Dobongsan Mountain, located northeast of Bukhansan National Park, is known for the magnificent rock formations of the Manjangbong, Seoninbong, Jubong, Obong and Uiam Peaks. The Seoninbong Peak has 37 hiking courses, including the famous Bakjwi (Bat) CourseThe mountain is also home to Cheonchuksa Temple, the oldest temple in the region, and several other temples including Mangwolsa and Hoeryongsa, as well as a number of beautiful valleys called Donong, Songchu, Obong and Yeongeocheon. Furthermore, it is easily accessible by public transportation.

Mokpo Culture & Arts Center is in Yonghae-dong, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do. The center opened in July 1997 and has two buildings, an exhibition hall, which includes seven exhibition rooms and two special rooms, and performance hall, which has a 698 seat auditorium.

The Yangpyeong Wild Flower Arboretum has several major facilities. The Nature Ecology Museum showcases a natural ecology model structure with educational videos. The Nature Learning Center has about 200 different types of endangered wild flower species, while the Herb Garden has 50 different types of herbs. Other attractions include the swampy ground, Tteodeureongseom Island, riverside driveway, tropical arboretum, research center. The Arborteum offers a number of hands-on experience programs as well.

This is the house where Empress Myeongseong (Joseon Period) was born, and lived until she was eight years old. She would grow up to be the wife of the dynasty’s 26th ruler, King Gojong. The birthplace and the adjoining Memorial Hall are open to the public.Empress Myeongseong was a brilliant diplomat who pursued openness and reform to maintain the sovereignty of the nation. Unfortunately, her tumultuous life came to an end in the early morning hours of October 8, 1895 when she was murdered by the Japanese army.During Japanese colonial rule, the empress was wrongfully accused of being a jealous and overly ambitious person. Studies of various archives have since revealed what a great person she really was. Recently, numerous television productions and musicals have also corrected those misunderstandings. Renovated in 1995, her birthplace includes three buildings with servants’ quarters, master’s quarters, and a separate house. A commemorative monument now stands at the site of the room where the empress studied as a child. The Memorial Hall in front of the house contains various archives and artifacts related to Empress Myeongseong’s life. There is also a 161-seat theatre.

Daecheongdo Island is home to some of the best beaches in Korea. Also, there are some good hiking courses on the island that offer great views above the golden beaches and rocky shores. A smaller and less populated island compared to the neighboring Baengnyeongdo Island, Daecheongdo is a perfect pastoral getaway. Island History Daecheongdo Island was said to be first inhabited during the Neolithic Age (9500-4500 BC), but the earliest known history periods begin during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 AD), when the island was used as a place of exile. The first known case of an exile was recorded sometime during the reign of Chinese Emperor Togon-temur (1320-d.1370) from the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. It was said that he was exiled on Daecheongdo for meddling in a plot arranged by his stepmother. He supposedly arrived on the island with 100 relatives, and built a palace here. The next known record relates to the island's abundance in medicinal herbs including mulberry mistletoe (Loranthi Ramulus), which was used to cure the illness of Queen Munjeong (d.1565), the wife of King Jungjong (d.1544). There is no record of island inhabitation until 1793, when King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), authorized the inhabitation and cultivation of the island. During the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945), there were as many as 10,000 people living on the island due to its popularity as a major port. Today, there are about 1,500 people who sustain a living from tourism and fisheries.

Located 1km north of Baneojin, Ilsan Beach is a fine-grained sandy beach that is 600m in length, 40-60m in x_width, and 26,000㎡ in total area. The water is relatively shallow at 1-2 meters in depth and holds an average temperature of around 21.2 degrees Celsius. Every July, there is a beach festival and in just a few months a beachside amusement park will be opening up to the public. Ilsan Beach offers various amenities and is surrounded by accommodation facilities, allowing for a comfortable and pleasant stay. Nearby tourist attractions include Daewangam Park and Hwaam Boat Trail Mark Management Center, which has a lighthouse exhibition center and the highest lighthouse observatory in the area, giving visitors a wide-open view of Ulsanhang Harbor. Hyundai Heavy Industry is also located nearby.

