Historical Site of Wangin (왕인박사 유적지)

17.3Km 20621 2024-01-10

440 Wangin-ro, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do

The hometown of Wangin Baksa (Wangin the Great Scholar) is located at the foot of Munpilbong Peak to the east of Gurim Village. Due to Wangin’s importance and contributions to Korean history, this historical attraction is preserved and maintained in honor of his memory and achievements.

Seonggidong is the official birthplace of Wangin (marked by the Yuheobi memorial monument) and is also home to Seongcheon, the well Wangin is believed to have drunk from. Halfway up Wolchulsan Mountain are Chaekgul, Munsanjae and Yangsajae where Wangin is said to have studied as well as nurtured local pupils. To commemorate the significance of these areas, a memorial is held every March at Munsanjae and Yansanjae.

In front of Chaekgul is a statue of Wangin which is said to symbolize his benevolent character. Just west of Seonggidong is Doljeonggogae, a hill from which it is believed Wangin made a sorrowful look back at his countrymen before leaving for Japan.

Wangin departed for Japan from Sangdaepo, which at the time was an international trading port. The renowned Baekje scholar was beginning his journey at the request of Japanese Emperor Eungshin. He took with him ten books on the Analects of Confucius and a book of Cheonjamun, a text of one thousand Chinese characters. Over time, he earned the trust of the emperor and became instructor to the crown prince. Wangin is well-known for his part in the development of Japanese culture and his name appears often in Japanese history. Wangin educated beyond textbooks and made great contributions to the development of arts, crafts and music and is revered as the originator of Japan’s Asuka culture.

This historic site was originally reconstructed from 1985 to 1987 and is continually receiving improvements to improve accessibility for visitors.

Yeongam Gurim Hanok Village (영암 구림전통한옥마을)

17.5Km 37541 2020-05-04

43-14, Gurim-ro, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-472-0939

Nestled at the foot of Wolchulsan Mountain's western side in Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do, Yeongam Gurim Hanok Village has a 2,200 year-long history, stretching from the Three Han States to Proto Three Kingdom Period. The village is abundant with various historical stories and features, offering plenty of cultural tourism resources. The village includes 12 pavilions including Hoesajeong Pavilion and Gukamsa Shrine, traditional houses, stone walls, and old oak trees. Especially, 96 Korean-house accommodations including Anyongdang, Wolindang, Gukamsa, and Anhyeongung are located for tourists to stay in a traditional Hanok as well as to offer various traditional programs like paper craft, traditional wedding ceremony, rice cake-pounding, straw craft, catching fish, water activities and others. Also, Wangin Cherry Blossom Festival and Chrysanthemum Festival are held here every year.

Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival (영암왕인문화축제)

17.5Km 20279 2024-02-19

440 Wangin-ro, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-470-2346

Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival is held to commemorate the achievement of Korea’s Dr. Wangin, who traveled to Japan over 1,600 years ago to spread Korean knowledge, culture, and arts. Visitors can enjoy various events during the festival period.

Naju National Museum (국립나주박물관)

17.8Km 5446 2022-02-04

747, Gobun-ro, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-330-7800

Naju National Museum displays artifacts found near the Yeongsangang River region and preserves artifacts excavated from throughout the Jeolla region.

While most national museums are found within the city, Naju National Museum is the first national museum to be located in a rural countryside. Its location provides a perfect relaxing atmosphere for visitors to take time and appreciate what the museum has to offer.

Although the museum may be isolated from urban cities, it uses modern technology to provide convenient museum experience. Naju National Museum is the first national museum to integrate NFC features within smart phones with the exhibition guide system for all exhibition halls. This integrated feature acts as a means to provide communication both ways, as visitors can receive information guides and upload them on social media via smart phones.

In addition to the collection of artifacts, the open-type storage rooms and the hands-on activities offered at the experience center provide opportunities to personally witness and experience the process of preservation and storage of cultural assets.

