Gongju Old Town

Getting here

From Seoul by express bus

Take the express bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Central) to Gongju Bus Terminal: about 1 hour 30 minutes, every 30 minutes, by Gongju City's figures. Buses from Nambu Terminal also run every 30 minutes and take 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. From the terminal, city bus 108 runs direct to Gongju National Museum, by the museum's directions, and on holidays bus 200 runs via Gongsanseong, by Gongju City's 2025 timetable.

From Seoul by KTX

KTX trains run from Yongsan to Gongju Station in 58 minutes to 1 hour 9 minutes, Gongju City says. Its timetable dated 30 December 2025 has the first southbound KTX leaving Yongsan at 05:08 and reaching Gongju at 06:12. SRT trains stop too, with a late train from Gongju at 22:50 reaching Suseo at 23:51. Gongju Station is outside town, so you finish the trip by city bus.

From Gongju Station

Gongju City's 2025 timetable lists these city buses from the station into town: 201 runs direct to Sanseong-dong; 202 runs to Sanseong-dong and on to the Tancheon industrial complex; 250 and 251 run to Sanseong-dong via Iin, with 251 a loop; and 200 runs to Gongju Bus Terminal via Gongsanseong and City Hall, on holidays only and not at Seollal or Chuseok. Gongju City's directions page gives the bus leg into Gongju as 60 minutes.

From Incheon Airport

Gongju City lists Incheon Airport bus services for Gongju Bus Terminal and Incheon Airport's Terminals 1 and 2, with their phone numbers. The alternative is AREX into Seoul, which VisitKorea (May 2026) puts at about 43 minutes from Terminal 1 to Seoul Station on the express train, then the express bus from the Central terminal.

From Buyeo

A wide-area tourism bus runs between Buyeo Intercity Bus Terminal and Gongju Bus Terminal four times a day each way. By Gongju City's timetable, northbound buses leave Buyeo at 05:10, 11:10, 13:00 and 19:00, and the southbound ride from Gongju takes about 50 minutes.

On your doorstep

• Gongsanseong Fortress The Ungjin-period fortress and a UNESCO World Heritage component, with views over the city centre and the Geumgang River. Gongju City gives the wall as about 2,660 m, mostly stone with a 735 m earthen section on the east side. Open 09:00–18:00 from March to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to February, last entry 30 minutes before closing; closed on New Year's Day, Seollal and Chuseok.
• Royal Tombs of King Muryeong (Songsan-ri) Seven restored Ungjin-period royal tombs, Historic Site No. 13 and a World Heritage component. King Muryeong's tomb, resting place of the 25th Baekje king and his queen, was discovered by chance in 1971 during drainage work, and Gongju City says it held about 4,600 artefacts, 12 of them National Treasures. VisitKorea calls it the only royal tomb in Korea that keeps its appearance from 1,500 years ago.
• Gongju National Museum In VisitKorea's words it showcases significant artefacts unearthed in Chungcheongnam-do. Open 09:00–18:00, weekends and holidays included; closed on Mondays (or the next weekday when Monday is a holiday), 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok. The museum has suspended its Saturday night opening. From Gongju Bus Terminal, city bus 108 runs direct, by the museum's directions.
• Jemincheon Stream Rising in Geumhak-dong, the stream flows through the downtown area and joins the Geumgang in Geumseong-dong. Gongju City describes it as restored as an ecological stream with trails, green space and rest areas, open all year round.
• Gongju Hanok Village A modern hanok complex of pine and cedar with ondol heating, where VisitKorea lists Baekje history, pottery and hanji craft programmes. It has guest rooms of its own, and Gongju City lists the Winter Gongju Roasted Chestnut Festival around Goma, in front of it.
• Baekje Experience Center A stop on VisitKorea's Gongju course, between the Royal Tombs and the Hanok Village, for hands-on activities with Baekje's cultural heritage.
• Gongju Sanseong Market The last stop on VisitKorea's course, where Gongju's own night market offers local food and cultural performances. VisitKorea's 2024 guide to Chungcheongnam-do markets calls the night market Bammasil and points to local chestnut products.
• The Geumgang River Gongju City says the river is named for its silk-like beauty and that its winding course is especially striking at dawn and sunset. Gongsanseong looks over it, and Jemincheon flows into it.
• Magoksa Temple Outside the old town on Taehwasan, founded in the 9th century and restored in the 18th after damage in the Imjin War, with a 14th-century five-storey stone pagoda. Gongju City lists it in its UNESCO section as one of seven Sansa, Buddhist mountain monasteries, and it holds a Fresh Verdure Festival each spring.

One easy day from here

1. Morning Gongsanseong Fortress at its 09:00 opening: walk the wall for the views over the city centre and the Geumgang.
2. Late morning The Royal Tombs of King Muryeong at Songsan-ri, the first stop on VisitKorea's 3.3 km Gongju course.
3. Afternoon Gongju National Museum (closed on Mondays), then the Baekje Experience Center and Gongju Hanok Village, the course's middle stops.
4. Evening Walk Jemincheon Stream through the downtown area, then finish at Sanseong Market, the end of the course and home of Gongju's night market.

Before you book

• Plan the museum around Mondays. Gongju National Museum closes on Mondays (or the next weekday after a Monday holiday), 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok; Gongsanseong closes on New Year's Day, Seollal and Chuseok.
• Arriving by express bus is the simple choice: Seoul's Central terminal to Gongju Bus Terminal takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, every 30 minutes. By KTX you land at Gongju Station outside town, and route 200, the city bus Gongju City's 2025 timetable lists from there to the terminal, runs on holidays only.
• Book inside the old town rather than by the bus terminal. Gongju National Museum's own directions give about 15 minutes by taxi from the terminal against about 5 minutes from the Sanseong-dong stop.
• Winter days are shorter at Gongsanseong: it closes at 17:00 from November to February, with last entry 30 minutes earlier.
• In 2026 the Baekje Cultural Festival ran from 3 to 11 October at Geumgang Singwan Park, Mirseom and Gongsanseong.