Gurye County
Encyclopedia
Gurye is a county
in the province of Jeollanam-do
, South Korea
. Gurye is a small, picturesque farming town situated between Jirisan
and the Seomjin River
. Gurye is the sole designated special tourism and leisure zone in all of Jeollanam-do. The total size of Gurye County is 443.02 square km, with a modest population of approximately 30,000.
Gurye County is a popular hiking destination during the spring and autumn seasons. The county's beautiful landscapes are showcased during its yearly festivals such as Sansuyu Flower Festival, the Royal Azalea Festival and the Piagol Valley Maple Festival. Gurye is also home to Korea's first national state park, which houses some of Korea’s most important temples such as Hwaeomsa
, Cheoneunsa, and Yeongoksa.
period, Gurye was part of Gorap, one of the 54 statelets of the Mahan confederacy
. As the domain of Baekje
Kingdom expanded during the Three Kingdoms
period, Gurye was absorbed as one of the kingdom's counties, where it was known as Gucharye (or Guchaji). During the reign of King Gyeongdeok
(r. 742–65), the region was part of Gokseong County, when it also attained its current name.
Nambu Bus Terminal. Each bus departs every 2 hours, with the earliest bus departing at 7:00 a.m. and the latest at 7:00 p.m. The duration of the trip is 3 hours and 35 minutes, which includes a short concession stop midway.
There are numerous buses that depart to Suncheon
, the closest city with theaters and large department stores (approx 30 mins away) and to Gwangju
, the closest metropolitan city which is 1.5 hours away.
is the nearest city and it takes about 20 minutes by car. Gwangju is the closest metropolitan city, which is approximately 1 hour by car.
(산수유) which has yellow flowers in early spring. The Sansuyu Flower Festival is held every mid-March and takes place at the hot springs tourist site at the foot of Mount Jiri. The festival features a wide variety of programs including performances, hands-on events and fireworks. Sansuyu blossoms produce a uniquely favored tea and fine liquor.
In 2007, more than 500,000 tourists visited during the four day festival. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of South Korea chose Gurye's festival as an excellent culture-tour event for the first time.
The flowers are effective in curing inflammations of the liver, diabetes, high blood pressure, cold hands and feet, and can help enhance the immune system.
, South Korea
Since Dec 10, 1998 Suyeong-gu
, Busan
, South Korea
Since Feb 9th of 1999. Guro
, Seoul
, South Korea
Chizhou
, China
Unzen, Nagasaki
Administrative divisions of South Korea
||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
in the province of Jeollanam-do
Jeollanam-do
Jeollanam-do is a province in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Jeolla province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Gurye is a small, picturesque farming town situated between Jirisan
Jirisan
Jirisan is a mountain in the southern region of South Korea. It is often considered one of the three most important mountains in South Korea , with Hallasan and Seoraksan being the other two....
and the Seomjin River
Seomjin River
The Seomjin River is a river in South Korea. It drains southeastern Jeollabuk-do as well as eastern Jeollanam-do and western Gyeongsangnam-do provinces, and flows into the Korea Strait. The Seomjin rises from Palgongsan and flows for 212.3 kilometers before reaching its final destination in...
. Gurye is the sole designated special tourism and leisure zone in all of Jeollanam-do. The total size of Gurye County is 443.02 square km, with a modest population of approximately 30,000.
Gurye County is a popular hiking destination during the spring and autumn seasons. The county's beautiful landscapes are showcased during its yearly festivals such as Sansuyu Flower Festival, the Royal Azalea Festival and the Piagol Valley Maple Festival. Gurye is also home to Korea's first national state park, which houses some of Korea’s most important temples such as Hwaeomsa
Hwaeomsa
Hwaeomsa is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is located on the slopes of Jiri-san, in Masan-myeon, Gurye County, in the province of Jeollanam-do, South Korea...
, Cheoneunsa, and Yeongoksa.
Location
Gurye is located in the southwest portion of Korea, and is easily accessible from Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, as well as other major cities.History
During the SamhanSamhan
The Samhan period of Korean history comprises confederacies of Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan in central and southern Korean peninsula, during the final century BCE and the early centuries CE....
period, Gurye was part of Gorap, one of the 54 statelets of the Mahan confederacy
Mahan confederacy
Mahan was a loose confederacy of statelets that existed from around the 1st century BCE to 3rd century CE in the southern Korean peninsula in the Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces. Arising out of the confluence of Gojoseon migration and the Jin state federation, Mahan was one of the Samhan , along...
. As the domain of Baekje
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche was a kingdom located in southwest Korea. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla....
