Gochang Half-Day Trip 2026: Eels, Dolmens & Steamed Buns

2026-08

What is Gochang famous for?

…Dolmens?

A spur-of-the-moment, whirlwind

Half-day trip to Gochang

I went to Gochang without much expectation,

but it turned out to be surprisingly charming!

Since it was a half-day trip to Gochang, we departed from Buyeo late in the afternoon.

This morning, I even saw two hot air balloons!

📍 Uri Susan Pungcheon Eel

Gochang is famous for its eels.

So, we found an eel restaurant in the town.

Since we were short on time, we went to a nearby place,

and it was quite good with decent value for money!

I'm not sure if Pungcheon Eel is particularly special or different.

My parents said the eels they had in Gyuam were even tastier...

📍 Hyodo Jjinppang

A famous spot for delicious steamed buns (jjinppang)!

I barely managed to buy some just 10 minutes before closing time!

Perhaps because it was a weekday, there weren't many people.

4 pieces for ~$4!

The steamed buns were absolutely delicious.

The red bean paste was sweet, and since it was handmade,

it had a distinct flavor different from ordinary steamed buns.

📍 Gochang Dolmen Park

Since we arrived in the evening, the museum was closed,

so we took a short stroll around the park.

The Dolmen Sites and Ungok Ramsar Wetland were located together.

And this was just an ordinary village.

What exactly is the Ungok Ramsar Wetland, you ask?

Originally, this area had terraced rice paddies, but after the villagers relocated,

farming ceased, and the land became fallow.

However, rainwater and stream water naturally collected,

allowing a pristine wetland to re-form on its own,

and it's now celebrated as an example demonstrating nature's remarkable resilience!

The Dolmen Sites were located past the museum,

deeper within the village.

It was fascinating to suddenly come across a village in the middle of it all.

This was the path to the wetland,

but it looked a bit like a hike, so we didn't go up.

There were trekking courses ranging from 1 to 4 hours.

This is how we got to see the dolmen site!

It's truly amazing how they managed to place such large stones on top of others.

There are 80,000 dolmens around the world,

and half of them are said to be in Korea.

Whoa... why?!

This was also created during the Bronze Age,

so you can think of it like this:

Bronze Age lifestyle = Buyeo Songguk-ri

Bronze Age tombs = Gochang, Hwasun, Ganghwado

Even getting to and from the dolmen site

took about 30-40 minutes. It's quite a distance!

📍Gochang Hwang Yun-seok Library

A place designed by architect Yoo Hyun-joon.

I learned about it from YouTube,

and I can't believe it was in Gochang!

This library made me so envious of Gochang.

It's even better to watch this YouTube video, where architect Yoo Hyun-joon introduces it himself, before you go.

He explains his intention behind designing the space,

why he used certain materials, and so on.

After hearing his explanations, I could appreciate so much more.

When you actually visit,

the library is truly vast and long.

The moment you step inside, you're hit with a sense of grandeur.

I was worried it might be crowded,

but since it was a weekday, there was just the right amount of people.

I'm so envious of those who get to enjoy such a magnificent library as part of their daily life!

These individual spaces are also really well-designed,

and I thought it would be wonderful to spend an entire day here.

This is the second floor.

Among the examples built by public institutions,

I thought Uijeongbu Library was really beautiful when I visited it,

and this place seems truly wonderful too.

The library being open until 10 PM

was another thing I absolutely loved!

Architect Yoo Hyun-joon mentioned it's even more beautiful at night...

and oh, he was absolutely right! The nighttime ambiance was truly enchanting.

There's even a cafe corner,

they've absolutely nailed the design!

The high ceilings definitely

create an incredible sense of openness,

and even with a decent crowd, it felt wonderfully quiet

and completely undisturbed.

The sunset was absolutely stunning, so I stepped out for a moment

and found myself making a furry friend – a charming cat!

While I was here, I thought, why not dive into a good book?

Was this a new volume of 'My Cultural Heritage Exploration'?

It had a chapter on Buyeo, so naturally, I had to pick it up!

Quietly elegant, profoundly dignified,

and simply exquisite – that is Buyeo.

---

Some might describe Buyeo as quite, shall I say,

silent, perhaps a little melancholic, or even lacking in overt attractions

(so I've heard...).

But here's the beautiful truth: that very understated charm is said to be its greatest allure.

But when I first came to Buyeo,

I didn't feel that way.

When I witnessed the expansive greenery of Busosanseong Fortress,

the compact yet substantial Jeongnimsa Temple Site,

and Gungnamji Pond, perfect for a stroll,

I thought Buyeo was absolutely charming.

And what I loved most was that it wasn't crowded,

allowing me to fully appreciate these wonderful places

without any disturbance.

The cherry on top was

the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje.

When I saw the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner,

it felt sacred and majestic,

emanating an indescribable aura and beauty. I felt that

even back then, just coming to see the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner

made a trip to Buyeo entirely worthwhile.

Words left by someone who claimed Busosan Mountain truly felt beautiful:

Late autumn, on a rainy day, in the evening, alone.

Seeing this, I was reminded of a time when I went for a walk

at Busosanseong Fortress at night.

It was truly silent and dark, even a little scary, but

what I remember most are the birdsong and the scent of flowers mixed with the smell of earth.

I should go see the Baekje Grand Urn again.

Oh, it would have been so much fun if school had been like this!

Architect Yoo Hyun-joon talks about

social mix spaces for diversity,

places where people can share common memories without any conditions,

spaces where you can stay for free.

I really resonated with this concept.

I truly wish there were more such spaces.

---

Ah, I briefly thought, 'I want to live in Gochang because of this library!'

It seems the power of space and environment is truly immense.

If public facilities and institutions

were built beautifully like this,

wouldn't people actually move their homes just for them?

Libraries, various centers, shared spaces, and so on –

if public spaces are truly well-designed,

it feels like entire cities would transform and regions would thrive.

A Gochang trip that allowed me to ponder

all sorts of thoughts. The End.