Gunsan, Korea: A Guide For What To See, What To Do & What To Eat!

What To See

There are five different stamp courses that are recommended by Gunsan Tourism. We stuck to the Arirang Course which is an easily walkable area and historic. We also spliced in the Railroad Village from another stamp course. Check out all of the options and the map to see what works best for you when you arrive.

The historic area and train village could easy be done in one day if you want to take a day trip outside of Seoul. We really liked the historic village but another popular thing to do from Gunsan is island hopping. Seonyudo Island is the most popular island to visit from Gunsan. Take your time and enjoy the views!

You’ll also find a statue called “The Statue of a Girl of Peace in Kunsan”. This statue represents the comfort women, or more pointedly, the sexual slaves that the Japanese military kidnapped from Korea during World War II to rape throughout the war. The statue is meant to be a reminder of the girls who were forcefully taken from their homeland.

If you want to learn more about the comfort women in Korea and their fight still today, you can visit the House of Sharing in Korea and meet the women who are still living today or visit the War & Women’s Human Rights Museum near Hongdae in Seoul.

• Address: 16 Dongguksa-gil, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do(전북 군산시 동국사길 16 동국사)

Chowon Photo Studio (초원사진관)

Used as a film set in “Christmas in August”, it’s not a real studio but is popular for a photo outside. We stopped in here to pick up the stamp tour pamphlets and also to get our souvenir when we finished the stamp tour. It’s a cute little shop that is easy to find. Staff can help figure out the tour routes as well.

• Address: 12-1 Guyeong 2-gil, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do (전북 군산시 구영2길 12-1)

Japanese House in Sinheung-dong (Hirotsu House) (군산 신흥동 일본식가옥(히로쓰 가옥))

Designated as a Culture Heritage No. 183 in 2005, the historic neighborhood was a residential area for the wealthy families during the Japanese occupation. This house is opened to the public and is named after Hirostu, the man who built the house. Several Korean movies and dramas have been filmed here including “The General’s Son”, “Fighter In The Wind” and “Tazza: The High Rollers”.

It’s a typical two story Japanese timber house that still maintains its original roof, outer walls, interior and gardens. I love stamp tours and following maps to complete a mission so we had great fun traipsing through the old village to find the houses and buildings.

• Address: 17 Guyeong 1-gil, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do (전라북도 군산시 구영1길 17 (신흥동))
• Hours: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm (CLOSED Mondays)

Gunsan Modern History Museum (군산근대역사박물관)

This was closed on our visit because of Covid-19, but based upon reviews it seems like it’d be a great stop if you’re visiting and have the time to stop in. It’s at the northern end of the historic neighborhood so a very easy stop to make within walking distance of the spots mentioned above the ones below. Opened in 2011, the museum covers the Gunsan transformative role as an international trading port here in Korea. There are three floors and there is also a Children’s Experience Hall.

• Address: 240 Haemang-ro, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do (전라북도 군산시 해망로 240 (장미동))
• Hours: 9:00am ~ 9:00pm
• Admission: Adults: W3,000; Teenagers: W2,000; Children: W1,000

Honam Customs Museum (호남관세박물관)

Built in 1908, this port customs office covered the jurisdiction in Jeollabuk-do and Chungcheongnam-do. It was established to monitor and supervise the 414km of coastline and 122 uninhabited islands. This was also closed when we visited, so we just took a pic of the exterior and go our stamp. I’d probably stop into all of these spots if they were open.

• Address: 244-7 Haemang-ro, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do (전북 군산시 해망로 244-7)

Gunsan Museum of Modern Art (군산근대미술관)

Also not opened when we visited, this historic building is Registered Cultural Property No. 374. Formerly the Bank of Japan’s Gunsan Branch. After repair and restoration, it was reopened to the public as a museum of modern art. Also near the historic village, stop in this if it’s open to check it out what artistic pieces are on display.

• Address: 230 Haemang-ro, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do (전북 군산시 해망로 230 장기18은행)
• Hours: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm; Closed 1st and 3rd Monday of every month.
• Admission: Adults: W500; Teeangers: W300; Children: W200

Former Jeil Feed Corporation Factory (구제일사료주식회사 공장)

Built in 1934, this was a storehouse built by a Japanese merchant. The building was abandoned at the end of the Japanese colonial period and then was acquired by a Korean flour manufacturing company and then became the Jeil Feed.

In 1973, the building was renovated to be used as a factory. Now, the building has a cool facade and murals on the exterior and features a large mail box in the front that is popular for photos. The two photos at the top of this post are also from this location. This sits just across the street from the Jinpo Maritime Theme Park so again, everything is so close and easy to walk in a day.

• Address: 196 Haemang-ro, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do (전북 군산시 해망로 196)

Gunsan Gyeongam-dong Railroad Village (군산 경암 철길마을)

This stretch of railroad sits just back from the main road so when you head that way, just walk in and you’ll find the line. The tracks runs through a stretch of buildings that now house toys that my husband grew up playing with and older style knick-knacks.

There are places to rent retro school uniforms to take pictures and old style street snacks to munch on. It’s not a long stretch and takes less than an hour to visit though you could stay longer if you have kids that want to play with everything that is there.

Hanilok (한일옥)

This restaurant is one of the most famous in the older district and is right across the street from the Chowon Photo Studio. They serve some really good, yet simple beef radish soup. This is a great option if you have picky eaters or are a bit picky yourself really.

Beef radish soup tends to be a household staple soup that can be eaten anytime throughout the day. The other popular dish here is beef tartare bibimbap. The staff was friendly and they have menus in multiple languages. They were very helpful and the food was delicious.

• Address: 63 Guyeong 3-gil, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do (전북 군산시 구영3길 63)
• Hours: Every day 6:00am ~ 8:30pm

Lee Sung Dang (이성당)

This is the oldest bakery in Korea and was opened in 1945. The menu includes danpatppang which is the popular bread filled with red bean paste and yachaeppang which is bread filled with vegetables.

If you visit today, there are actually TWO buildings so take note. You’ll find the original one on the left which has all of the original goods and you can purchase breads here. But, there is another building on the right now as well which also has food, but different food and an upstairs that is a bit more picturesque for eating in.

You can buy from either building and sit in either as well and go back and forth. We bought the original danpatppang in the original store and then went to the second to buy a great bacon/egg “pastry” and coffees.

Definitely a great breakfast stop. I’ve heard there can be lines out the door at times. We went two days in a row for breakfast and walked right in, got our food and had no line at all. That said, we were  bright and early.

• Address: 177 Jungang-ro, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do (전북 군산시 중앙로 177)

Miz Cafe (미즈카페)

Established in 1930, this building was originally used for a trade company. In 2012, the original building was relocated to where it currently stands and was remodeled into a cafe. Visitors can order drinks downstairs and then take off their shoes to go up to find traditional floor seating. It’s one of the more popular cafes in the area and very beautiful inside.

• Address: 232 Haemang-ro, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do (전북 군산시 해망로 232)
• Hours: 10:00am ~ 9:00pm