This small city in South Korea I had called “home” for two years, Naju.

In this post of the “Korea Storytime” series, I will share general history and information (일반 현황) of the beautiful Naju in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Most of this information has been gathered and learned from museums, tourist pamphlets, and location signs throughout my travel adventures in Naju. Thanks to Kakao Maps, I’ve been able to bus and bike to all of the big and small tourist attractions in Naju. Yes, all of them.

1. Origin of Naju (나주의 기원)
2. Location of Naju (나주의 위치)
3. Symbols of Naju (나주의 상징)
4. Special Products of Naju (나주의 특산품)
5. Festivals of Naju (나주의 축제)

Origin of Naju (나주의 기원)

Korea used to have Three Kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. (Goguryeo was later known as Goryeo — sounds like modern-day “KOREA“) During the Baekje Kingdom, the founder of the Goryeo Kingdom was Taejo Wang Geon (태조 왕건) and he occupied most of the Naju area and so then Naju became a large base for his political support. He ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century.

The capital of South Jeolla province was located in Naju until it was moved to Gwangju city during the 20th century. The name Jeolla, or Jeonn, actually originates from the first characters of Jeonju (전주) and the first characters of Naju (나).

In modern-day South Korean history, the local Naju government changed the name from Geumseong to Naju in 1986.

Location of Naju (나주의 위치)

Naju city (나주시) is located in the area of the Yeongsan River in South Jeolla Province in South Korea. Simply put, it is located in the very southern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Its neighboring cities and towns are Hwasun towards the East, Hampyeong and Muan in the West, Yeongam in the South, and Gwangju Metropolitan City is in the North of Naju. It is the core city to ten enighboring areas. It is about 220km south from Seoul and 26km south from Gwangju. It takes about four hours by bus from Seoul to Naju, and about two hours by KTX (Korea Train Express) to Naju.

Here’s a map of Naju:

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Symbols of Naju (나주의 상징)

Throughout Korea, Koreans likely know that Naju is famous for its delicious pears. The Naju City Flag shows the unique character of Naju. The three rings represent the annual rings of a tree and symbolize the rich history, economic, and culture of Naju. The blue stream below represents the Yeongsan River (영산상) and the rosy future of a developing Naju. The two rings symbolize the unity of the citizens and the the government in achieving a common goal and also stand for the Naju pear, the special product of Naju city. The other symbols are the Pear Blossom, the Ginko Tree, and the Dove bird.

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Special Products of Naju (나주의 특산품)

Most Korean people know that Naju is famous for its sweet pear. Naju is the best place in Korea to grow pears with the good weather and rich soil. Pears are known as world-class fruit and has various health benefits: neutralizes blood. Naju’s flat plains are so fertile that people can grow top-quality rice, which is more sticky and tasty than other rice found in Korea.

Festivals of Naju (나주의 축제)

Naju has some festivals throughout the year. The festivals are open to visitors and designed by private and government organizations. On the first day of January, Pear Day is when people can pray for their wish of sweet pears for that year. In the Spring, the Naju Yeongsan River (영산강) is a culture and historic festival.

Want to know the top tourist attractions of Naju? Continue reading here.