Gumi

Though not a popular tourist destination, Gumi is a major industrial epicenter in South Korea. It is home of Samsung mobile and LG Display; two huge industrial complexes that dominate the city's interior. Despite being the location of four large industrial complexes, Gumi provides excellent hiking and cultural opportunities for visitors.

Gumi is also the birthplace of Park Chung-hee, the military dictator who've lead South Korea's economic boom in the expense of civil liberties. To a lesser extent, the city is also the birthplace of his assassin, KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu, who killed him in 1979.

Most of Gumi can be accessed by city buses. There is no rapid rail in the city and the bus system is below average for Korean standards. There are many taxis that are quite fair and honest and will take you anywhere you want to go.

• 🌍 Geumosan Provincial Park, ☏ +82 54-480-4604. Geumosan Provincial Park. At 976 meters Geumosan is by far the highest mountain in the city and is a challenge for any hiker. It is quite popular, especially, on weekends, but (like many mountains) the higher you climb, the thinner the crowd. At the base of the mountain there is a decent Botanical Garden. To get to the garden, turn right just after the lake on the way to the mountain. Pass the restaurant that rents the duck boats and keep walking. The garden is straight ahead. One third of the way up the mountain is a beautiful waterfall that can freeze solid in winter, and be thundering in summer and spring. There is also a cave about 0.2 km to the right of the waterfall and well worth the detour from the top. To reach the summit, allow about 2 hours; 3.5 hours round trip. At the summit, there is also a gorgeous temple that provides spectacular views. It is a great place to sit and relax after a tough hike. Hikers love to have a picnic at the helicopter pad near the summit as well. This is a popular spot for a great view as well. Continue walking past the temple and you will reach the stone carving of Buddha that is nearly 700 years old. This route meets back to the main trail near the waterfall and is a fantastic hike. (updated Oct 2022)

To get to Geumosan Park from the train station, turn right out of the front of the station and walk through downtown Gumi toward the Lotte Castle apartments. Turn right at a major intersection that has a discount outdoor equipment store on the left side, and a gaming store on the right. The store will be marked with a giant Playstation 2 logo. There is also a big brown sign hanging above the intersection. Turn right at this intersection and walk approximately 1.5 kilometers to the park. Turn left at the burned down restaurant that looks like a ship. It is actually a very pleasant walk along a small creek. You will walk around the lake at Geumosan and be at the park within 30 minutes of leaving the train station.

From the bus terminal, take the #12 bus straight to Guemosan. It leaves every 90 minutes and is the only bus that goes to the park. The #12 bus also leaves from Gumi Station every 90 minutes.

• President Park Chung Hee Birthplace, 107 Park Chung-hee Road, Gumi/구미시 박정희로 107. A non-attractive traditional Korean hut in which military dictator Park Chung-hee was born. The surroundings of his birthplace have been substantially expanded to include a memorial hall, a statue of himself and a garden. (updated Jul 2022)
• Dongrak Park. Along the Nakdonggang, it was created as a waterfront urban park in an area of 267,751㎡ from Imsu-dong under Gumi Bridge to Jung-ri, Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok-gun. It is a place that is loved by citizens with a promenade of more than 9.3km, a wide lawn of 163,020㎡, various sports facilities and convenience facilities. Admission is free of charge. In spring, many people gather because cherry blossoms bloom beautifully.

Other attractions:

• Gumi Science Center
• Gumi Zero Carbon Education Center
• Gumi Ecology Land
• Silla Buddhist Chojeonji
• Yaeun History Experience Center
• Okseong Recreation Forest
• Wangsan Huwui Memorial Hall
• Cheonsaengsanseong Fortress

Go to a Gumi LIG Greaters volleyball game. The games receive a lot of support from the locals and are genuinely fun to go to. They have enthusiastic chants and cheers and the fans are very excited about volleyball. It is the only professional sport in the city.

Nakdonggang Sports Park. This is a sports facility. It is a stadium equipped with natural grass fields and mondo tracks, and was completed on 7 May 2012. There are many stadiums such as a general stadium, a soccer field, a baseball field, a futsal field, a foot volleyball court, and a badminton court. Depending on the season, various flowers such as pink muley and cosmos bloom beautifully.

Buy Ginseng. Like all Korean cities, Gumi is no exception to ginseng. The most famous ginseng store in Gumi is located about eight blocks east of the train station and about four blocks South of the bus terminal.

Eat Makchang (막창) and Gopchang (곱창). One can find very decent restaurants that serve these dishes on nearly every block of the city. Makchang is historically from nearby Daegu but Gumi has some delicious restaurants that serve the dish. If you do not know about Makchang, it is grilled pork intestine that is then chopped up and served with Doeinjang (bean paste sauce)

Gopchang is the only dish that Gumi can really try to claim as its own, though it originates from nearby Seonsan (선산). Gopchang is a boiled version of Makchang, but it cooked in a sweet and spicy (more spicy) sauce and is very delicious.

Love motels are cheap and plentiful in Gumi. One can usually get a room for around $20 on weeknights or $30 on weekends. Motel Geumosan, located at the base of the mountain, is by far the most luxurious hotel in the city and runs around $200 a night.

• Andong, home of the annual International Mask Festival and UNESCO World Heritage rated Hahoe Folk Village.
• Daegu, the nearest major city, and South Korea's third largest.
• Gimcheon, nearby city located along a major highway and rail link, halfway between Daegu and Daejeon.