Explore Gongju-City: Where History Meets the Present | JIRO Letter Vol.4

Hi there~~ This is JIRO!

JIRO Letter has already reached its 4th issue.

The star of our April 2026 edition is Gongju-City in Chungcheongnam-do!

From stories about Gongju-City to JIRO’s favorite local eats and handy travel tips,
come take a look right now~~

JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 1

JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 2
 Gongju-City, once Ungjin—the second capital of the Baekje Kingdom!

After King Munju moved the capital to Ungjin in 475, it remained the capital of Baekje for 63 years, until King Seong relocated it to Sabi in 538.

JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 3

Gongsanseong Fortress -The royal palace of the Baekje Ungjin period (475–538)

Gongsanseong Fortress wraps around two rugged peaks—one to the east at 110 meters above sea level and another to the west at 85 meters—giving the area a naturally steep and defensive terrain.

With the Geumgang River flowing to the north and the city of Gongju-City stretching out to the south, it stands as a strategic hub!


Stories of Gongsanseong Fortress Through History

When the Silla–Tang allied forces attacked Sabi, King Uija fled here for refuge.

During the Unified Silla period, Kim Heonchang launched a rebellion using Gongsanseong Fortress as his base.

In the Joseon Dynasty, King Injo took refuge here to escape the Rebellion of Yi Gwal.

JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 4
Tomb of King Muryeong and Royal Tombs
: A cluster of tombs where Baekje’s brick chamber tombs and stone-chamber tombs with corridors have been discovered

Set alongside the Geumgang River,
this hilly area is enclosed to the north and open toward the south.

Among the tombs, the brick chamber tombs include the Tomb of King Muryeong and Tomb No. 6, while Tombs No. 1 to 5 are stone-chamber tombs with corridors.
Dozens of additional tombs are scattered throughout the surrounding area.

JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 5
Gongju-City holds not only Baekje history, but traces of the Paleolithic era as well!

Gongju Seokjangni Paleolithic Festival (Held at the Gongju Seokjangni Paleolithic Site)

Coming up next month!

May 2 (Sat) – May 5 (Tue), 2026

Gongju Seokjangni Paleolithic Site: A wide variety of representative Paleolithic stone tools have been unearthed here, including choppers, scrapers, hand axes, and burins.


JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 6
JIRO’s Gongju-City Travel Tip!

When heading from Gongsanseong Fortress to the Tomb of King Muryeong and Royal Tombs, hop on the Goma Train and zoom right over! Or take a leisurely walk along the scenic Jemingcheon Stream—it’s just as lovely!


Discounted admission to Gongsanseong Fortress, the Tomb of King Muryeong and Royal Tombs, and the Seokjangni Museum

-Free admission when you present a train ticket arriving at Gongju Station on the same day or the day before!

-Get 50% off when you sign up as an Onnuri Citizen!

-Planning to visit Gongsanseong Fortress, the Tomb of King Muryeong and Royal Tombs,

and the Seokjangni Museum Grab a combined ticket for 6,000 KRW!


JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 7
A Funny Little Story: Gongju-City
Little Stories for a Much More Fun your Gongju-Trip

Gongju City has long been steeped in bear legends, leading to its adorable bear mascots.

Keep an eye out for Gongju and Goma as you explore the city!

You can even spot them at Gongju Station!


JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 8
A Taste of Gongju-City: Gongju Chestnuts Meet Kalguksu!

Gongju's chestnuts
 Gongju is famous for its premium chestnuts, which are known for being exceptionally sweet and savory.

JIRO’s Restaurant Picks
Daebak Kalguksu & Jokbal
141 Wangneung-ro, Gongju-City
Open daily 11:00–21:00
(Last order at 20:30)
They even offer a unique set menu featuring kalguksu and jokbal together!
*Right in front of Gongsanseong Fortress!

JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 9
Finished a delicious meal? 
Now it’s time for a traditional tea house recommended by JIRO!

Midam
9-7 Baekmigoeul-gil, Gongju-City
Open daily 12:00–20:30

*Just a 1-minute walk from Daebak Kalguksu & Jokbal

Handcrafted traditional sweets served with warm tea—plus a cozy atmosphere
that warms the heart!
JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 10
Gongju-City, where history comes alive-Explore its museums

1) Gongju National Museum
With its permanent Ungjin Baekje Gallery,
you can take in the history and culture of Baekje at a glance!
Closed every Monday


2) Seokjangni Museum
Step into the vivid excavation stories of
the Seokjangni Paleolithic Site!
Open year-round (no regular closing days)


3) Korea Natural History Museum

Are dinosaurs still alive?! From massive dinosaur skeletons to real fossils—see them up close!

Closed every Monday and Tuesday


https://maps.app.goo.gl/2kYUpeCU7tZLkYeB7


JIRO Letter Vol.4 Gongju-City Chungcheongnam-do (April 2026 Issue) | Page 11
And that wraps up the April 2026 issue of JIRO Letter, featuring Gongju-City in Chungcheongnam-do!

Stay tuned and show lots of love for next month’s JIRO Letter as well~~~!
Location: 대한민국 충청남도 공주시

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meet Jiro: Why We Care About Local Communities

Image
 Hello, this is Jiro! Today, we’d like to properly introduce who we are and why we do what we do. Jiro is a project team formed by Korean university students who share a common concern: the quiet disappearance of local regions—and with them, someone’s hometown, memories, and everyday life. Rather than standing by, we asked ourselves a simple question: “What can we do, right now?” That question became the starting point of Jiro, and it continues to guide our work in regional revitalization. To keep things easy and engaging, let us introduce ourselves through a short Q&A.
Read more

Inside Local Korea Jiro Letter Vol.1 | Eumseong County

Image
 Hello, this is Jiro 🙂 Starting this month, we’re excited to introduce Jiro Letter , a monthly magazine that explores local places and the stories behind them. Each issue is published in Korean, English, and Japanese , so more readers can connect with local communities. For our very first issue, we’re heading to Eumseong County, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea . Inside, you’ll find stories about Geobuknori (Turtle Play) , a traditional folk ritual performed during the Seolseong Cultural Festival, along with insights into the factors behind Eumseong’s recent population growth , and a curated list of local eateries loved by longtime residents . Come take a closer look at Eumseong right now.
Read more

From a Local Magazine to a Self-Funded Festival - Interview with BeMike CEO, Kim Aerim

Image
 Hello, this is JIRO. On the 13th, JIRO traveled to Iksan to meet Kim Aerim, CEO of BeMike. From publishing a local magazine to organizing a fully self-funded festival, and even operating Miji, a select shop in the old downtown area— we’d like to share the story told by Kim Aerim, who continues to demonstrate the possibilities of “local.” Miji is located just a four-minute walk from Iksan Station. We met Kim Aerim in a space filled with products closely connected to Iksan. Stepping Away from Familiarity Discovering what makes a place special begins with stepping away from familiarity. Kim Aerim emphasized the importance of not assuming we already know a place simply because it feels familiar. The more familiar a place is—especially one we grew up in—the easier it is to say, “There’s nothing here,” or “I already know everything.” She explained that this mindset is one of the biggest reasons people end up leaving their hometowns. Just as we often ignore advice from those closest to u...
Read more