Gunsan became a major port during Japan's colonial period, and unlike most Korean cities, kept a large number of the buildings from that era standing.
Highlights
- Gunsan Modern History Street, a preserved cluster of colonial and opening-port-era buildings, now cafés and shops.
- Gunsan Modern History Museum, covering the city's transformation through the 20th century.
- Dongguksa Temple, Gunsan's only Japanese-style Buddhist temple, alongside well-preserved Japanese-style houses nearby.
- Gyeongam-dong Railroad Village, a residential street built along a disused rail line.
Getting there
Buses run roughly every 20–30 minutes from Seoul's Central City Terminal, taking about 2 hours; the train takes roughly 2.5 hours.
How long
The historic centre and Railroad Village fit comfortably into a single day trip from Seoul.