A Journey Through Gimcheon: Temples, Parks, and Cultural Treasures
1. Jikjisa Temple on Hwangaksan Mountain and the Red Spider Lilies
There are two prevailing theories about the name of Jikjisa Temple. One suggests that the Venerable Ado pointed to Hwangaksan Mountain from Dorisa Temple in Seonsan and stated that there was a suitable temple site on that mountain, thus giving rise to the name 'Jikji.' Another theory claims that during the reconstruction of the temple in 936 (the 19th year of King Taejo of Goryeo) by Buddhist Monk Neungyeo, he measured the site himself by hand without using a ruler, hence the name Jikjisa.
Jikjisa Temple, also known as 'Donggukjeilgaram Hwangaksanmun' (The First Temple of the East, Hwangaksan Mountain Gate), is nestled serenely against the backdrop of the stunning scenery of Hwangaksan Mountain in Daehang-myeon, Gimcheon City. It is an ancient temple founded in the 2nd year of King Nulji of Silla by the Venerable Ado of Goguryeo. It is famous as the temple where Great Master Samyeong, who saved the country and the people from the crisis of the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, entered the Buddhist priesthood. During the reign of King Taejo of Goryeo, Neungyeo greatly rebuilt it with the help of Taejo. Most of the buildings were burned down during the Japanese Invasion of Korea, but were rebuilt in 1610 during the reign of King Gwanghaegun, the 15th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty.
**각성임천고치(覺性林泉高致)**, an inscription plaque inside the Iljumun (temple entrance gate) of Jikjisa Temple in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, signifies ‘Devote yourself to asceticism in the deep forest to attain enlightenment.’
Along the walking path from the entrance of Jikjisa Temple to Mansegyo Bridge, 210,000 red spider lilies are planted. The clusters of vibrant red spider lilies welcome tourists amidst the lush trees. These flowers bloom in September before the leaves appear, and the leaves emerge after the flowers have faded. Because the flowers and leaves never coexist, longing for each other, they are also known as 'Sangsalhwa' (flowers that miss each other).
Centered around the Daeungjeon Hall and Birojeon Hall, there are numerous buildings. The temple houses important cultural properties, including a gilt-bronze reliquary from the Unified Silla period, unearthed from the reliquary chamber at the bottom of the stone bell-shaped stupa from the Joseon Dynasty, which has the inscription ‘世尊舍利塔’ (Sarira Stupa of the World-Honored One) of Dorisa Temple in Gumi City, as well as a treasure: the Stone Seated Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, stone pagodas and Buddhist paintings. It is currently the headquarters of the 8th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
Hwangnakru Pavilion is an ancillary building of Jikjisa Temple, rebuilt after being destroyed by fire in 1800. Originally constructed as a belfry in front of the Daeungjeon Hall, it was moved to its current location in front of the Birojeon Hall in 1980. Among the 25 existing pavilions in the Gimcheon area, there are only three temple pavilions: Jeongbeopru of Cheongamsa Temple, Hwangnakru of Jikjisa Temple, and Manseoru. Hwangnakru is estimated to be the oldest of these.
The Birojeon Hall of Jikjisa Temple houses the Thousand Buddhas, which Monk Gyeongjam created from Gyeongju jade over a period of 16 years. Each of the 1,000 Buddhas has a different shape and facial expression.
2. Samyeongdaesa Park (Unsu-ri 94-3, Daehang-myeon)
Samyeongdaesa Park is a cultural, ecological, and experiential tourist destination located in Daehang-myeon, Gimcheon City, North Gyeongsang Province. The park was created by linking the beautiful nature of Hwangaksan Mountain in the Baekdu-daegan Mountain Range with cultural and historical resources such as the nearby Jikjisa Temple. The park's main facilities include the Peace Tower, Gimcheon Municipal Museum, Health Culture Center, Solhyang Tea Garden, and Traveler's Center.
Notably, the Peace Tower, the park's landmark, is a five-story wooden pagoda. The first floor houses an exhibition space related to Great Master Samyeong, and it creates a beautiful scene with nighttime landscape lighting.
3. Gimcheon Municipal Museum and World Pottery Museum
Gimcheon Municipal Museum: Historical Exhibition of Gimcheon from Prehistoric Times to the Joseon Dynasty
Exhibition Room 1 introduces relics and artifacts representing Gimcheon from prehistoric times to the Joseon Dynasty. It is divided into seven themes to explore the history, culture, and lifestyle of Gimcheon at that time.
(Omitted) Tombs and Artifacts of Gimcheon: Tombs are material evidence of past burial rituals. Many tombs exist in the Gimcheon area, including the Moam-dong Tomb Complex, and artifacts excavated from these tombs provide insights into the lifestyle of that era.
