Hitchhiking in South Korea: Gyeongju
23rd of April, 2025.
On the birth and deathday of Shakespeare, here I am visiting a most wonderful town, Gyeongju!
I drop off my backpack at a large tourist centre, right by Woljeonggyo Bridge, with a very kind and helpful lady, and then I start.
Woljeonggyo Bridge is absolutely gorgeous! Even more from close by then from afar. The colours, the patterns, the details… everything is breathtaking beautiful! I’m lucky that at this time there’s still nobody here (I guess tourists are lazy), so I have the whole bridge for myself. You can go up the stairs where there’s a small exhibition, which totally worth it because you can also see more of the structure of the bridge, but unfortunately the windows are closed. I cross the whole bridge and then come back to go exploring other areas. My tip is: pictures across the bridge are better, as you can then have both pillars showing entirely in your photo.
The historical area of Gyeongju is my favourite and the only one I would visit. I have no intentions of going to the city. It’s just another city like any other in the world.
There’s an area called Choe’s Old House, which is incredible! All the houses here are in the Hanok traditional style, so beautiful! There is an educational centre, very famous in South Korea, and many other buildings. Some of them you can go inside and explore it for FREE! I loved it! It’s so nice to be able to experience this traditional way of living from the past, and in this case in particular, everything is so gorgeous! There are also cafes and shops, of course and unfortunately, but not that many at least.
Right by here there are some gardens and green areas which are also astonishing! It’s quite a walk so be prepared! Or you can rent a bike as many people do.
Then there’s the oldest observatory in Asia, Cheomseongdae, which is basically a stone tower so don’t expect too much, but which is surrounded by beautiful flowers. From here, it’s a short walk to Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, which everybody recommends to visit, so I walk there. As there is an entrance fee, I don’t even check how much is it, and just turn around. My plan was to go to a museum nearby, but on MapsMe it shows a ticket booth, so I don’t go there either. Tomorrow, I would understand that the universe always does things for a reason.
I start going back for my backpack by crossing another green area, this time with some small hills which give you a nice view of the river and the Cheomseongdae Observatory. It’s also a historical area because the old palace used to be here, as the excavation sites can be seen as you walk around.
Before getting The Hulk back, I ask for hot water in a coffee shop, and sit across Woljeonggyo Bridge, in some stone steps, admiring the view while I have my lunch: almond and walnut tea with rice cake and snacks.
Again, the universe does a good job and for no reason I though that the tourist info would close at 15.00 hours, so I make sure to come back there before this time. They actually close at 18.00 hours. If wasn’t for this, I would, most likely, just keep walking or chilling a little more, therefore I could, most likely, miss the incredible Kian and her husband, Pastor Kim Sang-Jeong.
As I come to their church, I am received by a lovely man called Myeong-gyun. I explain everything to him and he calls someone. They say I can stay and as he was to show me where, he receives another call telling him to ask me to wait for a while, because they want to give me a proper room, in the guest house of the church, instead of simply a place to sleep on the floor. As I wait in the library, I read what seems to be the only book in both South Korean and English, which is some short versions of the bible texts.
Pastor Kim Sang-Jeong and his wife Kian great me as I walk upstairs to where they are staying. They show me the bedroom where I will stay, a fully equipped loft, with kitchen and bathroom. They show me the space and then invite me for a cup of coffee.
It’s like an office and a small kitchen too, with a big table. We use the translator and I explain everything to them. When they tell me that they both are almost 60, I cannot believe it! It’s amazing how young they both look. Even more Kian who looks like 40 tops! What a genes! I ask if it’s OK for me to go and visit Woljeonggyo Bridge after dark, as I read online that it’s a beautiful site. They offer for me to join the service of the church at 19.30 hours and I can come to the bridge right after that. I say cool.
I take a shower and soon after they tell me it’s dinner time. They order for me some delicious pork cutlet (with melting cheese inside), rice, kimchi (way better than the one at Buddha Forest), some cabbage salad with a delicious sauce, and other things. Kian also gives me some incredible strawberries. I am full! Amazing food!
I take a rest after dinner as I am so tired, and soon after 19.00 hours we go to the church. The service lasts less than one hour but it passes really fast. The church is massive, all in wood and very beautiful.
They tell me they will take me to the bridge by car. Yay! That’s so awesome! And wow, Woljeonggyo Bridge at night is really a site for the eyes! No words to describe. We have so much fun and laughs which is amazing!
Then they ask me about a certain palace, and because I don’t recognize the name, I say I don’t know. As we drive there, it happens to be Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, and as they tell me the entrance fee is very small, only 2300 KRW, so they are happy to pay for me. Again, an incredible place which must be visited at night, as the reflection of the trees and buildings on the water of the pond, plus the lights of the place, are mesmerizing! And I have this weird sensation that this is home. Laugh. It’s truly beautiful!
As we are leaving, we have a traditional rice drink, called rishe. And once in town, in a very busy street, they buy me one of the most delicious South Korean snacks, in my opinion. It is called 10 coins, and it’s simply some pancakes with loads of melting cheese inside. It’s out of this world!
10 Years Around the World 