Jirisan National Park (Nogodan Peak Section) (지리산국립공원 (지리산 노고단))

7.2 Km 41718 2021-12-25

356, Hwaeomsa-ro, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-780-7700

Jirisan National Park covers a vast amount of land in three provinces, including one city and three counties. The countless mountain peaks both large and small blend harmoniously, giving off a comforting ambiance. The valleys feature streams, waterfalls, and more natural attractions beautiful all year round. The mountain is the starting point for the Seomjingang River, which flows into the southern sea.

The park is home to many plants and animals, including the Asiatic black bear. There are many hiking paths crossing the park; it is recommended to make a plan for the courses in advance, checking the lengths and time required. As Jirisan Mountain changes with the different seasons, hikers can enjoy various aspects of the mountain’s terrain. However, some areas will be closed off for hikers' safety in the case of incliment weather or to prevent forest fires in the dry season.

Jirisan National Park (Hadong Section) (지리산국립공원(하동))

7.5 Km 24078 2021-06-24

Hwagae-ro, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-883-1750

Designated as the first national park in Korea on December 29, 1967, Jirisan National Park stretches out over 483.022 square kilometers, making it the largest national park among all 22 national parks. It covers Korea’s three southernmost provinces; Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeollanam-do, and Jeollabuk-do, one city, four counties, and 15 districts of eup and myeon. The area in Gyeongsangnam-do has many temples including Ssanggyesa Temple and Chilbulsa Temple, as well as valleys, falls, and other tourism resources.

Hadong Hwagae Market (하동 화개장터)

7.5 Km 40033 2019-07-31

15, Ssanggye-ro, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-880-6051

Hwagae Market is one of the five biggest traditional market, which once flooded with people. It also appears as the background setting in Kim Dong-ri's novel, Yeokma (which means stagecoach in English). The market is one of the most visited attractions along with Ssanggyesa Temple and Jirisan Mountain due to it's location near a cherry blossom path. A market that offers a variety of local products and delicacies, you could count the number of markets of this scale in Korea on one hand.

Gabiwon Motel [Korea Quality]가비원모텔[한국관광 품질인증]

7.5 Km 0 2023-09-12

13 , Ssanggye-ro, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-883-3699, +82-10-3889-6663

Gabiwon Motel stands near the entrance to the famous Hwagae Market in Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do - at the place where Hwagaecheon Stream, flowing down from Jirisan’s Banyabong Peak, meets the Seomjingang River. Hwagae offers excellent natural scenery, including kudzu flowers that bloom even in snowy winter. Nearby attractions include Chilbulsa Temple, Ssanggyesa Temple, Sibaeji Dajeong (where tea was first planted in Korea), and Seiam Rock.

Jirisan History Museum (지리산역사관)

8.8 Km 45200 2021-06-15

1438, Hwagae-ro, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
+82-55-880-2954

Jirisan History Museum is located within Jirisan National Park at the start of the hiking course to Byeoksoryeong Pass. Rather a small museum, it provides detailed information about the history of North Korean partisans and the routes that they took throughout the mountain during the Korean War. The museum also exhibits the war relics, lifestyle of the mountain villagers and local produce of Hadong.

Gurye Cheoneunsa Temple (천은사(구례))

9.1 Km 14499 2021-10-02

209, Nogodan-ro, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-781-4800

Located north of Gurye on Jirisan Mountain, and built during the Unified Silla Period, Cheoneunsa Temple is one of the three great Buddhist temples of Jirisan Mountain. Cheoneunsa Temple is believed to have been built by Monk Deokun and Monk Seru from India in AD 828 during the 3rd year of King Heungdeok. Because it initially laid next to spring water as clean and cold as a morning dew, the temple was also called Gamrosa, meaning Sweet Dew Temple. The spring water was rumored to clean one’s body and soul, leading to crowd of Buddhist monks to visit the temple. During King Chungryeol’s reign, the temple was named the Best Temple in the south.

The temple was burned down during the Imjin War (1592-1598) and then later rebuilt and renamed Cheoneunsa. Legend has it that while the temple was being rebuilt, a large serpent often came out of the spring. When the serpent was finally captured and killed, the spring waters suddenly dried up. Hence the name Cheoneunsa, meaning Disappearance of Spring Water, was given.

Yeoneu [Korea Quality]여느[한국관광 품질인증]

9.4 Km 1 2023-05-23

116-68 , Cheonbyeon-gil, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-10-7353-1802

Pension Yeoneu in Gurye, Jeollanam-do, stands on the site where Korean independence activist Wang Jae-il was born. The mint-green roof gives the place a fairy tale feel, while inside it’s friendly and welcoming. The pension is let out as a single house, which includes an annex building with a large bathtub, a sunroom, and a sun deck. Throughout the house, guests will notice vintage items collected from the owner’s travels in the US, Europe and Korea.

Gurye Fifth-Day Market & Gurye Traditional Market (구례5일장 / 구례전통시장(3, 8일))

9.4 Km 16129 2021-01-13

20, 5ilsijangjageun-gil, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-780-2358

Gurye is famous for its location near the first national park, Jirisan Mountain, and is home to clean water and spacious fields near Seomjingang River. The main products of this area include a variety of wild herbs, vegetables, sansuyu (cornus fruit) and plums from Jirisan Mountain and Baegunsan Mountain.

Houses with cornus fruit trees are easily found in the district of Sandong-myeon, Gurye-gun and the whole village gets dyed yellow in the spring and red in the fall. The amount of sansuyu from the area accounts for nearly half Korea’s total.

Also, chestnuts are common in Gurye Market as a complex of chestnut tree takes up 1,400 ㏊ of the land.

Saseongam Hermitage (Gurye) (사성암(구례))

10.3 Km 37101 2024-02-19

303 Saseongam-gil, Muncheok-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do

Saseongam Hermitage is a hermitage located at the peak of Osan in Gurye (elevation 531m). It is estimated to have been built during the Baekje period (B.C. 18-A.D. 660). Many people visit it to see the sanctuary where the 53 statues of the Buddhist Avatamsaka Sutra are enshrined. The view of the Seomjingang River and the village from the temple is magnificent, and the refreshing breeze feels as if it penetrates through one's body, leading to its designation as a scenic spot in August 2014.

Jirisan National Park (Nogodan Peak Section) (지리산국립공원 (지리산 노고단)) - Area information - Korea travel information