Pyunggang Botanical Garden
 
Gyeonggi-do(Pocheon-si)
Located at the entrance of Sanjeong Lake, Pyunggang Botanical Garden opened in May 2006, and was designated as a habitat for preservation by the Ministry of Environment. The garden has on exhibit both native plants and around 5,000 species of plants from around the globe. Additionally, the garden features an exquisite collection of 1,000 different alpine plants that normally reside on an altitude of 2,000 meters.The scope of the garden is comprehensive, but it is divided into 12 themed areas, including a Rock Garden, where the largest alpine plants in Asia are concentrated; a Wetland Center, which mimics the natural ecology of a wetland region; a Pond Garden consisting of roughly 50 ponds lined with gorgeous flowers; a Moss Center where moss that grows in deep valleys and forests can be seen; and a Grass Square, which serves as a green common year round. The Pyunggang Botanical Garden, serves an important role in preserving rare plants, but is also creating a new botanical garden culture, and serving as a center for public ecological education.※ Non-smoking area/cooking and drinking is strictly prohibited.Collecting plants, bugs, soil and stone without authorization is banned.

The Independence Hall of Korea
 
Chungcheongnam-do(Cheonan-si) ,
The Independence Hall of Korea displays Korean historical documents and relics from the past to the present, focusing on the independence movements of the Japanese Colonial Period. Originally the interim Government Building of Korea in China, the building was brought over to Korea after the nation was liberated from Japanese colonial rule on August 15, 1945. The Independence Hall officially opened on the anniversary of Independence Day on August 15, 1987 and now boasts seven exhibition halls, the Circle Vision Theater, and other facilities commemorating Korea’s struggle for freedom.

Iksan Godori Standing Stone Buddha
 
Jeollabuk-do(Iksan-si) ,
Iksan Godori Standing Stone Buddha is Treasure No. 46. The two Buddha statues (each measuring 424cm) stand face-to-face at a distance of 200 meters apart and tell the story of an eternal, but unrequited love. According to legend, the two Buddhas (one male, one female) are lovers that can only meet for one night in the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. After the sunset on that special day the lovers are allowed to meet, but must return to their respective positions before the rooster crows at dawn. The two statues are very representative of the Goryeo Era, which produced many stone statues with minimal expression of the physical body. True to the era, each Buddha has almost no curves and is depicted with plain clothing and barely distinguishable arms. On their heads, the Buddhas wear a crown topped with another square hat. With their square faces, small eyes, pug noses, and small lips, the Buddas are reminiscent of guardian deities typically placed at the entrance of villages.

Daecheongho Natural Ecology Center
 
Daejeon(Dong-gu) ,
The Daecheongho Natural Ecology Center in Chu-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon highlights the natural ecosystem of the Daecheongho Lake, which was created by the damming of Geumgang River in 1980. Daecheongho Lake is the third largest lake in Korea and boasts a reservoir measuring a surface area of 72.8 square kilometers, a circumference of 80 kilometers, and a capacity of 1.5 billion tons of water.The Daecheongho Natural Ecology Center stands on a plot of land alongside Daecheongho Lake spanning 8,270 square meters; the building itself (B1-3F) measures 1,488.5 square meters. The first floor houses an event hall, a storage room, and a theater showing videos on the natural ecology of Daecheongho Lake. On the second floor, there is a folk history center and ecology center boasting specimens of fish, insects, and plants native to the lake. The third floor houses an environmental center where participants can learn about the importance of recycling and protecting the lake’s water quality. There is also an observatory from which to view Daecheongho Lake and an outdoor ecology pond, wildflower beds, a small zoo, a mushroom center, an insect center, and a forest classroom.

