The Jeongsimhwa International Cultural Center is the large building on the right, just past the gate of Chungnam National University. ‘Jeongsimhwa’ is the Buddhist name of Ms. Lee Bok-Soon, who donated her lifetime savings (a total of five billion won) to the university back in 1990. She had earned the money over the course of many years by selling gimbap (rice rolled in seaweed), which currently sells for only 1,000 or 2,000 won a roll. The cultural center was built in commemoration of the late Ms. Lee. After a series of setbacks and through the effort of many helping hands, construction was finally completed in 2000. The Jeongsimhwa Hall at the center has 1,817 seats and is used for concerts, performances, and other large-scale events. Baekma Hall (450 seats) and Daedeok Hall (200 seats) are used primarily for seminars. For visitors’ convenience, the Jeongsimhwa International Cultural Center has a parking area with space for up to 268 cars.

The Kwanak Arboretum of Seoul National University located in Anyang-si, is a central research institution that collects, grows, preserves, exhibits, and studies plants native to Korea and other plants native to the northern hemisphere. The institution focuses on educational exchanges and cooperatives with relevant institutions both home and abroad.

The White Lotus Pond of Hoesan, known as ‘Hoesan Baengnyeonji’ (회산백련지) in Korean, is the largest habitat of white lotus in Asia, covering an area of approximately 330,000 square meters in Bogyong-ri, Illo-eup, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do Province. The white lotus flowers in this pond continuously blossom and fall from July until September. A lotus festival is held in August, when the flowers are at their peak. At the side of the road leading to the lotus festival grounds, there is an aquatic plants natural education site spanning an area of over 2,300 square meters.

Located in Sinpung-ri, Yulchon-myeon, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do, Aeyangwon Church (Reverend Son Yangwon Martyr Memorial Hall) commemorates Reverend Son Yangwon. He began his religious activities and relief efforts at a group home for patients suffering from Hansen's Disease located in Aeyangwon Church, but he was later detained at Yeosu Police Office because he refused to honor Japanese Shinto shrines in 1940. The Memorial Hall's construction was completed on March 27, 1994 in order to commemorate Son Yangwon, who was shot and killed by the North Korean army during the Korean War. The exhibition hall on the first floor displays photos of Son, photos related to Christianity, keepsakes and calligraphy artwork, and the exhibition hall on the second hall displays his prison writings and old books.

Gameunsaji (Gameunsa Temple Site) was built by King Munmu (AD 661-681), the king of Silla who unified Baekjae and Goguryeo late in the 7th century. Except for the 13.4 high two pagodas, all the buildings were burned to the ground. King Munmu built this temple to drive away the Japanese pirates from the country with the power of Buddha. Unfortunately, he passed away before the completion of the the temple, and asked to burry him at the East Sea, which is 500m far from the temple. Being a sacred dragon of the East Sea, he wanted to protect the county after his death. Therefore he was burried at sea near the temple. His son King Sinmun (AD 681-692) completed the temple and named it Gameunsa Temple, which implies appreciating paternal love.The Three-story Stone Pagodas The east and the west pagodas of Gameunsaji (Gameunsa Temple Site) are structurally identical and are designated as National Treasuer No. 112. These stone pagodas were made during the early years of the Unified Silla Kingdom. The two 13.4 high pagodas are the highest three-story stone pagodas of the Silla Era and are known for its symmetry.

Serving as the boundary between Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do, the Seomjingang River (섬진강) boasts the cleanest water among Korea’s five largest rivers. Every March the Baegunsan Mountain (백운산) at the downstream of Seomjingang River is covered with plum blossoms. Seomjin Village, in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do – alias Maehwa (Plum Blossom) Village (매화마을) – has a vast wild field of more than 132,231m2 entirely covered with plum blossoms. 100,000 plum trees blossoming all together offer a magnificent view. North of the village is Hwagaejangteo marketplace (화개장터) and east of it is Pyeongsa-ri, the main setting for Park Gyeong-ri’s saga novel The Land. People gathering Jaecheop (clean water clams), below the farm in the mud flats of the Seomjingang River, offers a great view. The ‘Maehwa Festival’ or Plum Blossom Festival is held in Seomjin Village every March.

Yeonpyeongdo Island is a small island resided by fishing communities. Despite the tragic incident of November 2010 shelling from North Korea, this bucolic island offers many natural and cultural attractions. Island History The earliest known history of Socheongdo Island comes from Chungmin-sa Temple, which was built to commemorate the island's once abundant but now extinct fish species called Yellow corbina (Sciaenidae). This fish was related to the family of fish commonly called drums, croakers, or hardheads for the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make. When the economy flourished thanks to profitable fishing, the Socheongdo port was congested with fishing boats, so much that it was said that one could cross from one island to the next by walking over boats. The species of fish is depleted, and the island remains as quiet with views of North Korea. In November 2010, Socheongdo Island was hit by the fatal shelling from North Korea that killed two civilians and two soldiers. In recent months, the island has made an attempt to recover its tourism industry and to develop security tourism by blending its newer military presence at tourist attractions.

Eulji Observation Platform, located near the Military Demarcation Line, is now one of the most informative relics dating back to the Korean Conflict. From the Eulji Observation Platform, North Korea soldiers on guard are visible and on clear days so is Birobong Peak of Geumgangsan Mountain. Every year over one hundred thousand people visit this observation platform at the DMZ.

The Jaun Seowon Confucian Academy is home to the tablets of Yulgok Yi I, a great scholar of the Joseon Dynasty. Yulgok was born in his mother’s childhood home in Gangneung in 1536, the 31st year of King Jungjong’s reign. The site is home to the Memorial Hall (free admission) where artifacts related to Yulgok and his mother Sinsaimdang are on exhibit. The tomb of Yulgok Yi I is located to the west of the Memorial Hall and sits above the tomb of Sinsaimdang with the tombs of other relatives. It is unique that the tomb of Yi I is above that of his mother. The site is home to the memorial hall building as well as the family tombs, tombstones, Sammun and Munseongmun gates, Yulgok Education and Training Center, a lawn plaza, pond, mineral spring, and a room where memorial services are held. In early October every year, the Yulgok Culture Festival, a major festival of Paju, is held beginning with the ritual service offered in memory of Yulgok.

During the 1950's three leaders, Kim Ilsung, Rhee Syngman and Lee Ki-poong had summer houses built around the lake of Hwajinpo. The villa of Rhee Syngman, Korea's first president, was built in 1954 but fell into a state of disuse by 1961. It was not repaired until July of 1997 by the army, and was fully restored in 1999, opening as an exhibition hall.