Situated in the heart of the Honam Plain, Gimje is not only one of Korea’s most important agricultural regions but also one of the few places so flat you can see the actual horizon. It’s with this in mind that the town hosts the annual Gimje Horizon Festival (Oct 2–6). Festival events include Korean rural music performances, landscape drawing contests, parades, Korean wrestling, Korean tug-of-war, and more. Gimje is also the birthplace of Korean rice cultivation, one of the foundations of Korean civilization. Evidence of this can be found at the Byeokgolje Reservoir, Korea’s first embankment. The embankment was built in 330 AD to provide the water necessary for agricultural development.
EAT> Try the bajirakjuk, a rice porridge made with Manila clams. The Jipyeongseon Bajirakjuk restaurant (T. 063-543-3939) is a good place to score this.
SEE>
The horizon, of course.
DO>
The Gimje Horizon Festival has plenty of hands-on programs, many of which allow you to experience various aspects of agricultural life.
STAY>
The downtown area has its fair share of small hotels and inns.
FYI>
http://festival.gimje.go.kr
GO>
To get to Gimje, take the KTX from Yongsan Station (travel time: 3 hours).
