If you head to Donghae-myeon in Goseong County, South Gyeongsang Province, you’ll find Gujeol Mountain — home to a legendary ascetic who, folklore says, would only meet someone after they bowed and called his name nine times. Below the mountain’s rugged, scenic ridgeline sits a hermitage clinging to a sheer rock face that catches the eye: Pokpoam. Local accounts say Venerable Hyeongak, who carried on the teachings of Ilbung Seonsa (the founder of Ilbungsa in Uiryeong), established the site beside Gujeol Falls. The towering rock face, the plunging waterfall, and the swaying suspension bridge combine to give Pokpoam a striking, unforgettable character.
Look past Pokpoam’s main hall and you’ll spot a gilded Yaksa-bul (Bhaisajyaguru) stone carving set into the cliff. Nearby is the site’s famous rocking boulder, a feature often highlighted in media. According to local legend, a dragon that once lived at Gujeol Falls prepared to ascend to heaven but sinned by spying on women bathing. The heavens punished the dragon with lightning. Its shattered body became the massive rock surrounding the falls, and the severed tail turned into today’s rocking boulder. People still come year-round to nudge the rock and make wishes, believing those wishes will come true.
The standout attraction at Pokpoam is the suspension bridge, perched about 50 meters (roughly 164 feet) above the ground, with Gujeol Falls spilling beneath. The falls are usually calm, but after rain they swell into a much more powerful ribbon of water. Step onto the bridge that spans the gorge and you’ll take in the cliff edge and the full sweep of the falls below. The height can make each step feel a little tense, but the wide-open views and sense of release are worth it. The terrain is steep, yet the path to Pokpoam is well maintained, so most visitors can reach it without too much trouble.
Visiting Gujeolsan’s Pokpoam Hermitage and the suspension bridge doesn’t require a separate admission or parking fee. Open year-round, the site offers changing scenery with each season. It’s a great spot for anyone craving a brief escape from daily life to soak up nature and the calm of a temple. Easy to reach yet rich in legend and natural beauty, Pokpoam leaves visitors with a peaceful, lingering impression.
