Shinsegae Centum City
 
Busan(Haeundae-gu)
The Shinsegae Centum City Department Store is registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest shopping complex in the world. The department store has a countless number of items all under one roof. Visitors can also enjoy numerous entertainment options in the complex. Shinsegae, which opened the first department store in Korea, reflects decades of retail experience in this flagship location. Some entertainment facilities include a spa and an ice rink.Globally renowned experts such as Italian architect Claudio Silvestrin and,an American architecture and design firm Callison completed Centum City under the concept of a “golden sea”. The department store has emerged as a defining landmark in Busan.

Hwaseong Fortress [UNESCO World Heritage]
 
Gyeonggi-do(Suwon-si)
Hwaseong Fortress is an impressive structure from the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and the official fortress of Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do. The fortress (constructed from 1794 to 1796) was built as a show of the King’s filial piety towards his father Jangheonseja and to build a new pioneer city with its own economic power.The fortress wall stretches for a total of 5.52km and has a great variety of military facilities that’s hard to find anywhere else. Four gates face each of the cardinal directions—Janganmun (north), Paldalmun (south), Changnyongmun (east), and Hwaseomun (west)—and the seven-arch style Sumun gates straddle the point where the nearby stream reaches the palace. Above the Sumun gates is a pavilion called Hwahongmun.Hwaseong Fortress was constructed under the guidance of Yu Hyeong-Won (1622-1673) and Jeong Yak-Yong (1762-1836), and is believed to have been constructed very scientifically. The fortress wall was built using Seokjae and Jeondol (bricks) and the holes between the bricks are just big enough to fire guns, arrows, or long spears through in case of an attack.During construction of the fortress Jeong Yak-Yong invented ‘Geojunggi,’ which uses a ‘hwalcha’ (lever) to lift up heavy stones, greatly reducing construction time.The Suwon Hwaseong Fortress went through many turbulent times and damage, and in the battle of June 25th, many of the facilities became so damaged that they were deemed irreparable. Even though the fortress restoration initiative (1975-1979) restored many of the sites to their former glory, Paldalmun to Dongnamgakru (an area 491 meters in length) has still not been renovated.The fortress was designated as Historical Monument No. 3 in January 1963, and in December 1997, it was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.a variety of performances and evens are held everyday and Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival takes place every autumn.>> Click here for more on Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 
33% OFFCoupon
Pocheon Herb Island
 
5.0/1
Gyeonggi-do(Pocheon-si)
Located in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do and established in 1998, Herb Island focuses on growing Mediterranean herbs. The Herb Indoor Botanical Garden offers over 180 different herbs while the Outdoor Botanical Garden showcases a dazzling array of herbs surrounded by nature. Additional attractions include the Herb Museum, Living & Herb Exhibition Hall, Herb Restaurant, Herb Barbecue Restaurant, a café, a bakery, a gift shop, Aroma Therapy Center, Venetia Village, Herb Studio (do-it-yourself crafting), Mini Zoo, and an outdoor performance hall. Herb Island even boasts excellent pensions with each equipped with whirlpool spa facilities, each pension provides aroma spa therapy. Open every day, Herb Island is an excellent place to rest your body and mind.  

Daegu National Museum
 
Daegu(Suseong-gu) ,
Daegu National Museum was built to preserve and exhibit the unique cultural heritage of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do province. It is a neat brick building with two basement floors. There are three exhibit halls, a special exhibit hall, experiment study room, audiovisual studio and library. At the Archeology Gallery you can see relics ranging from the Neolithic Era to the Three Kingdoms Period chronologically. At the Art History Gallery you can see and learn about the Buddhist culture of Gyeongsangbuk-do province. Here you can see Buddhist sculptures, Buddha statues and Buddhist crafts. The Goryeo celadon and Buncheong ware are also displayed here. At the Traditional Folk Life Gallery you can learn about the Seonbi culture and the beliefs and rituals of the Yeongnam area, and see traditional Korean houses. You can also enjoy the Outdoor Gallery where a five-storied stone pagoda stands. There are other facilities where visitors can participate in museum activities. You can try traditional dyeing, explore the traditional herbs and learn about agricultural plants. Do not miss going here because this is where you can learn about traditional herbs used for medicine, plants and grains. Resting in the natural surroundings at the wildflower and plant walkway or the Ecology Valley can be very relaxing. 

Ho-Am Art Museum
 
Gyeonggi-do(Yongin-si)
The Ho-Am Art Museum is located in Yongin inside the grounds of the huge Everland Amusement Park, making it a popular destination for tourists.The museum displays over 15,000 works of art that come from all periods of Korea’s history and date all the way back to the pre-historic age. Around 100 of Korea’s national treasures are on display here, along with Buddhist art, calligraphy, folk paintings, and an excellent collection of ceramics. The exhibitions is spread over two floors and located in a building constructed in the traditional Hanok style.Ho-Am Art Museum also includes a re-creation of a Korean traditional garden, called the Hee Won Garden, which should not be missed. Stonewalls, pavilions, traditional Hanok buildings, and Buddhist statues are scattered amongst glorious flowers and reflected in the lotus pond. After exploring the museum, visitors can relax with a cup of tea in Hee Won Garden’s teahouse. Visitors holding one-day admission passes to Everland, can visit Ho-Am Art Museum and Hee Won garden for free.

Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa - Getting the Star Treatment: a Massage at a Jjimjilbang(Korean Spa)
 
Seoul(Yongsan-gu) ,
The Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa is a charcoal sauna permeated with an oak fragrance created by traditional heating techniques. The jjimjil-bang and spa facilities offer sweating rooms/sauna, an open-air bath, seawater bath, salt room, swimming pool, and health center. The main hall of Yongsan Dragon Hill Spa boasts a Chinese-style design and a luxurious interior that has been used as a filming location for various Korean television broadcasts.

Jeju Haenyeo Museum
 
Jeju-do(Jeju-si)
Haenyeo refers to female divers who dive into the ocean water to gather various shellfish, seaweed, etc, without using any underwater diving equipment. When diving underwater, a haenyeo carries only a pair of goggles, a round ball-like tube to keep her balance, and a basket to put her collections in. Such women involved in the fishing industry are known to be scattered all around Jeju-do, Korea, Japan, and Russia. Jeju-do has established the Jeju Haenyeo Museum to introduce to the world the unique activities and culture of Jejudo’s haenyeo female divers. Exhibition Hall 1 is entitled “Haenyeo Diver’s Life” and has a restoration of a traditional haenyeo’s home, and her meals. Also on display, to show a more realistic view into their daily lives, are the various utensils used by female divers. Exhibition Hall 2 displays a pair of haenyeo divers’ goggles and the fishing spheres they often use underwater. Her traditional working outfit is also on display along with various historical records and haenyeo-related materials. Exhibition Hall 3 has an underwater theme called “The Sea” and displays the fishing industry’s culture. Traditional fishnets and fishing equipment are on display including small ship models and salt farm models. The Jeju Haenyeo Museum exhibits various photos of haenyeo female divers and their activities, to provide an accurate picture of their lives. The Jeju Haenyeo Museum also has an observatory from where visitors can see an excellent view of the Hado-ri area, which has a garden with various sculptures and a resting area. The first floor lobby has a souvenir shop where visitors can purchase a variety of souvenirs related to haenyeo female divers.  

Korea House
 
Seoul(Jung-gu)
The Korea House was opened in 1981. It is a traditional Korean building that introduces the culture and lifestyle of Koreans, where you can experience traditional architecture and a classical atmosphere. The building was built in the style of the Joseon Dynasty's Jagyeong-jeon building at the Gyeongbok Palace. It is the only building built in the traditional architectural style. You will feel its antiquity as you enter the building. It is divided into the Haerin-gwan (a space for people to get acquainted with each other), the Traditional Theater, and three annex buildings (Munhyang-ru, Nokeum-jeong and Cheongwu-jeong). At Haerin-gwan, you can enjoy traditional music at Garak-dang and try traditional food at Sohwa-dang. In the square of Garak-dang you can view a traditional wedding (on the weekends) or people playing folk games. Also, at the Traditional Theater, about 156 seats are available, and in the afternoons Human Cultural Assets or members of the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and the National Corps members present traditional music and dances. Sinayui, Salpuri, Pansori, the Drum Dance and the Bongsan Mask Dance are the most popular programs for foreigners. The programs are all explained in English and Japanese. In the Cultural Gift Shop you can view various crafts made by traditional craftsmen. It is always open and the crafts are for sale as well. There are pottery, ceramics, golden crafts, knots and embroidery etc; approximately 500 pieces of artwork made by craftsmen from 20 different fields. Next to the House of Korea is the Namsan-gol Hanok Village where visitors can explore traditional houses.

Trick Eye Museum
 
4.0/1
Seoul(Mapo-gu)
The Trickeye Museum is an art gallery with paintings created using 'trompe l'oeil' techniques that give each 2D art piece the illusion of being in 3D. Instead of merely viewing paintings (as in a typical art gallery) visitors can interact with the paintings, posing themselves just right so that they look as if they are part of the original work. To ensure that even its busiest patrons have time to enjoy the fun, the museum stays open each day until 9PM, making it a popular date and hang-out place.* Opening date: December 15, 2010* Tour course: Trickeye Museum – Ice Museum - Carnival Street* Trickeye Museum's TV appearances1) EBS ‘Bonihani’ (Children’s educational program)Children visited the Trickeye Museum to discover the science behind trick art paintings and to demonstrate the principles.2) KBS ‘Scandal of Masterpieces’Discussion on the new approach/interpretation of the painting ‘Scream’ by Edvard Munch. 

Doota (두산타워)
 
Seoul(Jung-gu) ,
Doota is a fashion mall full of trendy fashion items. There are 540 stores throughout the 8-story building including designer shops, select shops, luxury brand stores, cafes, and restaurants. Doota provides unique, high quality products at reasonable prices under the motto of ‘Fast & First’ and offers a one-stop shopping experience. Doota is visited a large number of foreign visitors compared to other shopping malls, with 55,000 local visitors and 10,000 foreign visitors a day. Services for foreign tourists include an information desk (1F) that provides information in three foreign languages (English, Japanese, and Chinese), money exchange (1F), Tax Refund office (5F), souvenir shop (5F), and storage lockers (B2). They also give away coupon books, which can be used at shops popular among foreign shoppers, and souvenir gift kits.