Yeongam Pottery Museum (영암도기박물관)

18.1Km 12607 2021-03-17

5, Seohojeong-gil, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-470-6851

Yeongam Pottery Museum is dedicated to promoting the history of pottery in Korea, starting from the oldest known pottery coming from Gurim Village. Visitors can learn about the history of this art form through exhibitions, educational programs, and hands-on experiences. Locally produced pottery is also available for sale. Nearby attractions include the Wangin Historic Site and Ha Jung-woong Museum of Art.

Worlindang (월인당)

18.2Km 8237 2024-08-05

37-11 , Mojeong 1-gil, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-471-7675, +82-10-6648-7916

Wolindang hanok stay in Mojeong Haengbok Village, Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do, is a year-round great spot for full moon watchers. Its traditional hanok features include red clay walls, daecheong (hall), ondol underfloor heating, and a numaru or upper floor - where visitors can take their tea. Outside is a fireplace for sweet potato baking or barbecues. Residents can enjoy a tea ceremony or sample natural dyeing or making red bean kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup). The large grassy yard is decorated with interesting murals, and is often the site of outdoor ball games.

Dongmun Maebanga (동문매반가)

19.0Km 0 2024-01-11

27 Sauijae-gil, Gangjin-eup, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do

Dongmun Maebanga is where Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, a representative civil servant of the Joseon dynasty and a Silhak scholar, stayed after being exiled to Gangjin. It now operates as a restaurant that serves the curled mallow soybean paste soup he enjoyed. It is right across from Sauijae House, where Dasan lived and devoted himself to education and academic research, so it is recommended to look around before going for a meal. Its signature menu is “Dasan Set Menu,” which comes with the curled mallow soybean paste soup and pan-fried battered clams. Other dishes such as braised red stingray, sea snail salad, and spicy stir-fried marinated pork are all plentiful and delicious.

Cypress Forest Woodland (정남진 편백숲 우드랜드)

19.2Km 10786 2023-01-17

180, Woodland-ro, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-864-7911

Jeongnamjin in Jangheung is a pristine region with beautiful mountains, beaches, and rivers. One of these attractions is the cypress forest, where a refreshing breeze blows through the green shade of these 40-year-old trees. Cypress Forest Woodland is a wood culture & experience center located in the foothills of Eokbulsan Mountain. Guests can stay in the various hanok-style pensions, enjoy the cypress and salt rooms of the jjimjilbang, and take part in various ecology education experiences at this relaxing family leisure resort.

Birthplace of Yeongnang (강진영랑생가)

19.3Km 18614 2019-08-10

15, Yeongnangsaengga-gil, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-430-3185

Kim Yun-sik was born on this site on January 16, 1903 as the first-born of two sons and three daughters. Under the pen name Yeongnang, he was active in literature until his death on September 29, 1950. Among the 80 poems he published, more than 60 were written in this place where he lived a life resisting Japanese imperialism and refusing to change his name to a Japanese name. After he moved to Seoul in 1948, his birthplace was resold several times, but the county of Gangjin-gun bought it in 1985 to restore it to its original state with a thatched-roof. The site features many of the poet’s writing materials and the site has a small well, camellia trees, jangdokdae (a platform where large clay pots used for storing food are kept), persimmon trees, and a peony garden.

Yehyang (예향)

19.4Km 5973 2024-02-19

11-1 Boeun-ro 3-gil, Gangjin-eup, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do
061-433-5777

Yehyang is a traditional Korean table d'hote restaurant that originated in 1930 on Yeongrang-ro in Gangjin. They offer set menus such as ye jeongsik, hyang jeongsik, and surasang, all served based on a portion size for four people. Using natural ingredients, they provide healthy and flavorful meals with dishes like hongeo samhap (skate, pork, and kimchi combo), tteokgalbi (grilled galbi patties), and bori gulbi (barley-aged dried yellow croaker).

Historical Site of Wangin (왕인박사 유적지) - Area information - Korea travel information