Geumseonsa Temple Stay
 
5.0/3
Seoul(Jongno-gu)
Geumseonsa Temple, which is located at the foot of Samgaksan (Bukhansan) Mountain, is within easy access from downtown Seoul. The temple is placed in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountain rocks and green pine forest. Geumseonsa Temple offers three types of temple stay: quality rest, Buddhist cultural experience, and temple life.  

Gongju National Museum
 
Chungcheongnam-do(Gongju-si) ,
Gongju National Museum manages and preserves the cultural treasures excavated from northern Chungcheongnam-do. It takes special care of cultural treasures discovered at the Muryeong Royal Tomb in 1971. The Muryeong Royal Tomb is the tomb of King Muryeong (501-523) from the Baekje Period, and his queen consort. You can view most of the relics from the tomb at the museum. The current buildings were specifically built to exhibit these relics. Gongju Museum has excavated many other relics and sites. he exhibit hall constitutes of 2 parts. It exhibits over 1000 relics, including National Treasure No.19 and No.4. The first room of the 2nd floor displays the relics from the Muryeong tomb. It is quite a treat to view the golden belt, bracelet and bronze mirrors. There is even a full-scale model of the Muryeong tomb for you to view.The 2nd room of the first floor displays the relics from the Chungcheongnam-do area chronologically. Outside, in front of the main building, is a garden you can visit after viewing the inside of the museum, and you can see many relics which were excavated from the entire Gongju district. An eye-catching sight is the two large stone bowls, used long ago to store water. Between the relics, there are dozens of golden pine, pine and cherry trees, which are over 70 years old. It is an ideal place for visitors to rest. If you are looking for souvenirs, there is a souvenir shop where you will find many cute souvenirs.

Geumnyeonsan Youth Training Institute
 
Busan(Suyeong-gu) ,
Located on Geumnyeonsan Mountain in the heart of Busan, Geumnyeonsan Youth Training Institute is a youth center managed directly by Busan Metropolitan City. Surrounded by a wonderful natural landscape, the institute also functions as a place to relax for the general public. Its main facilities include a youth campground, dormitories, an astronomy observatory, an auditorium, and a fitness center. There is also a promenade and a wisteria-lined path, so the institute is a place of both learning and relaxation. The institute consistently provides a variety of programs designed to develop the mind and body such as summer and winter camps, writing contests, drawing competitions, and more.

Boriam Temple in Geumsan Mountain
 
Gyeongsangnam-do(Namhae-gun) ,
The Great Master Wonhyo first built this temple in 683 where he practiced asceticism. After that, he called the mountain Bogwangsan (보광산) and the temple Bogwangsa (보광사). Later, King Taejo Lee Sung-gye began the Joseon Dynasty after he prayed for a hundred days at this temple. Thanks to this, King Hyeonjong in 660 deemed the temple as a main prayer space and changed the name of the mountain to Geumsan and the temple is named as Boriam. Nestled at the top of Geumsan Mountain, Boriam Temple is a picturesque temple embracing the beautiful mountain surroundings and the Namhae sea. Inside of the temple, Jwaseondaebawi Rock where the Great Master Wonhyo sat in meditation catches one’s eye, as well as Ssanghongmun (쌍홍문) which is a cave that is one of 38 scenic views in Geumsan Mountain. Boriam Temple along with Naksansa Hongryeonam Temple in Gangwon-do and Bomunsa Temple in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon are one of three noted praying temples in Korea. * Cultural Asset Boriam Three-story Stone Pagoda (Gyeongsangnam-do’s Tangible Cultural Asset No. 74): The stone pagoda is similar to stone pagodas of the Silla Period but it is considered to be built in the early Goryeo Period.

Gwaneumsa Temple
 
Jeju-do(Jeju-si)
Gwaneumsa Temple is located at the foot of the northeast side of Mt. Halla in Ara-dong in Jeju City. The temple is widely believed to have been first built during the Tamra Dynasty Era (BC 476~AD 1005), which was prior to the Goryeo Dynasty (AD 918~1392). However, there is no concrete evidence suggesting the exact year of construction or the temple’s original builder. In the early 1700s, when leaders of the Joseon Dynasty proclaimed Confucianism as the national religion and executed a policy to destroy all the Buddhist temples in the Jeju area, Gwaneumsa Temple was demolished. It was rebuilt in 1912 by a Buddhist nun, Anbongryeokwan, and renovated in 1964. The temple consists of the main shrine, Myeongbujeong Hall, a bell tower, Sanshingak Pavilion, and Bulimun Gate. There is also a Buddhist school run by the Gwaneumsa Temple located in downtown Jeju. There are many tourist spots near the temple such as a wooden seated Buddhist goddess statue that was designated a tangible cultural asset of Jeju-do in 1999. Other popular destinations include Jeju Natural Monument No. 50, a cherry blossom tree habitat, and the nearby “4.3 Historic Site” commemorating the civil revolution many years ago on April 3rd. Also located close to the temple are the Mokseokwan Arboretum, Sancheondan, Halla Mountain, Uerimok Valley, Tamra Valley, and Gewaloreum Hill. The steep trail leading up the side of Halla Mountain, “Gwaneumsa Trail,” is particularly popular for its colorful fall foliage and its breathtaking scenery of endless gorges.  

