Gunsan is a city that is located in the North Jeolla Province, South Korea. The Korean pronunciation of this city is Kunsan. This is a beautiful city located on the South bank of the Geum river, slightly upstream from its exit into the Yellow sea. It has developed into a high-tech manufacturing industrial metropolis and a seaport for international trade that is located on the Korean Peninsula’s central coast, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) southwest of Seoul.
Gunsan used to be a small fishing village on the banks of the Guem river. In the 19th century, Gunsan became a port mainly because of the Japanese pressure to ship rice from Korea to Japan. Later in the year 1899, Gunsan port officially opened its gates for international trading. During the Japanese occupation, the majority of the population in Gunsan City was Japanese. Japanese-built buildings include the Customs House and the previous (now-demolished) City Hall. Gunsan slowly expanded after being freed from the Japanese in 1945.
Now it is a very huge and beautiful metropolitan city, so let us go through a few things that can be done when you visit Gunsan.
Gyeongamdong Railroad Town
As the name says, it is a railroad that is amidst a town. A railroad once connected the station to the post, but it was abandoned following the Japanese colonial era. City Hall is currently working to create sights. Even if no trains are running, you can still walk the railroad. It’s quite a quaint area developed along abandoned railroad tracks that currently feature several retro shops & mural stores selling souvenirs & candies. It is indeed a good place to visit with kids if you are ever in Gunsan.
Gunsan Modern History Museum
You can also visit the famous Gunsan Modern History Museum, where you may understand and experience Korea’s beautiful history. This museum traces the beautiful town’s modern history, attracting many tourists to the place. The place is a remembrance of the long independence struggle that is portrayed through a colonial-era recreation of the town as it was back in the 1930s. The exhibits are displayed in English for ease for tourists to understand, and it is a good place to visit with family.
Seonyudo Beach
You also have Seonyudo Beach, wherein you have a lot of activities to participate in, like the zipline, motorbike rentals, mini hiking, and many more. The cafes and restaurants around the beach have delicious seafood, as it’s pretty obvious. A clean, uncrowded, white sandy beach will definitely make your visit worthwhile.
Dongguksa Temple
Other than these adventure places, you also have the Dongguksa Temple, which is famous around the place. It is a Japanese-style temple of Buddha built with cute cafes and souvenir shops inside. The place, alongside being a pilgrimage site, also paints a picture of the women’s struggles during Japanese control. Set amidst a beautiful view, the architecture is impressive as the only Japanese-style temple of Gunsan. You also have a quaint bamboo forest for a quiet, peaceful stroll among nature.
Taste Lee Sung Dang’s Delicacies
Next comes the food; every journey must end with good memory and a full tummy. The Lee Sung Dang is the oldest bakery in Korea, and it includes many classic recipes from Korea, which are a must-try. This is the best spot to stop for a good breakfast in the morning, and the bakery is open throughout the week. With a long history dating back to 50 years, they have a lot of original recipes, among which their bread stuffed with red bean sweetie paste is a highly recommended one.
Shopping in Gunsan
Gunsan has some of the best markets and malls to shop from. You have the Jeong Gallery to buy the best art from, the Gunsan shopping mall, the Ritz Plaza, and many more to choose from. The Lotte Mall Gunsan is the shopping center in Nonsan, South Korea, which is a modern well-established mall with all sorts of clothing shops, cafes, eateries, and many more.
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