Gunsan Modern History Street is a district where 100-year-old colonial-era buildings and alleys still stand. It is about 3 hours by car or 2.5 hours by express bus from Seoul, and because you can step inside buildings that were actually used, it has become a popular retro travel spot.
Half-day walking route
Use the Modern History Museum parking lot as your base and follow Wolmyeong-ro to cover the highlights in 3-4 hours on foot. Get the context on the port opening and colonial extraction at the museum first, then walk 5 minutes to the former Joseon Bank Gunsan Branch (Modern Architecture Museum, 1922, free), the drama-famous Hirotsu House, Dongguksa (1909, Korea's only Japanese-style temple), and the Gyeongam-dong railway village.
Hours and transport
- Modern History Museum: 09:00-18:00, adults 2,000 won, closed Mondays
- Modern Architecture Museum (former Joseon Bank), Hirotsu House, and Dongguksa: free
- Park at the museum's public lot; on weekends arrive before 10am. City buses 53 and 55 run from the terminal and Gunsan Station
In short: Start at the Modern History Museum and tie together the Joseon Bank, Hirotsu House, Dongguksa, and the railway village on a half-day walk. Most sites are free and only the museum costs 2,000 won; spring and autumn are most pleasant, and arriving early helps on weekends.