The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok (성덕대왕신종), the largest Korean bell preserved, stands 3.75m tall, has a lip diameter of 2.27m, and is 11-25cm wide. In 1997, Gyeongju National Museum weighed it at 18.9 tons. The bell was cast to pay tribute to the memory of King Seongdeok. It was completed in 771 and named ‘The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok.’ However, because the bell was installed at Bongdeoksa Temple, it has also been called the Bell of Bongdeoksa. The bell is also known as the Emile Bell (에밀레종), a name derived from an ancient legend in which a child was sacrificed in order to give sound to the bell, whose echoes of ‘em-ee-leh’ resemble the traditional Korean word for "mommy." The tubular sound pipe at the top of the bell that helps the sound reverberate is a unique feature that can be found only in Korean bells. The yongnyu, which servers as a loop to hang the bell, has been decorated to resemble a dragon’s head. A band of arabesque patterns can be found at the shoulder, and the striking point of the bell is in the shape of a lotus flower. The magnificent design and inscription methods used in this bell exemplify the craftsmanship of artisan’s from the Unified Silla period. The bell is also inscribed with over one thousand Chinese characters, and its beauty and integrity have been meticulously preserved despite the passage of over 1,300 years.  

Songjeong Beach (송정해수욕장) is the ideal beach for families to swim together because of its shallow waters and fine sand. The white sandy beach stretches for 1.2 km, and covers an area of 62,150 square meters. The beach has the unique feel of the southern region, making the experience all the more fun. At the entrance of the beach is Jukdo, where you can find relaxation facilities in the evergreen groves. You can enjoy fishing as well at the northeast end of the beach. There is also a dock where you can use motorboats and take cruises in the summer. A particularly famous part of Songjeong Beach is the Songiljeong Pavilion, which offers a magnificent view of the sunrise and moonrise.Because this beach is a bit out of the Busan area, it is quite unlike many of the other beaches in Busan. Every year the Harvest Full-Moon Seaweed Festival and the Songjeong Beach Festival are held here, and many vacationers come to enjoy the celebrations.

The site of Hwangnyongsa Temple is located in front of the Bunhwangsa Temple in Guhang-dong, Gyeongju. During the Silla Era, the Hwangnyongsa Temple was the nation’s largest temple and housed the bulk of the country’s major Buddhist treasures.Construction of the temple began in 553 on a field near the royal compound of Banwolseong under the commission of King Jinheung. The king originally planned to build a palace, but decided to build a temple instead, after receiving reports that a yellow dragon had been spotted on the building site. The temple was thus named Hwangnyongsa (Temple of Yellow Dragon) and was completed in 569, seventeen years after construction began. The temple murals feature an old pine tree drawn by Artist Solgeo. During the Silla Era, the temple was the center of state-sanctioned Buddhism.Later, when monk Jajang was studying in Tang, he came across a god as he was passing by the Taihe Pond. The god said to him, “the yellow dragon, which is my eldest son, is guarding Hwangnyongsa Temple upon orders of Brahma, the Creator. If you build a nine-story pagoda upon your return to Silla, the neighboring states will surrender and pay tribute, and the royal cause will be stronger. Once the construction of the pagoda is complete, prepare a memorial service for the local gods and pardon any of the country's criminals. If you follow all I have told you, no other state will dare invade Silla.”After this encounter, Jajang returned to Silla and convinced Queen Seondeok to build the nine-story pagoda. Master architect Abiji of the neighboring state Baekje designed the pagoda and the project was built by Yongchun and his 200 men using wood and stone. The night before the columns were to be erected, Architect Abiji of Baekje dreamed of the fall of Baekje and refused to complete the project. With a peal of thunder, an old monk and a man of great strength suddenly appeared from the temple's main hall, erected the columns, and magically disappeared. Abiji was so shocked at the sight that he accepted his country’s future demise as the fate of the gods and once again restarted work on the temple. (From Samgungnyusa, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)In the twenty-three years following the completion of the pagoda, Queen Seondeok unified the Three Kingdoms; later, numerous scholars pointed to the pagoda as a contributing factor in the unification. Of the three treasures of Silla (the Jangyukjonsang statue, the nine-story pagoda of Hwangnyongsa Temple, and the Heavenly Belt of King Jinpyeong) two were located at the Hwangnyongsa Temple. The largest bell of Silla was also in Hwangnyongsa, but was taken away during the Mongol invasion. The highest monks of Silla preached at the temple, and many kings came to listen to the Buddhist teachings.During excavation work in July 1969, the massive foundation stones of the sermon hall, auditorium, and pagoda were found. Eight years of archaeological excavations and studies revealed the unique layout of the temple grounds, which consisted of one pagoda and three halls; also found were 40,000 or so ancient artifacts. Though foundation stones and other structures from the bottom of the temple were identified through excavation, there are no historical clues about the temple’s upper design, making the restoration of the temple in its entirety practically impossible. The size of the temple, based on archeological findings, was about 70 acres, roughly 8 times that of the Bulguksa Temple. 

