Gochang possesses outstanding natural beauty and unique cultural assets.
Gochang is a county with glorious cultural assets and a long history. The area has grown into a tour site where you can experience many of its various themes, such as its beautiful mountains and sea, as well as heartwarming scenes of farm villages, and splendid cultural assets.
Wherever you turn in Gochang, you can find excellent tourist attractions. The Gochang Dolmen site has been designated an international cultural asset, while visitors should also not miss Seounsan Mountain, Gochangeupseong Fortress, the Dongri Folk Music Room and of course the beautiful coastline.
Beautiful mountain rich in national cultural properties
As a famous scenic spot, Seonun Mountain was designated a provincial park in 1979. The name of the mountain, Seonunsan, means to practice Zen meditation in the clouds. The mountain is also called Dosolsan, which comes from Dosolcheongung, the place where the Mireuk Buddha is said to reside. As can been seen, both names signify the close relationship the mountain has with Buddhism. The mountain itself is beautiful, with outstanding scenic beauty as well as many unique and interesting rocks and stones.
 The mountain has many national cultural properties such as the Golden Copper Seated Bodhisattva Statue, the Jijang Seated Bodhisattva Statue, the Seonunsa Main Temple, and the Dosolam Rock Cliff Buddha. Furthermore, deep in its thick forest vicitors can find the one-thousand-year-old Seonunsa Temple. There are also various precious natural treasures, including a camellia forest, and Jangsa Pine Trees, as well as a selection of provincial cultural properties.
Bongduam Rock (also called Tugubong), is located on the hillside across the stream and plays the role of a divine general protecting the mountain from evil spirits. Similarly, the Sajaam above it on the ridge protects Dosolcheon from evil spirits. A little further up you can see Dosolam, and at the top of the rock steps on the right you can see Dosolcheon Naewongung, as well as Sangdosol at the top of a high cliff. If you climb the rock wall to the right, you can see ancient hoof prints, which are said to have been made by King Jinheung’s horse. Going up between the rocks, you can see Manwoldae and Seonhakam, a legendary hermit who is said to have come down riding a white crane.
 Temple and fortress with interesting histories
The Seonun Temple is located in Mt. Seonun Provincial Park. The park boasts outstanding natural beauty, including camellia, maple, cluster-amaryllis as well as some fantastically shaped stones. The temple was established by priest Geomdan Seonsa during the 24th year of the reign of King Wuideok of Baekje (the year of 577) and the temple’s name translates into the “Hermit Lying in the Clouds to Meditate.” It had 89 Buddhist cells and 189 temple dormitories and over 3,000 priests led their ascetic life here when the Buddhist culture flourished.
Built during the early Joseon Dynasty, Gochangeup Fortress has a circumference of 1,684 meters. It is also called Moyangseong, possibly because the Gochang area was called Moryangburi during the Baekje period.  Bandeungsan, a guardian mountain, sits to the east, and there are three gates to the east, west and north, six chis, two floodgates, and a covering tower.
Dongri House and Dongri Folk Music Room allow visitors to feel the soul of master Shin Jae-hyo who compiled and made a system of pansori. His work now provides invaluable data regarding the history of this form of traditional Korean music. Meanwhile, the Midang Poetic Literature Hall, built to celebrate the work of famous Korean poet Midang Seo Jeongju, is attracting more and more visitors every year.
By Namil Heo
BusinessKorea writer
 Bokbunja-ju or Bokbunja wine is a Korean fruit wine made from wild black raspberries called bokbunja. Gochang is famous for good-quality Bokbunja-ju. It is made by fermenting berries with water. Some varieties also contain rice and herbs. The wine is deep red in color and moderately sweet. It ranges between 15% and 19% alcohol by volume, depending on the brand. It is believed to be healthful and to promote male sexual stamina. It is often drunk on special occasions. If you do not like liquors, you may try the superb savory taste of Seonun Temple’s Jakseol tea. Jakseol tea is made of young and soft tea leaves. In particular, Jakseol tea improves human liver conditions, improves eyesight and refreshes people’s bodies. |
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