Namyangju is a hilly, riverside city on Seoul's northeastern edge, known for royal tombs, the birthplace of a major Joseon-era scholar, and orchards that supply some of Korea's best-known export pears.
History
Namyangju was originally the southern part of a larger Yangju county and only became an independent county in April 1980, taking on its current combined urban-rural city status in 1995 when it merged with the city of Migeum. The area's most significant historical figure is Jeong Yak-yong (pen name Dasan), a leading Joseon-era scholar, engineer, and reform thinker born there in 1762, who returned to live along the Han River near his birthplace after 18 years of exile until his death in 1836; his former residence and a memorial are preserved as a public site today. Namyangju is also home to Hongneung and Yureung, the tombs of Emperor Gojong and Emperor Sunjong, Korea's last two monarchs, part of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty collectively inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
Highlights
- Dasan Jeong Yak-yong Birthplace and Memorial, preserving the home and legacy of the Joseon scholar and engineer who helped design Hwaseong Fortress and wrote extensively on governance and reform.
- Hongneung and Yureung, the UNESCO-listed imperial tombs of Emperor Gojong and Emperor Sunjong, Korea's final two monarchs.
- Namyangju Organic Museum, opened in 2011 as the world's first museum dedicated to the history of organic farming.
- Cheonmasan, an 810-meter mountain within the city popular for day hikes, named for a Joseon-era remark that its peak was high enough to touch the sky.
Food
Namyangju is known for its sweet pears, grown in local orchards and exported to the United States, Japan, and Canada, along with organic vegetables grown in the surrounding farmland.
Getting there
Namyangju is served by several commuter rail lines from Seoul, including the Gyeongchun Line (reopened in 2010 with eight stations in the city) and the Jungang Line, with Seoul Subway Line 4 also extending to Jinjeop; travel times to central Seoul run roughly 40 minutes to an hour depending on the station.
How long
Namyangju's sights are spread across a large, hilly area, so a day trip works well for a single focus — the Dasan memorial and nearby tombs, for instance — while combining hiking on Cheonmasan with the historic sites is more comfortable across a full day or with an overnight stay.