This small relaxing island, 13km from Daecheon harbour, has few cars and three relatively unspoilt sandy beaches. It attracts so many visitors that it’s become Minbak Island, with nearly every one of the several hundred households offering accommodation a
The eastern entrance to Gyeryongsan National Park (825 3003; adult/youth/child W3200/1200/600; 6am-7pm) is 18km from Daejeon. The park contains two famous temples surrounded by forested hills, which give way to rocky cliffs towards the peaks. It’s a small
Gongju became the second capital of the Baekje kingdom in AD 475 when the first capital at Hanseong (Seoul) was captured by Goguryeo troops. Less than 70 years later, in 538, the capital was forced to move south again, this time to Sabi (Buyeo). The city
Daejeon is Korea’s science and technology capital, a transport hub and the gateway to the ginseng centre of Geumsan and to hiking trails in nearby Gyeryongsan National Park and Daedunsan Provincial Park in Jeollabuk-do. The new KTX bullet-train service ha
This is the best beach on the west coast; it’s almost golden-coloured sand is kept cleaner than most. Although 3.5km long and up to 100m wide, the beach can still be crowded on summer weekends. The sea is shallow and calm, and in the evening everyone gath
Gongju and Buyeo in Chungcheongnam-do, commonly shortened to Chungnam, (www.chungnam.net), were once capitals of the ancient Baekje kingdom. The treasures found in King Muryeong’s tomb make him Korea’s Tutankhamen, and a rich heritage of ancient Baekje re
Cheonan is the gateway to a top museum, the Independence Hall of Korea, 14km east of the city.
Buyeo was the site of the Baekje kingdom’s last capital, Sabi. The capital was moved there from Gongju in AD 538, and six kings ruled as the dynasty flourished until it was destroyed by the combined forces of Shilla and the Tang (of China) in AD 660. Toda
Boryeong is the gateway to Daecheon beach (10km away) and Daecheon harbour (a further 2km), from where ferries sail to a dozen rural islands. All the frequent buses that connect Boryeong bus terminal and train station with Daecheon beach continue on to th