Gunsan: Hidden story in the west

Our 2nd field trip is located in Jeolla Province. This is my first time going around the Jeolla province except for Jeonju. Jeonju is the tourism city that really near with Daejeon. So, every time there was a cultural class, i usually go there.

Gunsan/Taktyu/Muddy stream

Why we have to visit Gunsan?

On our way to Gunsan, there are endless of rice farm. When the Japanese Colonization, Gunsan and its surrounding is  the area that designated to plant the rice, for exporting the rice in order to cover the shortage problem in Japan. That's why this city got much influence by the Japanese, you still find the type of Japanese house that still resided by Korean until now. Then, Saemangeum Project is to construct total 33km of embankment in Gunsan, Gimjae, Buan area of Jeollabuk-do to develop 40,100ha of land.

What to eat in Gunsan?

There is a restaurant that we went to, Hanilok. it's so easy to find this place, i think every people in Gunsan know this restaurant well. The all time favorite is radish soup. The restaurant was designed with Korean traditional house and Japanese house styles combined, which was very impressive for me.

Where to go in Gunsan?

You could hang around the down town areas of Gunsan and the Gyeongnam-dong railroad village. Disused railroad trail, now becoming the tourist attraction,

alongside the railroad you still could see some container houses which selling some snacks and souvenirs.

This is Chowon Photo Studio which used to be a filming site for the movie (Christmas in August) that starred Han Seok-gyu and Sim Eun-a.

You could visit the Japanese house, former Hirotsu house. not only this house but you could find this type of Japanese House near the Sinheung-dong area. The type of sharp roof indicates that Japan is a island country which usually has lots of raining season, so they built the roof sharply.

Modern History Museum

Here you could try the printing technology from old times. You rub ink, put a paper on it, tap it with a handful of cotton ball like this and remove the paper. you could find the information more in http://museum.gunsan.go.kr

Ariul Story performance 

Flyer of Ariul Story Performance

It is actually a musical performance which has richness of the Korean culture by its story and clothes that they wear. But one thing that stood up is the 'play' of the lighting. it just worth it!

How to get here?

 

Express Bus: Seoul Central City Bus Terminal – Gunsan Bus Terminal (first bus 06:00 / last bus 23:05) Train: Yongsan Station – Gunsan Station (first train 05:35 / last train 20:35)