboo forest on three sides, with no direct neighbors, it gives you something rare:
Silence.
The kind you don’t realize you’ve been missing until you’re in it.
After long ride days, that matters more than you think.
Why This Area Hits Different for Cyclists
Gwangju and Damyang don’t scream for attention like Seoul or Busan.
And that’s exactly why they work.
You get space. You get quiet roads. You get variety.
One day you’re spinning along a flat river path collecting stamps…
The next, you’re climbing into the mountains with barely a car in sight.
And then there’s the food—but we’ll get to that.
Start Here: The Ride That Sets the Tone
If you’re anything like me, you’re tempted to go hard on Day 1.
Don’t.
Start with the Yeongsangang Path.
It’s flat. It’s smooth. It’s almost meditative.
And if you’re collecting stamps for the Korea cycling passport… this is where things get fun.
You can ride about 32 miles and collect four stamps in one go. That alone feels like a win.
If you’ve got someone on SAG duty and you’re feeling ambitious? You can stretch it into a full metric century—77 miles—and knock out the entire path in a single day.
It’s the kind of ride that doesn’t drain you. It builds momentum.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3468975138187955254
When You Want to Climb: Baegasan & Beyond
Once your legs are awake, the terrain opens up.
Baegasan brings the kind of riding that reminds you why you travel with your bike in the first place.
Rolling climbs. Clean pavement. Almost no traffic.
You start riding… and then suddenly you’re not thinking about anything at all.
Just you, the road, and the sound of your tires.
A couple of strong routes to explore:
The Ride I Missed (And Now Have a Reason to Come Back): Mudeungsan
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3468978627495634246
Let’s Be Honest—The Food Alone Is Worth the Trip
I didn’t expect this part to hit as hard as it did.
Gwangju is known as the food capital of Korea… and now I understand why.
At Ssangkyo Charcoal Galbi Damyang Main Branch, the flavors feel earned after a long ride.
And Mudeungsan Sicdang?
The table-side cast iron cooking setup is something I’ve never seen anywhere else in Korea.
It’s not just a meal. It’s an experience.
And the cafés… I don’t know what’s going on here, but they’re massive. Three to four stories, back-to-back.
Perfect for lingering longer than you planned.
Recovery, the Korean Way (But Make It an Adventure)
If you want to take recovery seriously…
Don’t just go to a spa.
Ride to one.
Somewhere south of Damyang—past the rolling countryside and closer to the coast—you’ll find one of the most unique recovery spots in Korea:
👉 Yulpo Seawater Green Tea Center
And no… this isn’t your typical jjimjilbang.
This place uses seawater and locally grown green tea in its baths.
Let that sink in for a second.
After a long ride, you’re sitting in a hot pool infused with green tea, overlooking the coast, while your legs slowly come back to life.
It’s equal parts recovery… and experience.
Make It a Ride, Not a Stop
This is where it gets interesting.
Instead of treating recovery like something you squeeze in at the end of the day…
👉 Turn it into the destination.
Ride from The Damyang House down toward Boseong.
Yes, it’s a longer day.
Yes, it takes a bit more planning.
But that’s kind of the point.
You’re not just checking off another route…
You’re earning your recovery.
Stay overnight:
- Camp nearby
- Or book a local minbak (Korean guesthouse)
Wake up the next day, maybe spin through the Boseong Green Tea Fields…
Or just sit a little longer and enjoy the fact that you don’t have to rush anywhere.
Why This Works So Well
There’s something about pairing effort with reward that just hits different.
Ride hard → soak longer
Climb more → relax deeper
And in Korea, this balance is built into the culture.
Not everything has to be fast.
Not every ride has to end with “what’s next?”
Sometimes…
👉 The best move is to slow it all down.
The Part That Stays With You
And then there’s the house itself.
Evenings here feel different.
If you’re with your cycling crew, the outdoor firepit becomes the center of everything—stories, laughs, those “remember when…” moments from the ride.
