Gyeongju National Park

Gyeongju National Park

Gyeongju National Park preserves the relics of the Silla Dynasty (BC57–AD935), which emerged on the Korean Peninsula in the 1st century BC, defeated the Goguryeo and Baekje kingdoms, and unified the peninsula for the first time in the 7th century. The park is located around Gyeongju and differs from other national parks in Korea in that it is divided into several zones, but visitors do not need to buy separate tickets. It is simply divided into several areas in terms of national management and designated as a park. Gyeongju itself is a city of ruins, home to numerous historic sites and artifacts. The park is divided into seven areas centered around this region. Among them, the area around Namsan Mountain in Gyeongju is called the Namsan Area, where many stone Buddha statues, stone pagodas, and over 100 temple ruins can be found. There is also Poseokjeong, where it is said the king built a temporary palace for banquets outside the royal court, and Poseokjeong is part of that palace. The hiking trails in the Namsan Area are filled with relics, giving visitors the feeling of traveling back in time to the kingdom of Buddhism. There is also the Toham Mountain Area, home to Gyeongju’s most famous tourist attraction, Bulguksa Temple. Located at the foot of Toham Mountain, Bulguksa was built in 535 during the reign of King Beopheung of Silla (r. 514–540). In front of the Daeungjeon Hall, there is the Dabotap Pagoda on the east side, standing 10.4 meters tall, and the Seokgatap Pagoda, a three-story stone pagoda on the west side (8.2 meters tall). These two pagodas represent the pinnacle of Korean stone pagoda art and are renowned both domestically and internationally. On the eastern side of Toham Mountain is Seokguram Grotto, considered the finest example of Buddhist sculpture in Korea. Its exquisite carvings and scientifically designed architecture are such that even modern technology struggles to match it, representing the essence of Silla sculpture art. Another area within Gyeongju National Park is the Daebon Area, home to the underwater tomb of King Munmu the Great. Nearby are the ruins of Gameunsa Temple and a three-story stone pagoda, built to honor King Munmu. Within Gyeongju city, there is also Wolseong Palace, built on a crescent-shaped hillside, and Cheomseongdae, the oldest stone astronomical observatory in the East, standing 9.2 meters tall.

Transportation: Take a bus in front of Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal or Gyeongju Train Station ① Toham Mountain Area (Bulguksa Temple): City buses No. 10 and 11, every 15 minutes. Approximately 35 minutes ② Seorak Area (Gyeongju National Museum): City buses No. 10, 11, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, approximately 15 minutes ③ Namsan Area (Poseokjeong): City buses No. 330, 506, 508, approximately 20 minutes

Details 1. Inquiries: Historical Site Park Management Office: +82-54-772-3632 (Korean) 2. Website: http://www.npa.or.kr/kyongju (Korean/English) 3. Fees and opening hours: Vary by site

Dong-dong, Gyeongju-si, North Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongju area

Gyeongju, South Korea