Kingdom expanded during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms of Korea
The Three Kingdoms of Korea refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula and parts of Manchuria for much of the 1st millennium...
period, Gurye was absorbed as one of the kingdom's counties, where it was known as Gucharye (or Guchaji). During the reign of King Gyeongdeok
Gyeongdeok of Silla
King Gyeongdeok of Silla was the 35th ruler who reigned from 742 to 765 over the kingdom of Silla. He is perhaps best known today for his efforts to encourage Buddhism....
(r. 742–65), the region was part of Gokseong County, when it also attained its current name.
Bus
Although Gurye is a small county, it is a tourist designated zone and often visited by Koreans year round. The Gurye Bus Terminal located in the center of Gurye-Eup, offers 7 daily bus routes to and from SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
Nambu Bus Terminal. Each bus departs every 2 hours, with the earliest bus departing at 7:00 a.m. and the latest at 7:00 p.m. The duration of the trip is 3 hours and 35 minutes, which includes a short concession stop midway.
There are numerous buses that depart to Suncheon
Suncheon
Suncheon or Sunchon is the name of two Korean cities:*Sunchon, North Korea*Suncheon, South Korea...
, the closest city with theaters and large department stores (approx 30 mins away) and to Gwangju
Gwangju
Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister...
, the closest metropolitan city which is 1.5 hours away.
Train
There is a train station at the opposite end of the Bus Terminal operated by Korail. The Guryegu Station is part of the Jeolla line and is located near Sinwol-ri, approximately 10 minutes by car from the Gurye Bus Terminal. Please refer to the Korail website for bus routes, times, and fares.Car
SuncheonSuncheon
Suncheon or Sunchon is the name of two Korean cities:*Sunchon, North Korea*Suncheon, South Korea...
is the nearest city and it takes about 20 minutes by car. Gwangju is the closest metropolitan city, which is approximately 1 hour by car.
Festival
Gurye is famous for the Sansuyu (Cornus Fruit) Flower Festival. Sansuyu is the fruit of the Cornus officinalisCornus officinalis
Cornus officinalis is a species of dogwood known also as Japanese cornel or Japanese cornelian cherry or Cornelian cherries.-Etymology:...
(산수유) which has yellow flowers in early spring. The Sansuyu Flower Festival is held every mid-March and takes place at the hot springs tourist site at the foot of Mount Jiri. The festival features a wide variety of programs including performances, hands-on events and fireworks. Sansuyu blossoms produce a uniquely favored tea and fine liquor.
In 2007, more than 500,000 tourists visited during the four day festival. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of South Korea chose Gurye's festival as an excellent culture-tour event for the first time.
Products
Sansuyu is a well-known medicinal item from early Korean history. The Dongui Bogam, a Joseon Dynasty medical book, said it has several effects such as protecting liver and skin.The flowers are effective in curing inflammations of the liver, diabetes, high blood pressure, cold hands and feet, and can help enhance the immune system.
Education
Several elementary, middle schools, and high schools are located in Gurye county.- Gurye Girls' Middle School (구례여자중학교)
- Gurye Boys' Middle School (구례중학교)
- Gurye East Middle School (구례동중학교)
- Gurye North Middle School (구례북중학교)
- Gurye Sandong Middle School (구례산동중학교)
Sister cities
GeojeGeoje
Geoje is a city located in South Gyeongsang province, just off the coast of the port city of Busan, South Korea. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in Okpo and Samsung Heavy Industries in Gohyeon are both located on Geoje Island. The city also offers a wide range of tourist sights...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
Since Dec 10, 1998 Suyeong-gu
Suyeong-gu
Suyeong-gu is a gu in central Busan Metropolitan City, the Republic of Korea. It has a population density of about .Suyeong-gu was created in 1995 following its separation from Nam-gu. It is border in the North-East by the Suyeonggang River...
, Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
Since Feb 9th of 1999. Guro
Guro
Guro may refer to:*Guro, the Filipino word for "teacher", a teacher of Filipino martial arts; derived from the Sanskrit word guru*Guro-gu, a gu in Seoul, South Korea*Guro Station, a railway and subway station in Seoul, South Korea...
, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
Chizhou
Chizhou
Chizhou is a prefecture-level city in Anhui province, People's Republic of China. It borders Anqing to the northwest, Tongling and Wuhu to the northeast, Xuancheng to the east, Huangshan to the southeast, and the province of Jiangxi to the southwest....
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Unzen, Nagasaki
Unzen, Nagasaki
is a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, located on the northern tip of Shimabara Peninsula, facing Ariake Bay in the east and Mount Unzen to the south. Unzen city was formed on October 11, 2005 by a merger of the towns of Aino, Azuma, Chidiwa, Kunimi, Minamikushiyama, Mizuho and Obama, all from...