Kumi’s nature and culture can be viewed as two distinct travel themes. Geumosan Mountain and the walking trail by the reservoir offer a tangible way to experience the landscape; the fortress, temple and Yaeun History Experience Center explore different historical themes. In 2024, Tini핑랜드 and a Ferris wheel called Tini핑 were established in Kumi.

Geumosan: Mountain Scenery and Fortress

Geumosan Mountain is 976 meters high and belongs to the Sobaeksan mountain range; it was designated a provincial park in 1970. Geumosan Fortress is located in Geumosan Provincial Park. It is a mountain fortress with a double stone wall dating from the late Goryeo period. The fortress’s outer wall sits at an elevation of about 350 meters, halfway along the cable car route between the Geumosan entrance and Daehyepokpo Falls. These elevation figures refer to two different points: 976 meters is the height of the mountain, while about 350 meters is the elevation of the outer wall. The fortress’s location in the park thus connects a historic structure with the landscape of Geumosan.

Walking Trail and Waterfalls

The Geumosan Olle-gil is a 2.7-kilometer walking trail around the Geumoj Reservoir at the foot of Geumosan Mountain. The route includes a waterside boardwalk; along the trail is a photo spot called “당신은 구미의별”. Daehyepokpo Falls (Myeonggeum) can be reached by cable car. Check whether the cable car is operating before your trip. The Olle-gil and the waterfalls offer different kinds of outings: a route on foot and a destination accessible by cable car.

Temple and Cultural History

Haeunsa Temple was originally founded as Daehyeolsa toward the end of the Silla period. Its Daeungjeon Hall houses a seated Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva made of plaster. The temple also has stone Arhat statues, whose creation is attributed to Japanese craftsmen during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

The Yaeun History Experience Center focuses on the life, work and loyalty of Giljae Yaeun. He was a loyal scholar of the late Goryeo period and an important teacher of Neo-Confucianism. The two cultural sites differ in both their historical periods and their subject matter: Haeunsa combines temple history with religious sculptures, while the Yaeun Center focuses on Giljae Yaeun’s biography and Neo-Confucianism. Haeunsa was also founded toward the end of the Silla period, while the fortress dates from the late Goryeo period.

Amusement Park and Finding Accommodation

At the entrance to Geumosan Provincial Park, in Kumi, there is an amusement park with various rides. Admission to this amusement park is free.

If you are looking for hotels in Kumi, first choose based on the focus of your trip: would you like your stay to revolve around a walk by the reservoir, mountain scenery or cultural history?

Discover more destinations: Andong, Pohang, Gimcheon-si, Uljin, Goryeong-Gun, Sangju-si, Gyeongsan-Si, Yeongcheon-si

For the broader travel overview: Gyeongsangbuk-Do.