Official / Local Name매곡면
Region / ProvinceNorth Chungcheong (Yeongdong-gun)
PopulationOfficial Municipality
Coordinates36.1738°N, 127.9488°E · 371 m
Overview
Set at 371 m elevation amid the highland valleys of Yeongdong-gun (North Chungcheong), Maegok-myeon (매곡면, pop. Official Municipality) is a gateway for Korean ridge hikes, valley temples, and autumn foliage drives.
| Official / Local Name | 매곡면 (Maegok-myeon) |
|---|---|
| Region / Province | North Chungcheong · Yeongdong-gun |
| Population | Official Municipality |
| Elevation | 371 m above sea level |
| Nearest Rail / Subway Station | Sinam Station (신암역) (5.7 km) |
| Nearby Landmarks & Sights | Geumgangsa (금강사) (2.4 km) · Yeongchuksa (영축사) (3.1 km) · Hwanguisa (황의사) (3.4 km) · Hwangsaebong (황새봉) (2.0 km) |
| Local Neighborhoods & Sub-Areas | Orisil (오리실) (0.6 km), Geundeongni (근덕리) (0.7 km), Yujeolli (유전리) (0.9 km), Bakkatorisil (바깥오리실) (1.1 km), Gaechun (개춘) (1.1 km) |
| Neighboring Municipalities | Chupungnyeong-myeon (추풍령면) (4.7 km) · Bongsan-myeon (봉산면) (7.2 km) · Hwanggan-myeon (황간면) (8.7 km) · Sangchon-myeon (상촌면) (9.8 km) · Daehang-myeon (대항면) (10.0 km) |
Getting There & Local Transit
Nearest rail/transit hub: Sinam Station (신암역) (5.7 km). KTX/SRT via Osong Station; KTX-Eum to Jecheon & Danyang; Cheongju International Airport (CJJ). Tap a nationwide T-money card on local buses and subways, and search "매곡면" in Naver Map or KakaoMap for real-time directions.
What to See & Do
- Geumgangsa (금강사) (2.4 km) — Maegok-myeon (매곡면)
- Yeongchuksa (영축사) (3.1 km) — Maegok-myeon (매곡면)
- Hwanguisa (황의사) (3.4 km) — Maegok-myeon (매곡면)
- Hwangsaebong (황새봉) (2.0 km) — Maegok-myeon (매곡면)
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 North Chungcheong.
- 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 Maegok-myeon (pop. 12,000) in Yeongdong-gun, neighborhood alleys combine family-run soup and BBQ spots with modern Korean bakery-cafes.
Best Time to Visit
Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. North Chungcheong → · 3,651 All Cities →