Seolbongsan Mountain (설봉산, 394 m) dominates the western portion of Icheon City. It has also been called Bugaksan Mountain and Muhaksan Mountain since the mountain resembles a crane with its wings spread open. Although the mountain is not rugged and maintains a well kept walking trail, it has many intriguing rock formations. There are as many as eight natural springs from which clear water gushes, and there are also Buddhist temples and relics scattered across the mountain. There are other attractions to see and enjoy as well, such as Seolbong Park, which was established at the opening of the World Ceramic Exhibition, as well as the municipal museum.

Located about 12㎞ off the southwestern coast of Korea, Bogildo Island is accessible by ferry from both Wando-gun and Haenam-gun in Jeollanam-do Province. The island features fishing villages, hiking trails, beaches, evergreen forests as well as several historic buildings and gardens. Furthermore, nearby attractions include Nohwado Island, which is connected to Bogildo by bridge, and Suando Island. Surrounded by blue sea, Bogildo is considered the gem of all islands in this area. Island History The first people to set foot on Bogildo Island are Confucian scholars during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The relics of two such men, 17th century poet Yun Seon-do and politician Uam Song Si-yeol, still remain on the island. Yun had been on his way to Jeju Island when he stopped on Bogildo, and was so taken aback by its beauty that he ended up living on the island. He built and resided in the Buyongdong gardens, which have been well-preserved to this day. Uam Song had also been on his way to Jeju Island, when the boat stopped on Bogildo. Here, Uam Song carved a famous poem into a rock, which can still be seen today.

Byeokbong Korea Jewelry Museum is dedicated to displaying and promotiong the jewelry work by royalty during the Joseon dynasty. Visitors can learn about the various styles and the meanings behind the designs.

Ganwolsan Mountain is a popular destination for hikers in the Ulsan and Busan area as well as other regions of Gyengsangnam-do Province. In early August, the reeds and lilies near the summit create a splendid view. To the west, the deep Naerijeong and Wangbonggol valleys channel clean water to Baenaegol Valley. From the Ganwol Gogae Ridge, follow the Singallo Path to Wanbonggol towards Paraeso Falls. There you will find a cave called Jungnimgul, which is sacred Catholic ground often visited by the Catholic faithful. The first church built by Catholics in the Yeongnam region to escape persecution is found in Buldanggol (Ganwolgol) Valley in Ganwolsan Mountain area. The tomb of Kim Agatha who died in persecution is also in the Ganwolgol Valley.

Nadeul-gil means a leisurely outing (nadeuri) road. Comprised of 19 courses in total, the Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Trail offers a variety of historical assets and cultural sites to see. Each Nadeul-gil course connects Ganghwa Fortress outposts that are located every 1.3 km on high ground along the walking paths. The trails are on the island of Ganghwa which holds many Goryeo Dynasty remains that are important to Korean history. Fortresses that stood against Mongolian invasions are still standing and many of the Goryeo Kingdom’s palaces and royal tomb sites are also found in Ganghwa region. Exploring the major cultural heritage sites dispersed throughout the town can be just as fun as exploring Ganghwa’s natural beauty. The sunset on the Seohae (West coast), expansive open mud flats, views from Marisan and Goryeosan Mountains and the peaceful farming villages are just a handful of the sights along this walking trail. The establishment of Ganghwa Nadeul-gil’s begins with the ancient scholar Go Jae-hyeong (pen name Hwanam), who left his hometown Ganghwa on a spring day in 1906 when the peach trees were in full bloom. He walked through more than 100 villages around the whole island. Back home, he composed poems about his journey and published them under the title of “Simdo Gihaeng (Simdo Travels),” Simdo being another name for Ganghwa. During his travels, he sang songs of his home Ganghwa. Thanks to his work, people can now follow in the footsteps of Hwanam and his appreciation of the beautiful scenery and great people of Ganghwa Island.

Opened in 2004, the Hangang River Eco Learning Center is situated on the Namhangang Riverside. The site used to be a sandpit before it was turned into a wetland. Effluent from wastewater treatment plants, which in the past was released directly into the Hangang River, now passes through several ponds with various aquatic plants and a one kilometer-long waterway so that it can be naturally purified. This has contributed to an improvement in the water quality of the Hangang River. The learning center was built to restore the Namhangang Riverside area, which was destroyed due to sand extraction, and to restore its natural ecology of willow trees, reeds, and birds. The center organizes a number of ecological excursion programs for children.

Daecheongho Obaengni (500-ri) Road is a 220km walking path passing through the Daejong (Dong-gu, Daedeok-gu) and Chungcheongbuk-do (Cheongwon, Okcheon, Boeun) areas. The road passes Daecheongho Lake, small streams, trekking roads, a forest trail, an old path, and much more. The "obaengni" (500-ri) from the name of the road comes from the distance from Seoul or Busan to Daecheongho Lake, which is 500-ri. Several mountains at an altitude of 200-300m and lots of greenery surround Daecheongho Lake. The area also has a date course, a meditation course, a trekking course, a family trip course to experience rural culture and cultural exploration, a bike course and other themed courses. The road was awarded an Asian Townscape Award by the UN-Habitat Program. Near the road are tourism attractions like the Daecheong Dam Water Culture Center, Daecheongho Sculture Park, Daecheongho Art Museum, Daecheongho Natural Ecology Center and others. In addition, there are historic cultural tourism spots like Cheongwon Cheongnamdae, Munui Cultural Properities Site, Boeun Songnisan Mountain, Okcheon Dujunbong Peak, and the birthplace of Jeong Jiyong and Yuk Yeongsu.

‘Honbul’ is an epic novel written about three generations of women from the Namwon Lee clan living under the rule of the Japanese in the 1930s. The word ‘Honbul’ literally means ‘a torch of the soul’ and refers to the indomitable spirits of the women that persevered through hard times. The novel was written by the late Choi Myeong-hee over the period of 17 years and remains a much celebrated novel. Sangsin Village and Nobong Village in Namwon-si were the author’s hometown and served as the background of the novel ‘Honbul’. Located inside the village is a traditional Korean house that is an example of yangban (noble class) architecture and the Honbul Literary House, where visitors have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the novel ‘Hobul’. At the entrance of Nobong Village stands a pair of jangseungs (Korean traditional totem poles), welcoming visitors inside.

Palgongsan Mountain (1,192m in elevation), in the outlying reaches of the Taebaek Range, stands sentinel over the spot where the Nakdonggang and Geumhogang Rivers converge. In the past, Palgongsan Mountain was regarded as a sacred mountain because it resembles the shape of the Three Buddhas. This mountain has magnificent granite formations at higher elevations, and the beautiful valleys, seamlessly interwoven with rock formations and thick forests, make for a spectacular view. Palgongsan Mountain borders Gyeongsan, Yeongcheon, Gunwi-gun and Chilgok-gun in the north and surrounds Daegu metropolitan city in the south. With Birobong Peak in the middle, it extends to Dongbong Peak – Gwanbong Peak (Gatbawi Stone Buddha) in the east and Seobong Peak – Gasan Fortress in the west (20km long). It also offers many beautiful trails. At Gunwi-gun (Palgongsan Provincial Park), you can find a Grotto of the Three Buddhas and Ingaksa Temple. This park reflects the glory of Korean Buddhist culture, containing numerous statues of the Medicine Buddha.