Official / Local Name금곡면
Region / ProvinceGyeongsangnam-do (Jinju)
PopulationOfficial Municipality
Coordinates35.1012°N, 128.1875°E · 39 m
Overview
Situated in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do at 39 m elevation, Geumgok-myeon (금곡면, pop. Official Municipality) is known for its Korean heritage architecture, agricultural valleys, and rotating 5-day markets.
| Official / Local Name | 금곡면 (Geumgok-myeon) |
|---|---|
| Region / Province | Gyeongsangnam-do · Jinju |
| Population | Official Municipality |
| Elevation | 39 m above sea level |
| Nearest Rail / Subway Station | Galchon Station (갈촌역) (5.5 km) |
| Nearby Landmarks & Sights | Mit’a-sa (미타사) (7.4 km) · Yŏndae-am (연대암) (6.0 km) · Chŏkkwang-sa (8.4 km) · Paegyŏn-am (백연암) (6.9 km) |
| Local Neighborhoods & Sub-Areas | Tumun (1.5 km), Odong (1.8 km), Sŏkkye-dong (2.0 km), Kŏmŭndang (2.4 km), Yŏngdae (2.7 km) |
| Neighboring Municipalities | Yeongo-myeon (영오면) (3.9 km) · Munsan-eup (문산읍) (6.1 km) · Yeonghyeon-myeon (영현면) (6.9 km) · Jeongchon-myeon (정촌면) (7.2 km) · Jeongdong-myeon (정동면) (7.6 km) |
Getting There & Local Transit
Nearest rail/transit hub: Galchon Station (갈촌역) (5.5 km). KTX Gyeongjeon Line to Changwon, Masan & Jinju; intercity express buses from Busan Sasang to Tongyeong & Geoje. Tap a nationwide T-money card on local buses and subways, and search "금곡면" in Naver Map or KakaoMap for real-time directions.
What to See & Do
- Mit’a-sa (미타사) (7.4 km) — Geumgok-myeon (금곡면)
- Yŏndae-am (연대암) (6.0 km) — Geumgok-myeon (금곡면)
- Chŏkkwang-sa (8.4 km) — Geumgok-myeon (금곡면)
- Paegyŏn-am (백연암) (6.9 km) — Geumgok-myeon (금곡면)
Local Food & Regional Specialties
- Hearty regional 국밥 (Gukbap rice soup) and handmade 칼국수 (Kalguksu knife-cut noodles) simmered with anchovy, radish, and seasonal greens from Gyeongsangnam-do.
- Charcoal-grilled local pork belly (Samgyeopsal), marinated short ribs (Galbi), and savory 해물파전 (scallion and seafood pancakes) served at family-run 식당 (Sikdang, ₩9,000–₩16,000).
- Earthenware-aged 된장 (Doenjang soybean paste) and 고추장 (Gochujang), sun-dried regional produce, traditional 한과 (Hangwa rice sweets), and local brewery 생막걸리 (unpasteurized draft Makgeolli).
- Locals gather for weekday 백반 (Baekban home-style lunch sets, ₩9,000–₩12,000) where every table receives 6–10 complimentary refillable banchan side dishes, and browse the traditional 5-day market (오일장) for seasonal harvest specialties. Across Geumgok-myeon (pop. 12,000) in Jinju, neighborhood alleys combine family-run soup and BBQ spots with modern Korean bakery-cafes.
Best Time to Visit
Mar–May (Jinhae Cherry Blossoms), Sep–Nov. Gyeongsangnam-do → · 3,651 All Cities →