It has emerged as a high-tech manufacturing industrial city and an international trade seaport that is approximately 200 km (120 mi) southwest of Seoul on the midwest coast of the Korean Peninsula.

Gunsan became a port in the late 19th century largely due to pressure from the Japanese on the Koreans to ship rice to Japan.

Nevertheless, a battalion of Korean Marines, entrenched in the hills above Gunsan Port, withheld overwhelming communist forces.

(35°59′26″N 126°42′16″E / 35.99056°N 126.70444°E / 35.99056; 126.70444 ((monument))) The drive north by the United Nations forces occurred so rapidly that there was little direct confrontation in the area.

About 5 km (3.1 mi) from the main gate of Kunsan Air Base, America Town hosts bars, dance clubs, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

GM Korea operated a factory here that assembled the Chevrolet Aveo worldwide and as the Holden Barina in Australia and New Zealand until 2018.

Originally a poor fishing village, Gunsan gained importance with the development of its port, which was opened to foreign trade in 1899.

Eunpa, meaning "Silver Wave" (because of its feature of shining water under sunshine), was originally a reservoir for agriculture but designated as a National Tourist Place in 1985.

It is not only known as a local representation of Gunsan, but also as the nation's tourist place with a mixture of Mulbit (Water and Light) Bridge 370 m long and 3 m wide.

It was selected as one of the 100 Big Noted Tourists in Korea in the 'Creating a Good Place to Live' local resources contest.

It has become nationally famous because of the grand sight of many uncommon migratory birds such as Baikal teals, wild ducks, mallards, wild geese, herring gulls, black head gulls, black head Kentish plovers, etc., and approximately 500,000 winter migrant birds of 40 types visit between mid-October and March.

During spring, colorful cherry blossoms and camellia flowers are in full bloom, while the foliage attracts visitors during fall.

It has a great architectural value[citation needed] as the roof, finishing touch of outer wall, and inner garden are kept as they were when it was first constructed.

Jinpo Marine Park is a theme park that displays retired military equipment (13 types, 16 equipment) of the armed forces, such as Korean naval vessels, at the inner harbor of the historical site of Jinpo battle, recorded to be the first naval battle with guns of warships in the world.

In addition to the renowned Gunsan Seafood Hotjip right on the water is the old port area, a new hae center is being constructed to the east of the city, by the Geum River dam/bridge.

[7] Lighthouse International School (LIS) is designed to meet the educational and spiritual needs of the English-speaking business, military, and diplomatic community.

There are roundtrip airplane flights from Gunsan to Jeju Island and passenger liner ferries to Shidao, China.