Sightseeing - Korea travel and tourism information

Seosan Seogwangsa Temple (서광사(서산))

2021-09-10

44, Buchunsan 1-ro, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-664-2002

Seongwangsa Temple is located in the quiet downtown area of Eupnae-dong, Seosan in Chungcheongnam-do. Its convenient location makes it easily accessible from almost anywhere in town.

The temple was built by Great Monk Daegyeong in 928 in the late Silla period and the scholar Choi Chiwon came here to study while he was serving as the governor of Buseong-gun (currently Seosan) in 893. Originally, the temple was called Samseonam, or Three Hermitages, for there had been three hermitages in the upper, middle, and lower part of Buchunsan Mountain. During the late Joseon dynasty, the hermitages in the upper and middle part were closed and only the one at the bottom survived. In 1987, the name was changed to Seogwangsa Temple.

Gyeongju Historic Area [UNESCO World Heritage] (경주역사유적지구 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

2025-03-24

757 Taejong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

The Gyeongju Historic Area, registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage on November 2000, is an area that embodies the time-honored history and culture of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935).

The Gyeongju Historic Area can be divided into 5 major sections. The first section is the Namsan Area, a treasure trove of Buddhist art masterpieces dating back to the Silla Kingdom. Gyeongju Namsan Mountain (often referred to as an ‘outdoor museum’) is home to many historical heritage sites from the Silla Kingdom. Major attractions include: Poseokjeong Pavilion Site (Historic Site), Rock-carved Buddhas in Tapgok Valley (Treasure), Three-story Stone Pagoda in Cheollyongsa Temple Site (Treasure), Rock-carved Buddhas at Chilburam Hermitage (Treasure), Rock-carved Seated Buddha in Bulgok Valley (Treasure), and 37 other Buddhist relics

The second section is the Wolseong Area, one of the former palace sites of the Silla Kingdom. The area consists of Gyerim Forest (Historic Site); Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (Historic Site), a Silla Royal Palace site; and Cheomseongdae Observatory (National Treasure), the oldest observatory in Asia.

Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, the third area, features a cluster of the royal graves of the kings and queens of Silla. Also in the same area are Ancient Tombs in Nodong-ri (Historic Site), Ancient Tombs in Noseo-ri (Historic Site), Ancient Tombs in Hwangnam-ri (Historic Site), and Five Royal Tombs (Historic Site), among others. Archaeologists have discovered a number of invaluable relics and historic items in this area such as Geumgwan (golden crown), Cheonmado (a painting of flying horses), and numerous pottery pieces. These finds are perhaps the greatest clues into the life of the people of the Silla dynasty.

Area number four, the Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, is where the former site of the Hwangnyongsa Temple (Historic Site) and Bunhwangsa Stone Pagoda are located. Last is the Sanseong Area, housing remnants of the major defense system for the capital city. The site consists of Myeonghwalsanseong Fortress (Historic Site) which is estimated to be around 400 years old.

The Gyeongju Historic Area has a total of 52 designated cultural assets that are registered as World Cultural Heritages.

Gyeongju Najeong Well (경주 나정)

2020-04-06

Tap-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

To the southeast of the royal tomb, is a small monument that has been erected among the pine trees; next to the monument is a well called Najeong. According to Samguksagi (Historical records of the Three Kingdoms) and Samgungnyusa (Memorabilia from the three dynasties), Park Hyeokgeose, the founding monarch of Silla, was born by this well. In 69 BC, Sobeolgong, the head of Goheochon Village, saw a white horse on its knees by the well. When he approached the well he found that the horse had magically disappeared and that a large egg was left in its place, from which a boy was born. When the boy turned 13 years old (57 BC), he was appointed king by the village chiefs and began to rule the area then called ‘Seorabeol’. A memorial stone (2.25 meters high, 45 centimeters long, and 21 centimeters wide) was erected in 1803 in the third year of King Sunjo's rule (Joseon dynasty) detailing the historical origins of the founding father of Silla.

Bomunho Lake (보문호)

2025-05-21

424-33 Bomun-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-745-7601

Bomunho Lake is a man-made lake 1,652,900 m² in size. It was built on the site of an old fortress in Myeonghwalsan Mountain in the east of Gyeongju in accordance with the Gyeongju Bomun Tourist Resort development plan. There are many leisure facilities and parks around the lake, including an international hotel and Gyeongju World. Bomunho Lake is very popular among bikers and walkers.

Unlike other cities or towns where cherry trees are only found in certain areas, Gyeongju is packed with cherry blossoms. In spring, the whole cityscape turns pink with the beautiful blossoms. The combination of the stunning trees reflected in the waters of Bomunho Lake and the trees of Bulguksa Park gracefully adorning the nearby temple make for particularly stunning sights. When a light breeze blows, cherry blossoms gently flutter down like satin snow flakes. The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon is held in April when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

Gyeongju Tomb of Kim Yu-sin (경주 김유신묘)

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 Gyerim Forest (경주 계림)

