Damyang's centrepiece is Juknokwon, a cultivated bamboo forest opened in 2005 that's become the best-known bamboo park in the country.
Highlights
- Juknokwon, eight interweaving trails through more than ten species of bamboo, past hammocks, art installations, and a traditional building complex at the back.
- Gwanbangjerim, a natural-monument forest nearby, and Geumseongsanseong, a mountain fortress.
- Local specialties tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) and rice cooked inside bamboo.
- The annual Bamboo Festival, plus a Bamboo Museum year-round.
Getting there
KTX to Gwangju (Gwangju-Songjeong or Gwangju Station), then a local bus or taxi onward to Damyang — about an hour from Gwangju, roughly 3 hours total from Seoul. A direct bus from Seoul takes 4–5 hours.
Good to know
Damyang gets crowded in peak season — weekday mornings are noticeably quieter at Juknokwon.