Wadamjung (와담정)

1.5Km 2024-08-01

18 , Cheonwon 1-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-772-5400, +82-10-6571-3412

Wadamjeong in Cheonwon Village, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is a hanok pension combining traditional style and atmosphere with modern convenience. All rooms have air-conditioning/heating and a bathroom with toilet. The stand-alone guestroom has its own kitchen, while other rooms have basic cooking facilities in a shared kitchen. In the spacious yard - decorated with traditional landscape scenes - visitors can try out traditional games such as Jegi (shuttlecoks) and Tuho (arrow-throwing). Historic sites such as Cheomseongdae and the Gyeongju Museum are all nearby.

Gyeongju Oreung Hanok (경주오릉한옥)

1.5Km 2024-12-19

12-17 , Gukdang 2-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-10-8858-3183

Oreung Hanok in Gyeongju, is a guesthouse just across Namcheon Stream from Gyeongju’s Five Royal Tombs (‘oreung’ in Korean). The guesthouse’s location gives it a panoramic view not only of the tomb complex but over much of the 1,000 year old city of Gyeongju. The cozy rooms have double doors to block drafts and noise, and clean white bedding; while the spacious yard outside is a good spot for taking photos. The bustling Hwangnidan Street is a 15-minute walk away, while must-see sites Cheomseongdae, the Daereungwon tomb complex, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond are 10 minutes away by car.

Gyeongjuhanok 1st (경주한옥1번가)

1.5Km 2024-12-19

20 , Cheonwon 1-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-10-9505-5367

Standing at the entrance of Cheonwon Village in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongju Hanok First is a hanok stay combining the beauty of tradition with modern convenience. All rooms are Korean-style with comfortable bedding on the floor, and all have a toilet and bathroom. One guestroom has its own kitchen, while the others have basic cooking facilities in a shared kitchen. The spacious yard is decorated with figurines in traditional clothes. Nearby tourist attractions include Anapji Pond, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and Gyeongju Museum.

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (경주 동궁과 월지)

1.6Km 2025-05-21

102 Wonhwa-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-750-8655

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond in Gyeongju are secondary palace sites of Silla. The palace, along with other secondary palaces, was used as the eastern palace where the prince lived, and banquets were held during auspicious events or to welcome important guests. It is also where King Gyeongsun of Silla invited King Wang Geon of Goryeo and had a feast to complain about the critical situation in 931 after being invaded by Gyeon Hwon. After unifying the three kingdoms, Silla's King Munmu dug a large pond in the 14th year of his reign (674), creating three islands in the center of the pond along with a 12-peaked mountain to the northeast. Beautiful flowers and trees were planted here, and rare birds and animals were raised. In the Samguksagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) from the Goryeo dynasty, there is only a record of Imhaejeon Hall and no mention of Anapji Pond. After Silla fell and the place fell into ruins during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, poets and calligraphers looked at the pond and recited a line of poetry that says, “The once splendid palace is gone, and only geese and ducks fly in.” That's why the place is called Anapji, using the letters 'an' for wild geese and 'ab' for ducks. In the 1980s, pottery fragments with the inscription "Wolji" were excavated, and it was confirmed that this area was originally called "Wolji," which means "a pond that reflects the moon." And the name Anapji was changed to Wolji Pond afterwards.

◎ Travel information to meet Hallyu’s charm - "The Beauty Inside"
Se-gye visits this place to refresh her mind after she argues with Do-jae over the contract. Being one of the most famous tourist sites in Gyeongju, the scenery here is enough to help you forget the argument that you’ve just had, especially at night.

KELIMGUNG (계림궁)

1.6Km 2024-08-01

932 , Poseok-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-776-8122

Gyerimgung is a comfortable hanok pension near the Oreung tombs in, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do; the name derives from Gyerim, the forest birthplace of Kim Alji who helped found the ancient Silla kingdom. The main building has four rooms and a shared kitchen, and there are two guest rooms in the yard, where barbecues can be held; reservations are required. Residents can experience traditional activities such as Gamasot cooking and Neolttwigi, and enjoy strolling in the nearby Oreung. Other nearby attractions include Banwolseong, Cheomseongdae, and Daereungwon.

Goguryeoganeungil (고구려가는길 (낙지랑 쭈꾸미랑))

1.8Km 2017-01-12

66-6, Chunghyocheon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-777-3389, +82-54-777-5589

This restaurant boasts the typical rustic look of a hwangto building, exemplifying the beauties of the past with traditional folk dishes. At night, customers can hear the soft melodies of live music.

