Asia > South Korea > Wonju
Wonju is an inland Gangwon city with a practical, workaday centre and a surprisingly strong ring of sights around it. It does not have the instant image of Seoul, Busan, or Gyeongju, but it makes a good one-day escape if you want mountains, architecture, and Korean craft in one trip.
The standout is Museum SAN, Tadao Ando's mountain art complex in Oak Valley, where concrete, water, stone, and contemporary art do most of the talking. On the natural side, Sogeumsan Grand Valley gives Wonju its headline bridge and cliff-walk scenery.
Wonju's older identity is tied to Chiaksan and hanji, Korea's traditional handmade paper. Guryongsa Temple sits at the foot of the mountain, while Wonju Hanji Theme Park gives the city a craft story that is more distinctive than another generic provincial museum.