Gurye County

城市概覽

It borders Namwon in North Jeolla to the north, Suncheon and Gwangyang to the south, Gokseong in South Jeolla to the west, and Hadong in South Gyeongsang to the east.

History Gurye has a long history with numerous relics from the Bronze and Iron Ages. During the Joseon Dynasty (1362-1910), it served as an important administrative district. During the Japanese invasions of Korea in the 1590s, Seokjugwanseong Fortress played a key role in blocking the Japanese forces. From the late 19th century, education and culture flourished, and the March 1st Independence Movement was actively carried out. Gurye County was also important the turbulent mid-20th century events such as the 1948 Yeosu-Suncheon Rebellion and the Korean War (1950-53).

Geography Gurye County is located in the northeastern part of Jeollanam-do, on the southwestern foothills of Jirisan Mountain.

Climate

Gurye County has a temperate humid climate with relatively mild winters and frequent snowfall. Summers are cool and humid, with rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year, minimizing heavy downpours and favoring agricultural activities. Spring and autumn are long and pleasant, creating an overall comfortable living environment.

如何抵達

By train All Mugunghwa-ho trains and ITX-Saemaeul and SRT trains make mandatory stops, while KTX and ITX-Maum trains stop optionally.

1 Gurye Station (구례구역), 217, Seomjingang-ro, Hwangjeon-myeon, Suncheon-si, ☏ +82 1588-7788. every time. Gurye-gu Station opened in 1936 on the Jeolla Line. The current brick, tile-roofed, single-story station was built in 1986. Double-tracking projects completed in 1999 and 2002 brought the station to its present form. (updated Sep 2025)

By car You can reach Gurye-gun via the following highways:

Namhae Expressway (Gyeongbu/Namhae direction) Exit at Suncheon IC → take National Route 17 or 19 to Gurye-gun Suncheon–Wanju Expressway Exit at Suncheon IC → direct access to Gurye-gun Gwangju–Suncheon Expressway (part of Honam Expressway) From Gwangju or Naju → exit at West Suncheon IC → take National Route 17 or 19

By bus Gurye can be accessed from several cities via the Gurye Public Bus Terminal. Intercity buses run from Seoul, Gwangju, Suncheon, and Yeosu, and taxis from the terminal provide convenient access to major attractions such as Jirisan, Seomjin River, and Gurye Hanok Village.

2 Gurye Public Bus Terminal (구례공영버스터미널), 8, Jungang-ro, Gurye-eup, ☏ +82 61-780-2731. (updated Sep 2025)

當地交通

Gurye has a comprehensive local transportation network that includes buses, taxis, rental cars, and options for walking and biking.

By bus The main Gurye city bus routes are as follows

Bus No. 5-1 (Gurye Terminal - Hanaro Mart - Samsung Mart - Naengcheon-ri - Masan Police Station - Hwangjeon-ri - Hwaeomsa Entrance) Frequency: Approximately every 120 minutes on weekdays, first bus at 09:30, last bus at 20:00 Bus No. 6-1 (Gurye Terminal - Gwangui-myeon - Jicheon-ri - Cheoneunsa Intersection - Cheoneunsa Temple) Frequency: 6 times daily, first bus departs at 15:50 from Gurye, last bus time to be confirmed Bus No. 8-1 (Gurye Terminal - Hanaro Mart - Samsung Mart - Naengcheon - Gwangpyeong - Hasa - Yongdu - Guryong-dong - Piagol) Frequency: Approximately every 70 minutes, first bus at 06:40, last bus at 19:40 These three routes depart from Gurye Terminal and connect major tourist destinations such as Hwaeomsa, Cheoneunsa, and Piagol. It is recommended to check the latest timetable and fares before traveling. Bus fares (as of 2025)

Adult: ₩1,000 Middle and high school students: ₩800 Elementary school students: ₩500 Note: Separate fares apply for the Cheoneunsa route and the Nogodan route (seat bus). Operating hours and intervals

Operating hours and intervals vary by route; first buses generally run between 06:00 and 09:00, last buses between 20:00 and 21:00, with intervals ranging from 70 to 120 minutes. The bus service to Nogodan on Jirisan has been discontinued. If you want to go to Nogodan on Jirisan, you need to use alternative transportation.

By taxi Taxis in Gurye are easily accessible at the bus terminal, train station, and major tourist attractions. The base fare is ₩4,000 for the first 2 kilometers, with additional charges based on distance and time. A 20% surcharge applies during late-night hours. Call taxis can be reserved by phone, and the main taxi company phone numbers are as follows:

Gurye Call Taxi (구례콜택시), ☏ +82 61-783-1818. (update

必看景點

1 Jirisan Nogodan (지리산 노고단), 1068-321, Nogodan-ro, Sandong-myeon, ☏ +82 61-780-7700. Open year-round (except during restricted periods and hours for national park access). Nogodan is a famous starting point of the Jirisan ridge trail, offering a 25.5-kilometer route along Imgeollyeong, Banya Peak, Tokki Peak, Byeoksoryeong, and Seseok Flat to Cheonwang Peak. Considered one of Jirisan's three main peaks alongside Cheonwang and Banya Peaks, Nogodan provides stunning seasonal views, including the sea of clouds, spring azaleas, summer daylilies, autumn foliage, and winter snow-covered landscapes. free. (updated Sep 2025) 2 Jirisan Garden (지리산 정원), 124, Ondong 2-gil, Gwangui-myeon. March to October: 09:00 – 18:00 November to February: 09:00 – 17:00. There is a wildflower-themed park and native plant garden where visitors can observe diverse vegetation throughout the four seasons, as well as an ecological forest, natural recreation forest, and arboretum. The forest lodges, which offer a healing experience surrounded by nature, are especially popular. Adult ₩2,000, youth or soldier ₩1,500, child ₩1,000; group (20 or more): adult ₩1,600, youth or soldier ₩1,200, children ₩800. (updated Sep 2025) 3 Seomjin River (섬진강), 1, Wonbang-ri, Gurye-eup, ☏ +82 61-780-2390. Open year-round. The bamboo path along the Seomjin River offers a peaceful setting where visitors can enjoy the river scenery. From the bamboo trail, you can follow the Healing Ecological Trail and take a walk across the river to the cherry blossom path, which has been selected as one of Korea's most beautiful roads. free. (updated Sep 2025) 4 Surak Waterfall (수락폭포), 249-4, Sugi-ri, Sandong-myeon, ☏ +82 61-780-2881. Open year-round. Surak Waterfall, with a height of 15 meters, cascades between rugged rocks and offers stunning surrounding scenery, making it one of the ten most scenic spots in Gurye.The waterfall is famous as a "water-hitting waterfall," traditionally visited by local residents after rice planting and

體驗活動

1 Gurye Cornelian Cherry Blossom Festival (구례산수유꽃축제), 831 Jwasari, Sandong-myeon, ☏ +82 61-780-2390. The Gurye Cornelian Cherry Blossom Festival is a representative spring flower festival in South Korea, offering a chance to experience the essence of early spring. Cornelian cherry blossoms bloom earlier than other flowers in March, heralding the arrival of spring. The festival, themed around the flower's meaning—"eternal and unchanging love"—features various hands-on programs and musical performances. free. (updated Sep 2025)