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[JIRO’s Local Journey] Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do _ Baekje Historic Areas (UNESCO World Heritage)

​Hello, this is JIRO~~

In April, JIRO visited Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do for the JIRO Letter field trip.

Gongju was the second capital of Baekje and preserves its culture well, which is why it has been designated as the Baekje Historic Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shall we take a look at what Gongju was like~~!

Gongju Station
At Gongju Station, the gateway to Gongju-si, you can meet the city’s mascots, “Gongju” and “Gomagom.”

Gongju Station Bus Timetable
If you take Bus No. 202 from in front of Gongju Station and ride for about 30 minutes, you will arrive at Gongsanseong Fortress.

Since the buses do not run very frequently, it is recommended to check the timetable in advance!
Gongsanseong Fortress, Baekje Historic Areas (UNESCO World Heritage)

When you get off the bus, the lush green Gongsanseong Fortress welcomes you, and with traditional Korean music performances taking place, it feels as if you’ve stepped into history.
Gongsanseong Fortress, Baekje Historic Areas (UNESCO World Heritage)

Traveling while learning about a region seems to make the journey even more enriching ^^
There is an admission fee for Gongsanseong Fortress, but you can enter for free if you have a ticket showing arrival at Gongju Station on the day of your visit or the day before!
Additionally, you can get a 50% discount by signing up as an Onnuri citizen~~

Gongju Daebak Kalguksu & Jokbal
After looking around Gongsanseong Fortress, I visited a kalguksu restaurant located right in front.
Since it was raining and a bit chilly, the warm soup was absolutely perfect.
The set menu that includes both jokbal and kalguksu is said to be the highlight of this place, so if I visit again next time, I would like to try the jokbal as well.

Midam
Midam, a nearby tea house, has a very cozy interior atmosphere. It is a place where you can feel relaxed and well taken care of, as handmade desserts are served together.

Highly recommended~! 5 out of 5!!

Goma Train

After having a meal and tea, we moved to the Royal Tomb Complex.

JIRO walked there, but if it’s raining or if you have a lot of luggage, it might be a good idea to take the Goma Train from in front of Gongsanseong Fortress.
Royal Tomb Complex
You could also enter the Royal Tomb Complex for free if you had a train ticket.
Free guided tours are available every hour on the hour, except during lunchtime!
It’s recommended to time your visit accordingly~!

Royal Tomb Complex
Due to humidity issues, visitors are not allowed to enter the actual tomb interiors,


Royal Tomb Complex

Instead, there is a life-size replica inside the museum, allowing visitors to explore the interior.

Bujatteokjip

After looking around the Royal Tomb Complex, we visited Gongju Sanseong Market, where there was a very long line at Bujatteokjip.

The line was too long to try it, but I definitely want to try it next timeㅠㅠ What a pity.

This wraps up JIRO’s Gongju field trip!

More detailed content will be included in the April JIRO Letter later this month. Please stay tuned and show lots of interest in the April JIRO Letter~~~!


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