History trip from mountains to sea and village to nature | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Geonbongsa Temple in Geumgangsan is an ancient temple located on the southeastern slope of Gamrobong, where the Geumgangsan mountain range begins, enshrining the authentic tooth relic of Sakyamuni. It was once a large-scale temple with 3,183 rooms, but all except the Bulimun gate were destroyed during the Korean War. Restoration work began in 1994 and has led to the current appearance. It is a patriotic temple where monks organized warrior monks during the Imjin War and was a center for anti-Japanese independence movements during the Japanese colonial period. It is said that in the 7th year of King Beopheung of Silla (520), the monk Ado first built a temple here under the name Wongaksa. In the 17th year of King Gyeongdeok of Silla (758), the monk Baljing rebuilt the temple and held a 10,000-day chanting ceremony, which became the origin of Korea’s yeombulmanilhoe (a Buddhist ceremony praying for rebirth in the Pure Land by chanting for ten thousand days). Later, in the 7th year of King Gongmin of Goryeo (1358), monk Naong changed the temple’s name to the current one. In the 2nd year of King Sejo of Joseon (1456), the king visited and made it a royal ancestral shrine praying for the safety of the royal family, building Eosilgak to enshrine memorial tablets of successive kings, making it a grand temple. In the 15th year of King Gojong of Joseon (1878), a fire burned it down completely, and it was rebuilt the following year. In the 10th year of Gwangmu of the Korean Empire (1906), Bongmyeong School was established for enlightenment and new knowledge education, becoming a center of education in the Gwandong region but was forcibly closed by the Japanese. By 1911, it had regained scale as one of the 31 main temples presiding over nine branch temples. During fierce battles lasting about two years around Goseong in the Korean War, all buildings except the Bulimun gate, built in 1920, were destroyed, leaving it in ruins. After the armistice, the Geonbongsa site was located north of the civilian control line and became accessible to civilians from 1989.

Founded in 1420, Ganseong Hyanggyo moved to Gyodong-ri in 1546 and was destroyed during the Imjin War in 1592. Later, county governor Shin Inwon rebuilt the Myeongnyundang, and in 1850 it was relocated to its current site under Gubongsan. It was destroyed during the Korean War and rebuilt in 1954. In 1978, the East and West Offices were restored, the Daeseongjeon in 1980, and the entire interior of the building was repaired in 1981. Existing buildings include Daeseongjeon, East Office, West Office, and Myeongnyundang. Inside the Daeseongjeon are tablets for Chinese Confucian scholars and 18 notable Korean figures. During the Joseon Dynasty, the state provided land, slaves, and copies of books for instructors to teach students, but now the site no longer serves an educational function. Spring and autumn seokje ceremonies are held, and incense is offered on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month. Operation is managed by one jeongyo and several jangyi.

Wangkok Village is located about 1.5 km inland from the coast and is surrounded by five hills shaped like peaks about 200m above sea level and the lagoon Songjiho (circumference 4km, area 200,000 pyeong), forming a basin in the shape of a 'gol' isolated from the outside. To the east of the village is Golmusang, to the southeast Songjiho, to the south Hogunsan and Jegoksan, to the west Jinbangsan, and to the north Oeumsan. Oeumsan, located north of the village, extends southwest through the village along the Wanggokcheon stream, forming a settlement with deep longitudinal shape. Houses are naturally arranged along the village road that follows the stream in the village center, characterized by relatively wide vegetable gardens between houses without separate fences, separating the houses by the garden boundaries. The house structure of Wangkok Village includes an anbang (main room), dojangg (storage room), sarangbang (men’s quarters), maru (wooden floor room), and kitchen all in one building, with the kitchen attached to a livestock pen in a combined house structure. The front yard, directly connected to the village road, serves as a communal work space open to outsiders, while the backyard, surrounded by relatively high walls, is a private space for women and not open to others. Only the roof of the backyard is visible, reflecting a design considerate of women's activity space. The traditional houses of Wangkok Village, full of history and tradition, also offer lodging experiences. One can escape modern urban life and spend quiet, relaxed time in a place where time seems to have stopped, living just as 200 years ago.

Songjiho Observation Tower is a four-story observation tower with an area of 278.47㎡, opened on July 5, 2007. Since March 2024, it has operated a beachcombing exhibition & experience center utilizing marine debris. Taking the elevator to the fifth floor allows visitors to enjoy a cafe with a panoramic space. Additionally, Songjiho, newly transformed into a comprehensive tourism leisure town, offers various attractions and activities nearby including Songjiho Beach, Wanggok Village, an auto camping site, and a deep sea water complex, making it popular as a family-themed experiential tourist destination.

Bongsudae Beach is located 200 meters north of Samp'o Beach. It is situated along National Route 7, allowing direct access to the sandy beach. Developed in 1997 from undeveloped coastline to provide new homes for residents affected by the Goseong wildfire, the beach has an 800-meter-long sandy shore that is relatively small but features fine, clean sand. The beach is about 50 meters wide and has a water depth of 1.5 meters. In summer, it is filled with people enjoying various marine sports such as surfing and canoeing. Various sculptures and photo zones are set up on the beach. Nearby attractions include Bongsudae Auto Camping Site, Haeswimteo rest area, and Oho VR Marine Adventure Center, offering diverse activities.

The Goseong Munam-ri prehistoric site is located on the southern slope of a hill about 400 meters inland from the East Coast. Nearby are early Iron Age sites, indicating the area was formed over several periods. From December 1998 to March 1999, the Cultural Heritage Administration's National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage conducted an excavation of about 200 pyeong of the total site, confirming five artifact layers and three Neolithic cultural layers. They uncovered three dwellings and various outdoor structures. This site is very important for understanding the Neolithic culture of Northeast Asia, including northeastern Korea, China's three northeastern provinces, and Russia's Amur River region, as well as the origin, migration routes, cultural lineage, and spread among prehistoric peoples of the Korean Peninsula. The Munam-ri prehistoric site is the most tranquil spot among Goseong travel destinations.

토성면 청간리 동해안 산록에 있는 청간정(淸澗亭)은 설악산 골짜기에서 흘러내리는 청간천과 만경청파가 넘실거리는 기암절벽 위에 팔각지붕의 중층누정으로 아담하게 세워져 있으며, 이곳에서 바라보는 일출과 월출시의 장엄함과, 밀려오는 파도가 마치 뭉게 구름이 일다가 안개처럼 사라져 가는 황홀경으로 관동팔경중 수일경으로 손꼽히고 있다.