Muju, visited after a long time.
From Dad’s hometown, Daedeok-myeon, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, it’s only a 30-minute drive beyond Mt. Daedeok, which is also a place worth revisiting.
During this time, I could also correct some misconceptions I had.
Indeed, did the Muju Naje Tongmun truly penetrate through Baekje and Silla?
Returning to Muju’s Naje Tongmun after a decade or so, memories arise of a former employee who lived in Seolcheon-myeon, Muju-gun, where my previous workplace was located… That employee was surprised to learn that I knew Seolcheon-myeon.
However it happened, I too revisited the place after a decade or so, and during that time, it had changed quite a lot.
Developed into a tourist destination, Muju’s Naje Tongmun boasted several restaurants and a lovely café adjacent to the Muju Gucheondong Valley.
If there was time, I would have liked to have a cup of coffee with my mom at the café…
It was regrettable…
Coming back after so many years…
Next time, I’ll definitely come again. Café!
One thing that changes with age is that I increasingly appreciate such charming cafés.
The rest area at Muju Naje Tongmun, offering traditional dishes like mountain vegetable bibimbap, homemade pork cutlets, mandu mushroom stew, and galbitang as main dishes…
This place is presumed to have formed the border between Silla and Baekje during the Three Kingdoms period…
Here, the term “presumed” must be considered.
In reality, the Naje Tongmun was carved out during the Japanese occupation to create a new road, known as Sinjak-ro.
It’s unlikely that they could have pierced through the rocky mountain during the Three Kingdoms period.
Regardless, Muju became famous as a mecca of Taekwondo, naturally gaining popularity over time.
The path leading from Muju Naje Tongmun to Daedeok-myeon, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is not far from the border between Gyeongsang-do and Jeolla-do.
Just 30 minutes away from here, crossing Mt. Daedeok, you can reach Daedeok-myeon, Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do.
Even the names evoke a nostalgic feeling.
Crossing over Daedeok Mountain and passing through Mupung-myeon, you can reach Daesanjae.
This area isn’t too far from the border between Gyeongsang-do and Jeolla-do.
It’s likely that it wasn’t so far from where we are now.
Even though the weather was rainy in mid-July, the usual calm stream in the valley seemed different…
Usually, there’s a staircase next to the rest area leading to the clear valley stream.
The Naje Tongmun, as viewed from Mupung-myeon, Muju-gun, was probably not seen from the Silla side in the past.
Of course, the gate itself didn’t exist back then, but it’s interesting to see the traces of time on the rocky mountain with inscriptions.
Vehicles can’t cross each other here.
As a result, there’s a slight inconvenience of having to wait for cars coming from the opposite direction, but since the road isn’t long and there isn’t a lot of traffic, it doesn’t seem to be a big problem.
One peculiar thing about the gate is that two different rivers flow on either side.
And above the gate, a long stretch of mountains continues like a screen.
It seems to be a place where nature has created a natural boundary.
So, could this place have been the border between Silla and Baekje during the actual Silla and Baekje periods?
Or perhaps Mt. Daedeok (with an altitude of 1290m) served as the boundary…
The road continues on the opposite side of the gate, leading to a long stretch of mountains, and beyond that, passing through fields on the right, another river flows.
And at the foot of the mountain, it meets the stream flowing from Muju Gucheondong and continues to Namdaechun in Muju.
Since there are attractions on both sides of the gate, it might be worth taking a walk around. (Note: Be careful of vehicular traffic as there are no separate pedestrian paths.)
If you clear a path along the rocky ridge, you might be able to see the point where Gucheondong Valley and Namdaechun meet at the edge of the mountain, although it seems a bit disappointing that it wasn’t more accessible.
During heavy rainfall in mid-July, the usually calm stream was quite different…
Normally, there was a mountain trail that passed through Mupung-myeon and Seolcheon-myeon, but the Japanese created tunnels for gold mining and plundering purposes.
Before heading to Muju Resort, it was a decent place to stop by if you’re looking for places to visit in Muju.
Moreover, since it leads to Muju Taekwondo Center, it might be worth a visit on the way.
On the opposite side of the rest area, there’s a pavilion where you can enjoy the cool stream flowing from Muju Gucheondong. (Note: During periods without heavy rain, the water flow is not as excessive.)
The rocky ridge above the gate doesn’t seem very high.
Until the Japanese opened this rocky tunnel, people had to cross over the rocky mountain.
Collapse
Muju Naje Tongmun is believed to have been a passage connecting Sinjak-ro Cave between Seolcheon-myeon and Mupung-myeon in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, with historical significance as a possible boundary area between Baekje and Silla.
✔ The name attached to it wasn’t from the Silla or Baekje era but is associated with a legend suggesting that Silla and Baekje formed a natural border.
✔ The actual rock cave was built during the Japanese occupation as a means of passage for gold mining and exploitation purposes.
✔ From Muju Naje Tongmun, there are various places worth visiting, including Muju Resort and Taekwondo Center, and about 30 minutes away lies Daedeok Mountain, a high mountain that serves as the boundary between Gyeongsang-do and Jeolla-do.
Parking was convenient here.
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