Gunsan is a hidden gem amongst the rice fields of the Jeollabuk province.  Its status as a major port city dates back to the Joseon dynasty and it continues to serve as a major shipping and transportation hub to this day.  Its rich history, historical sites, and natural and manmade wonders are what make this city worth visiting.

Gunsan is home to more Japanese style buildings than anywhere else in Korea.  In fact, around 1919, Japanese residents in Gunsan outnumbered Koreans.  Following liberation from Japan, most Imperial-era structures in South Korea were destroyed including all but three Japanese Buddhist temples in the entire country.  Of the three temples which still exist in South Korea, only Dongguksa in Gunsan remains in operation today.

The inner harbor also boasts an impressive collection of Japanese structures including the Hirotsu House, the Gunsan Customs House, Bank of Joseon, Nagasaki 18 Bank, and numerous smaller Japanese style houses.  From the Belgian red bricks of the Customs House, to the tatami mats of the wooden yashiki known as the Hirotsu House, to the steep roof of the old Bank of Joseon which resembles a samurai’s helmet, these structures are truly unique sights in a country that has gone to great lengths to destroy any remnants of the Japanese occupation.  Once viewed as painful reminders of Korea’s colonial past, these sites are now well maintained and preserved by the local government so that they may be cherished for their architectural beauty as well as their historical and educational value.

The Gunsan Museum of Modern History and Jinpo Maritime Park are located along the waterfront.  The museum’s most interesting exhibit is a nearly full scale replica of a small section of Gunsan from the early 1900s.  This exhibit includes stores, a school, a movie theatre, and numerous other imperial-era structures, within which you are free to roam around, providing you with a truly unique view into the city’s colonial history.