Neureoji Observation Center

In 1488, the Korean scholar-official Choe Bu (최부, 1454–1504) was serving as a government inspector in Jeju Island when he unexpectedly became shipwrecked off the coast of Zhejiang, China due to strong winds.

Along with his surviving crew, Choe was forced to travel over 5,000 kilometers across China before finally returning to Korea via the Yeongsan River. His journey, meticulously recorded in the Pyohaerok (금남 표해록, “Drifting Across the Sea”), is one of the most valuable travelogues of the Joseon Dynasty (1392 ~ 1910), providing rare insights into Ming Dynasty China, its cities, culture, and governance during the late 15th century.

Choe’s observations not only documented political and social structures but also contrasted Chinese and Korean customs, reflecting Korea’s place in the broader East Asian world. The Pyohaerok was widely read and referenced by later scholars, influencing Korean perceptions of China.

Upon his return, Choe traveled through Naju and along the Yeongsan River, passing the site of what is now the Neureoji Observation Center. His route is memorialized as Choe Bu Road (최부길), a historical trail following the river, with Gokgang (곡강)—the U-shaped bend—serving as a prominent geographical landmark along his path.

A stone monument at Neureoji marks his journey, engraved with a detailed map of his travels from China back to Korea. The inscription praises Choe Bu for his integrity and scholarly achievements, emphasizing how his writings provided not only a historical record but also a moral and philosophical reflection on human endurance, diplomacy, and cultural exchange.