Gyeongju Tomb of Kim Yu-sin (경주 김유신묘)

1.8Km 2022-08-12

44-7, Chunghyo 2-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-749-6713

The tomb of General Kim Yu-sin (595-673) is located near the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal at the end of a scenic lane, popular in spring for its walls of yellow forsythia and pink cherry blossom trees in bloom. The tomb itself is located in a scenic area thick with pine trees, on the eastern side of Songhwasan Mountain. The tomb of General Kim Yu-sin is a large tomb measuring roughly 30 meters in diameter, circled by a stone fence with 24 guard posts. The tomb base wall features relief carvings of the 12 Oriental zodiac gods standing guard over the tomb, brandishing weapons. The carvings are unique in that while their bodies face outwards, the heads are all turned to the right. The elaborately decorated tomb is second in grandeur only to those of royalty.

Gyeongju Hwangnyongsa Temple Site (경주 황룡사지)

1.8Km 2021-01-29

64-19, Imhae-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

Hwangnyongsa Temple Site is located in front of Bunhwangsa Temple in Guhang-dong, Gyeongju. During the Silla Era, the Hwangnyongsa Temple was the nation’s largest temple and housed the bulk of the country’s major Buddhist treasures.

Construction of the temple began in 553 on a field east of the royal compound under the commission of King Jinheung. The king originally planned to build a palace, but decided to build a temple instead, after receiving reports that a yellow dragon had been spotted on the building site. The temple was thus named Hwangnyongsa (Temple of Yellow Dragon) and was completed in 569, seventeen years after construction began. The temple murals featured an old pine tree drawn by Artist Solgeo. During the Silla Era, the temple was the center of state-sanctioned Buddhism.

Later, when monk Jajang was studying in China during the Tang dynasty, he came across a god as he was passing by Taihe Pond. The god said to him, “The yellow dragon, which is my eldest son, is guarding Hwangnyongsa Temple upon orders of Brahma, the Creator. If you build a nine-story pagoda upon your return to Silla, the neighboring states will surrender and pay tribute, and the royal cause will be stronger. Once the construction of the pagoda is complete, prepare a memorial service for the local gods and pardon any of the country's criminals. If you follow all I have told you, no other state will dare invade Silla.”

After this encounter, Jajang returned to Silla and convinced Queen Seondeok to build the nine-story pagoda. Master architect Abiji of the neighboring state Baekje designed the pagoda and the project was built by Yongchun and 200 men using wood and stone. The night before the columns were to be erected, Architect Abiji of Baekje dreamed of the fall of Baekje and refused to complete the project. With a peal of thunder, an old monk and a man of great strength suddenly appeared from the temple's main hall, erected the columns, and magically disappeared. Abiji was so shocked at the sight that he accepted his country’s future demise as the fate of the gods and once again restarted work on the temple. (From Samgungnyusa, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)

In the twenty-three years following the completion of the pagoda, Queen Seondeok unified the Three Kingdoms; later, numerous scholars pointed to the pagoda as a contributing factor in the unification. Of the three treasures of Silla, two were located at Hwangnyongsa Temple. The largest bell of Silla was also in the temple, but was taken away during the Mongol invasion. The highest monks of Silla preached at the temple, and many kings came to listen to the Buddhist teachings.

During excavation work in July 1969, the massive foundation stones of the sermon hall, auditorium, and pagoda were found. Eight years of archaeological excavations and studies revealed the unique layout of the temple grounds, which consisted of one pagoda and three halls; also found were 40,000 or so ancient artifacts. Though foundation stones and other structures from the bottom of the temple were identified through excavation, there are no historical clues about the temple’s upper design, making the restoration of the temple in its entirety practically impossible. The size of the temple, based on archeological findings, was about 70 acres, roughly eight times larger than that of Bulguksa Temple.

Hanok Pension The-Nine (한옥펜션 더나인)

1.8Km 2024-11-19

87 Chunghyoseoak-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

This is a Hanok pension where all the members of 'I Live Alone' went on a trip together and stayed. The most special thing about this place is that it has a swimming pool inside. There is a shallow pool for children and two pools for adults, which can be used freely. Towels are provided and you can rent a tube to enjoy a comfortable swim. The interior is also conveniently decorated while preserving the beauty of a Hanok, and all facilities are tidy. There is also a separate barbecue area.

Gyeongju National Museum (국립경주박물관)

1.8Km 2025-05-21

186 Iljeong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Gyeongju National Museum houses numerous historical and cultural artifacts of the Silla dynasty (57 BC-AD 935). The museum provides various programs including at the Children’s Museum School. The newly renovated Silla Art Gallery and Silla History Gallery lobby by Teoyang Studio are popular among visitors. This multi-complex center provides the history of Silla with various artifacts.

Wadamjung (와담정) - Area information - Korea travel information