Located in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, Gungnamji is widely recognized as Korea’s oldest artificial pond. According to historical records, it was created by King Mu of Baekje on the southern side of the royal palace, evolving over centuries into one of the most representative spaces reflecting Baekje garden culture and aesthetics.
The site appears in the Samguk Sagi as a pond near the royal palace, while the Samguk Yusa connects it to the birth legend of King Mu, adding layers of mythology to the landscape.
The defining feature of Gungnamji is its circular arrangement of water surrounding a central island. Rather than simply replicating nature, the design interprets natural order within a constructed garden space. Water, land, and vegetation are connected softly and organically, creating a restrained and balanced atmosphere rather than emphasizing rigid geometry.
Walking along the pond, visitors encounter traces of stone pillars, wells, and other remnants scattered throughout the grounds. These remains suggest that the space once functioned simultaneously as a garden, ceremonial site, and lived environment. The relationship between water and land still quietly reveals how the space was once used.
Gungnamji is considered Korea’s oldest artificial garden and remains one of the clearest examples of Baekje landscaping techniques. The subtle handling of waterways while maintaining overall spatial balance demonstrates a level of sophistication that still feels remarkably modern.
Historical accounts also suggest that Baekje garden culture extended beyond the Korean Peninsula into Japan. Stories of the craftsman Nojagong introducing landscaping techniques abroad are frequently cited as evidence of cultural exchange across East Asia during the period. Gungnamji is often interpreted within that broader historical context.
Today, the site operates as part of Seodong Park, where historical remains and public park spaces coexist. The wide waterside paths encourage visitors to slow down and experience the space gradually rather than move through it quickly.
Both walking and cycling routes are integrated throughout the park, and the landscape shifts depending on the pace of movement. On foot, smaller details such as ripples and vegetation become more pronounced, while cycling reveals the broader structure of the pond and surrounding scenery.
The willow trees lining the water form one of Gungnamji’s most recognizable images. Their long branches extend toward the surface, swaying together with the water and creating constantly changing reflections.
Summer reveals the site at its most vibrant. Lotus flowers spread across the pond, filling the water with shades of red and white. Walking along the paths between the blossoms, the entire landscape begins to resemble one vast floating garden.
During this period, the Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival transforms the area into one of Korea’s signature seasonal destinations. Daytime emphasizes the natural scenery of the lotus fields, while nighttime lighting creates an entirely different atmosphere.
In autumn, the mood becomes noticeably calmer. Chrysanthemums replace the lotus blooms, covering the park in warmer tones while reflections on the water grow clearer and more still.
The seasonal “Goodtrae Chrysanthemum Exhibition” transforms the park itself into a large outdoor exhibition space, blending floral displays with sculptural installations along the walking routes.
Gungnamji changes continuously throughout the year. Spring brings soft green tones, summer fills the pond with lotus flowers, autumn deepens the landscape with chrysanthemums, and winter leaves behind only still water and silence. Though the location remains the same, each season reveals a completely different scene.
After sunset, the atmosphere shifts once more. Reflections of light move across the surface of the pond, while the area around Poryongjeong Pavilion becomes a focal point for nighttime viewing. The landscape grows quieter, revealing a different rhythm from daytime.
Gungnamji ultimately exists as a place where historical memory, natural scenery, and legend continue to coexist. Depending on how slowly one moves and how long one stays, the landscape reveals itself differently. The act of walking through the space gradually becomes the experience itself.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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