Yedam, meaning 'containing art' and 'resembling the old,' is an organization founded by CEO Min-Kyung Lee to introduce traditional culture and arts to the citizens of Gimhae. Its goal is to allow cultural arts to naturally permeate daily life for all members of society, including marginalized groups. To support this, Da-In Ryu, who majored in Gayageum, and her seniors and juniors have gathered. Yedam teaches children how to play the 8-string Gayageum designed for kids, conducts traditional craft classes at senior day care centers, and offers Gayageum and drum experience events for people with disabilities. It also provides various opportunities for tourists to experience traditional arts such as hanbok rental, knot craft, and Gayageum practice. True to its name, Yedam actively shares with warm hearts so that anyone can enjoy traditional culture and arts.
The Daeseongdong Tumuli site is located between Gujibong, where the founding myth of Gaya resides, and Hoihyeon-ri shell mound known for Gimhae shell mounds, with King Suro's tomb adjacent to the east. It was discovered when part of a relic was exposed while plowing a field and excavated by Kyungsung University Museum from 1990, revealing two royal tombs from Geumgwan Gaya from the late 4th to early 5th centuries, and 37 various tombs including numerous queen tombs from the late 3rd to early 5th centuries. On well-situated hill ridges are tombs of kings and corresponding ruling class, while the slopes hold graves of lower-status commoners. The cluster has 136 tombs including wooden coffin tombs, wooden chamber tombs, jar coffin tombs, stone chamber tombs, and horizontal stone chamber tombs, with wooden chamber tombs being predominant. Artifacts found include garments possibly from the Buyeo state and horse-riding equipment and armor dating to after the 5th century found in mid-4th century tombs, indicating horseback riding spread to the Gaya region by mid-4th century. Other relics also show northern cultural elements. Since July 2001, a tomb exhibition hall and open-air exhibition hall have displayed burial styles and artifacts, and in August 2003, the Daeseongdong Tomb Museum opened to showcase Gaya-era artifacts and lifestyle, developing the site as a historical destination.
According to the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Gimhae Eupseong Fortress was originally built of stone in the 16th year of King Sejong's reign (1434). It was completed on a large scale during King Munjong's time (1451), with a circumference of 4,418 cheok including streams and wells, and a height of 13 cheok. The four main gates of the fortress—Haedongmun, Haeseomun, Jinnammun, and Gongjinmun—are recorded in the Gimhae Eupji, but most of the fortress was demolished during the Japanese colonial period's policy of dismantling eupseong fortresses, leaving almost no traces after the 32nd year of King Gojong's reign. The current north gate of Gimhae Eupseong was restored in 2008 based on investigations and analysis of the remaining walls and ogival bastions at the site conducted since 2006, as well as historical maps and various documents. Due to Cultural Heritage Protection Law, entry to the site is currently prohibited.
Gaya Street refers to the 2.1 km stretch from the National Gimhae Museum to Bonghwangdae. Created to commemorate the birthplace of Geumgwan Gaya, it is a themed street that comprehensively organizes Gaya's historical and cultural resources throughout Gimhae and serves as a thematic park connecting major Gaya cultural sites. It is a historical landscape axis connecting Haebancheon and Bonghwang-dong ruins, which show the splendid Gaya maritime trade, as well as Suro’s Tomb, Daeseong-dong tumuli, and the National Gimhae Museum, where Gimhae's past and present coexist. Featuring a fountain symbolizing iron culture and nighttime landscape lighting, it recalls the prosperity of Gaya culture. It includes the Bell of Gimhae Citizens with an original design representing the Six Gaya and Gaya pottery, along with thematic gardens, small plazas, and resting areas that symbolize the living environment of the Gaya people. Gaya Street is a famous site in Gimhae, selected as one of Korea’s 100 Beautiful Roads by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and listed among Gyeongsangnam-do’s 18 Untact Healing Tourism spots and Gimhae's 12 Best Walking Routes.
Hyanggyo were educational institutions established by the state to honor great Confucian scholars and to provide Confucian education and moral guidance to local people. The exact founding date of Gimhae Hyanggyo is unknown, but according to the 'Gimhae Eupji,' it was originally located in Dajeon-dong, east of the old Gimhae-bu. Later, the mountain where the Hyanggyo stood collapsed, and it was relocated to its current site in the 14th year of King Sukjong's reign (1688). The overall layout follows the typical jeonhak-humyo form, with the Myeongnyundang (study hall) in front and the Daeseongjeon (main shrine) and east and west offices behind. The main gate, Pungwharu, is unusual as it is a single-story building with a paljak-style roof (octagonal side shape), unlike typical pavilion-style structures. During the Joseon Dynasty, the state provided land, texts, and slaves for teaching students, but now only ceremonies are held. This Hyanggyo also holds materials useful for researching Gimhae local history.
Chire Shop is a goods shop opened by three local young artists from Gimhae. Chire is a pure Korean word meaning 'to trim or decorate neatly.' Chire Shop is filled with uniquely designed goods. In addition to goods, it offers various craft experience classes where travelers can create their own goods. The shop’s signature products include moru dolls and smarttok phone grips. For those who want to professionally learn smarttok production, there is an expert course covering all steps from planning to mold making. Flower diffuser making experiences are also available.
