Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

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Gyeongju is less than two hours from Seoul by KTX, and I think it is one of those places you simply have to visit at least once while living in Korea. The traces of a thousand years of Silla history are scattered all across the city, and the first time I went, I was genuinely surprised. The historic sites are not locked away inside museums — they are just sitting there, right in the middle of the city.

Walking through Daereungwon, surrounded by enormous ancient burial mounds, it is hard to fully grasp that these tombs are 1,500 years old. Cheomseongdae was smaller than I expected, which threw me off at first, but standing right in front of it, the fact that Silla people built this thing with their own hands feels remarkable. Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto are a bit further out, but the drive there is pleasant enough.

Gyeongju is not a flashy or trendy city. But I think that is exactly what makes it special. It is quiet, unhurried, and no matter where you walk, something old and weathered catches your eye. If you have a foreign friend who is curious about Korean history, this is the first place I would send them.