Gyeongsangbuk-do(Goryeong-gun)

Goryeong was the old capital of Daegaya (42-562 AD), a city-state of the Gaya confederacy that once spanned the region now occupied by Gyeongsangnam-do Province to the south of the Korean peninsula. The city of Goryeong played such a central role in the development of the confederacy that many artifacts and historic sites of the Daegaya period can still be found there today. Some of the most prominent landmarks are the 200 gobuns (ancient tombs) that lie along the southeastern slope of Jusan Mountain in Goryeong. In ancient times, the higher and larger a tomb, the higher the social status of the person buried inside. Given this tradition and historical evidence, the largest tomb in the south has been identified as Geumnim Wangneung (Royal Tomb of King Geumnim); the other large tombs are also presumed to be those of the kings of Daegaya. The large royal tombs (over 20m in diameter) dominate the mountain ridge (the highest point) while mid-sized and smaller tombs can be found on the mountain slopes and foothills. Historical research on Daegaya began with the excavation and partial identification of the ancient tombs of Goryeong by research teams from Kyungpook National University and Keimyung University in 1977. Excavators discovered a great number of relics—gilt-bronze crowns, swords, armor, and trinkets of gold, silver, and jade—that shed light on the flourishing culture of Gaya. To continue to encourage interest in the history and culture of Daegaya, officials of Goryeong-gun County established the Daegaya Royal Tomb Exhibit Hall at the foot of Jusan Mountain in Gobun-gun, Jisan-dong. The exhibition hall depicts the social structure of the era through ancient customs such as burying servants alive with their dead masters.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Oksanseowon Confucian Academy (Treasure No. 525) was built to commemorate the scholarly achievements and virtues of Confucian scholar Yi Eon-jeok (1491-1553). Built in 1572 in the fifth year of King Seonjo’s reign, the school was named Oksanseowon in the seventh year of the king’s reign. It is included as one of the 47 Confucian Academies ruled out of the Confucian Academy abolition by Heungseon Daewongun. Even though the building structures don’t carry significant meaning in an architectural aspect, it was built with a distinguished space arrangement method. Dokrakdang, which was Yi Eon-jeok’s house as well as study room, are situated 700m far from the Confucian Academy.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gumi-si)

Nakdonggang River (506.17km in length with a total watershed of 23,384.21㎢) is South Korea’s longest river. The name Nakdonggang means “a river that runs through the East (dong) of Garak(nak)guk (or Gaya Kingdom).” The Nakdonggang River is located to the East of the Goryeong, Sangju (of Gyeongsangbuk-do) and Hapcheong (of Gyeongsangnam-do) areas, which were regions of the Gaya Kingdom. Nakdonggang River used to be a main route for inland transportation with marinas prospering on the riverfront. During the Korean War, the river was the final line of defense for the U.N. Troops. Eulsukdo, located at the end of the Gimhae Delta is a famous wintering site for migratory birds.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gumi-si)

The towering Mt. Geumosan (976m in elevation) close to Gumi Station was designated as a provincial park in 1970. This precipitous mountain features various modern facilities. Daehye (Myeonggeum) Falls can be accessed via cable car. You can also find a 2km-long fortress, Yaksaam Temple, a standing Buddha statue engraved on a rock wall, Haeunsa Temple, Doseongul Cave, Daehye Falsl, and Chaemijeong Pavilion on this mountain.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Pohang-si)

Pohang Station traces its history back in 1918. Since its initation into KTX service in April 2, 2015, the station is ready to emerge as a hub of the southern line of the east coast. It is adjacent to the Jukdo Market, one of the biggest fish markets in the nation (5 min away by foot) and located near famous tourist attractions such as Sunrise Park, Bogyeongsa Temple, Northern Beach, and Oeosa Temple.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongsan-si)

Nestled under Gwanbong Peak sits Seonbonsa Temple, under the administration of traditional Korean Buddhists. This temple is widely known as the ‘Palgongsan Gatbawi Stone Buddha.’ Despite nearby precipitous drops, the Gatbawi Stone Buddha is very popular. The Gatbawi Stone Buddha from the United Silla Kingdom is roughly 6 meters tall. The name ‘Gatbawi’ comes from the traditional cylindrical Korean hat that the Buddha wears upon his head.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

