The Royal Tomb of Queen Heo in Gusan-dong, Gimhae is the final resting place of Queen Heo, the wife of King Kim Suro, the founder of Garak. The tomb dates all the way back to the Gaya Era and has been officially designated National Historic Site No. 74. Unlike many other ancient tombs located on Korea’s flatlands, the large earthen mound sits high upon a hill. Reinforced in the front with stone and surrounded by a low stone fence, the tomb is marked with a headstone and stone tablets erected in 1647 (25th year of King Injo’s reign). Some of the stone used at the tomb is said to have come all the way from India. Together with the Tomb of King Suro, the tomb area was expanded in the 28th year of King Sejong’s reign (1446) to include several auxiliary buildings: Sungboje, Oesammun, Naesammun, and Hongsalmun. Records indicate that the tombs were robbed over a century later during the Imjin War (Japanese Invasion, 1592-1598).

On December 29, 1967 Jirisan Mountain (지리산) was designated Korea’s top national park. Jirisan is the largest mountain national park in the nation. You can get a full view of the Seomjingang River (섬진강), which runs alongside the mountain and into the Namhae Sea. If you’re lucky you can also spot some various plants and animals, including the Asiatic Black Bear, making Jirisan Mountain an even more interesting and inviting place to visit. As Jirisan Mountain changes with the different seasons, hikers can enjoy various aspects of the mountain’s terrain. However, there can be heavy rain and snow in the summer and winter, so some areas will be closed off in case of drastic changes in the weather and temperature. In the spring and fall, you can explore the mountain relatively freely. However, access may be limited to some areas for fear of forest fires in the dry season. If you want to hike up Jirisan Mountain it is recommended that you visit the homepage of the Korea National Park Service or contact the Jirisan Mountain Management Office before planning your trip.

Haeinsa Temple was built in 802 AD and is regarded as one of Korea’s three major Buddhist temples along with Tongdosa and Songwangsa. Of the numerous temple halls, most were built in the modern era, with only Janggyeongpanjeon Hall from the early Joseon Dynasty remaining in its original state. However, the temple holds great significance not only for its structure, but also for the treasure it holds inside.Janggyeongpanjeon is a wooden building housing the 13th-century Goryeo Palman Daejanggyeong (the Tripitaka Koreana), a priceless world treasure. The Tripitaka Koreana is a large set (thousands and thousands) of wood blocks that were specially treated to prevent aging and inscribed with the Buddhist canon. It is the oldest and most complete version of the Buddhist canon and is one of the most cherished Buddhist doctrinal collections in the world.Janggyeongpanjeon is comprised of two buildings Sudarajeon to the south and Beopbojeon to the north. Unadorned by decorations or paintings, the buildings carry out the sole function of storing the Tripitaka Koreana wooden tablets. The building has been praised by scientists for its effective air circulation, resistance to moisture, and temperature control – all of which have enabled the Tripitaka Koreana to survive throughout the years. Although the exact date of Janggyeongpanjeon’s construction is still unknown, the hall was built under the order of King Sejo in 1488. It has never suffered the effects of fire or war.In recognition of its architectural beauty and its extraordinary scientific preservation of the world’s only Tripitaka, Janggyeongpanjeon of Haeinsa Temple was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1995.

Yeosu Maritime Cable Car is the first of its kind in Korea that connects Dolsan island and Jasan mainland over the ocean. Crystal and standard cabins are available for passengers. In particular, crystal cabins allow passengers to observe the ocean below the feet, experience the thrill of being suspended in mid-air through its transparent flooring.

Goransa Temple is located at the foot of Baengmagang River, surrounded by the cliffs of Nakhwaam. The temple is assumed to have been built toward the end of the Baekje Kingdom. Although there is no historical record of the temple, it has been said it was used as a resting spot for kings of the Baekje Kingdom.There is a well-named Goranjeong behind the temple, with Gorancho (Crypsinus hastatus) growing between the rocks above the well. The kings of Baekje used to drink water from Goranjeong at least once a day, and the servants who brought the water floated the leaves of Gorancho plant as sign that it came from that well.Visitors to the temple should also take some time to enjoy the beautiful views of Baengmagang River. A ferry ride along the river also offers splendid views.

