Travel Phrases — Entry No. 0378
나미섬
nami-island · noun
나미섬
nami-island
[NAH-mee-seom]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Nami Island (나미섬, Namiseom) is a small crescent-shaped island in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, formed in 1944 when the Cheongpyeong Dam raised surrounding water levels. The island is celebrated for its breathtaking tree-lined avenues — especially the iconic metasequoia path — and achieved international fame as the primary filming location of the landmark 2002 KBS drama ‘Winter Sonata’ (겨울연가). Today it operates as an arts and culture village under the whimsical name ‘Naminara Republic,’ welcoming over three million visitors annually.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
‘Winter Sonata’ starring Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo ignited the very first wave of the Korean Wave (한류, Hallyu) across Asia, with Nami Island’s tree-lined path becoming the most photographed spot in Korean drama tourism history and transforming Japanese interest in Korean culture throughout the early 2000s. BLACKPINK’s ‘Stay’ features serene, nature-immersed acoustic visuals that capture the same tranquil, escapist beauty that draws millions to Nami Island’s wooded avenues. The island’s self-declared independence — it issues its own passports and currency — adds a playful, magical quality beloved by K-culture fans.
Example Sentences
나미섬은 겨울연가 촬영지로 유명해요.
Namiseom-eun Gyeoulyeonga chwalyeongji-ro yumyeonghaeyo.
Nami Island is famous as the filming location of Winter Sonata. (The drama transformed this quiet island into an international Hallyu landmark overnight)
나미섬에서 단풍이 정말 예뻐요.
Namiseom-eseo danpungi jeongmal yeppeoyo.
The autumn foliage on Nami Island is really beautiful. (Late October to mid-November is considered the most stunning season to visit)
배를 타고 나미섬에 들어가요.
Bae-reul tago Namiseom-e deureogayo.
You enter Nami Island by taking a boat. (The short ferry crossing adds to the island’s magical, getaway atmosphere — and there is also a zip line option)
⚠️ Don’t use nami-island when…
Nami Island requires a paid entry ticket plus a separate ferry ride — it is not a free public park, and costs catch many first-time visitors off guard. Weekends and autumn foliage season (late October–November) bring extremely large crowds; book ferry tickets in advance online to avoid long queues.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Winter Sonata — the metasequoia tree-lined path (메타세쿼이아 길) where leads Joon-sang and Yu-jin reunite across the seasons became the most iconic romantic location in the entire history of Hallyu drama tourism
- K-Pop: BLACKPINK — ‘Stay,’ whose acoustic, nature-bathed visuals evoke the same serene, tree-lined beauty that makes Nami Island one of Korea’s most beloved landscapes
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.