Chungcheong 충청

Chungcheong is the band of central South Korea between the capital region and the south. It covers two provinces, North Chungcheong (Chungcheongbuk-do), the country’s only landlocked province, and South Chungcheong (Chungcheongnam-do) on the Yellow Sea coast, together with two independent cities: Daejeon, a metropolitan city and research hub, and Sejong, the planned special self-governing city where many national ministries have moved. The region has a reputation inside Korea for being unhurried, and for foreign visitors it remains one of the least crowded parts of the country.

History is the strongest draw. Gongju and Buyeo were successive capitals of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms, from the late 5th century until its fall in 660. Their fortresses, royal tombs and temple sites now form most of the UNESCO-listed Baekje Historic Areas, which also include sites in Iksan in neighbouring Jeolla. Both towns are small and walkable, and their museums explain a kingdom that is often overshadowed by Silla and Gyeongju.

The mountains hold some of Korea’s most atmospheric temples. Magoksa near Gongju and Beopjusa in Songnisan National Park are both among the seven Sansa mountain monasteries inscribed by UNESCO in 2018; the temples guide explains what makes these sites distinctive. In the north-east of the region, Danyang offers limestone river scenery, caves and paragliding over the Namhangang River.

The west coast is flatter, with tidal flats, fishing harbours and sandy beaches. Daecheon Beach at Boryeong is the best known, especially in high summer, when the Boryeong Mud Festival takes over the seafront.

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to visit, with autumn especially good for temple grounds and the fortress walks. Getting in is straightforward: Daejeon is under an hour from Seoul by KTX, and Gongju has its own station on the Honam high-speed line, though local buses are the main way to reach Buyeo, which has no railway. The Korail Pass guide covers rail options for longer trips through the region.