Suncheon

Suncheon (순천,順天) is in South Jeolla province on the south coast of the Korean Peninsula.

Suncheon is a middle-sized town of 250,000 people near the sea, and is an important center of industry and agriculture. It is about 1 hour from the major city of Gwangju.

The downtown of Suncheon has an old town (구도심) and a new town (신도심). You can experience some historical traces of modernization and industrialization of a small city of Korea in the old town. And in new town, you can feel the general life style of small city of Korea. You can also visit more historic places in the suburb of Suncheon, an hour's bus ride away.

• Suncheon national university museum, 315, maegok-dong (In the Suncheon univ., +82 61 750 5041. 10AM-5PM(Mon-Fri). Some historic artifacts from the east of South-Jeolla province area. Quite new building has two stories of small collections. Free.
• Maesan-road. There are some historical buildings built by christian missionaries in early 20th century.
• Munhwauigeori. Small street that has traditional tea shops, cafes, restaurants and handicraft shops.

Suncheon national university museum, 315, maegok-dong (In the Suncheon univ., +82 61 750 5041. 10AM-5PM(Mon-Fri). Some historic artifacts from the east of South-Jeolla province area. Quite new building has two stories of small collections. Free.

Maesan-road. There are some historical buildings built by christian missionaries in early 20th century.

Munhwauigeori. Small street that has traditional tea shops, cafes, restaurants and handicraft shops.

• Suncheon drama open set. 9AM-6PM. Many Korean films and dramas based on the age 60s to 80s were shot in here. \3,000.

Suncheon drama open set. 9AM-6PM. Many Korean films and dramas based on the age 60s to 80s were shot in here. \3,000.

• Naganeupseong Castle. A Joseon dynasty era castle built in 1397 and one of the most well preserved in Korea. It takes an hour from downtown.
• Suncheon Waeseong Castle. Suncheon Japanese Castle was built during the second Japanese invasion of Korea in 1597.
• Songgwangsa Temple. Dating from 867, this is one of Korea's oldest temples. It takes an hour and 30 minutes from downtown.
• Seonamsa Temple, Address 450, Seonamsa-gil, Seungju-eup, Suncheon-si (by citybus 1, from Suncheon-station and bus terminal, every an hour., +82 61-754-5247. A large temple complex dating from 861, with natural tea fields cultivated for many hundreds of years. It takes an hour from downtown. One out of seven Korean mountain monasteries to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018.
• Suncheon Bay, 513-25, Suncheonman-gil (by citybus 66, 67 from bus terminal and Suncheon-station, every 30 minutes., +82 61 749 6052. 8AM-5PM(Jan-Feb,Nov-Dec), 8AM-6PM(Mar-Apr,Sep-Oct), 8AM-7PM(May-Aug). ₩3,000-₩8,000.

Naganeupseong Castle. A Joseon dynasty era castle built in 1397 and one of the most well preserved in Korea. It takes an hour from downtown.

Suncheon Waeseong Castle. Suncheon Japanese Castle was built during the second Japanese invasion of Korea in 1597.

Songgwangsa Temple. Dating from 867, this is one of Korea's oldest temples. It takes an hour and 30 minutes from downtown.

Seonamsa Temple, Address 450, Seonamsa-gil, Seungju-eup, Suncheon-si (by citybus 1, from Suncheon-station and bus terminal, every an hour., +82 61-754-5247. A large temple complex dating from 861, with natural tea fields cultivated for many hundreds of years. It takes an hour from downtown. One out of seven Korean mountain monasteries to be inscribed on the [[UNESCO World Heritage List]] in 2018.

Suncheon Bay, 513-25, Suncheonman-gil (by citybus 66, 67 from bus terminal and Suncheon-station, every 30 minutes., +82 61 749 6052. 8AM-5PM(Jan-Feb,Nov-Dec), 8AM-6PM(Mar-Apr,Sep-Oct), 8AM-7PM(May-Aug). ₩3,000-₩8,000.

