Gyuyoung was a brilliant mid-tier writer in the Korean literary scene before liberation and a representative figure in Korean short stories. He moved to Seoul shortly after birth and didn’t return to his hometown until he was 23 in 1931. It was there that two of his rural-themed works, such as “Beyond the Valley” and “Camellia Blossoms,” among others, were born. His...
The Chuncheon Bibim Naengmyeon Experience Museum is located at 342-1, Sancheon 1-ri, Sinbuk-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea. It is a museum themed around "bibim naengmyeon," the representative dish of Chuncheon. Since its opening in August 2006, the museum has attracted a large number of visitors. …
The Chuncheon Jade Mine is located in Wolgok-ri, Dong-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea. It is the only jade mine in Korea and the world's only white jade mine. It is said that the miraculous effects of Chuncheon jade have been widely known since ancient times, with the jade here showing significant therapeutic effects for conditions such as joint pain, high blood pressure, allergic rhinitis, diabetes, and insomnia...
Bulguksa Temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 and is a globally recognized historical site as well as an iconic landmark of Gyeongju. The temple's exquisite beauty and the outstanding artistic value of its stone artifacts are universally acknowledged. Bulguksa Temple was originally built in the 15th year (528 AD) of King Beopheung (r. 514–540), the 23rd ruler of the Silla Dynasty. At that time, it was called Hwaeom Bulguksa Temple or Beopryu Temple. The reconstruction project, led by Kim Dae-seong (700–774) during the reign of King Gyeongdeok (r. 742–765) and completed in 774 during the reign of King Hyegong (r. 765–780), spanned 17 years before the temple was officially named Bulguksa. Throughout the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) and Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), the temple underwent multiple renovations and grew in fame. However, in 1593, during the reign of King Seonjo (r. 1567–1608), the wooden structures were completely burned down after 819 years, due to the Imjin War (Japanese invasions of Korea, 1592–1598). Reconstruction began around 1604 (the 37th year of King Seonjo’s reign) during the Joseon Dynasty and continued through partial restorations over 40 times until the reign of King Sunjo (1790–1834) in 1805. Nevertheless, many buildings were later damaged or stolen, facing numerous calamities. In 1969, the Bulguksa Restoration Committee was established, and by 1973, structures such as Museoljeon Hall, Gwaneumjeon Hall, Birojeon Hall, the scripture depository, and corridors—left only as ruins—were restored. Major sections including Daeungjeon Hall, Geukrakjeon Hall, Banhyeongru Pavilion, and Seokgatap Gate were also repaired. Currently, Bulguksa Temple houses numerous cultural treasures, including the Seokgatap Pagoda (National Treasure No. 20), Dabotap Pagoda (National Treasure No. 21), Yeonhwasaji Bridge/Chilbogyo Bridge (National Treasure No. 22), Cheongungyo Bridge/Baegungyo Bridge (National Treasure No. 23), Bronze Vairocana Buddha Statue (National Treasure No. 26), Bronze Amitabha Buddha Statue (National Treasure No. 27), and the Reliquary Stupa (Tangible Cultural Property No. 61). The Dabotap and Seokgatap pagodas, as the most representative ancient pagodas in Korea, were designated as National Treasures in 1962. Both stand 10.4 meters tall and are located on the eastern and western sides of the courtyard between Daeungjeon Hall and Seokgatap Gate. Dabotap is on the east, while Seokgatap is on the west. Seokgatap has three stories and is built upon a two-tiered platform, representing one of Korea’s most iconic pagodas. Dabotap is an octagonal pagoda constructed on a cross-shaped