Sights

Gimcheon's claim to fame is Jikjisa Temple (직지사), located at the foot of Mt. Hwangaksan. The temple was constructed in 418 (the 2nd year of King Nulji's reign, Silla Dynasty). Jikjisa is an important head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. This temple is in perfect harmony with the nearby valley and pine forest. The foliage in fall is particularly breathtaking. It features Birojeon Hall (also known as ‘Cheonbuljeon Hall’), in which approximately 1,000 Buddha statues are enshrined, along with a thousand year old arrowroot. Iljumun Gate, Daeungjeon Hall (one of the most famous architectural structures of the Joseon Dynasty) and a 1.63m-tall Seated Stone Buddhist Statue (Treasures No. 319) from the Unified Silla Period, can also be found on the temple grounds.

Jikjisa is believed to have been first constructed by the Goguryeo monk Ado in the year 418, long before Buddhism gained general acceptance in Silla. Jikjisa was largely destroyed during the Seven Year War in the 1590s. The reconstruction of the temple spanned from 1610 to about 1670.

Jikjisa is possibly one of the oldest temples in South Korea and it is relatively well-connected to a convenient train and bus service. Jikjisa Station is located at the foot of the mountain, along the Gyeongbu Line railroad. It is served only by local commuter trains, which run twice daily in each direction. Overnight or weekend temple stay programs are available at the main complex.

Temple admission fees: Adults: 2,500 won Youth: 1,500 won Children: 1,000 won ＊Free: ages under 6 and over 65

Directions to Jikjisa: - Dong Seoul Terminal to Gimcheon (Departure 3 times a day (10:10, 14:10, 18:10), 3 hour ride). - Get on the bus (No. 11, No. 111) to Jikjisa Temple at Gimcheon Station or Gimcheon Bus Terminal(25 minute ride).

Hiking & mountains

Mt. Hwangaksan (1,111m in elevation), home of Jikjisa, is located in the Sobaeksan Mountains. The area is a habitat for many cranes that reside on this mountain. This location is also known for its pine forests, streams, fall foliage and snowscapes.

Other natural and outdoor cultural properties:

• Sudo Valley
• Yongo Waterfall
• Yetnalsomssimaeul Culture Village
• Sculpture Park
• Riverside Park
• Yeonhwaji Pond

Festivals

• Grape Sale Promotional Event

Various events including a beauty pageant, a grape fair, sales and food fair introducing various grape foods are offered every July in the downtown area.

• Half-Marathon Race

An annual sporting event held at the Sport City every May. Traditional military band performances and ballroom dancing are also offered, in addition to various food events.

• Family Drama Festival

An annual festival at the Gimcheon Art Hall every October emphasizing the importance of family through plays and dramatic performances.

Museums

• Bitnae Nong-ak Training Center
• World Ceramic Museum

Temples and cultural sites

• Cheongamsa Temple
• Sudoam Temple
• Gyerimsa Temple
• Gaenyeong Hyangyo Confucian School
• Jirye Hanggyo Confucian School
• Hahoe House of the Seongsan Yeo Family
• Seated Buddha Statue, Gahangsa Temple
• Bangchojeong Pavilion
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
• The House and Residence of Local Man Jang-Yeoul Lee

Other places of interest

• Baegsu Literature Hall
• Culture & Art Hall
• Gimcheon Municipal Library
• Citizen's Bell
• Obong Reservoir
• Sports City
• Gimcheon University

Traditional food

Traditional restaurants can be found in almost all of Gimcheon's districts but the largest concentration of such establishments is located at the base of Jikjisa Temple, in the Jikji Culture Park. The Culture Park features an ample selection of both local and traditional specialities.

Expat and Western dining

The Lucky Penny is a locally owned restaurant in the Bugok-dong neighborhood. The menu includes Western and American favorites such as hamburgers, quesadillas, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and other western dishes.

Shopping

Downtown Gimcheon, centered around the train station, consists of the largest selection of shopping in town. In the middle of town there is a five-day market held on days ending in 0 and 5. Most days, though, there quite a few vendors in the area and the two largest traditional markets in town are always open for business.

Being a smaller town, Gimcheon does lack certain amenities such as large department stores. The closest locations for larger stores is the city of Gumi, located roughly 20 minutes away by train, where shops such as Lotte Mart and Homeplus can easily be found.

Road

Gimcheon is located along the Gyeongbu Expressway and many major roadways connect the city to other surrounding areas.

Rail

Main transportation connections are via the Gyeongbu Line and the Gyeongbuk Line train lines. In 2010, a newly constructed KTX station, Gimcheon-Gumi Station opened on the outskirts of the city center The district around this new KTX station is slowly expanding, however, currently it is only accessible by vehicle, local bus or taxi. From the KTX station to Gimcheon Train Station (the main downtown shopping center) via taxi, it is roughly a 15,000 to 20,000₩ expense.^[3]

Local specialties

• Grapes - Gimcheon is responsible for 11% of total grape production in Korea.
• Plums - 29% of the total plum production in Korea stems from Gimcheon. They are high in vitamin A and known for aiding with fatigue.
• Gwahaju - Literally named "post-summer wine", this local drink is made from glutinous rice and yeast. Fresh water for production is sourced from Gimcheon's Gwahacheon Stream.
• Jirye Wild Boar Meat - Said to be especially beneficial for young children due to a high concentration of protein, healthy fats and DHA.
• Brassware and gong production.
• Joma Potatoes