Gyerim Forest
Gyerim Forest in Gyeongju, a sacred forest where the founder of Silla was born
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Planning the visit
Gyerim Forest is stop 1 of 8 on the Golden Era Route.
You will find the stamp at the Culture and Tourism Commentator's Office in front of Cheomseongdae.
Opening hours are Open 24 hours, year-round.
The two closest stamp points are Wolseong Palace Site, 0.5 km away, and Bulguksa Temple at 11 km. All three fit into one day.
Details
- Address
- Get off at the KTX Singyeongju station → Take bus no. 60 at the Singyeongju station bus stop → Get off at Cheonmachong bus stop → Walk for 3 minutes
- Stamp zone
- Culture and Tourism Commentator’s Office in front of Cheomseongdae
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, year-round
- Phone
- +82-54-779-8743
- Coordinates
- 35.83216, 129.21765
What the campaign says about it
Gyerim Forest is a small stretch of forest between Cheomseongdae and Wolseong. In Silla, three clans (the Park, Seok, and Kim clans) ruled the kingdom at various points, and the progenitor of the Kim clan is Kim Al-ji. Gyerim Forest in Gyeongju, which is known for its mystical ambiance, is the place where the myth surrounding Kim Al-ji was born. According to the Samguk Sagi, in the middle of the night, King Talhae heard a rooster crowing in the forest to the west of Venus. When dawn broke, he sent a court official named Hogong to investigate. When Hogong reached the forest, he found a golden chest hanging from a branch, and a white rooster crowing under it. Upon hearing this peculiar news, King Talhae had him bring the golden chest, and to everyone’s surprise, a baby boy was hidden inside the chest. Believing that Heaven had sent a new son, King Talhae adopted the child and raised him as one of his own. The name “Al-ji” means “baby from an egg” and surname “Kim” means “gold,” which is perfect given that the boy came from a golden chest. This forest, which had existed since the founding of Silla, was originally called Shirim. But after Kim Al-ji, the forest became known as Gyerim. Gyerim means “forest with a crowing rooster.”
Quoted from the Visit Korean Heritage Campaign.