Gokseong Leisure Culture Center (곡성 레저문화센터)

8.7Km 5590 2021-08-06

855, Gokseong-ro, Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-360-8343

Gokseong Leisure Culture Center was built to provide culture, education, and leisure facilities to the public. There are three concert and lecture halls, Dongak Art Hall, Seomjin Hall, and Daehwang Hall. There are also facilities for hobby and health classes. The center opened on March 11, 2010.

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

9.2Km 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.

Gokseong Dangunjeon Shrine (곡성 단군전)

9.5Km 24330 2021-05-27

33, Yeongun 1-gil, Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-360-8379

Dangunjeon Shrine was built in honor of Dangun, a legendary figure known to be the founder of Gojoseon, or ancient Korea. He is known to be the grandson of the heavens and the son of Hwanung. According to the legend, Hwanung was approached by a bear and a tiger who wished to become human beings. Hwanung attended to their plea by instructing them to avoid sunlight for 100 days and live only by consuming garlic and mugwort. Unlike the tiger who gave up, the bear followed the instructions faithfully and transformed into a woman, who then married Hwanung and gave birth to Dangun.

Located near Yeonguncheonbyeon in Gokseong-eup, Dangunjeon Shrine was first founded in Hakjeong-ri, Samin-dong in 1916 by Shin Tae-yun, also known as Baekdang, but later moved to its current location and went through reconstruction in 1931. An annual ancestral rite takes place at the shrine on October 3 (National Foundation Day) and March 15 to pay respects to Dangun. Dangunjeon Shrine was also a place where civilians gathered to take an oath of patriotism in action against the Japanese during the Japanese colonization period; a stone plaque commemorating the March 1st Independence Movement and Baekdang Memorial Hall dedicated to Shin Tae-yun can also be found within the area. Shin Tae-yun was captured by Japanese soldiers during the March 1st Independence Movement and served two years in prison.

Gurye Seomjingang Cherry Blossom Trail (구례 섬진강 벚꽃길)

10.4Km 1 2022-10-25

Muncheok-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-780-2227

The Seomjingang Cherry Blossom Trail in Gurye follows National Roads 17 and 19 along the pristine Seomgjingang River. Stretching over 3 kilometers, the trail is lined with cherry blossom trees planted in 1992. As well as being a popular drive course, the trail can also be enjoyed on foot, and is even used as a marathon course. The trail has received recognition as one of the "100 Most Beautiful Roads in Korea." Restaurants along the trail serve local foods such as euneo hoe (sliced raw sweetfish) and minmul maeuntang (spicy freshwater fish stew).

Taeansa Temple (태안사)

10.6Km 6952 2022-08-31

622-215, Taean-ro, Jukgok-myeon, Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-363-6669

Located on the foot of Dongnisan Mountain, Taeansa Temple was built by three monks during the reign of the Silla King, Gyeongdeok (742). Afterwards, Monk Hyecheol constructed a large temple with 132 rooms during Goryeo Taejo’s reign, which was established as a central seminary of the Dongnisan Mountain area. In the precincts there are four treasures, including Hyecheolguksa Sari Pagoda, Gwangjaseonsa Pagoda and Neungpagak. The temple was badly damaged during the Korean War and had been refurbished since then. An invigorating valley and a shady nook can be reached just 1.8 kilometers from the entrance of the temple. It is a popular trail during the fall, with its bright maple leaves.

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

10.7Km 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.

Gurye Cheoneunsa Temple (천은사(구례))

10.8Km 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.

Hotel Jirisan Haetsal [Korea Quality] / 지리산햇살 [한국관광 품질인증/Korea Quality]

10.8Km 61 2021-03-27

386-3, Hwaeomsa-ro, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-783-9600

This hotel is located about 300 m away from Jirisan National Park’s Nambu Visitor Center. Built with red bricks and having an orange roof and grass lawn, the hotel resembles a country home. The hotel is surrounded by Jirisan Mountain to the back, and the Masancheon Stream, a branch of Seomjingang River, flowing through the area offers a great view for the visitors. There are five types of rooms, accommodating 2, 4, and 6 guests. A cleaning service is offered every day. The rooms have white walls and wood floorboards, tastefully furnished in a minimalist style. The wide windows offer a great view of the lawn and the mountains. All rooms other than the 4-person ondol (under-the-floor heating system) room are bedrooms, and the 6-person Special Room comes with a wooden terrace. Visitors can enjoy grilling by the valley. The hotel is located about 10 min by car from Gurye Public Bus Terminal. Hwaeomsa Temple, a temple with a thousand-year history, is located only 2 km away from the hotel, while a 10-min drive brings one to Gurye Fifth-day Market and “Unjoru House, Gurye,” which is the Folk Cultural Heritage No. 8 of Korea.

Gokseong Dorimsa Temple (도림사(곡성))

10.9Km 10285 2021-05-14

175, Dorim-ro, Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-362-2727

Dorimsa Temple was built by Monk Wonhyo in 660 during the 7th year of King Muyeol. Located approximately 4 kilometers west of Gokseong-eup, the temple houses Bogwangjeon Hall, Yaksajeon Hall, and Eungjindang Hall, among other buildings. The nature surrounding the temple is beautiful all year round, and the water flowing through the nearby valley makes it a popular place to visit during the hot summer season.

Saseongam Hermitage (Gurye) (사성암(구례))

11.2Km 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.

Gokseong Leisure Culture Center (곡성 레저문화센터) - Area information - Korea travel information