Mireukam is a hermitage belonging to the Taego Order of Korean Buddhism, located in Noam-dong, Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do. It is estimated to have been founded in the late Silla to early Goryeo period. The site originally consisted of Mireukdang, a Dharma Hall, and a temple lodge, but in 1992 the Daeungjeon was built, followed by Yonghwajeon and Sansingak in 1994. Yonghwajeon is a gable-roofed building with three bays at the front and one bay at the side, housing within it the 192 cm tall Goryeo-period stone Buddha statue called the Mireukam Seokbul, discovered on the temple grounds, which is designated as a cultural asset of Jeollabuk-do. The valley where the temple stands was originally called 'Buddha Valley,' suggesting that a temple has existed here for a very long time. It is also said that people who cannot have children come to pray here, believing in the temple's efficacy, and many visit frequently for this reason.
Lacquer has excellent heat resistance, flame resistance, preservative properties, waterproofing, insect resistance, and insulation, and not only does it maintain its durability for many years, but the color of the lacquer deepens over time, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. In the East, lacquerware culture has developed for thousands of years, with lacquer being used in everyday items and artistic crafts. Namwon has long been a center for lacquer woodcraft, with traces of lacquer found dating back to the Bronze Age. To continue this lacquer tradition and to establish itself as a central city of lacquer crafts through ongoing research and development, Namwon City established the Lacquerware Craft Center in 2004. The Namwon City Lacquerware Craft Center is a two-story building: the first floor exhibits prize-winning lacquer woodcrafts and sells everyday woodcraft items, while the second floor houses workshop studios, lacquer refining rooms, and experience classrooms that offer lacquer crafting experiences and educational programs for visitors.
Chosen as a government funded project, Namwon Aircraft & Space Observatory was granted 4.6 billion won by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning in 2006 for project development.
The three-story observatory, with a total area of 6,532 square meters, has an exhibition hall showing the history of space aviation, an aviation experience hall, and a 10-meter-wide dome showing images of the night sky. The secondary observatory is equipped with a 600 millimeter telecope and other astronomical telescopes ranging in focal length from 125 millimeter to 350 millimeter for observing Namwon's night sky. In addition to the telecopes, retired combat planes from the air force, including the main fighter plane Phantom from the 1970s, are displayed outside.
Namwon Aircraft & Space Observatory offers programs such as tours and experience programs for groups. These include a 4D film experience of the sun and celestial bodies, a virtual aviation experience, and lectures about astronomy, all of which can accommodate up to 120 people per session. A variety of classroom learning activities are also offered in the summer to attract more visitors.
Namwon Aerospace Astronomical Observatory is a municipal science center where Namwon citizens and tourists can experience both astronomy and aerospace at the same time. It is located at the top of Chunhyang Theme Park. Due to its nature, Namwon Aerospace Astronomical Observatory is designed not as a large-scale freely roaming museum or exhibition hall but as a facility where visitors are divided into groups for room-by-room tours. It operates programs alternately, including solar and celestial observation, 4D video viewing, virtual aviation experiences, and astronomy lectures, accommodating up to 120 people per session. Using various celestial telescopes and digital celestial images installed in the observatory room, visitors can observe the moon and planets as well as star clusters and galaxies. Visitors can also get closer to the aviation field through fighter jets displayed in the aviation experience room and outdoor plaza. Especially, it runs summer vacation camps, second half local field trips, and diverse science experience classes.
Namwon Chueotang Street is formed by about 20 restaurants gathered around Gwanghallu Garden in Namwon, the main setting of the Chunhyangjeon. Chueotang is a dish made by grinding loach fish whole, then boiling it with vegetables and doenjang (fermented soybean paste), known as a health food throughout the four seasons. People of Namwon have long caught loach fish from rice paddies and waterways to enjoy this nourishing food. Chueotang made with native loach grown in Namwon's clean, fertile land is unique to the region due to limited supply. Restaurants on Chueotang Street use locally caught freshwater loach, each preparing the dish with their own seasonings and secret recipes to welcome guests.
Seungwolgyo is a pedestrian-only bridge completed in October 1997, measuring 80m in length and 18m in height. It connects Noam-dong, Namwon-si, and Gwanghallu, spanning across the Yocheon River. It is known as the Wish Bridge due to the many wishes hung there. People living in the Namwon area used to come to the Yocheon River and watch the moon rise over Seungwoldae, praying for their wishes to come true. The bridge is decorated with various lights including 160 heart-shaped lights, 256 wall lights, and 80 floor lights, making its night view beautiful.
