Gongju Travel: Places to Visit, 1-Night 2-Day Itinerary and City Stories

Why Gongju

The name comes from Gomnaru, the bear ferry on the river

Gongju locals still call one spot on the banks of the Geumgang River Gomanaru. It's the name of an old river ferry crossing lined with a thick pine grove, and also this city's old name. Here, goma is an old word for bear, and written in Chinese characters it became Ungjin (熊津), in other words, Gomnaru, the bear ferry.

A story comes with the name. A she-bear living on Yeonmisan Mountain across the river caught a woodcutter and kept him, living with him and bearing two children, but the man missed the human world and fled across the river. The bear chased him but couldn't catch him, and it's said she threw herself into the Geumgang River holding her two children. The story of a bear who wanted to become human lives on in the city's name.

Ungjin became Ungcheonju, then Ungju, and in 940, year 23 of King Taejo of Goryeo, it became today's Gongju (公州). It has kept that name for a thousand years.

Stand in the pine grove by the old ferry landing and the scent of pine mixes with the smell of the water. Once you know the name, the same river will look a little different.

It rose again from the place it was driven to

In 475, the people of Baekje lost Hanseong, came south, and set up their capital on this riverbank. It was a hurried move, and settling in was rough. King Munju, who moved the capital, was killed by one of his own subjects just two years later, and the young king who followed didn't last long either.

The one who rebuilt it was King Muryeong. Through the reigns of King Dongseong and King Muryeong, the kingdom's framework was rebuilt, and the sea route to China's Southern Dynasties, cut off by Goguryeo, was opened again.

That king's name was spoken again 1,500 years later. In the summer of 1971, a worker digging a drainage ditch at the Songsan-ri tombs hit a solid brick wall with the tip of his shovel. When the blocking bricks were removed, white vapor flowed out of the long-sealed tomb, and a stone tablet found inside was clearly inscribed that Great General Yeongdong, King Sama of Baekje, had passed away at age 62. Sama was King Muryeong's name. It was the first tomb from the Three Kingdoms period whose owner was clearly identified.

Not everything went well. Crowds rushed in, so the excavation was finished in a single night, and where and how the relics had been placed wasn't properly recorded. That's why it's called both the greatest discovery and the worst excavation.

Still, a name was saved. This is the place where someone no one had known about for 1,500 years got their name back. About 4,600 items from the tomb are at the Gongju National Museum across the road, so it's best to see the royal tomb first and then head over to the museum.

Across the Geumgang River: Gongju's three areas

It's easy once you put the river in the middle

When picturing Gongju, just draw the Geumgang River first. The river comes in from the east and cuts west across the middle of the city, and Gongsanseong Fortress and the old town sit along its southern bank.

Gongsanseong and Jemincheon: an old town to explore on foot

A long fortress wall lies along the hill south of the river. That's Gongsanseong Fortress.

Magoksa: the temple where people on the run went to hide

Head into the mountains to the northwest and you'll find a temple beside a valley. That's Magoksa Temple.

One mountain, but separate temples on the east and the west

At the southeastern end is Gyeryongsan Mountain. It became a national park in 1968, and it spans Gongju, Gyeryong, Nonsan and Daejeon.

Places to visit in Gongju

Magoksa Temple

A mountain temple listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a famous spring spot called 'Chun Magok' (Magok in spring), loved for the beautiful layout of its buildings set along a valley stream shaped like the taegeuk symbol

Verified by RandomtripBaekbeom Meditation Trail walk

Gongsanseong Fortress

The royal fortress of Baekje's Ungjin period, built along a ridge overlooking the Geumgang River, where you can walk the fortress wall path and take in a full view of downtown Gongju

Verified by RandomtripFortress trekking, gatekeeper changing ceremony

Gongju Royal Tomb of King Muryeong and Royal Tombs

A cluster of tombs of Baekje kings and queens from the Ungjin period, where you can feel the essence of Baekje culture, especially through the Tomb of King Muryeong, found perfectly preserved

Verified by RandomtripAncient tomb tour, exhibitions

Gongju National Museum

A museum that systematically displays and preserves precious Baekje relics from the Chungcheongnam-do region, including the dazzling treasures excavated from the Tomb of King Muryeong

Verified by RandomtripTomb of King Muryeong relicsClosed Mondays

Former Gongju-eup Office

A modern-era building, once a financial institution during the Japanese colonial period and later used as the town office, now a history exhibition hall where you can see Gongju's modern history at a glance

Verified by RandomtripModern architecture, history exhibitsClosed Mondays

Restaurants & cafes in Gongju

Magoksa Gwibin Sikdang

A Century Store Korean set-meal restaurant that opened in 1984 and has served authentic mountain-vegetable set meals made with eco-friendly ingredients for 37 years, now being passed down to the owner's daughter

Verified by RandomtripWild deodeok set meal, mountain vegetable set meal

Haru Cafe & Bamtteok Myeongga

A cafe where you can take a break with chewy chestnut rice cakes and a cool tea, and a great place to buy traditional snacks made with Gongju specialties

Verified by RandomtripChestnut rice cake, chestnut latte

Eosatto

A local-recommended spot in Gongju known for savory eojuk (fish porridge) made with Gongju's famous chestnuts and crispy fried dori-baengbaeng

Verified by RandomtripChestnut eojuk, dori-baengbaengClosed Mondays

Bukgyeong Tangsuyuk

A place serving Gongju's iconic and unusual dish, 'kimchi pizza tangsuyuk (Gimpitang)', where tangy kimchi and cheese make an amazing combo

Verified by RandomtripKimchi pizza tangsuyukClosed Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays

Gongju 1-night 2-day itinerary

This is the basic itinerary from the Randomtrip city guide. Places with closing days that overlap are noted in the table.

What's new in Gongju

• Baekje Cultural Festival No. 72 (Gongju) · 2026.10.03 – 10.11 · See Ungjin Baekje history through performances and parades
• Korail Travel Month · Train fare coupons · Korail gives back the amount of your train fare as a discount coupon for your next train (travel period until 11.30)

For a more detailed schedule, see This month's festival schedule. For benefits, see the Half-Price Travel roundup.

Stories from travelers who've been

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