Situated on the southwest corner of Jirisan Mountain, Hwaeomsa Temple is one of the 10 most famous temples in Korea. It was constructed in the fifth year of King Jinheung’s reign (544) during the Silla Era, but was burnt down during Japanese Invasion, Jeongyujaeran in 1592. Including the main building Daeungjeon, the temple was rebuilt during the Joseon Period.The path to the temple lies along the valley named Hwaeomsa Temple Valley. It also takes you to Nogodan Plateau of Jirisan Mountain. With Korean traditional straw-roofed houses and a water mill, you can find a cozy place named Siuidongsan, which means the Hill of Poetry, to take a rest at your right on the way to the temple.Beyond this area is the main gate of Hwaeomsa Temple, Iljumun Gate, and a long stonewall. Entering the main gate, you can find Geumgangmun Gate and the stairs going up to Bojeru. At the top of the stairs, there are the main building Daeungjeon and Gakhwangjeon Pavilion.There are also Seo-ocheung Pagoda (west-five-story pagoda) and Dongocheung Pagoda (east-five-story pagoda) at each side of the front yard. In front of Gakhwangjeon Pavilion is the largest light made of stone in Korea. In addition, there are many national treasures here including the Sasaja Samcheung (3-story) Stone Pagoda, which is situated at the hill called Hyodae. The main building Daeungjeon and Bojeru is magnificent and graceful. Keeping its original beauty, Hwa-eomsa Temple makes beautiful scenery with the nature around it.[National Cultural Heritages]- Stone Lantern at Gakhwangjeon Hall of Hwaeomsa Temple- Four Lion Three-story Stone Pagoda of Hwaeomsa Temple- Gakhwangjeon Hall of Hwaeomsa Temple- Hanging Painting of Hwaeomsa Temple (The Vulture Peak Assembly)- Five-story Stone Pagoda in the east and west of Hwaeomsa Temple- Daeungjeon Hall of Hwaeomsa Temple- Lion Pagoda at Wontongjeon Hall of Hwaeomsa Temple- Stone Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Garland Sutra) of Hwaeomsa Temple- Higan Cherry of Hwaeomsa Temple- Bojeru Pavilion of Hwaeomsa Temple- Stone Lantern at Gucheungam hermitage of Hwaeomsa Temple

The Agricultural Museum first opened in 1987 and, after going through renovations, was reopened in July, 2005. The museum has three exhibition halls: the Agricultural History Hall, the Agricultural Community Hall, and the Agriculture Promotion Hall. In the museum, there are 2,000 artifacts on display and replicas of paddy fields, traditional homes, and marketplaces of agricultural societies. Through its variety of learning tools, the museums hopes visitors can gain a better understanding of what life was like for farmers in the past.

Located 1.4 kilometers away from the downtown area, Samcheok Beach is easily accessible and has a vast white-sand beach that is 1.2 kilometers long and 100 meters wide. Thanks to its pine tree forests, clean white sand, and shallow waters, over 500,000 vacationers visit the beach every year.Its beautiful natural environment has also made it a favorite filming location for Korean movies and dramas. The movie April snow, One fine spring day, and drama South of the sun were filmed here. The beach has a unique beauty and ambience in every season.

Known as one of Korea’s leading short story novelists, Kim Yu-jeong (1908~1937) was born in Sille Village in Sindong-myeong, Chuncheon. A restoration of his birth house, the Kim Yu-jeong House of Literature is part of an effort to turn the whole village into a literature village, commemorating the novelist. The house has an exhibition hall, a walking path, and a hiking trail.Kim Yu-jeong spent a great deal of his life in Seoul and returned to his hometown in 1931 at the age of 23. He published his first novel 'Sangol Nageune (The Wanderer)' followed by numerous rural-based novels such as 'Dongbaekkkot (The Camellias)' and 'Bom bom (Spring)'.Inside the exhibition hall, his birth home and even a treadmill are reproduced in their original form. A variety of programs reproducing his works are on display.

