Things To Do in Gongju

A fortress dating from the Baekje Kingdom, it was originally made of mud but was renovated to stone in the 17th century, during the Joseon Dynasty. Originally called Unjinseong, its name was changed at that time. If you can visit on a Saturday from April to October (excluding…

Although most tombs from the Baekje Kingdom were pillaged over the centuries, including six of the seven found here, King Muryeong's tomb miraculously escaped vandals and thieves until it was excavated in 1971. In fact, it was accidentally discovered while pipes were being installed…

Founded by Monk Jajangyulsa in A.D. 640, this lovely temple offers an excellent example of local Buddhist architecture -- happily, it was not damaged during any of the wars in the Joseon Period. The complex is divided by a stream (in a yin-yang shape), and connected by a stone…

The construction for this temple began in 1983 and didn't finish until 1995. While the structures aren't architectural wonders, the draw is the hundreds of thousands of statues of the Buddha and bodhisattvas that are here. A giant bronze Buddha sits on a lotus base and is quite…