Famed for its immense market, Osan lies south of Seoul amidst sprawling rural surrounds. It’s home to one of South Korea’s two Gwollisa temples and an engaging local art museum, as well as an aircraft memorial honouring the Korean War’s UN Alliance.

Things to do

Visit the historic Osaek Market, which features a vast range of products from across South Korea. It takes place every five days, together with night markets on Fridays and Saturdays, letting you sample South Korean delicacies and learn how to make homemade beer in the Igugong community space.

Explore Osan’s Gwollisa Temple, which enshrines a portrait of Confucius in its main building and was originally built in 1792. The modern incarnation is renowned for its colourful architecture and grand staircase guarded by two white lions.

Art enthusiasts should visit Osan, the Cultural Factory, a municipal art museum overlooking the Osancheon River. Peruse the current exhibitions by local artists in the Exhibition Hall or participate in one of the family-friendly art education workshops.

Learn about the sacrifices made during the Korean War at the UN Alliance War Memorial, which centres around an original warcraft. It’s located where the first battle of UN Alliance was fought and offers insight into the impact of the Korean War and how it has shaped South Korea to this day.

Getting around

Osan is a one-hour train ride south of Seoul and around two hours from Incheon International Airport. It’s connected along the Seoul Subway system and is well-serviced by buses.