The southwestern area of Korea has been strongly influenced by the Baekje Kingdom, which spread southward during its reign. The land, called the "rice bin of Korea," slopes gently down to the jagged coastline, which is composed of many small harbors. SOUTHWESTERN AREA >> Jeonju Korea's seventh largest city, Jeonju, is located along the Honam Expressway. Jeonju is famous for the manufacture of Korea's traditional mulberry paper, hanji. It is also famous for its delicious rice, vegetable and meat mixture called bibimbap. Don't leave Jeonju without tasting it. Getting to Jeonju Seoul - Jeonju : 3 hrs. by Saemaeul Train, 2 hrs. 50 min. by express bus Daejeon - Jeonju : 1 hr. 20 min. by express bus Busan - Jeonju : 5 hrs. 15 min. by express bus Maisan means "Horse Ears Mountain." It derives its name from the shape of its twin peaks as seen from certain angles. At the foot of the mountain is Dapsa Temple, a group of 80 stone pagodas built by a hermit monk over 100 years ago. Although they are not held together with any mortar, the pagodas do not move even in the strongest wind. :: Location : Jinan, 30 km east of Jeonju :: Transportation : 50 min. by bus from Jeonju Intercity Bus Terminal to Jinan Mt. Deokyusan is a park typical of the interior of Korea. Rising to an elevation of 1,614 meters (5,295 ft.), it is most famous for Muju Gucheondong Valley. It also offers winter skiing at Muju Resort and camping at various campgrounds. :: Location : Muju-gun, east of Jeonju :: Transportation : 1 hr. 20 min. by intercity bus from Yeongdong Intercity Bus Terminal SOUTHWESTERN AREA >> Gwangju Gwangju lies at the intersection of the Honam, Namhae and 88 Olympic Expressways. The long-standing capital city of Jeollanam-do Province, it has been the administrative and economic center of the province for centuries. Mudeungsan, on the southeastern side of downtown Gwangju, hovers over the city like a guardian. It is famous for its watermelon (Mudeungsan subak) and chunseolcha, or spring snow tea. The chunseolcha is made out of the soft buds that emerge from the snow in early spring. :: Location :13 km southwest of Gwangju :: Transportation : 1hr. by city bus from form Gwangju Intercity Bus Terminal One of the largest temples in Korea, Songgwangsa was built during the last Silla Kingdom and become a center for Zen Buddhism in the 12th century. :: Location : Suncheon, southeast of Gwangju :: Transportation : 1hr. 30 min. by intercity bus from Gwangju Unjusa established by the great Buddhist monk Doseon-guksa during the Unified Silla Period, is famous for its many pagodas and Buddhas. According to the traditional theory of geomancy, the Korean Peninsula was thought to be unbalanced and in danger of capsizing because there were fewer mountains in Honam, the southwestern part of the peninsula, than in Yeongnam, the southeastern part. To prevent this disaster, thousands of statues of Buddha and thousands of pagodas were erected at temples in the southwestern part of the peninsula. Today, 22 pagodas and about 100 Buddhas remain at Unjusa. :: Location : Hwasun-eup, 30 km south of Gwangju :: Transportation : 1hr. by intercity bus from Gwangju Intercity Bus Terminal to Hwasun Jirisan was the first national park and ranges over 3 provinces (Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do). It has beautiful river valleys amid virgin forests and offers the fantastic sight of a sea of clouds at the top of the mountain. Ten temples and other cultural relics are scattered about Mt. Jirisan, including Hwaeomsa Temple at the foot of the mountain. The ruggedness of the mountain necessitates food preparation before climbing. :: Location : East of Namwon :: Transportation : 1 hr. to Baekmudong, Banseon (Baemsakkol), and Hwaeomsa entrances from Namwon Intercity Bus Terminal by bus Hwaeomsa Temple is located on Mt. Jirisan's southern slope. A three-story stone pagoda supported by four lions dates back to the Silla Kingdom and two of the 5-story pagodas here are National Treasures. A six-meter stone lantern dates back to the 9th century. A visit to Cheonghak-dong is like a trip back into the past. The townspeople live in the old Confucian style and wear traditional Korean clothes. Visitors can watch the everyday life of the village. :: Location : : 850 meters (2,789 ft.) above sea level on the southern slope of Mt. Jirisan