Woryeonggyo Bridge in Andong: Won-i's Mother's letter and the sandals woven from hair

A letter found in a husband's coffin, and sandals woven from hair

The story of Woryeonggyo

In April 1998, before a housing site was built in Jeongsang-dong, Andong, the Andong National University Museum excavated an unidentified tomb belonging to the Goseong Yi clan. It was the tomb of Yi Eung-tae (1556–1586), who died in 1586 at the age of thirty-one, and inside the coffin was a Hangul letter written by his wife.^[1][4]

The letter is a single sheet of paper, 58.5 cm wide and 34 cm tall. It's densely filled: she asks how he could leave first when he always said they would grow old and die together, begs him to come and show himself even in a dream, and recalls his words that he had something to tell her once she gave birth to the baby she was carrying. At the end, she wrote, 'From your wife, on the first day of the sixth month of the Byeongsul year.' Today, the wife who wrote it is known as 'Won-i's Mother.'^[1][4]

A pair of mituri sandals was found with the letter. The hanji paper wrapped around them is damaged, so the whole note can't be read, but the words 'without even getting to wear these shoes...' remain, so they're believed to be shoes the wife wove from her own hair for her sick husband. These mituri were featured in the November 2007 issue of National Geographic, and the letter and mituri were reported to be held by the Andong National University Museum.^[1][4][6]

Woryeonggyo is a bridge built over the Nakdonggang River in 2003, 387 m long and 3.6 m wide. The deck and railings are wood, and there's an octagonal pavilion in the middle. Andong City explains that the bridge takes the shape of the wife's hair-woven mituri to honor the love between Yi Eung-tae and his wife, and VisitKorea introduces it as the longest wooden bridge in Korea. The name was chosen by citizens, inspired by the place names Woryeongdae, Wolgok-myeon and Eumdalgol, which were flooded when the dam was built.^[2][3][5]

Along the waterside path around the bridge runs the 'Won-i's Mother Theme Trail,' and Andong City has installed scenic lighting in the area, so you can walk here at night too. We suggest reading the story of the letter during the day, then crossing the lit-up bridge after sunset.^[3][7]

Good to know before you go

Address

569 Sang-a-dong, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Hours

Always open (per VisitKorea info written April 2025)

Admission

Free

Getting there

It's about 10 minutes (4.5 km) by car from Andong Station. The Andong Tourism website says to take bus no. 113, 510, 511, 512 or 513 in front of Andong City Hall and then transfer, so please double-check the route before you set out.

Good to know

The actual letter and mituri aren't at the bridge; they belong to the Andong National University Museum's collection, so if you want to see them in person, check with the museum first to see if they're on display. For questions about Woryeonggyo, contact the Andong Folk Museum (054-821-0649).

More to see in Andong

In the Andong travel guide, you can keep reading about courses, restaurants and closing days. Andong is one of the cities Randomtrip picks for you.

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