• Jukdobong Park. With 30 minutes walk there is a nice view of the old town of Suncheon. You can start from Origolmok (오리골목, Duck-dish street) in Jogok-dong or Railroad official residence village (철도관사마을) in Jogok-dong.
• Dongcheon. Ride a bike or walk through Dongcheon.
• Suncheondaehakro. Experience the night life of the small regional college students of Korea. Quite old-fashioned but has its own unique atmosphere.
• Hanokgeulbang, +82 61 749 4033. Read a book in a small library in Korean style Building (Hanok, 한옥). But bring your own books unless you read Korean, as the library owns no foreign-language books. Free.

Jukdobong Park. With 30 minutes walk there is a nice view of the old town of Suncheon. You can start from Origolmok (오리골목, Duck-dish street) in Jogok-dong or Railroad official residence village (철도관사마을) in Jogok-dong.

Dongcheon. Ride a bike or walk through Dongcheon.

Suncheondaehakro. Experience the night life of the small regional college students of Korea. Quite old-fashioned but has its own unique atmosphere.

Hanokgeulbang, +82 61 749 4033. Read a book in a small library in Korean style Building (Hanok, 한옥). But bring your own books unless you read Korean, as the library owns no foreign-language books. Free.

• Suncheon Ssinae-mall. Underground arcade shopping mall in old town. Mainly sells usual clothes, but you can also find some souvenirs here.
• Jungang-dong. Suncheon version of Myong-dong (명동). Glimpse the fashion styles of Suncheon. Street foods are also available here.
• Utjang. Every 5 days that ends in 5 or 0. One of the two big old markets in Suncheon. Famous for pork stew.
• Araetjang. Every 5 days that ends in 2 or 7. The biggest old market in Suncheon and one of the biggest in the whole country. You can find every kind of seafood, vegetables, fruits and various street foods.

Suncheon Ssinae-mall. Underground arcade shopping mall in old town. Mainly sells usual clothes, but you can also find some souvenirs here.

Jungang-dong. Suncheon version of Myong-dong (명동). Glimpse the fashion styles of Suncheon. Street foods are also available here.

Utjang. Every 5 days that ends in 5 or 0. One of the two big old markets in Suncheon. Famous for pork stew.

Araetjang. Every 5 days that ends in 2 or 7. The biggest old market in Suncheon and one of the biggest in the whole country. You can find every kind of seafood, vegetables, fruits and various street foods.

• Pork stew street, 40, Bukmun-gil (You can walk from provincial medical center (의료원). Ut-jang (웃장) market has a pork stew street. ₩6000.
• Mud hopper stew. This can be quite a gross dish even for a Korean. It's like another version of maeuntang (매운탕, spicy seafood stew) or Chueotang (추어탕, loach soup).
• Duck dish street. South-Jeolla province is famous for its duck dishes. It produces 50% of the duck meat in Korea. Many restaurants serve duck stew and/or duck barbecue.

Pork stew street, 40, Bukmun-gil (You can walk from provincial medical center (의료원). Ut-jang (웃장) market has a pork stew street. ₩6000.

Mud hopper stew. This can be quite a gross dish even for a Korean. It's like another version of maeuntang (매운탕, spicy seafood stew) or Chueotang (추어탕, loach soup).

Duck dish street. South-Jeolla province is famous for its duck dishes. It produces 50% of the duck meat in Korea. Many restaurants serve duck stew and/or duck barbecue.

• Reed tea. Try a cup of tea made with the reeds of Suncheon Bay.
• Ipsaeju. The regional soju of South-Jeolla province can be drunk at almost every restaurant and bar in town.

Reed tea. Try a cup of tea made with the reeds of Suncheon Bay.

Ipsaeju. The regional soju of South-Jeolla province can be drunk at almost every restaurant and bar in town.

• Yeosu is about 40 minutes to the south