Naju (나주,羅州) is a city in South Jeolla, South Korea.
Understand
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Naju is located in the mid-western part of Jeollanam-do. It is bordered by Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do to the east, Muan-gun and Hampyeong-gun to the west, Yeongam-gun to the south, and Gwangju Metropolitan City to the north. The area is 608.37km², accounting for 4.9% of the total area of Jeollanam-do. As of 2020, the population was 118,251, accounting for 6.3% of the total population of Jeollanam-do.
Get in
[edit]You can get in by bus, train or plane.
By bus
[edit]There are several daily express buses from Seoul. The trip takes about 4 hours. From Gwangju, the express buses run every 30 minutes or so and lasts 45 minutes. You can also take various city buses, like the 180 that runs every 5–10 minutes and several of the 160 routes go to Naju as well.
By train
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By train, the fastest route is the KTX. From Seoul it takes just under 3 hours. You can also take a slower, cheaper train. There are over a dozen leaving from Seoul every day. Almost all trains that go on to Mokpo will make a stop in Naju.
By plane
[edit]Gwangju has the nearest airport. From there you can catch the 180. Or a taxi from Gwangju will cost you between ₩25,000 to ₩50,000 (depending on the time of day and your haggling skills).
Get around
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Taxis are really cheap. You can get anywhere in Naju for under ₩7,000. Or you can take the 160 bus for ₩1,000. It goes to all points of interest across Naju.
See
[edit]- The city gates. There are two beautiful traditional gates in the city, the South Gate and the North Gate. The South Gate is actually used as a roundabout in the city centre, you can't miss it!
- 1 Naju Pear Museum (나주 배 박물관), Naju Pear Museum, 5838 Yeongsan-ro, Geumcheon-myeon, ☏ +82 61 331 5038. Daily 09:00~18:00. Spend an hour at the Naju Pear Museum. Naju pear museum to promote the history and excellence of Naju pear.
- 2 Yeongsan River Garden, Yeongsan-dong 757-1, ☏ +82 61-339-2987. This is where lotus and cosmos bloom, and Naju Yeongsan River Festival is often held.
- 3 Naju Small Art Museum, Gwawon Street 5. This is a healing space because you can see art works and there is also a cafe.
- 4 Geumseonggwan Pavilion (금성관), 8 Geumseonggwan-gil, ☏ +82 061-339-8613. Geumseonggwan is historic government guesthouse from the Joseon Dynasty located in Naju.
- 5 Dongshin University Museum of Culture (동신대학교 문화박물관), 67 Dongsindae-gil, ☏ +82 061-330-3827. Th–F 10:00–17:00, M–W 10:00–17:00, closed on Sa and Su. As Korea’s first camera museum, it exhibits over 1,500 cameras donated by photographer and Dongshin University visiting professor Lee Kyung-mo. The museum displays various cameras, lenses, and camera parts, featuring models from around the world — including Leica and Contax from Germany, as well as cameras from Japan, the United States, European countries, the former Soviet Union, China, North Korea, and South Korea — allowing visitors to compare their designs and history. Free.
- 6 Bitgaram Lake Park Observatory (빛가람호수공원빛가람전망대), 77 Hosu-ro, Bitgaram-dong, ☏ +82 061-339-2715. Summer (Mar–Oct) 09:00–22:00, winter (Nov–Feb) 09:00–21:00, closed every M. Located at the top of Bemmaesan Mountain, Bitgaram Observatory is a 20.7-meter-tall landmark of Naju Innovation City, offering a panoramic view of the entire area. The main attractions include a monorail and a stone slide.
Do
[edit]If you want to get a driver's licence in South Jeolla, you have to do it in Naju (specifically in Yeongsanpo).
- 1 Naju Sports Park (나주 종합 스포츠 파크), Yeongsangangbyeon Street 99, ☏ +82 61-339-4521. Daily 06:00-22:00. It is place where many cherry blossoms and marathon competitions are often held.
- 2 Poseidon Water Leisure (포세이돈수상레저), 1474-2 Bangsan-ri, Dado-myeon, ☏ +82 0507-1472-6364. Open daily 09:00–18:00, Break time 12:00–14:00. You can take a motorboat ride around Naju Lake and enjoy various water activities. Amusement rides are also available for visitors. Thrilling activity: boating – ₩15,000.
Buy
[edit]Every five days, the five day market rolls into Naju. Haggle with the old women for their fruits, vegetables, and various unrecognizable seafoods.
