Three Major Exploration Courses Unveiled
Connecting Baekje History and Everyday Culture
Gongju City in South Chungcheong Province is redefining its old downtown area as a new cultural brand called "Wangdosim," or "Royal Downtown," moving beyond simply preserving traces of the past and embarking on a full-scale initiative to turn it into a tourism asset.
By introducing three major exploration courses that combine the historical significance of the Baekje royal capital with the everyday culture of its citizens, Gongju is once again gaining attention as a city where history and the present coexist.
According to the city on August 27, last year Gongju applied for a trademark for the "Wangdosim Course" and completed its registration on portal maps.
The newly released Wangdosim Courses feature a unique blend of ancient cultural heritage sites-such as the UNESCO World Heritage Gongsanseong Fortress, the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs Park, and the National Gongju Museum-and everyday cultural assets, including Sanseong Market, Jemicheon Stream, Hasuk Village, Youth Cultural Space, and the alleyways associated with poet Na Taejoo.
Wangdosim Course 1 (approximately 2.9 km, 43 minutes) takes visitors from Gongsanseong Fortress through Sanseong Market, Food Alley, Jemicheon Stream, Gamyeong-gil, and the former Gongju Town Office, allowing them to experience traces of modern and contemporary lifestyle and administration.
Wangdosim Course 2 (approximately 2.9 km, 45 minutes) is a historical and cultural exploration route starting at Gongsanseong Fortress and leading to Hwangsaebawi Holy Site, the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong and the Royal Tombs Park, Gongju Hanok Village, and the National Gongju Museum.
Wangdosim Course 3 (approximately 1.6 km, 25 minutes) offers a path where visitors can experience the harmony of nature and literature, following the Jemicheon Stream walking trail and the Geumgang Riverside Deck Trail to Gomanaru.
Through these courses, the city aims to shift from "visit-oriented tourism" to "experience-oriented tourism," connecting historical, cultural, and everyday resources into a single narrative-instilling pride in residents and offering new experiences to tourists.
The city is also working on improving the guidance system and expanding convenience facilities to establish a solid foundation for this initiative.
Mayor Choi Woncheol stated, "Gongju's Royal Downtown is an attractive space that best embodies the unique character of Gongju while reviving the image of Baekje's royal capital. We will continue to expand distinctive cultural tourism content to attract even more visitors in the future."
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