The hot springs have been called Bugok (the hanja characters 釜谷 refer to “cauldron” and “valley” respectively) because the land resembles the shape of a cauldron. When the spring was first discovered, people with skin ailments came in crowds because of the water’s healing properties. The sulfur and minerals in the water are effective for respiratory and skin ailments. Today, the hot springs attract 10,000~20,000 visitors a day, adding up to about 4 million people a year. Discovered in 1973, the hot springs have a 6,000-ton daily water supply flowing from underground at a temperature as high as 78℃. Bugok was officially designated a national tourist resort in 1977. Twenty years later, it was promoted to a Special Tourist Zone. Composed of 24 hot springs, the complex has hotels, condominiums, a golf course, and a fountain that shoots up hot water. The resort Bugok Hawaii has a variety of amenities including outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a theater, and saunas, making it a popular destination for newlyweds and families. The Bugok Hot Springs Festival, also called Onjeongje, is held from October to December every year to promote the area. The festival offers various activities such as a boiled egg eating contest (eggs boiled using water from the hot spring), foot baths, Pungmulnori (Korean folk music tradition) and other performances. Nearby attractions include Hwawangsan Mountain and the Upo Wetlands. [Bugok Hot Springs Special Tourist Zone] Areas covered: Geomun, Sachang and Bugok-ri, Bugok-myeon, Changnyeong-gun,Gyeongsangnam-do Area size: 4,819,000㎡

Opened in 1995, Chungnyeongsan Mountain Natural Recreation Forest is located at Oebang-ri, Sudong-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, around 1 hour from Seoul. The recreation forest has various trekking courses leading to Chungnyeongsan Mountain and Seorisan Mountain and facilities like the forest park, training facility, water play site, nature observation sites, camping sites, and more.

Located in Gomso-ri, Jinseo-myeon in Buan-gun County, the Gomso Salt Field is one of the few salterns in Korea that produces Cheonilyeom solar salt. Unlike other salterns, Gomso is not located by the ocean, but is situated along Gomsoman Bay, adjacent to the sea.During the Joseon Dynasty, salt fields covered the area from Julpoman Bay to Gomsoman Bay, producing salt that was sent along with rice to Noryangjin from Geonmopo (Gujin). Aside from its long history, the salt of Gomso is also known for containing 10 times more minerals than any other salt.The coast from Chaeseokgang Cliffs to Gochang, which includes Gomso Salt Field, features one of the world’s most well-developed wetlands. With some luck, visitors can even see people at work at the saltern. When the weather is hot in the summer, work is done mostly in the early morning.

Legend has it that the region of Hakhadong was where the gods lived when they periodically came down from the heavens. When the Jagwangsa Temple was built in the district, Song Siyeol saw it as a sign and created a village school near the temple to train his pupils. It was his hope that the sacred land would aide in the raising of gifted students who would grow to serve their community and country. When building the school, Song Siyeol also planted a juniper tree that, 300 years later, still proudly stands by Jagwangsa Temple.Upon entering the temple area, visitors will find to their left the Seongjeonnyeongdangji Memorial Stone, which serves to commemorate Song Siyeol and his school. Next to the memorial stone is a pond in which carp swim lazily around lotus flowers. To the left is a large bell which is rung every day, 28 times in the morning and 33 times in the evening. To the right is the main Dharma Hall.Not just a serene and beautiful building, the 3-story temple also houses artifacts such as the Beopgo, Mogeo, and Unpan, Buddhist instruments used during rituals to cleanse the mind of pain and doubt. Also inside the grand, 3-story temple are numerous signs and wall hangings engraved with Buddhist inscriptions.

Opened on October 14, 2005, Seongnam Art Center is operated by Seongnam Cultural Foundation. The art center is famous around the nation for its superior facilities and its scale. The center also makes an effort to raise their competitiveness by hosting exclusive performances and making their own productions.