Gyeonggi Provincial Museum was established for the purpose of inheriting and developing the history and traditional culture of Gyeonggi-do. It has actively engaged in various projects including historic research, relic excavation, management of the museum’s various collections, promotion of social education, and organization of cultural events that can help people understand the traditional culture of Gyeonggi-do better. The also museum promotes cultural exchange and cooperation by organizing events and programs that cater to the cultural needs of visitors. These include painting contests and cultural film screenings for university and elementary school students.

Located in strikingly beautiful surroundings, the 1.4million square meters Oak Valley Snow Park contains two beginner, five intermediate, and two advanced level courses. Each course presents a different theme, and the slopes have varying inclines. Oak Valley is a first-class resort complex providing condo facilities, a golf course, and various other subsidiary facilities. Oak Valley also offers special children’s facilities making it the perfect ski resort for all the family. It is also the nearest resort complex to Seoul. During the winter season, Oak Valley operates shuttle buses to the resort. Please refer to the homepage for the shuttle bus schedule and more detailed information on the resort.  

Gochujang (고추장) is the famous traditional sauce/garnish used in almost every dish in Korea. The one prepared in the Sunchang region, is well-known in Korea for being especially tasty. The Sunchang Gochujang Village (순창 고추장마을) is located at the foot of Mt. Amisan in Sunchang City, Jeollabuk-do. The village has a population of just 149 people who live in 46 Hanoks (traditional Korean style houses). When you first walk into the village you will notice rows of traditional hang-a-ri (large clay jar) all lined up everywhere you go transporting you back into Korea’s past. Actually, it has not been long since Sunchang Gochujang Village was established. Gochujang-making artisans from all over Sunchang-gun (county) in one village came together and started up this village.Every year in early November the village hosts the Sunchang Gochujang Festival drawing many visitors to the place for the many attractions nearby. The places include the Hoemunsan Natural Forest, a lovely woody area and historical site; Gangcheonsan County Park; Baegyangsa temple, beautifully scenic in the snowy winter; Churyeong Jangseungchon, a village where visitors can see various forms of jangseung (Korean totem poles made of wood); Hyangga Yuwonji, a public park famous for being the place where scholars would come to boat and live a peaceful life in these inspiring surroundings; and Naejangsan, a mountain that turns into a vision of fiery autumnal shades in the fall. 

Herbnara Farm, opened in 1994, has almost 100 kinds of herbs covering a total area of 12 k㎡. It consists of seven theme gardens, ponds and galleries including the Herb Garden, Children Garden, Fragrance Garden, and Water Garden. The uniquely decorated buildings and signs make visitors feel as if they are living in a fairy tale. Inside the farm, there are several spots for taking photos alongside the herbs; descriptions and effects are posted at each herb patch.A restaurant and cafeteria provide some dishes and drinks made of herbs cultivated on the farm. Bibimbap, steamed chicken with jeon, and the popular, herb salad with freshly picked flowers, are just some of the items on the menu. Free herbal tea is given to people who eat at the restaurant. There is also an exhibition room, which displays and sells herb related products such as herbal tea, herbal oil, herbal soap, etc.The farm can best be enjoyed from June to August and takes approximately one hour to tour the entire premises. Visitors can also enjoy the refreshing waters that run through the Heungjeong Valley at the entrance of the farm in the summer season.

Located at the skirt of Ansan Mountain in Bongwon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Bongwonsa temple , as the center of Korean Buddhism Taego, is a thousand year old temple with a long history and tradition. In 889 (3rd year of Shilla Jinseong Queen’s reign), Master Dosun founded it at the ground of Yeonhui palace (now Yonsei Univ.) and named it Banyasa temple. It was destroyed during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, and later in 1748 (24th year of Joseon King Yeongjo’s reign), it was rebuilt and renamed “Bongwonsa” by two Buddhist monks, Chanjeup and Jeungam.“Yeongsanjae”, one of the Buddhist rituals and also the Important Intangible Cultural Properties No. 50, takes place at Bongwonsa on June 6 every year wishing for the world peace and the reunification of North and South Korea. It was designated as one of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009. During Yeongsanjae, visitors can enjoy the Buddhist arts such as Beompae (Buddhist temple music for rituals) and dancing. Also, during summer time, “Seoul Lotus Flower Culture Festival” takes place, so visitors can enjoy the beautiful lotus flowers which are a symbol of Buddhism. 

The Chuncheon Mulle-gil is a great place to enjoy water sports like canoeing and yachting on a beautiful lake and river. This eco-tourism destination offers visitors a chance to surround themselves in an enchanting natural atmosphere and an opportunity to journey into nature through a refreshing outdoor activity.

Yeonmudae Post is located inside Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Situated on a relatively high hill between Changryongmun (the east gate of the fortress) and Hwahongmun (a north floodgate), Yeonmudae is an excellent military observation post with sweeping views of the inside of the fortress. After the fortress was completed in 1796, Yeonmudae was used as a training ground for troops for over two centuries, where they learned fighting skills involving swords, spears and arrows.At Yeonmudae, visitors can learn archery while wearing traditional military attire; the fortress also offers a wide array of performances for visitors to appreciate traditional Korean culture. Yeomudae is included in the Suwon City Tour course.