Hongyureung (홍유릉) refers to the two royal tombs, Hongneung and Yureung, which are both located in the same area. Hongneung is the mausoleum of the 26th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, Emperor Gojong (1852-1919, reign 1863-1907), and his wife Empress Myeongseong (1851-1895).Hongneung(홍릉) was first the tomb of Empress Myeongseong, and it was located in Cheongnyangni, Seoul. When Emperor Gojong died, he was buried together with the previously deceased empress and the tomb was moved to its current place.Emperor Gojong was the second son of the regent Heungseon Daewongun and ascended to the throne at the young age of twelve. In 1897, he declared Korea to be the “Daehan Empire” and established himself as the emperor. However, under unrelenting pressure from Japan, he signed the Eulsa Treaty, and as a result, the Daehan Empire was deprived of its diplomatic rights. In 1919, Emperor Gojong died in Deoksugung Palace at the age of 67.Empress Myeongseong became the empress in 1866. However, at that time, Korea was actually governed not by Emperor Gojong, but by his father, who was controlling things from behind the scenes. In 1873, when Emperor Gojong began to administer state affairs, Empress Myeongseong exercised considerable power and deeply participated in political affairs. Her diplomatic policy was in obvious favor of Russia. This angered Japan, and she was killed by Japanese assassins.Yureung (유릉) is both the last royal tomb of the Joseon Dynasty and the tomb of the first Korean emperor. It is the tomb of Emperor Sunjong (1874-1926, reign 1907-1910), the 27th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, his first wife Empress Sunmyeonghyo, and his second wife, Empress Sunjeonghyo. Emperor Sunjong was the second son of Emperor Gojong and Empress Myeongseong. He was the last ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, and he struggled to defend the dynasty during that era of turbulence.Empress Sunmyeonghyo died when she was still the crown princess. She was originally buried at the foot of Mt. Yongmasan. After Emperor Sunjong died, the tomb was moved to its current location, and the emperor was buried alongside Empress Sunmyeonghyo. Empress Sunjeonghyo became the second wife of Emperor Sunjong at the age of twelve. It is known that she concealed the Imperial Seal when Japan put pressure on the Joseon Dynasty to sign the Korea (Joseon) -Japan Consolidation Treaty in 1910. However, the treaty was concluded, and the Daehan Empire came to an end after being deprived of its sovereignty. Empress Sunjeonghyo is said to have maintained her dignity right up until the moment she died. She was the last empress of the Daehan Empire.Hongneung and Yureung look different from other royal tombs. When the name of the country changed from the Joseon Dynasty to the Daehan Empire, the rulers of Korea were called emperors. Therefore, the tombs of the two emperors were modeled after the tomb of the Ming Dynasty’s ruler, King Taizu (Zhu Yuanzhang). Surrounding Hongneung and Yureung are statues carved in the shape of animals such as giraffes, elephants, and lions, which can’t be seen at the other royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. The stonework of Hongneung tomb was made in a traditional way, while the stonework of Yureung tomb shows a more realistic and advanced technique. 

Beomeosa Temple, located in Geumjeongsan Mountain in Busan, is one of the three major temples in Korea, together with Haeinsa and Tongdosa. Up until today, the passion of practitioners of this temple continues, a passion that did not waver even during the war. The temple stay program has two types: the experience program and the relaxation program. Centering on chamseon (Zen meditation), the experience program includes yebul, 108 prostrations, and dado (tea ceremony). With the relaxation program, you may choose to take chamseon (Zen meditation) or have conversation with a monk over a cup of tea. The temple is close to downtown and you can use a city tour bus with departure/final stop in Busan Station to take a tour around the city.  

Naro Space Center (나로우주센터) – Korea’s first – is a launching pad for various space projectiles, including the rocket-launching of satellites. A ceremony was held upon the completion of the Center on June 11, 2009, making Korea the 13th country in the world to have a space center. Naro Space Center mounts exhibitions and educates about space science technology. There is a Space Science Museum consisting of science exhibits, a 4D experience room (to be built) and an outdoor exhibition where students and children can learn about and experience space science technology.  

Founded in 2004, Hallym University of Graduate Studies offers 11 graduate majors across four academic departments (International Studies, Convention & Event Management, Audiology, and U.S. Law). The Convention & Event Management and Audiology departments are the first to be introduced in Korea, while the U.S. Law program qualifies students to take the U.S. bar exam, which is required to practice law in that system. Anyone with a degree from a four-year university is eligible to apply to any of the programs.