Introduction to Buyeo

Nowadays Buyeo is known as being the hometown of one of South Korea's finest actors, Park Si Hoo. Despite the large amount of tourists Buyeo is like a sleepy market town with only one tourist hotel (Buyeo Moonwha Tourist Hotel), one youth hostel (Samyeong Buyeo Youth Hostel) and several budget motels.

The population consists of families who are caring for each other very much. It's their belief the riches should share their wealth with the more needy in Buyeo.

When you want to visit Buyeo a bus ride of 2 hours and 20 minutes from Seoul's Nambu Terminal (exit 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line 3) will take you there. Express buses to the town depart about once an hour.

During the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC – 668 AD) Buyeo has been the last capital of Baekje from 538 till 660 when Baekje was defeated by Silla, one of the other Kingdoms, in alliance with Tang China. By then modern Buyeo was called Sabi. The Baekje culture was known as the most sophisticated of the Three Kingdoms and blossomed truly at the Sabi period. The development of the Asuka culture in Japan is thanks to the influence of the flood of Sabi's refugees in the wake of the fall of Sabi.

Though its mighthy temples and palaces now lie in ruins, reminders of the kingdom's golden age are scattered through modern Buyeo.

Its most renowned tourist site is where several thousand court ladies committed mass suicide (at least according to the legend). Another popular site is the former royal palace garden Gungnamji Pond. You could spend a whole day dreaming away. Most of Buyeo's major sites are located in the town itself.

Whenever you have the opportunity to vist Buyeo take a look at its ruins of the lost kingdom as well.

In the north of the town Buso Fortress (Buso Sanseong) ringed the hillock located on a bend in the Baengma River that used to serve as the rear garden of the royal palace.

Nakhwa-am Rock is a cliff that plunges into the Baengma River at the north end of Buso Fortress. This is where the court ladies committed their mass suicide.

Goran-sa Temple is just below Nakhwa-am Rock, overlooking the Baengma River. A small Buddhist temple with a mineral water spring at the back of the main hall. The mural walls in the back main hall amongst others tell the story of the 3,000 court ladies who plunged to their deaths nearby.

River Cruising. Next to Goran-sa Temple there's a pier where you can get on a regular cruise boat for a small cruise on the Baengma River past Nakhwa-am.

Buyeo National Museum is located on the southern outskirts of the town. Here 13,000 items will give you a good overview of Baekje's history and culture. Among these items is the Gilt-Bronze Incense Burner of Baekje, a national treasure.

Jeongnim-sa Temple Site has been one of Baekje's capital most important temples and is located in the middle of the town. From this temple the massive stone pagoda and a seated stone Buddha have remained. Being one of only two remaining pagoda's from Baekje period it is a valuable cultural property. The temple site also has a large museum dedicated to Baekje's Buddhist culture.

Gungnamji Pond, once built for a Baekje princess, is Buyeo's most relaxing spot. It has an island connected to the shore by a narrow wooden bridge. It's a charming place to be and not easily to forget.

So besides having a chance to meet with Park Si Hoo when he is visiting his family, Buyeo has an impressive royal past which remnants are certainly worth a visit.




Source of information:
Korea Be Inspired – english.visitkorea.or.kr

Credit for pictures:
english.visitkorea.or.kr
josephshamilton.blogspot.com
panoramio.com
blogkorea.net
forthenextgeneration.com
buyeotour.net
cafe.daum.net/pyungholove