Chungju

Understand

Chungju (not be confused with provincial capital Cheongju) is a handy transport hub for various points in the mountains of central Korea. It is a beautiful town that is abundant with tourist sources and Jungwon (the center of a field in Korea) culture. It is also the hometown of Ban Ki moon, the former U.N. Secretary General.

Tourist office The helpful tourist information office has a counter inside the bus terminal, but opening hours seem to be a bit unpredictable. English spoken and has a wealth of information on the area.

Getting there

By plane Nearby Cheongju has a sizeable international airport.

By train There is one direct Mugunghwa train per day from Seoul, which takes the better part of three hours to putter its way in. Other options are to take the Gyeongbu Line to Jochiwon and transfer there, or even taking the KTX to Daejeon and continuing from there.

By bus Chungju's sparkling new bus station is located on the northern side of town in a big complex also housing a Lotte Mart hypermarket. There are hourly departures to Danyang (1:30, ₩6,200).

By boat In season, you can take a very scenic cruise across Chungju Lake to Danyang (2 hours, ₩18,000), and you can go for a sightseeing spin on the lake throughout the year (unless the lake freezes over entirely in winter). The ferry terminal is served by bus 301 (30 minutes, ₩950), which leaves across the street from the bus terminal, but inquire at the tourist information office for schedules (and whether the boats are running) as there are only 9 buses a day.

See

1 Chungjuho (충주호), 882, Jideung-ro, Dongnyang-myeon, ☏ +82 43-850-5114. Chungjuho has the largest multipurpose dam in South Korea which holds the largest body of fresh water, linking Chungju, Jecheon, and Danyang in Chungcheongbuk do. There are Mt. Wolaksan National Park, Mt. Geumsusan, Gudambong Peak, etc. around the lake, so you can enjoy the beauty of nature harmonizing with the blue water. They run a tourist ship from Chungju to Sin Danyang (53km). (updated Oct 2024) 2 Chungju World Martial Arts Park (충주 세계 무술 공원), 46 Namhangang-ro. Every October, the city government arranges the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival. In this festival, you can enjoy taekgyeon, taekwondo and various world martial arts. Taekgyeon is a more traditional martial art and a precursor to taekwondo, the latter which is an Olympic sport since 2000. (updated Oct 2024) 3 Daeje Reservoir (대제지저수지). Construction of Daeje Reservoir began in 1915 and was completed in 1917 to supply agricultural water to the Dalcheon Plain (aka Mosiradeul) along with the nearby Hoamji Reservoir. Dalcheon Plain is said to be a good field that does not dry up because there is a Daeje Reservoir in particular. (updated Sep 2022)

Do

Wakeboarding. Wakeboarding If you drive into Chungju, take the first left after the bus terminal intersection, heading south towards the river. You will go under the railway, then see a park on your left. Drive into the riverside park and walk 100m to a wakeboard floating house on the river. Prices are cheaper than Seoul. Only ₩17,000 for outboard engine each time (in the 2008 season).

Hot springs bathing Two excellent resort areas exist in Chungju-shi:

Angseong-oncheon (앙성온천) is to the northwest, and can be reached by local bus No. 365. There are several hotels here, each which have a hot springs bathing area in them. Some have hot springs water piped into the individual hotel rooms. Suanbo is to the south. Local buses go there from in front of the intercity bus terminal in Chungju. Suanbo is a compact town, with a plethora of hotels and many excellent restaurants. Culinary specialties of the area are mountain vegetable feasts and game such as pheasants and rabbits. The Hi-Spa, located on the main street near the bus stop, is the main city oncheon. Several hotels have their own bath areas open to the public.

Eat

Apples. Chungju is famous for apples. A giant apple sculpture greets you as you drive into town. Apples are a lot cheaper here than in the rest of Korea. 1 Wonjo Jungangtap Makguksu (원조중앙탑막국수), 431-1 Tapjeong-ri, Jungangtap-myeon, ☏ +82 43-213-5508. This is a very popular spot for makguksu (buckwheat noodles) known for its quick service. It's a great choice for both cold broth noodles and spicy mixed noodles. (updated Oct 2025) 2 Bon-ga Seokgalbi Jungangtap (본가석갈비 중앙탑), 159 Jungangtap-gil, Jungangtap-myeon, ☏ +82 43-855-7972. Daily 09:00-21:00 (Closed on Mondays). A great option for seokgalbi (grilled marinated short ribs). The meat is pre-grilled on a hot stone plate, allowing for a clean and delicious dining experience without the smoky smell. (updated Oct 2025) 3 Ssamjeong Myeonok (삼정면옥), 22-26 Gyohyeon-dong, ☏ +82 43-847-4882. This restaurant is famous for its Pyeongyang-style naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles). It's praised for its light and clean beef broth, a refreshing alternative. ₩10,000-₩15,000. (updated Oct 2025) 4 Cheongpoong Garden (청평가든), 718-2 Jisaeng-dong, ☏ +82 43-855-3850. Known for its traditional Korean dishes, especially its doeji galbi (pork ribs). The restaurant has a rustic, cozy atmosphere. ₩15,000-₩25,000. (updated Oct 2025) 5 Gamnamujip (감나무집), 540-1 Mireuksonggye-ro, Suanbo-myeon, ☏ +82 43-846-5231. A restaurant specializing in pheasant dishes, a local delicacy in the Suanbo area. They offer a full course of pheasant cuisine, including sashimi, dumplings, and bulgogi. (updated Oct 2025) 6 Maensil Village Restaurant (매실마을 식당), 108 Sodeok-ri, Suanbo-myeon (Located near the Suanbo Hot Springs area, easily accessible by local buses from the Chungju Terminal.), ☏ +82 43-847-1919. A local gem known for its hearty sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew). The broth is rich and spicy, and the tofu is incredibly soft. It's a great comfort food option. ₩12,000-₩18,000. (updated Oct 2025) 7 Gangbaksa Seolleongtang Hamheung Naengmyeon (강박사 설렁탕 함흥냉면), 55 Sinyang-ro, Judeok-eup (Located in the Judeok-eup area, a short taxi ride from the city center.), ☏ +82 43-852-2585. This restaurant is well-regarded for its Hamheung naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles) and also serves seolleongtang (ox bone soup). It has been operating for over 30 years and is a local favorite. (updated Oct 2025) 8 Chungju Boktteokjip (충주복떡집), 2 Chungin 7-gil (Located in the heart of Chungju, a short walk from the market area.), ☏ +82 43-847-6419. A popular spot for traditional Korean rice cakes (tteok). It's a great place to buy a souvenir or try some local sweets. Their pumpkin r

Go next

Danyang - Caves, mountains and temples, widely renowned as North Chungcheong province's premier tourist attraction. Cheongju - The provincial capital, local airport, and historic town in its own right. Birthplace of jikji, the world's oldest moving metal type print book. Suanbo - Hot spring and ski resort. Woraksan National Park