Gimcheon World Pottery Museum: Located at the entrance of Jikjisa Temple in Gimcheon, the Gimcheon World Pottery Museum was established after Mr. Bok Jeon-yeong-ja, a Korean resident in Japan, donated Western pottery and crystal items to Gimcheon City. It is a place where you can encounter world-class pottery in Gimcheon. It has three exhibition rooms and one video room on one basement floor and one ground floor. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the Gimcheon World Pottery Museum hosts various special exhibitions such as pottery painting experience exhibitions, special exhibitions of the wind from Istanbul, and planned exhibitions of the Four Gentlemen seen through ceramics.
4. Gimcheon Eco-Friendly Ecological Park (Jikjisa-gil 118-50, Daehang-myeon)
Consisting of a lush green lawn, a cactus greenhouse, an ecological pond, and an azalea garden, this is a great place to relax on a sunny day. As you enter the park, a vast lawn immediately catches your eye. Along with the green area that unfolds along the entrance road, sculptures of cacti and insects are installed, making it a great place to relax.
5. Baeksu Literary Museum (Jikjisa-gil 118-18)
The Baeksu Literary Museum was established to commemorate the literary spirit of Jeong Wan-yeong, a sijo poet from Gimcheon who represented the 1960s. 'Baeksu' is Jeong Wan-yeong's pen name. It consists of an exhibition room where you can appreciate Jeong Wan-yeong's belongings and literary world, a writing room for creative activities, a reference room, a seminar room, a storage room, and convenience facilities.
6. Jikji Culture Park (Unsu-ri 44, Daehang-myeon)
It was completed on April 21, 2004, for the purpose of preventing indiscriminate development in the surrounding area, preserving traditional temples, developing tourism resources, and providing a rest area for citizens. The area is 21,400 pyeong, and it has three plazas centered around the central musical fountain sculpture, a large two-tiered waterfall, a comprehensive children's play facility, acupressure walkways, walking paths, pavilions, shade canopies, chairs, and other convenience facilities. Cultural facilities within the park include 50 works by famous sculptors from 17 countries at home and abroad, two of the largest totem poles in the country, traditional fences, and 23 kinds of plants including pine trees.
7. Gimcheon Gyodong Yeonhwaji Park (Gyodong 820-1)
Along with Yeonhwaji and Kimsan Hyanggyo (local confucian school), Bonghwangdae is a relic that shows that Gyodong was the eupchi (town center) of Kimsan-gun until the end of the Joseon Dynasty. It is a two-story pavilion with three rooms on each side, built in 1700 and initially called Eupchwihun. It was originally located under Guhwasan Mountain north of the Kimsan government office, but in 1838, magistrate Lee Neung-yeon moved it to the center of Yeonhwaji, its current location. Yun Taek, who served as the magistrate of Kimsan-gun from 1707 to 1711, named the pond Yeonhwaji (鳶嘩池) after having a dream in which a kite transformed into a phoenix and flew away, using the characters for 'kite' (鳶) and 'change' (嘩). Since the direction of the flying phoenix was towards Eupchwihun, the name of the pavilion was also changed from Eupchwihun to Bonghwangdae (Phoenix Pavilion).
It is famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring, but in the summer it is a famous lotus flower spot where lotus flowers bloom fully. The pond is larger than expected, the scenery is beautiful, and it is good for taking a walk along the surrounding path.
Kim Ho-jung's Dilemma Path: The dictionary definition of a dilemma is 'a difficult situation where there are only two options to choose from, and neither option leads to a desirable outcome.' Gimcheon City seems to be caught in a dilemma between 'local economy' and 'justification' regarding the fate of 'Kim Ho-jung's Sound Path.' They are cautious about removing 'Kim Ho-jung's Sound Path' because it may affect the local commercial district, and they are worried about being criticized for supporting a criminal if they postpone the removal. It may seem like a simple matter to remove a road named after an entertainer who committed a crime and was imprisoned, but the inside story is different.
8. Gimcheon Jasan-dong Mural Village (Moam-dong 128-10) and Central Market
'Seongnae-dong Daldongnae' (Moon Village), containing Gimcheon's difficult past
Fun to see the unique murals along the winding maze-like alleyways
Everywhere you walk is a photo zone... If you go to the top, you can see the cozy mural village at a glance
9. Obong Reservoir (Obong-ri 1218, Nam-myeon)
There is a walking path that connects to the entrance road leading to Gumi, Daegu, and Gimcheon, along with a small stream. Anyone can easily look around the reservoir along the walking path, and you can enjoy the cool scenery of the reservoir from the pavilion located in the center. It is adjacent to attractions boasting excellent scenery, such as Obong Theme Park, and many tourists visit.
Yeonhwaji can be mentioned as a cherry blossom spot in Gimcheon, but at Obong Reservoir you can enjoy cherry blossoms while taking a walk in a secluded atmosphere.
