Sangjogam County Park, one of the world’s largest dinosaur footprint fossil sites (Photo courtesy of Kim Byeong-gu, hongcomm.)

Dinosaurs first appeared 230 million years ago, during the Triassic Period, and finally went extinct 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous Period. Traces of these ancient reptiles have been discovered in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa since at least 1677. In Korea, the first dinosaur-related find was an egg fossil unearthed in 1972 in Hadong-gun County, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. This was followed by the 1973 discovery of a dinosaur bone in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and still other fossils in Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. The latter is where Korea’s first dinosaur footprints were found – over 4,000 of them, in fact. Travelers to Goseong-gun, about an hour’s drive west of Busan, will find plenty of dinosaur-related sites as well as historical attractions from the less-distant past.

Sangjogam County Park features layered rocky cliffs and wide rock platforms. (Photo courtesy of Kim Byeong-gu, hongcomm.)

#Sangjogam County Park, one of the world’s largest dinosaur footprint fossil sites

Back in 1982, two Korean professors stumbled upon the discovery of a lifetime while surveying a stretch of coastline in Goseong-gun. Given park status one year later and named Sangjogam County Park, the location rivals major fossil track sites in Brazil and Canada. When visiting the park, the first thing that catches your eye is the layered cliffs that skirt the ocean. These layers, or striations, were formed by the accumulations of sediment over vast spans of time. Running along the cliffside is a raised boardwalk, which allows visitors to view the sheets of rock that stretch below into the sea. Look closely at the rock, and you’ll see a spectacular variety of dinosaur footprints, dating back to the Cretaceous period. The imprints were formed by Brontosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Allosaurus and other dinosaurs familiar to us through movies like “Jurassic Park.” 

Fossilized footprints of dinosaurs and birds in Samnak-ri Village, Goseong-gun County (Photo courtesy of Kim Byeong-gu, hongcomm.)

#Dinosaurs come to life at Goseong Dinosaur Museum

While Sangjogam County Park offers a chance to see dinosaur footprints in a natural setting, the Goseong Dinosaur Museum is the place to go for skeletons and sculptures. Opened in 2004 as Korea’s first dinosaur-themed museum, the space is very family-friendly. The collection includes 10 full-sized dinosaur skeleton replicas, 3 complete pterosaur skeletons, 13 partial skeletons, 11 outdoor exhibits, 55 assorted fossils and more.

The Goseong Dinosaur Museum, Korea’s first dinosaur-themed museum (Photo courtesy of the Korea Tourism Organization)

The museum entrance leads directly to the second floor. After browsing through the history of the Earth displayed at the entrance, visitors can explore various species of dinosaurs and their skeletons in Exhibition Hall 1. The adjacent Hall 2 displays dinosaur footprints found in Goseong-gun and the stories behind them. Descending to the first floor, visitors encounter the entrance to Exhibition Hall 3, which is shaped like the gaping mouth of a dinosaur. This cavernous room features dioramas of Cretaceous dinosaur models, which are especially popular with children. Hall 4 focuses on interactive displays that allow visitors to race dinosaurs or compare their height to the leg bones of a giant dinosaur. Hall 5 adds to the excitement with a variety of fossils from the Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, including dinosaur eggs, ammonites and shark teeth.

Leaving the exhibition halls, the central hall on the first floor offers an unmissable grand display. Prehistory comes to life with a confrontation between the Cretaceous dinosaurs Klamelisaurus and Monolophosaurus, along with pterosaurs such as Sinopterus and Quetzalcoatlus. Witnessing these massive models is like stepping into a movie.

Dinosaur Hill, at the 2024 Goseong Dinosaur World Expo (Photo courtesy of Goseong County Office)

#Imagination becomes reality at Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo

Reflecting its reputation as a region known for dinosaur relics, Goseong-gun has hosted the Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo at Danghangpo Tourist Site since 2006. Originally held every three to four years, the expo became an annual fall event in 2021. The Expo, which was first held under the theme of “Dinosaurs, Earth and the Mystery of Life” and drew 1.5 million visitors, has continued to attract great interest. It offers a great opportunity to get closer to dinosaurs.

This year, the expo will run from October 2 to November 3 under the theme “Dinosaurs and Me.” This year’s event highlights the importance of environmental protection through the lens of extinct dinosaurs. In addition to exhibitions in the theme pavilion, the Korean Peninsula Dinosaur Footprint Fossil Hall and the Dinosaur Character Hall, the expo features a dinosaur-themed adventure park and a botanical garden with plants from the dinosaur era.

Interestingly, the expo also includes a space dedicated to Admiral Yi Sun-sin, one of the greatest war heroes of the Joseon period (1392-1910), who won a naval battle nearby. Visitors interested in Korean history can explore the history of the Joseon era through a life-size model of a Turtle Ship, a diorama exhibition hall and various exhibits related to the Admiral.

Munsuam Hermitage, below the summit of Muisan Mountain (Photo courtesy of Goseong County Office)

#Goseong’s stunning nature and cultural heritage

After traveling back in time to encounter the ancient past, let’s not miss the breathtakingly beautiful spaces of present-day Goseong-gun. Munsuam, a hermitage under the peak of Muisan Mountain (549 meters), was founded in 706. However, the hermitage is more famous for its views than for its architecture. It’s a popular place to take in the breathtaking scenery of Hallyeohaesang Marine National Park.

The Ancient Tombs of Songhak-dong, Goseong-gun, which were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2023, are a group of Gaya-period (42-532) tombs located just west of Goseong-gun’s intercity bus terminal. Excavations of this tomb complex began in 1999, and it’s recognized worldwide for what it tells us about the culture of Gaya, an ancient Korean state.

The Songhak-dong Ancient Tombs, a historical site inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2023 (Photo courtesy of Goseong County Office)

If you want to walk through a serene landscape, visit Hakdong Village. The village is famous for its stone walls, which were built by layering flat stones and yellow mud, a method unique to this region. These stone walls harmonize beautifully with the elegant traditional houses of the upper class. The cozy streets of the village blend perfectly with the surrounding bamboo groves. It might be pleasant to visit this tranquil village alone. As you walk along the yellow walls, you may experience a moment when the warm atmosphere of the scenery seeps into your heart. While some say there are no miracles in life, perhaps these moments are our own personal miracles.