base, with stone steps and four-cornered railings surrounding it. The pagoda features exquisitely refined craftsmanship that has endured through centuries. The architectural sophistication of Dabotap and Seokgatap represents the pinnacle of Unified Silla art from the 8th century, masterfully blending square, octagonal, and circular elements into a unique style. Daeungjeon Hall and Geukrakjeon Hall are spaces for chanting scriptures and worshiping Buddha. To the east of the path leading to these halls are Cheongungyo and Baegungyo Bridges, and to the west are Yeonhwasaji and Chilbogyo Bridges. Cheongungyo and Baegungyo connect Daeungjeon Hall and Seokgatap Gate, symbolizing the link between the secular world and the Buddhist realm. Together, they have 33 steps—the lower Cheongungyo has 17, and the upper Baegungyo has 16. These bridges represent youth and old age, symbols of life. Their design, where stairs are transformed into bridge forms, is uniquely rare as the only fully preserved Silla-era bridges, making them invaluable national treasures. On the west side, Yeonhwasaji and Chilbogyo Bridges connect Geukrakjeon Hall and Anrakmun Gate. Legend says only devotees who have attained enlightenment can cross. These bridges have 18 steps—Yeonhwasaji has 10 in the lower section, and Chilbogyo has 8 above. Smaller than Cheongungyo and Baegungyo, they share a very similar architectural style. Each step of Yeonhwasaji is adorned with lotus petals, though many are now blurred or worn away. This bridge is no longer open to the public. Together with Cheongungyo and Baegungyo, these bridges are among the most representative structures of Bulguksa Temple. To the left of Cheongungyo and Baegungyo is Banhyeongru Pavilion. Built in 751 AD, it was damaged during the Imjin War in 1593 and later restored twice during the Joseon Dynasty. The current structure was rebuilt in 1973 on a smaller scale. Banhyeongru has a top-wide, middle-narrow, and bottom-wide shape. Of its supporting stone pillars, every eight are made from different materials and positioned toward the four cardinal directions, giving it a highly distinctive architectural style. Inside Banhyeongru, there is a large drum placed atop a stone-carved turtle.
Beopjusa Temple is located in Guho-dong, Gyeongju, and is a temple from the Silla period. It was built by Queen Seondeok of Silla (reigned 632–647) and was already very famous at the time. Many renowned monks and painters came here to write scriptures and paint Buddhist artworks. The Buddhist paintings and statues created during that period were lost in wars such as the Imjin War...
It takes about 50 minutes by bus from Gyeongju to Banggi Beach to reach the East Sea. Gazing at the blue waters of the East Sea, you can see a small but beautiful rocky islet not far from the shore. This small rocky islet is the underwater tomb of King Munmu the Great (AD 661–681), the 30th monarch of the Silla Kingdom (BC 57–AD 935), who unified the Three Kingdoms of Korea...
Gyeongju Pumun Tourist Area is located within Gyeongju City and is an international tourist destination. The area centers around Pumun Lake, situated approximately 6 kilometers east of downtown Gyeongju, covering an area of about 1,033 hectares (3.23 million pyeong). The entire site has been designated as a hot spring and tourism special zone. Opened in April 1979, it is a comprehensive…
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...
Gyeongju Wolseong Fortress
Pumen Golf Club is built around Pumen Lake in Gyeongju. With its stunning natural scenery and location within the Pumen Tourist Complex, it is very convenient for guests staying at the resort. Here’s a brief introduction to the Pumen Tourist Area. It is an international comprehensive leisure destination featuring a variety of entertainment and recreational facilities...