A mountain spanning Obong-ri, Ungok-ri, and Songgok-ri in Nam-myeon, Gimcheon City, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Jeolgosan Mountain [330.4m] is located in the central part of Nam-myeon together with Unnamsan Mountain [376.8m], about 1 km south of Osuk Village in Obong-ri and about 1.3 km east of Unyang Village in Ungok-ri.
10. Bangchojeong Pavilion (Sangwon-ri 83, Guseong-myeon)
Gimcheon Bangchojeong Pavilion is a pavilion building located in Sangwon-ri. It was designated as Tangible Cultural Property No. 46 of Gyeongsangbuk-do on December 10, 1974, and designated as National Treasure No. 2047 of Korea on December 30, 2019.
11. Jire Black Pig Village (Gyori 68)
It is a specialized restaurant street for native black pigs that were presented to the king. About 20 black pig stores are formed, and Gimcheon Jire Black Pig, along with Jeju black pigs and Gangwon-do Myeongpa pigs, has been famous nationwide since ancient times. Restaurants are widely distributed around the village, and Jire Black Pig restaurants offer pigs fed with pine needle powder or grill meat using charcoal braziers, each with its own unique characteristics, with slight differences in price and tradition.
12. Buhang Dam Area Rainbow Zipline and Suspension Bridge (Buhangdaem-gil 352, Buhang-myeon)
Near Gimcheon Buhang Dam, there are environmentally friendly facilities where you can also enjoy cultural life, such as Sannaedeul Ecological Park, Otter Theme Park, Water Culture Center, artificial wetlands, and a hydroelectric power plant. The Buhang Dam Suspension Bridge is a famous spot where you can experience thrills on the dam's surface, and nearby there are facilities where you can experience the highest artificial structure in Korea, a 94m tower-type zip line, a skywalk, and a sky swing, making it the best place for travelers who want to feel the thrill.
The Buhang Dam Suspension Bridge is 256m long and is a famous spot where you can experience thrills on the dam's surface. Nearby there are facilities where you can experience the highest artificial structure in Korea, a 94m tower-type zip line, a skywalk, and a sky swing, making it the best place for travelers who want to feel the thrill.
The 'Rainbow Zipline' that crosses the sky above Buhang Dam in Buhang-myeon, Gimcheon City, officially opened on the 27th. Gimcheon City has invested 6 billion won in Buhang Dam since 2015 to install a zip line that passes over the dam on two towers with heights of 94m and 88m. It is a tower-type zip line boasting the highest artificial structure in Korea at 94m, and you can enjoy the thrill of flying over the dam's surface for about 1.7km round trip (889m one way) using the towers installed on both sides of the dam.
13. Muheul Gugok Exhibition Hall (Sudo-gil 25, Jeungsan-myeon)
Muheul Gugok, written by Han River Jeong Gu, a scholar of the mid-Joseon period, is a poem that sings of the clear water and bizarre rocks of the first valley, Bongbiam, to the ninth valley, Yongchu, which flows across Seongju and Gimcheon in Gyeongsangbuk-do. He was a figure who inherited Toegyehak (Yi Hwang's philosophy) and Nammyeonghak (Jo Sik's philosophy), and after marriage, he settled in Seongju and left the beauty of the region in restrained language. The total length of Muheul Gugok is 35.7km, making it the longest Gugok in the world as well as in Korea. At the Muheul Gugok Exhibition Hall, you can view poems singing of the scenery of Muheul Gugok, along with detailed explanations and photos of Muheul Gugok.
14. Queen Inhyeon Road (San 4, Sudori, Jeungsan-myeon)
Queen Inhyeon Road originates from the path that Queen Inhyeon, the second wife of King Sukjong of Joseon, used to take while staying at Cheongamsa Temple. It is said that Queen Inhyeon, after losing in the power struggle with Jang Hee-bin, was demoted to a commoner and wandered around temples across the country, spending three years in seclusion in Geukrakjeon Hall of Cheongamsa Temple, praying for reinstatement. During this period, it was the path she took to relieve her sorrows by taking walks from Cheongamsa Temple to scenic spots in the Sudo Valley or to Sudoam Hermitage.
Cheongamsa Temple is a temple belonging to the Jogye Order located in Pyeongchon-ri, Jeungsan-myeon. It is located in Pyeongchon-ri, Jeungsan-myeon, on the northern foothills of Bulyeongsan Mountain, and is organized as a branch temple of Jikjisa Temple in the 8th district of the Jogye Order. It is a temple representing Gimcheon along with Jikjisa Temple. Queen Inhyeon, the second wife of King Sukjong of Joseon, stayed here when she was expelled from the palace, and after Queen Inhyeon's reinstatement, it had a close relationship with the Joseon royal family. Bulyeongsan Mountain was designated as a national protection forest, and sanggungs (court ladies) came down and offered prayers and donations until the end of the Joseon Dynasty.
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