- 1 Naju Moksagoeul Market (나주목사고을시장), 14 Cheongdong-gil. Daily 10:00–21:00, closed on the 1st and 3rd Su of every month. Naju Moksagoeul Market was newly established in 2012 by combining Geumgye Daily Market, a permanent market, and Seongbuk Market, a traditional periodic market. It sells Naju’s seasonal specialties, agricultural products, and various daily necessities.
- 2 Yeongsanpo Traditional Market (영산포 풍물시장), 12-14 Pungmul Market 2-gil. Yeongsanpo Pungmul Market is a representative traditional five-day market of the southwestern coast, held every five and ten days. Visitors can not only find Naju’s famous specialty, fermented skate (hongeo), but also enjoy observing the unique fashion styles of the local elders.
- 3 Nampyeong Traditional Market (남평전통시장), 21 Jiseok-ro, Nampyeong-eup. Nampyeong Traditional Market is a five-day market held in Naju every month on the 1st and 6th. It is mostly closed on other days. The market is famous for its traditional gukbap (rice soup) and loach soup. It also provides convenient parking facilities for visitors.
Eat
[edit]Naju is known across the country for its pear called the Naju pear. It's very large with the consistency of an apple and the taste of a pear. Very refreshing in the summer. Yeongsanpo, an area of Naju, is famous for its fermented skate fish. Try it at your own risk.
- 1 Gangbyeon Eel & Pork BBQ (강변장어돼지갈비), 82-12, Nampyeong 1-ro, Nampyeong-eup, ☏ +82 061-332-6006. Daily 11:00 - 21:30. Gangbyeon Eel and Pork BBQ is a Korean restaurant that offers a variety of dishes, including grilled eel, charcoal-grilled pork ribs, and mushroom bulgogi set meals.
- 2 Health Black Goat Garden (건강흑염소가든), 92 Jiseok-ro, Nampyeong-eup, ☏ +82 061-331-2155. t is a Korean restaurant specializing in black goat dishes such as boiled black goat and black goat hot pot.
- 3 Geumil Skate (금일홍어), 202 Yeongsanpo-ro, ☏ +82 061-334-0092. Daily 09:00 – 21:00. It is a Korean restaurant specializing in fermented skate dishes, serving not only skate samhap, seasoned skate, and skate soup, but also aged kimchi braised short ribs.
- 4 Naju Gomtang Samegi (나주곰탕 사매기), 31 Geumseonggwan-gil, ☏ +82 061-333-8813. Daily 07:00 – 20:00, closed on the third Th of every month. Naju Gomtang Samegi is a traditional Korean restaurant where you can enjoy rich and flavorful Naju beef soup and hearty suyuk gomtang (boiled beef soup). The clean broth, tender meat, and especially the homemade aged kimchi are exceptional. The interior, designed in the style of a traditional hanok with ceramic decorations, adds a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
- 5 Nampyeong Hanwoo Village (남평한우촌), 36-15 Bukmangmun-gil, ☏ +82 061-334-8892. Daily 10:30 – 22:00. Nampyeong Hanwoo Village is a beloved restaurant known for its fresh Korean beef and carefully prepared dishes. Popular menu items include raw beef bibimbap, premium Korean beef sirloin, and short rib soup. The side dishes, such as soy sauce marinated crab and salted freshwater shrimp, are also local favorites.
- 6 Daeseung Eel Restaurant (대승장어), 91 Gujinpo-ro, Dasi-myeon, ☏ +82 061-336-1265. This family-run restaurant has been operating for over 20 years. The eels are first grilled to remove excess oil, then coated with sauce during the second grilling. The restaurant is famous for its marinated grilled eel and salted grilled eel.
Drink
[edit]- Bauzen. The best bar in Naju is near Chosun University. It's called Bauzen and is frequented by local students who are very curious to talk to foreigners. Please behave though, the owners will use any excuse to get the foreigners out. Also, you are expected to order a food dish. Besides that, it's actually worth a night out!
Sleep
[edit]There are tons of love motels in every area of Naju. Some are less sketchy than others. A wider selection of better class hotels can be found in nearby Muan and Gwangju.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]- Naju Lake is a sort of water park. You can get there by one of the 160 routes.
- Mokpo is less than an hour away by express bus or train.
- Gwangju is even closer and more accessible by bus.
| Routes through Naju |
| Mokpo ← | SW  NE
|
→ Gwangju Songjeong → Gwangju |