The observatory tells about a legend well known among the local people.

Once upon a time, a young couple was living near a peak together with old parents.

The man was called Hoga and his wife Maehyang.

One day, Hoga's wife was suddenly laid up with illness and she took no meal for days.

To whet her appetite, Hoga asked her what she wanted to eat and heard the words "Spanish mackerel" from her.

He left home for the sea without delay to catch the fish.

Hoga stayed at seaside for a month waiting for the day to catch the fish.

When he was sailing one day, his boat was capsized by typhoon and he was drowned in the sea.

In the meantime, Maehyang was getting better, nursed by her parents-in-law.

Missing her husband, she climbed up the peak every day and waited for him.

One day when she was looking over the sea from the peak, she met the Sea God who had transformed into a monk. The monk told her that she would soon meet her husband on the peak.

Meanwhile, Hoga also met the Sea God (the monk) under the sea.

The Sea God, deeply moved by Hoga's efforts for his wife, gave him some big Spanish mackerels and sent him back to Mt. Kumgang.

Hoga had a dramatic meeting with his wife on the peak.

He prepared sliced raw fish for his ailing wife, which helped her completely recover from sickness.

Since then, the peak where the couple had a reunion has been called Mangyang Observatory.