The Oreung Tombs (“oreung” meaning “five royal tombs”) have been officially designated Historic Site No. 172 and are the final resting places of four kings of the Park clan—King Park Hyeokgeose (founder of the Silla Kingdom), King Namhae, King Yuri, and King Jabi—and one queen (Queen Aryeong, wife of King Park Hyeokgeose). To the east of the royal tombs lies Sungdeokjeon Shrine, which holds the ancestral tablet of King Park Hyeokgeose. Behind the shrine is the Aryeongjeong Well, said to be the birthplace of Queen Aryeong.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Silla Arts and Science Museum is located in Gyeongju Folk Craft Village, and displays miniature models of cultural assets in the region in order to promote the scientific principles of the cultural properties. On the first floor of the museum are cultural items including Sillawanggyeongdo, unearthed relics from Hwangnamdaechong Tomb and a reconstruction of relics from Namsan Mountain. The second floor houses a golden crown of Silla and Baekje, and Tripitaka Koreana of Haeinsa Temple. The basement has miniatures of Seokguram Grotto and Gunwisamjonseokbul in Palgongsan Mountain. Outside the museum, Gameunsaji and Cheomseongdae observatory are on display. The museum is unique for promoting scientific preservation methods of cultural relics based on a thorough analysis of their structure and genuine beauty.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok (성덕대왕신종), the largest Korean bell preserved, stands 3.75m tall, has a lip diameter of 2.27m, and is 11-25cm wide. In 1997, Gyeongju National Museum weighed it at 18.9 tons. The bell was cast to pay tribute to the memory of King Seongdeok. It was completed in 771 and named ‘The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok.’ However, because the bell was installed at Bongdeoksa Temple, it has also been called the Bell of Bongdeoksa. The bell is also known as the Emile Bell (에밀레종), a name derived from an ancient legend in which a child was sacrificed in order to give sound to the bell, whose echoes of ‘em-ee-leh’ resemble the traditional Korean word for "mommy." The tubular sound pipe at the top of the bell that helps the sound reverberate is a unique feature that can be found only in Korean bells. The yongnyu, which servers as a loop to hang the bell, has been decorated to resemble a dragon’s head. A band of arabesque patterns can be found at the shoulder, and the striking point of the bell is in the shape of a lotus flower. The magnificent design and inscription methods used in this bell exemplify the craftsmanship of artisan’s from the Unified Silla period. The bell is also inscribed with over one thousand Chinese characters, and its beauty and integrity have been meticulously preserved despite the passage of over 1,300 years.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Samneung means "three royal tombs," and has strong ties to history. The three royal tombs house three kings of the Silla Kingdom: King Adala (8th King of the Dynasty), King Sindeok (53rd) and King Gyeongmyeong (54th). King Adala, who cared deeply for his people, mobilized his soldiers to rescue his subjects that were abducted by the invaders of Baekje. After a while, Baekje asked for peace treaty and King Adala released the prisoners he took during the engagement. A kingdom in Japan sent an envoy to ask for friendly relations with the Silla. King Adala’s tomb is 58m in circumference at the base, 5.4m in x_height and 18m in diameter. As King Hyogong died without any heirs, the people of the kingdom crowned his son-in-law as their next king – King Sindeok. During his reign, King Sindeok devoted himself to protecting his kingdom from invasions by Gyeonhwon and Gungye. The royal tomb is 61m in circumference at the base, 5.8m in x_height and 18m in diameter. It was robbed twice, inviting investigations in 1953 and 1963. The investigations revealed the tomb to be a chamber made of stone. King Gyeongmyeong, the son of King Sindeok, together with Wanggeon, the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, successfully thwarted Gyeonhwon’s attack against Daeyaseong Fortress. During his reign, he attempted to establish diplomatic relations with the Hudang Dynasty of China, but was unsuccessful. The tomb is 50m in circumference at the base, 4.5m in x_height and 16m in diameter.