Chug-Chug Along the Seomjingang River!

Gokseong is a town through which the Seomjingang River flows. Seomjingang Steam Train Village is a theme park built along a section of the old, now-disused Jeolla Line (Gokseong Station-Gajeong Station) — abandoned after the line was double-tracked — where visitors can ride a steam locomotive and a rail bike. The steam train runs a 20km round trip, while the rail bike covers 5.1km from Gajeong Station to Chimgok Station, offering all kinds of fun along the old railway.

Along the way

1. 1
   Taeansa Temple

   태안사

   Nestled at the foot of Dongnisan Mountain, Taeansa Temple was rebuilt in 742, the first year of King Gyeongdeok of Silla, by three unnamed monks. It was later reestablished as a Seon (Zen) Buddhist temple in 847, the 9th year of King Munseong, by National Preceptor Hyecheol, forming the Dongnisan school, one of the Nine Mountain Seon schools. Later, during the reign of King Taejo of Goryeo, Master Hyecheol stayed and built a 132-bay complex, making it a large temple and the central training ground of the Dongnisan school. In the early Goryeo period, both Songgwangsa and Hwaeomsa temples were branch temples of Taeansa. In 1925, the scholar Choe Nam-seon visited and praised it as a renowned temple dating back to Silla and the first Seon temple established in Korea, remarking that it seemed almost like a sacred realm from ancient times. During the Korean War, 15 buildings including the main hall burned down. The temple was later rebuilt and stands as it is today.MoreLess

   

   ReviewsSaveDirections
2. 2

   Lunch (Mosimjeong, Tongnamujip)

   점심식사(모심정, 통나무집)

   [Mosimjeong] Located along National Route 17 between Gurye and Gokseong, Mosimjeong is conveniently close to the scenic Amnok Recreation Area. Amnok Recreation Area sits where the Seomjingang and Boseonggang rivers meet, and since the water isn't deep, it's always busy with people enjoying the water and anglers. Freshwater snails can be caught here any time. [Tongnamujip] Along the banks of the Boseonggang and Seomjingang rivers, freshwater fish restaurants are easy to find, especially around Amnok where the two rivers meet. Tongnamujip Sanjang stands out with its cedar-built exterior reminiscent of a European villa. Inside this Western-style building, the dishes served — mitten crab stew, catfish stew, mandarin fish stew, sweetfish sashimi, and mandarin fish sashimi — are all authentic Korean home cooking made from freshwater fish caught in the Seomjingang and Boseonggang rivers. And it's not just the fish that's local — the restaurant uses only seasonal wild greens, natural seasonings, homemade soybean paste, and vegetables grown in its own garden.MoreLess

   ReviewsSaveDirections
3. 3
   Seomjingang Steam Train Village (Steam Locomotive / Rail Bike)

   섬진강기차마을(증기기관차/레일바이크)

   Since the launch of the 'Chipo-chipo Seomjingang Excursion Tourist Train' event in April 1999, one of the county's key initiatives, Gajeong-ri in Godal-myeon has emerged as a new tourist attraction in Gokseong County. The steam locomotive faithfully recreates the appearance of trains that once ran here in the past, running a round trip of 10km between the old Gokseong Station (Seomjingang Steam Train Village) and Gajeong Station.MoreLess

   

   ReviewsSaveDirections