2020-07-06

Gyo-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-8743

Gyerim Forest is located between the Cheomseongdae Observatory and Wolseong Fortress. The forest is thickly populated by ancient zelkova and willow trees rooted on gently sloping hills and along the small stream in the northwest part of the woods. According to legend, the forest is closely associated with myths surrounding the birth of Alji, the founder of the Gyeongju Kim clan. As such, it is designated national Historic Site No. 19.
Legend has it that King Talhae heard a rooster crying from deep inside the Sirim Woods. Chancellor Hogong was sent to investigate. Upon arriving, he found a rooster crying underneath a tree on which hung a golden box. Hogong immediately reported his find to the king, who instructed him to bring the golden box into the palace. The king opened the box and found a small child inside, Kim Alji. The forest, which had previously been called ‘Sirim’ or ‘Gurim’, became known as ‘Gyerim’, ('gye’ meaning rooster). The name Gyerim was also used to refer to the Silla kingdom.
Alji was adopted as the king’s son, but because the crown was passed on to King Pasa of the Park family, he never ascended the throne. The Kim clan later became the royal bloodline with the coronation of King Naemul some years later.
The memorial stone recording the birth of Kim Alji was erected in the third year of King Sunjo's rule in the Joseon dynasty. Located close to the royal fortress of Silla, the forest is still deeply revered as the mystical birthplace of the first ancestor of the royal Kim clan of Silla. Yellow canola blossoms along the path connecting Daereungwon with Gyerim and Banwolseong only add to the magical ambiance of the forest.

Yeongpyeongsa Temple (영평사)

2021-11-01

124, Yeongpyeongsa-gil, Sejong-si
+82-44-857-1854

A branch of Magoksa Temple, which is the 6th local temple of the Jogyejong Order, Yeongpyeongsa Temple has six traditional buildings and three small hermitages. Janggunsan Mountain, where the temple is located, is small but full of energy. According to Feng Shui, the mountain is a perfect location for a temple because it is shaped like a dragon curled along the Geumgang River. Yeongpyeongsa is a tranquil place that captures the purity of the temple’s Buddhist practice, with fresh air and clean water that offer a habitat for fireflies, crawfish, and black snails. On the way in, visitors are greeted by a multitude of wildflowers vying for their attention: the columbines and the prairie crocuses in spring, the white lotuses in summer, and the Siberian chrysanthemums in autumn.

Girimsa Temple (기림사)

2022-12-29

437-17, Girim-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-744-2292

Girimsa Temple is located in Hamwolsan Mountain in Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju. The temple was built in the Silla Era and, with 16 buildings, is the second largest temple after Bulguksa.

Legend has it that the temple was originally built by the Venerable Gwang-yu, a sage from India, in the early part of the Silla Kingdom. The temple was reportedly called Imjeongsa at first, but was later changed to Girimsa after undergoing expansive renovations by Monk Wonhyo. It is still unclear exactly what year the temple was built in.

Girimsa is divided into two main areas. The first is the area around Daejeokgwangjeon Hall where the statue of Birojanabul is enshrined. The second is the area around the majestic 500-year-old bo tree (a kind of large fig tree) that is home to a wooden pagoda, the Seongbo Museum, Samsingak, Mangbujeon, and Gwaneumjeon halls. Daejeokgwangjeon Hall was first built during Queen Seondeok's reign, and was rebuilt six times since its original construction. Its simple but majestic architecture is characterized by baeheullim (aka, entasis columns) and a Dapoyangsik (Dapo-style) single-tiered gabled roof.

Girimsa is famous for Ojongsu, water that is said to have five different tastes. It consists of gamrosu, which is best for making tea; hwajeongsu, which supposedly gives comfort to the drinker; janggunsu, which makes the body stronger; myeongansu, which gives clear vision; and otaksu, which is said to sparkle so brightly that it attracts all the birds of the air. During Japanese colonial rule, the source of janggunsu, literally meaning ‘water of a general,’ was reportedly blocked off by Japanese soldiers, who were afraid the water would give the Korean people the strength to overthrow them. Except for janggunsu, water still continues to flow from each source.
On the way to Girimsa temple is Golgulsa Temple, well known for its 12 grottos. Golgulsa was originally a hermitage of Girimsa. After becoming an independent institution, it became the center of Seonmudo practice in Korea. The temple aims to promote the art of seonmudo on a national and international level.

Nonsan Jijangjeongsa Temple (지장정사(논산))

2021-08-17

103, Hwagogan-gil, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-732-5629

Upon finishing his thousand-day prayers in Gyeryongsan Mountain in June 1980, Monk Deoksan came down to the site of an old temple in Noseong-myeon, Hwagok-ri and built Jijangjeongsa Temple. The upper part of the current Daeungjeon Hall was once the main hall of Jijangam Hermitage and was originally about 33 square meters. Daeungjeon Hall was later expanded to its current size. In 1995, Yeongsanjeon (Cheonbuljeon) Hall was built and in 1997, Seonjae Preschool was opened. The temple is open for praying and meditation and also has a charnel house. The temple and its followers are loyally devoted to the practice of Buddhism in its purest form.

Seosan Buseoksa Temple (부석사(서산))

2024-12-03

243 Buseoksa-gil, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-662-3824

Located on Dobisan Mountain in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, Buseoksa Temple was built by the Great Monk Uisang in 677, the 17th year of King Munmu of Silla, and was later rebuilt by Great Monk Muhak during the Joseon dynasty. The temple houses eight seated Buddha statues and attracts many visitors due to its magnificent surrounding scenery.

Sightseeing - Korea travel information