Gimje

Gimje (김제시) is a city in North Jeolla where you can visit various temples. There are distinctive temples, including Geumsan Temple, which has a unique type of stupa, Manghaesa Temple overlooking the sea, and Gwisinsa Temple with a unique name. It is also good to visit the Arirang Literature Museum, which contains the story of the novel Arirang by novelist Cho Jung-rae.

Understand
The area is traditionally one of the most fertile farming areas on the Korean peninsula.

Gimje's Chinese character, 金堤, means gold fields. There is two theories about the origin of the character. First, in autumn its rice paddies take on a gold color, so that called. Second, a lot of gold was found in Gimje during the Japanese colonial era.

History
Gimje-si has been a place where people have lived and built their homes since prehistoric times. In addition to dolmens in Geumsan-myeon, Gimje-si, long stone knives and plates were found throughout the jurisdiction, and fragments of plain-patterned earthenware were found around agricultural land. Through this, it can be seen that agricultural culture was developed from the Bronze Age.

During the Unified Silla period, the name Byeokgol was changed to Gimje. There are records of migrants moving from other areas, which are expected to be due to large fields.

In the Goryeo Dynasty, Gimje was called Buyun and Geoya. Since then, it has become three independent administrative districts and belongs to Jeonju's jurisdiction.

During the Joseon Dynasty, there were significant changes, with a population of about 2,000. At this time, the creation of Hyanggyo brought about the development of education and culture. In 1597, the Battle of Geumgu, which defeated the Japanese enemy heading south during the Jeongyu War, was here. In the late Joseon Dynasty, civil unrest broke out across the country, and hundreds of farmers in Gimje Geum-gu also caused civil unrest by listening to the Samjeong rebellion and the violence of local officials. This leads to the Donghak Peasant Movement.

Climate
Gimje-si has higher winter temperatures and lower summer temperatures than inland areas due to the influence of the sea. The average annual temperature is about 12.8 ℃, the average temperature in January is about -4.6℃, and the average temperature in August is about 32.2 ℃. The average annual precipitation is about 1,284 mm and the average precipitation in July is 265 mm, which is very suitable for rice farming.

Get in
Both train stations and bus terminals exist. Since it is a countryside, the interval between city buses is very long. This should be noted. I recommend a private car rather than public transportation.

By train

 * From Seoul or other major cities: Take a train to Gimje Station. There are frequent services available from Seoul Station or Yongsan Station to Gimje Station. The journey takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours by KTX (Korea Train Express).

By bus

 * From major cities: You can also reach Gimje by intercity bus. Several buses run from major cities like Seoul, Busan, and others to Gimje Bus Terminal. The travel time by bus varies depending on the starting location.

By car

 * From Seoul: Take the Gyeongbu Expressway (경부고속도로) southbound towards Gimje. It's approximately a 3 to 4-hour drive, depending on traffic conditions.

By air

 * Gimje doesn't have its own airport. The nearest airports are Gwangju Airport or Gunsan Airport. From there, you'd need to use alternative transportation like buses or trains to reach Gimje.

See
Gimje is the only place in Korea where the horizon is visible. Therefore, there is also a global festival called the Horizon Festival.



Museums, theater

 * Hyanggyo (김제향교): A historic Confucian school showcasing traditional Korean architecture and cultural artifacts.
 * Gimje Art Hall (김제문화예술회관): Cultural complex hosting exhibitions, performances, and events celebrating art and local culture.

Eat
The Jeollabuk-do region is a granary area in Honam, and is full of natural ingredients such as high-quality rice from the wide plains and various vegetables and seafood from good soil. Since ancient times, ancestors in the Gimje area have used it to enjoy the taste and style, and have produced many delicious local foods that suit their tastes.

Markets:

 * Gimje Horang Market: A bustling traditional market offering a wide variety of local produce, street snacks, and traditional Korean dishes.
 * Gimje Seomun Market: Known for its vibrant atmosphere and diverse selection of fresh produce, street food, and local specialties.
 * Garlic Market (김제 마늘시장): Explore this market dedicated to garlic, offering different varieties and garlic-infused products like garlic pickles and snacks.
 * Gimje Sikmulwon (김제 식물원): Not just a garden but also a shop offering various herbal teas, snacks, and products made from locally grown herbs and plants.

Restaurants

 * Samsambang (삼삼방): Famous for its traditional Korean dishes like bibimbap (rice mixed with vegetables and meat) and various grilled meats.
 * Jijunghyang (지중향): Offers a range of Korean home-style dishes, especially popular for their sundae (Korean blood sausage) and spicy stir-fried chicken.
 * Gimje Naengmyeon Alley (김제 냉면골목): Known for its diverse selection of naengmyeon (cold noodles), a Korean summer favorite, with various toppings and flavors.
 * Gimje Makguksu (김제 막국수): Famous for its makguksu, a type of buckwheat noodles served in a chilled broth, often accompanied by kimchi and vegetables.
 * Cheongjae Street (김제 청재거리): A street lined with various vendors offering a wide array of street foods, from hotteok (sweet pancakes) to tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and more.
 * Gimje Rice Cake Street(김제 떡골목): Known for its assortment of traditional Korean rice cakes, offering flavors like injeolmi (coated with bean powder) and garaetteok (cylinder-shaped rice cakes).

Eat




Drink

 * Cafe Rohas: This place offers coffee made from fresh beans paired with homemade fruit syrup. You can experience a harmonious blend of flavors that customers often love.
 * Cafe Healing Cook: This cafe offers an intimate atmosphere perfect for indulging in various beverages and delightful desserts. Renowned for its hand-dripped coffee and an array of flavorful cakes.
 * Cafe Altong: An upscale café providing a diverse selection of beverages and treats in a sophisticated ambiance. Popular for its delicious smoothies and distinctive drinks.
 * Cafe Scene: Explore local cafes like Cafe J'adore or Cafe Aroma for a relaxing atmosphere and a variety of coffee and tea options.

Go next
There are Gunsan, Buan, and Jeonju-si nearby, and if you move west, you can go to the sea along Saemangeum.