11 Best Places to Visit in Buan: A Byeonsanbando Travel Guide
Buan, located in Byeonsanbando National Park in Jeollabuk-do province, is a region renowned for the clear, natural beauty of the West Sea. With its tranquil and serene atmosphere, Buan is the perfect destination for a peaceful getaway. Here are some of Buan’s top travel spots where you can enjoy diverse cultural experiences and breathtaking scenery.
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| Travel in Buan, Byeonsanbando Peninsula |
Naesosa Temple
Naesosa Temple is an impressive temple featuring a flat, earthen path lined with towering fir trees. Though not large in scale, it is a perfect place to enjoy a peaceful journey in a serene atmosphere. Naesosa is a site of high preservation value, housing various treasures such as a 1,000-year-old zelkova tree designated as a protected species, the main Buddha hall (Daeungbojeon), a Goryeo-era bronze bell, the Yeongsanhoe Gwaebultaeng (a large Buddhist painting), and manuscripts of the Lotus Sutra.
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| Naesosa Temple |
Naesosa Temple Information
- Parking Fee: KRW 1,100 (approx. $0.80 USD) per hour for small and medium-sized cars
- Admission: Free
Celadon Museum
The Buan Celadon Museum is a place where you can experience the history and tradition of Goryeo celadon. It displays celadon pottery and sculptures excavated from Goryeo celadon kiln sites and the Jinseo-ri historic site, allowing visitors to appreciate masterpieces of Goryeo inlaid celadon. While simple viewing might be a bit dull, the museum also offers a pottery experience, making it a great place for a special family activity. We highly recommend trying the pottery-making experience to get hands-on with traditional ceramic arts.
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| Buan Celadon Museum |
Celadon Museum Information
- Admission Fee: KRW 3,000 (approx. $2.20 USD) for adults / KRW 1,000 (approx. $0.75 USD) for children
- Closed every Monday
Pottery Experience Information
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Experience Times
- March–October (4 sessions daily): 10:30 / 13:30 / 15:00 / 16:30
- November–February (3 sessions daily): 10:30 / 13:30 / 15:00
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Pottery Experience Fees
Type Fee (KRW) Activity Type 1 10,000 (approx. $7.40 USD) Molding with a press Type 2 15,000 (approx. $11.10 USD) Making a small celadon piece (10cm) Type 3 20,000 (approx. $14.80 USD) Making a medium celadon piece (15cm) Type 4 25,000 (approx. $18.50 USD) Making a large celadon piece (20cm) Type 5 30,000 (approx. $22.20 USD) Making an extra-large celadon piece (25cm) Type 6 50,000 (approx. $37.00 USD) Making a ceramic tile (for family motto, etc.)
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| Pottery making experience |
Gyeokpo Port
Gyeokpo Port, selected as one of the 100 most beautiful fishing villages in Korea, is abundant with fresh seafood. It attracts many visitors in the spring for webfoot octopus (jukkumi) and in the fall for gizzard shad (jeoneo). The sunset viewed from Gyeokpo Port is particularly beautiful, making it a great spot to watch the sun go down. In addition to the view from the port, you can park at Haenemi Park at the end of the port to watch the sunset or walk along the seaside deck to the Gyeokpo breakwater for a stunning view. After enjoying the sunset, it's recommended to either get some fresh seafood to-go for dinner or dine at a nearby restaurant.
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| Gyeokpo Port |
Chaeseokgang and Jeokbyeokgang Cliffs
The coastline in Gyeokpo-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, features a 2km stretch of stratified cliffs and rock formations. This area is divided by Jukmak Village, with Jeokbyeokgang Cliff to the north and Gyeokpo Beach and Chaeseokgang Cliff to the south. It is a popular tourist destination where visitors can feel the passage of time by observing the magnificent cliffs and geological layers formed over tens of millions of years. Twice a day, during low tide, you can walk along the rocky shoreline, so it's a good idea to check the tide schedule before your visit.
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| Chaeseokgang and Jeokbyeokgang Cliffs |
Travel Tip: Best Photo Spots
- Cave Point: Capture a stunning photo by taking a picture of the sunset with the sea as a backdrop from inside one of the eroded caves.