There’s a gazebo that somehow makes tea taste better.
And if you’re here as a couple?
We ended up cozied up inside, sitting in front of the fireplace, wrapped up on a giant bean bag, just… existing for a bit.
No rush. No plan.
That doesn’t happen often on trips.
A Conversation with Sean Walker
From Abandoned Home to Cyclist Basecamp
What made you look at this abandoned home and think, “I’m turning this into something special”?
“I wish I could say that we were true visionaries and executed a well thought out plan but the reality is much different. We absolutely stumbled through the process and we certainly owe some of our success to luck, but we also benefited being very stubborn and highly motivated. It proved to be a winning combination and slowly over time the house and property began to take shape. That was almost 15 years ago and projects like this never really ‘finish’ but I like to think we have successfully created an idyllic countryside retreat.”
If a tired cyclist rolls in after a long ride… what do you want them to feel here?
“Mostly we just want guests to feel comfortable. Obviously physically it’s important to relax after a long ride but the house and property were designed as a place for a mental break as well. The house itself is part of a larger traditional countryside village but our property is the only one without any direct neighbors and is surrounded on three sides by lush bamboo forest. Close the gate to the driveway and you have complete privacy.”
→ I felt this immediately. There’s a calm here that you can’t really manufacture.
If you had only 2–3 rides to show someone this area, what would they be?
“1. The ride through Mudeungsan National Park to/from Gwangju city is a very famous route.
2. The four-rivers bike paths that go through ‘downtown’ Damyang are an obvious choice.
3. My personal favorites are riding east to Jirisan National Park or south to the Boseong Green Tea Fields.”
What makes cycling around Damyang different from other parts of Korea?
“The great cycling is due in large part to the never ending improvements to the surrounding infrastructure. Every time they build a new expressway the countryside roads have less and less traffic. The countryside roads are almost always well maintained so it makes for near perfect riding conditions.”
Where do you personally go after a long ride to eat or recover?
“Nothing beats a post-ride bbq, campfire and some Makgeolli around the campfire. That’s the most authentic Korean countryside experience you can ask for.”
→ Honestly… this alone might be worth the stay.
Why do you think where you stay matters just as much as where you ride?
“In Korea the two very much go hand-in-hand. The network of pensions/minbaks around the country is truly amazing and it’s a major factor as to why Korea is one of the top bikepacking destinations in Asia.”
What’s been the most rewarding moment since opening The Damyang House?
“Hosting an annual 180km/2-day ride from The Damyang House to our sister location on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula has always felt like some sort of accomplishment.”
If a cyclist is reading this and considering staying here… what would you tell them?
“I would tell them they wouldn’t regret it. Seoul to Busan has been done to death. Don’t be afraid to get off the beaten path and explore a bit.”
→ Couldn’t agree more.
And honestly? I’m already thinking about going back.
There are still a few rides I missed… maybe even a hike & bike combo next time.
Actually—scratch that.
I’m probably just going back for the food.
Final Thought
If you’re planning a cycling trip in Korea, don’t just think about where you’re riding.
Think about where you’re waking up.
Because that one decision shapes everything else.
And The Damyang House?
It might just be the piece that turns a good trip… into one you’ll keep thinking about long after you leave.
Want Help Planning Your Korea Cycling Trip?
If this sparked something…
Start here:
👉 Check out Cycle Travel Club’s South Korea Explore page
This is where I’ve been organizing routes, ideas, and experiences like this—so you don’t have to piece it all together on your own.
And if you’re serious about making this trip happen…
👉 Grab a 30-min complimentary Adventure Strategy Call
We’ll map out your trip, your riding style, and how to make it actually feel like the experience you’re looking for.
💡 Little Insider Tip
When you book your stay at The Damyang House…
👉 Mention you read this on Cycle Travel Club and receive 10% off your stay
Check out the AIRBNB. Also find them on Instagram.
Thanks, Sean 🙌
