Uiryeong County (Uiryeong-gun, 의령군) is a county in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.
Understand
[edit]It is one of the least populated counties in South Korea, with fewer than 28,000 people in 2021.
The topography is oval-shaped, which is long in east and west and short in north and south, and the extended distance of the county is 32 km between east and west and 27 km between north and south.
Get in
[edit]Uiryeong sits between Jinju to the west and Haman/Masan/Changwon to the east. A bus runs regularly from the bus terminal in Uiryeong-Eup to all major cities in South Korea. A bus journey from Masan or Jinju takes approximately 35 minutes and 45 minutes respectively to Uiryeong bus terminal, while the journey from Busan takes 1 hour. It is also possible to take a bus directly to Seoul from Uiryeong.
The biggest problem in terms of transportation is that the intercity buses stop running to Uiryeong from the nearby cities fairly early in the evening. The last bus from Busan is 18:40, from Jinju, it's 19:30 and from Masan, it's 21:00.
Get around
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Uiryeong is a small county, so most attractions are best reached by car or taxi. Public transportation is limited: local buses connect some villages and major towns, but schedules can be infrequent.
Walking is possible for short distances within Uiryeong-eup (the town center), but most museums and historical sites are spread out.
Visitors are advised to plan their routes in advance or rent a car for easier access to attractions like the Museum of the Righteous Army or the Chungiksa Memorial Hall.
Taxis are available in the town center and at major bus stops.
By Taxi
[edit]Regular taxis: Can be hailed directly at taxi stands; most accept credit cards.
App taxis: Can be called using smartphone apps such as KakaoT or Onda; destinations can be entered in advance and payment is typically made by card.
Regular taxis have a base fare of around 3,800 KRW, with additional charges depending on distance and time.
App taxis calculate fares automatically through the app : payment can be made by card or cash.
Traveling to attractions that are difficult to reach by bus.
Visiting rural roads or locations outside the town center.
Short-distance trips with multiple passengers, which may be more efficient than taking the bus.
Booking and calling
Regular taxis can be boarded directly at taxi stands.
App taxis can be called anytime using a smartphone.
Tips and precautions
Most drivers do not speak foreign languages (English, Japanese, etc.), so show your destination in Korean or use a map.
Make sure the meter is turned on before starting your trip.
Road construction or events may require detours.
Check landmarks or addresses of your destination in advance.
For app taxis, use location sharing to make it easier for the driver to find you.
Traveling with several passengers over a short distance may be more cost-effective
See
[edit]Top rock (Top Bawhi) : On the steep cliff along the Namgang River in Jukjeon-ri, Jeonggok-myeon, about 10km east of Uiryeong-eup, there stands a layer of rock that resembles a tower (塔), which is the Top Rock.
- 1 Uiryeong Cloud Bridge, 644-1, Seodong-ri, Uiryeong-eup, ☏ +82 55-570-2513. 24hours. The Uiryeong Gureum Bridge, which was completed in 2005 as part of the Uiryeongcheon maintenance project, has a total length of 258 meters and a height of 48 meters. The red color of the structure is a motif of the red color that is said to have been worn in various battles by General Kwak Jae-woo, the first commander of the Uiryeong Army during the Imjin War. In addition, the unique colors of the traditional costume are used to harmonize with the outstanding scenery around the Uiryeongcheon Stream. The 18 white rings on the main tower represent the Righteous Army Tower of Chungiksa Temple, which symbolizes General Kwak Jae-woo and the 17th general. In addition, more than 400 LED lights are installed along the main tower and walking path to show off the splendid night view at night. There are a waterside park, artificial waterfalls, and walking paths near the Gureum Bridge. In particular, the trail connects Namsan Dulegil and the town, where residents enjoy walking. free.
- 2 Uibyeong Museum, 1-25, Chungik-ro, Uiryeong-eup, ☏ +82 55-570-2845. 9AM ~ 6PM / Every day. The Museum of the Righteous Army was opened on June 1, 2012.
It was built when the Uiryeong Museum, located in the former Uiryeong-gun Civil Culture Center (1-25 Chungik-ro, Uiryeong-eup), was combined with the Chungiksa Memorial Hall, which houses Treasure No. 671 — Kwak Jae-woo’s relics.
The museum stands on a 9,537㎡ site with a total floor area of 2,752㎡, constructed at a cost of 9.776 billion won.
Inside, there are several exhibition spaces, including an archaeological history room, a righteous army relics room, a special exhibition hall, a video room, and a storage room.
The archaeological history room displays prehistoric artifacts excavated from Magang-ri, Daeui-myeon; Ungok-ri, Yongdeok-myeon; and Gyeongsan-ri, Burim-myeon, along with relics from the Gaya period through Unified Silla, Goryeo, Joseon, and modern times.
The righteous army relics room exhibits artifacts of Kwak Jae-woo — including the Janggeom, Malman-sang, and Octagonal sword (Treasure No. 671) — as well as items related to 17 other generals such as Yun Tak, Oh Hun, Lee Woon-jang, Kang Eon-ryong, and An Ki-jong.
The museum is well received by visitors for its engaging displays that combine relics with videos, models, and dioramas, allowing guests to experience history in an interactive way.
Closed: Every Monday and on January 1.
(If Monday is a public holiday, the museum will be closed on the following weekday.) Free.
Do
[edit]Uiryeong Rich Rich Festival (2023) : a festival that runs from October 6 to 9, and various foods and markets are held. To see more information, click here - https://uiryeong.go.kr/festival/index.uiryeong
- 1 Suam Temple, 267, Suam-ro, Uiryeong-eup, Uiryeong-gun, ☏ +82 55-572-0022. 9AM~5PM. Located at the foot of Muralsan Mountain in Uiryeong-eup, Uiryeong-gun, 333 gwaneum statues of 2.8m high are lined up over 650m on both sides of the access road to the temple, and when you enter the compound after passing through the two-story pavilion-type Cheonwangmun, there are Yosa on both sides, and if you go up the stairs, you will find Daewoong Gwangjeon Hall, Geungnakjeon Hall, Gwaneumjeon Hall, and Beomjonggak Hall.
Near the entrance to Suamsa Temple, there are the three-story stone pagoda of Uiryeong Bocheonsa Temple Site, Treasure No. 373, and the stupa of Uiryeong Bocheonsa Temple Site, Treasure No. 472. FREE.