Chuam Beach is a beach filled with a diverse variety of rock formations and coastal cliffs, where 150 meters of white sands leave you breathless. This beach is also called Haegeumgang Beach, due to its beautiful surrounding scenery. There is a lot to see on this rocky island, with its wild coastal cliffs boasting such formations as ‘Knife Rock’, ‘Candlestick Rock’, and of course caverns. The ‘Candlestick Rock’ is somewhat known to be symbolic of Chuam Beach, as it points sharply towards the heavens. Just behind ‘Candlestick Rock’ lies the summerhouse, Haeamjeong.The shoreline cliffs unfold into a panorama at the back of Haeamjeong, and at its front is the gorgeous view of the open ocean which can be taken in with just one glance. The quiet and shallow waters characterize Chuam Beach, making it perfect for the whole family to enjoy.

Sandglass Park is surrounded by the East Sea, mountains and Jeongdongjin 2-ri Village. Sandglass Park has pine trees, benches facing the sea, and access to Jeongdongjin Beach. A sandglass doesn’t show the present time like a sundial and a water glass and it measures the time elapsed by sand volume descending through gravity. So, the sandglass was used for determining the velocity. Jeongdongjin Sandglass Park was established in 1999 by Gangneung-si and Samsung Electronics Co. to commemorate the upcoming century. Part of this commemoration was the building of the giant sandglass at the park. The Sandglass has a diameter of 8.06m, its x_width is 3.2m, a weight of 40 tons and holds 8 tons of sand, making it one of the biggest sandglasses in the world. It takes a whole year for sand to trickle to the bottom and then the sandglass restarts again on New Year’s Day each year at midnight.

Jinjuseong Fortress, which is historically linked to the Japanese invasion in 1592, was originally named Geoyeolseong Fortress during the Three Kingdom Period, later renamed as Chokseokseong Fortress in the Goryeo Dynasty and finally settled as Jinjuseong Fortress in the Joseon Dynasty. The reinforced stonewall has a circumference of approximately 1,760m, 5m-8m in x_height and contains three wells and springs. According to Ha Ryun’s Seongmungi in Donggukyeojiseungnam Record, the castle had been frequently destroyed by the Japanese invasion and was later reinforced by Jinju’s minister, Kim Jung-gwang during the fifth year of Goryeo Woo King’s reign (1379). During this period, the circumference was 800 bo(pace), with Uijeongmun Gate to the east, Jijemun Gate to the north, and Yehwamun Gate to the south. Outside the castle, Cheongcheon River flows in the west and Namgang River in the south and a pond lies between the castle and the trench dug during the war times. As a fortress to safeguard from the Japanese attacks, it blocked the Japanese from advancing toward Honam during the 25th year of Joseon Seonjo King’s reign (1592). Within the temple lies Chokseoknu, Kim Shi-min Memorial, Uigisa Shrine, Seojangdae, Bukjangdae, Changyeolsa shrine, Jinju National Museum, Hoguksa Temple, and an outdoor stage. 

Designated National Treasure No.16, this is Korea’s oldest and largest stone pagoda.The pagoda measures 16.8 meters high with a x_width of 7.75 meters. The pagoda was originally built at Beopeungsa Temple during the eighth century of the United Silla Kingdom [654~935] and is the only remaining relic from the temple.The pagoda is presently located on the estate of the head house of the Goseong Lee family. The sangryunbu, the ornamental top portion of the pagoda, has been totally lost, but the lower tiered portions are intact with beautiful carvings of Buddhist tutelary deity. Traces of tiled roof were found on each story of the tower. Historical records show that the tower was rebuilt in 1487 and that around the same period, three parts of the temple remained. 

Icheon Ceramics Village produces traditional Korean ceramics, which are of high quality. The village became the center of traditional pottery during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) for about 500 years due to the easily obtainable materials in the areas. Icheon Ceramics Village was also the center of Joseon Baekja ceramics. Presently, about 80 pottery factories are congregated at the village, and about 300 pottery kilns are in use.Visitors can observe the pottery production process, and purchase them directly. It is worthwhile to see the crafts of these potters known as Living Cultural Treasures of Korea for creating the highest quality handicrafts. Not only are the traditional Cheongja,Baekja, and Buncheong pottery produced here, but you can also view modern design pottery. The Haegang Ceramics Art Center is the only ceramics Art Center in Korea, where you can learn about ceramics. One of the must-see events at Icheon Ceramics Village is the internationally famous “Icheon Ceramics Festival” held every year. Displayed pottery as well as, pottery classes, traditional kiln handling, pottery character show, and even parades are held.