Samsung Innovation Museum
 
Gyeonggi-do(Suwon-si) ,
Samsung Innovation Museum is an electronic industrial museum run by Samsung, a major global company based in Korea. The museum mainly consists of three sections. Visitors can learn about the history of Korea's electronic industry, as well as the past, present and future of the semiconductor, display and mobile industries, where Samsung made great achievements. The museum also runs an education facility called Children's Display Research Institute.

Korea Expressway Corporation Arboretum
 
Jeollabuk-do(Jeonju-si) ,
Korea Expressway Corporation Arboretum (Jeonju Arboretum) is located in a relatively warm region of the country, reaching 20-30 meters in altitude. Operated by Korea Expressway Corporation, the garden is a nonprofit aboretum that is free and open to the public. The garden was built to restore the local environment that was damaged during the construction of an expressway in 1972, starting with nursery field. The builders then began collecting plants in 1983, and eventually opened the garden in 1992. The arboretum now sees an average of 200,000 visitors per year. The garden operates various hands-on programs and summer educational programs due to its diverse plant species.  

Tongdosa Temple
 
Gyeongsangnam-do(Yangsan-si) ,
Located in southern part of Mt. Chiseosan, Tongdosa Temple is famous for not having any Buddhist statues in the temple. This is because the real shrines of the Buddha are preserved here. The name 'Tongdosa' was named after the belief that mankind can be saved through Buddhism. After Monk Ja-Jang brought the shrines of Buddha from Dang China, Tongdosa Temple was built during Queen Sun-Deok's reign (646). Tongdosa Temple is said to have survived numerous wars and invasions, its Beopdeung (temple candle) has never gone out, for 1,300 years. Inside, there are 35 buildings and Pagoda's, and 14 small temples in its vicinity. The main building is designated as National Treasure No.290. The temple is similar to a museum because of the numerous relics inside. There are 19 local treasures and 794 local cultural properties inside the temple. In place of the Buddha statue, the Geumgang Stairs behind of the main building preserves the shrines of the Buddha.Mt. Chiseosan, has a beautiful view from the temple. The several hundred year-old pine trees lined up from the entrance to Ilju Gate, the small drum (used when praying in front of a Buddha figure) and bell, the sunset, the pond and the rocks and waterfalls behind the temple are grouped and called the 'Eight Famous Sceneries of Tongdosa Temple.'

Total Museum, Seoul
 
Seoul(Jongno-gu) ,
The Total Museum is a branch of Jangheung Art Park (formerly “Total Outdoor Museum”) that opened near Bukhansan in April, 1992. It houses facilities such as an art academy, library, art shop, and outdoor performance stage. In addition to exhibitions, the museum holds a variety of art and culture programs like musical concerts, events, lectures, and seminars. In particular, the members-only educational programs and gallery concerts provide a chance to enjoy high-quality cultural events.

Korea National Arboretum and Forest Museum(Gwangneung Forest)
 
Gyeonggi-do(Pocheon-si)
The Korea National Arboretum (KNA) is situated in Gwangneung forest and contains the Forest Museum where all the information on forestry is exhibited. The construction of the arboretum and museum took place on October 25, 1985 and opened on April 5, 1987. In order to preserve the forests, weekends and holiday entrance were restricted, reservations were required 5 days in advance, and no more than 5,000 visitors were accepted per day. As diverse plants are gaining recognition worldwide, the research department formed the Office of Forestry on May 24, 1999.Korea National Arboretum covers an area of 1,157㏊ and contains 15 specialized forests, including Conifer Garden, the Garden of Ornamental Trees, and the Aroma and Touch Garden. The Forest Museum is the largest in Asia, covering 4628 sq.m² with a traditional Korean design, and the interior and exterior are both constructed of wood and stone. The arboretum facilities consist of 5 exhibition halls (Living Forest, Forest and Man, Forestry of the World, Forestry of Korea, Nature of Korea), a Herbarium, a Special Exhibition Room, and an Audio Visual Hall.