Gokseong is a sparsely populated county in Jeollanam-do, split by the Seomjin River, that has turned its old rail line and riverside into its two main draws.
History
The area dates back to the Baekje period, when it was known as Yoknae-gun, before being renamed Gokseong-gun under Silla's King Gyeongdeok in 757. Like much of rural Jeolla, its population has fallen sharply from a mid-20th-century peak — from over 100,000 residents in 1960 to a fraction of that today — as agriculture gave way to depopulation, which is part of why the county has leaned into tourism, repurposing a stretch of the old Jeolla Line rather than losing it entirely.
Highlights
- Seomjingang Train Village, a park built around former Gokseong Station where a replica steam locomotive runs along about 10km of decommissioned Jeolla Line track, alongside rail bikes.
- Gokseong Rose Garden, a roughly 75,000m² garden within the Train Village grounds, planted with over 1,000 rose varieties.
- Taeansa Temple, at the base of Mt. Dongni, one of the county's older Buddhist temples.
- Dorimsa Temple, another notable temple near Gokseong-eup.
- The Seomjin River itself, which runs through the county for about 36km, with paths for walking and cycling along its banks.
Food
Gokseong's orchards are known locally for apples, pears, jujubes, and strawberries, including dwarf apple varieties grown for their concentrated sweetness — the county markets itself on these fruit crops alongside its rice and barley farming.
Annual events
- Gokseong World Rose Festival (May) — a large flower festival built around the Train Village's rose garden, drawing several hundred thousand visitors with steam train rides, rail bikes, and rose-themed exhibits alongside the blooms.
Getting there
Trains from Seoul's Yongsan Station run on the Jeolla Line direct to Gokseong Station, taking a little over 2 hours. Buses run via Gwangju's U-Square Terminal but take considerably longer.
How long
A day trip by train comfortably covers the Train Village and rose garden; add a night only if you're combining it with one of the nearby temples or a longer ride along the Seomjin River.