Gochang

Gochang County is a beautiful tourist destination in North Jeolla that combines tradition and nature, and you can enjoy various activities and beautiful scenery when you visit. It is in the southwest end of Jeollabuk-do. The population is about 55,000 as of 2020.

Understand

Gochang County is a mostly rural area. The county seat of Gochang County (Gochang-gun) is Gochang Town (Gochang-eup), which had 21,000 residents in 2022.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airport to Gochang is Gunsan Airport (KUV ^IATA). From Gunsan Airport, you can reach Gochang by taxi or public transportation.

By train

Gochang has a train station, and it is connected to the nationwide KTX (Korea Train eXpress) and regular train routes. You can take a train from Seoul to Gochang. After arriving at Gochang Station, you can use local buses or taxis to reach your accommodation.

By bus

Gochang has a bus terminal with long-distance bus routes connecting to major cities, including Seoul. Upon arriving at the bus terminal, you can take local buses or taxis to your destination or accommodation.

See

Gochang-eupseong Fortress

• 1 Gochang-eupseong Fortress (고창읍성). A natural stone fortress that some say was built in the first year of King Danjong of Joseon (1453) to prevent Japanese invasions, and others say it was completed during the reign of King Sukjong. With a circumference of 1,684 m, and a height of 4-6 m, it is equipped with strategic facilities such as the east, west, and north gates, three ongseongs, six fortresses, and a moat outside the fortress. In the fortress, there were 22 government buildings, including Dongheon and guesthouses. Most of the damaged buildings have been restored since 1976. So far, 14 of the 22 buildings (Dongheon, Gaeksa, Punghwaru, Gongbukru, Jinseoru, Deungyangru, Seonghwangsa Temple, Gwancheong, Jakcheong, Naea, Hyangcheong, Seocheong, Jangcheong, and Ok) have been restored. (updated Nov 2023)
• Gochang Hanok Village : This village consists of traditional hanok buildings, where you can experience traditional Korean houses and culture.
• Gochang National Park: The park offers beautiful natural scenery, hiking trails, and allows you to enjoy walks and outdoor activities.
• Gochang Sunrise Square: You can see the morning sun here, and it is one of the popular spots to watch the beautiful sunrise.
• 2 Gochang Mireuksaji Temple (미륵사), 98 Sangwol 1-gil, ☏ +82 63-562-3503. This temple is a historically important place where you can see beautiful temple buildings and historical relics. 
• Gochang Folk Village: This is a place where you can experience traditional Korean folk culture and traditional crafting, where you can enjoy traditional crafts and performances.
• Gochang Hong Island: Hongdo is an island where you can enjoy beautiful coastline and sea views, and you can enjoy various water sports activities.
• 3 Seonunsa (선운사, pronounced “Seo-noon-sa”), 250 Seonunsa-ro Asan-myeon. A head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It stands on the slopes of Dosolsan in Asan-myeon, Gochang County, near the Yellow Sea coast in western Jeollabuk-do province. Seonunsa Temple was established by Seon Master Geomdan in 577 CE. (updated Nov 2023)