- Coastal Point: For a beautiful shot, take a photo from the outermost part of the Chaeseokgang coast during sunset.
Gaeamsa Temple
Gaeamsa Temple is an ancient temple located on Ugeum Mountain, dating back to the Baekje era. The path to the temple is famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms, attracting many visitors in the spring. Gaeamsa's Daeungjeon (main hall) is designated as Treasure No. 292. Although small, the temple exudes a quiet and calm atmosphere. Additionally, the well-maintained Gaeam History and Culture Trail nearby offers a pleasant walk around a reservoir along a wooden deck, perfect for enjoying cherry blossoms in the spring.
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| Gaeamsa Temple |
Buan Silkworm Town
Buan Silkworm Town is a space where children can learn about Buan's mulberry products, trees, and silkworms through both play and educational experiences. Here, you can try reeling silk directly from cocoons. The facility includes an insect science museum for observing rare insects and silkworms, and a jungle exploration zone where kids can run around while learning. There is also a climate-controlled silkworm rearing room and an experience hall for various activities using mulberries, making it a place with diverse programs for the whole family.
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| Buan Silkworm Town |
Gomso Salt Farm
Gomso Salt Farm is where high-quality sea salt (Cheonilyeom) is produced, and you can see the salt-making process firsthand. Salt production occurs from spring to October, with the highest yield between May and June. The salt produced during this period is known to be particularly flavorful. Around the salt farm, there are restaurants serving set meals (baekban) where you can taste the local specialty, jeotgal (salted seafood), as well as the famous Seulji Bakery.
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| Gomso Salt Farm |
Gyehwado Island Sunrise Spot
The Gyehwado sunrise spot gained fame after being featured on an EBS program and is located in the quiet village of Gyehwa-ri. At sunrise, many people gather to take beautiful photos, but the scenery reflected on the water is stunning even at other times of the day. While there are no other major tourist attractions nearby, there is a Chinese restaurant called Giraseong, highly praised by celebrity chef Baek Jong-won, which is worth a visit.
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| Gyehwado Island Sunrise Spot |
National Saemangeum Reclamation Museum
The National Saemangeum Reclamation Museum, located on the west coast of Korea, is the country's first museum dedicated to land reclamation. It explains the history of the Saemangeum reclamation project through various materials and also introduces the history of land reclamation worldwide. From the rooftop garden, you can see the Saemangeum seawall and large wind turbines. It is an educational and worthwhile place for families with children to learn about this massive engineering project.
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| National Saemangeum Reclamation Museum |
Saemangeum Environmental and Ecological Complex
The Saemangeum Environmental and Ecological Complex consists of a core conservation zone, a buffer observation zone, and an eco-experience tourism zone. The core conservation zone is restricted to the public to stabilize the wetland. The buffer zone features a pinwheel hill, a silver grass field, and a healing forest. The eco-experience zone has an ecological playground and an outdoor stage. By booking through the website, you can take a guided tour to learn in detail about Saemangeum's ecological environment and its conservation value. The eco-playground is large and well-equipped, making it great for kids, and using bikes or scooters for easy mobility is recommended.
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| Saemangeum Environmental and Ecological Complex |
Recommended Beaches in Buan
- Gyeokpo Beach: A great beach for families due to its shallow waters, where you can admire Chaeseokgang Cliff and the sunset over the West Sea.
- Gosapo Beach: Boasting the longest sandy stretch (2km) within Byeonsanbando National Park, it features soft sand and clean water.
- Byeonsan Beach: A mix of white sand and a green pine forest, its shallow waters make it ideal for swimming and camping.
- Mohang Beach: A small, quiet beach on the southern side of Byeonsanbando, perfect for enjoying a tranquil atmosphere, sunset views, and tidal flat experiences.
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| Recommended Beaches in Buan |
So far, we have introduced 11 must-visit destinations in Buan. We hope your memories of traveling through the serene and beautiful Byeonsanbando Peninsula will last a lifetime.