Journey to Gongju, the ancient capital of Ungjin

On a drizzly Saturday in October, our group of travelers set off from Seoul in the morning, embarking on a luxury limousine bus provided by the Seoul JoongAng Rotary Club for their annual autumn excursion. Our first stop in the ancient capital of Baekje, Gongju, was the revered Magok Temple, established in 640. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Magok Temple emanates an air of quiet grandeur.

The temple's weathered wooden structures, adorned with faded traditional motifs, and its graceful tiled rooftops stand as a testament to centuries of Buddhist devotion. A clear stream meanders through the surrounding mountains, and peaceful forest trails beckon visitors to partake in a meditative experience. The temple stay program left me envisioning a tranquil night of solitude amidst the serene surroundings.

Magok Temple also holds significance in modern Korean history. Kim Gu, the celebrated independence activist and president of the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai during the Japanese occupation, found refuge at the temple. Temporarily donning the garb of a monk to evade capture, he later returned to Korea in 1946 and planted a Rose of Sharon, the country's national flower, alongside a tree whose wood would prove useful.