Located in the northeastern part of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, Muju-gun is a local autonomous district comprising one town and five townships, with a population of over 23,000 residents. Throughout its history, Muju-gun has been under the control of various dynasties, including Mahan, Baekje, Gaya, Silla, Later Baekje, and Goryeo. The area is historically significant as it served as a border gateway between Baekje and Silla, known as the Najeong Pass.
The region was restructured into Muju County in 1414 during the reign of King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty, after the amalgamation of Mupung-hyun and Jugae-hyun. It was elevated to Muju Doho Bureau status under King Hyunjong and was renamed Muju-gun during the reign of King Gojong.
Predominantly mountainous, Muju-gun hosted the Winter Universiade in 1997 and was designated as a national geopark in 2019. It shares borders with four provinces: North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang, and South Gyeongsang. Locally referred to as Mujinjang, the area, which includes Muju, Jinan, and Jangsu counties, is considered the “roof of Jeolla-do” due to its high-altitude terrains.
Notably, Deogyusan National Park is a highlight of Muju-gun. Recognized as one of the “100 Great Mountains” in South Korea, Deogyusan ranks as the fourth highest mountain in the South, following Hallasan, Jirisan, and Seoraksan. It was designated as a national park in 1975 and features stunning natural landscapes, fortifications, and cultural heritage sites. The Deogyusan range, stretching from Hamyang-gun’s Huksiryong to Muju-gun’s Gucheon-dong, is revered as one of Korea’s three major trekking routes alongside Jirisan and Seoraksan.
Another noteworthy feature is Jeoksangsan, a rugged mountain known for its natural fort-like terrain, resembling a red skirt, which lends to its name. Jeoksangsanseong, a military fortress built during the late Goryeo period, was later used to house historical texts. In the Joseon period, historical documents and royal genealogies were relocated here for safekeeping, but remnants of the fortress and associated temples remain today following destruction during the Japanese occupation.
The reconstructed Anguksa Temple stands on the site of Hoguksa, the main temple of the 17th district of the Jogye Order. Founded during the reign of King Chungnyeol in the Goryeo Dynasty, it was initially known as Gogeongsa or Bogeongsa before being renamed Anguksa following its use as a site for soldier barracks during the Imjin and Jeongyu wars. The temple was moved to its current location at the former site of Hoguksa in 1992, coinciding with the construction of the Muju Pumped Storage Power Station. Anguksa is also home to a treasure designated in 1997, the Yeongsan-gwae, produced by Oigyeom during the reign of King Yeongjo.
Hoguksa, established in 1614 at Jeoksangsan Fortress, was founded on the recommendation of a government official to safeguard the historical archive. After a devastating fire in 1949 during the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, only a few structures remained.
Additionally, the scenic Gucheon-dong valley within Deogyusan features 33 beautiful spots. Notable attractions such as Ilsadae, Bahoe, and Suhimdae have been designated as scenic sites, and the district derives its name from legends of 9,000 monks who once practiced there. Baengnyeonsa Temple, which was named after the white lotus that bloomed when a monk built a small hermitage during the reign of King Sinmun of Silla, was destroyed during the Korean War.
