Chungcheong

The Hoseo region in central Korea, covering Daejeon, Sejong and North and South Chungcheong, with the Baekje ancient capitals of Gongju and Buyeo, the landscapes of Danyang, and the Boryeong Mud Festival.

This region is what Koreans traditionally call the Hoseo region, and includes Daejeon Metropolitan City, Sejong Special Self-Governing City, North Chungcheong Province and South Chungcheong Province. North Chungcheong is the only province in Korea with no coastline, while South Chungcheong faces the Yellow Sea.

Highlights: Gongsanseong Fortress and the Songsan-ri tombs in Gongju, and Jeongnimsa Temple Site, Busosanseong Fortress and Gungnamji Pond in Buyeo, all part of the UNESCO-listed Baekje Historic Areas; in Danyang, Dodamsambong, Seokmun, the Mancheon River Sky Walk and paragliding, plus Cheongpungho Lake; Beopjusa Temple on Songnisan and Magoksa Temple in Gongju, both listed as UNESCO “Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea”; Daecheon Beach and the Mud Festival in Boryeong, Taean Coast National Park and Anmyeondo; Haemieupseong Fortress in Seosan, the hot springs of Asan and Oeam Folk Village; Daejeon's Yuseong hot springs and Science City, the Early Printing Museum in Cheongju, and the newly built administrative capital, Sejong.

Classic itinerary: the Baekje cultural route, Gongju–Buyeo, 1–2 days; the North Chungcheong scenic route, Danyang–Jecheon and Cheongpungho Lake, 2 days; in summer, the Boryeong Mud Festival or the Taean coast for 1–2 days; about 4–6 days for the whole region, which also makes a good stopover on the way south from Seoul to Jeolla or Gyeongsang.

Getting around: Daejeon is the hub of the KTX Gyeongbu and Honam lines, about 1 hour from Seoul, and you change at Osong Station to the Honam Line; Cheongju International Airport has international and Jeju flights; Danyang is served by trains on the Jungang Line, while Gongju, Buyeo, Boryeong and Taean are reached mainly by intercity bus or car.

Good to know: sights are spread out and public transport requires many transfers; accommodation in Boryeong is tight during the Mud Festival; some mountain temples open early in the morning and close early in the evening.

Destinations

Itineraries