The Tomb of the Golden Crown is located in Nosi-dong, Gyeongju, and is an ancient tomb from the Silla period (57 BC–935 AD), belonging to the Nosi-dong Tomb Cluster, one of the three major tomb clusters in Gyeongju. It is believed to be the tomb of a king around the early 6th century, possibly King Jijeung (reigned 500–514), but the exact identity of the tomb’s occupant…
Gameunsa Temple is a temple built by King Munmu of Silla [Silla / 57 BC–AD 935], who unified the Three Kingdoms [7th century later period, when Silla defeated Baekje and Goguryeo to unify the peninsula and establish a single nation]. Now, apart from two stone pagodas that stand 13.4 meters high…
Built on the rocky cliffs at the foot of Mount Hanyang, Gulgulsa Temple is the only cave temple in South Korea. In the 6th century, Indian monks such as Master Gwangyu constructed the temple based on their own architectural style and carved a rock-carved seated Buddha on the cliff face. At the same time, the monks dug twelve caves around the temple to enshrine…
Wolseong Yangdong Village is located along the ridges and valleys connected to the main peak of Seolchang Mountain. It is a village formed during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) by the Yeogang Lee clan and the Wolseong Lee clan. The village consists of over 150 houses, most of which are tiled and situated on higher ground, while thatched-roof houses are mostly located on flat terrain. The Joseon-era village of Wolseong Yangdong, which produced renowned scholars of Neo-Confucianism (…
Seokguram Grotto is located on Mount Toham and is a typical stone cave temple in Korea. It is National Treasure No. 24, officially named the Seokguram Grotto. In 1995, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an artificial grotto temple built from granite. The Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.–A.D.…
Stone Ice Storage means an ice storage made of stone—an ancient refrigerator. This rare ancient ice storage, hard to find anywhere else in the world, is located on the Half Moon Mountain in Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla Kingdom (BC 57–AD 935). Though the appearance of this outstanding ancient relic may seem crude, don’t be disappointed. As you approach the entrance of the Stone Ice Storage, you’ll be startled by bursts of cold air. The Stone Ice Storage is half above ground and half underground—a marvelous structure that showcases the advanced science and technology of ancient Korea. It was built in a naturally cold spot, with granite used for the floor and walls and an arched ceiling featuring ventilation holes. When constructing the Stone Ice Storage, a large amount of lime was applied to prevent outside moisture and rain from seeping in. Additionally, the floor is sloped so that melted ice can drain away. The granite ceiling was then coated with a layer of soil, leaving only the ventilation holes exposed. Straw was used inside the ice storage to provide insulation. Modern scientists have conducted experiments here and found that when straw is used for insulation, only 0.4% of the ice melts after six months. In ancient times, the ice stored here served as a luxurious summer treat for the upper class. As a result, many historical Korean texts record royal orders to store ice. From this, we can estimate that Korea began building and using Stone Ice Storages at least 1,500 years ago. The current Stone Ice Storage in Gyeongju was built in the 14th year of King Yeongjo’s reign during the Joseon Dynasty, in 1733. It measures 12.27 meters in length and 5.76 meters in width, and is one of the better-preserved examples of its kind. The Gyeongju Stone Ice Storage is a state-managed heritage site and has been designated as National Treasure No. 66. You can rent a bicycle near Gyeongju Station to explore the area. While walking is an option, it’s quite a long distance; buses are too short a trip and not very frequent between attractions. Biking is both economical and enjoyable. A recommended biking route takes about 5–6 hours. Half-day city route: j Cheonmachong (Daereungwon) – k Cheomseongdae – l Stone Ice Storage (Half Moon Mountain) – m Gyerim – n Gyeongju National Museum – o Anapji Pond – p Wolseong Palace Site – q Bunhwangsa Temple
Overlooking the city of Gyeongju, the most eye-catching sights are the towering ancient tombs. Cycling or walking to these massive burial mounds allows you to experience the magical coexistence of modernity and antiquity. Covering an area of 120,000 pyeong, this tomb complex is the burial site of kings and nobles from the Silla Dynasty (57 BC–935 AD). The park currently…
The observatory is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in the East. It was built during the reign of Queen Seondeok, the 27th ruler of the Silla Dynasty (AD 632–646), and was used to observe cloud formations and constellations in the sky. Cheomseongdae is a stone structure featuring a harmonious combination of straight and curved lines. On December 20, 1962, it was designated as National Treasure No. …
Korea’s oldest historical record, the Samguk Sagi (compiled in AD 1145), states that in the 14th year of King Munmu of Silla (AD 647, Silla ruled from BC 57 to AD 935), the king ordered a lotus pond to be dug within the palace grounds, a small hill to be built, flowers and plants to be planted, and rare animals to be raised. The...
Hahoe and Yangdong Villages are among Korea’s oldest villages and typical examples of clan settlements, preserving the distinctive features of the yangban (noble) culture and traditional architecture from the Joseon Dynasty. Hahoe Village is located in Pungcheon-myeon, Andong-si, North Gyeongsang Province, while Yangdong Village is situated in Gangdong-myeon, Gyeongju-si, also in North Gyeongsang Province. The two villages were influenced by the Korean Confucian…