Cheongnamdae Presidential Villa
 
Chungcheongbuk-do(Cheongju-si) ,
The Cheongnamdae (청남대) is a presidential vacation villa located near Daecheong Dam (대청댐) in Cheongwon-gu, Chungcheongbuk-do. The former president Chun Doo-hwan was greatly impressed by the scenic surroundings while attending the ceremony for the completion of Daecheong Dam in 1980. The construction of Cheongnamdae started in June, 1983 and was completed in six months (December). Cheongnamdae, built on a 560,000 pyeong-wide area, means ‘Cheongwadae in a warm southern land’ in Korean. South Korean presidents would stay in this remote vacation villa 4-5 times (or sometimes 7-8 times) a year during summer vacation or national holidays. In total, Korean presidents have stayed here nearly 400 days over 88 visits in two decades.There were four presidential villas including the one in Gimhae in the past. During Kim Young-sam’s administration, however, all but Cheongnamdae were closed. Cheongnamdae, which had been closed to the public for twenty years, was finally opened to the public on April 18, 2003 by former president Roh Moo-hyun. Visitors can view a music fountain inside the ecological wetland garden (990㎡), hike a 3.3km mountain trail and visit the Hoban Promenade (8km), or simply take a pleasant walk along a beautiful trail, and enjoy the scenic landscape of Daecheongho Lake.* Geographical Location Cheongnamdae is located in Munui-myeon, Cheongwon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. Encircled by mountain peaks including Oksaebong Peak, Wolchulbong Peak, Mt. Jakdusan and Sowibong Peak, it is completely hidden. The beautiful Daecheongho Lake surrounds the presidential vacation villa as well and many feng-shui masters have declared this spot to be the finest in Korea. * Size1) Site area: 330 land parcel area, 558,000 pyeong (1,844,628.1 ㎡)2) Buildings: 46 houses / 3,377 pyeong (11,163.64 ㎡)

Park Soo Keun Museum
 
Gangwon-do(Yanggu-gun) ,
Park Soo Keun (1914-1965) was an artist who devoted his life to drawing the lives of ordinary people with a warm gaze. The Park Soo Keum Museum, which has a floor space of 700 square meters, is built upon the artist’s birthplace in his hometown in Yanggu-gun County, Gangwon-do Province. The museum was founded with the intent to develop into a major cultural space for the region and to honor Park Soo Keun’s life and art. The collection of Park Soo Keun’s artworks exhibited at the museum include: three oil paintings including ‘Two Men Sitting’, a number of prints such as ‘The Tree and Two Ladies’ and ‘Tapdori’, the watercolor painting ‘Watercolors’, and dozens of other drawings.

Muju Gucheondong Valley
 
Jeollabuk-do(Muju-gun) ,
Muju Gucheondong Valley is located within Deogyusan in Jeollabuk-do, and is often referred to as Mujugucheon-dong, meaning the 25km stretch of land and water from Najetongmun to Deogyusan Mountain's Baengnyeonsa Temple. Muju Gucheondong Valley is not a deep valley. However, the valley flows through a lush forest that's quite beautiful. The calm and soothing sounds of the river are very refreshing.The 33 scenic points of Gucheondong are what make it so famous. Of the 33, the most famous are Najetongmun and Sushimdae. Najetongmun, the first scenic point is a huge boulder with a hole through it like a tunnel. During the Samguk era, this spot once served as the border between the Silla and Baekje nations. Because it was the dividing line between the two nations, even to this day, the east and west side's speech and customs are different. No one knows how the hole got there, but the experience of walking through it is quite interesting. Sushimdae, the 12th scenic point, is a valley approximately 400m in length. It is surrounded with mountain cliffs, which makes the area resemble Geumgangsan Mountain, and so it is often referred to as Sogeumgangsan, or little Geumgangsan. The clear water and beautiful scenery makes this spot a must-see.Many people come to Muju Gucheondong Valley for trekking. The trails go from Deogyusan National Park to Baengnyeonsa Temple. It's a 3-hour roundtrip hike for this 6km trail. Though it's a mountain trail, it's not that steep, making it ideal for trekking.

Traditional Liquor Museum Sansawon
 
Gyeonggi-do(Pocheon-si)
At Sansawon, visitors may sample food (rice cakes, Sanghwa dumplings, pickled vegetable soaked in rice wine leftovers, rice punch) and beverages made of liquor and liquor ingredients such as suljigemi (rice wine leftovers) or nureuk (yeast). The museum displays over 1,000 historical documents on traditional liquor as well as liquor brewery devices such as yakteul, nureukteul, gyeobogary, and sojugori. Moreover, the traditional brewing process, as seen in the folktale 'Mrs. Kim's Brewery' is recreated using the actual tools and devices from the traditional brewing process. The museum also features the process and culture of Gayangju (homemade liquor) with puppets and dolls. Visitors will leave the facility with a deeper appreciation of the devotion of ancient Korean brewmasters and the art of traditional Korean liquor. At the Gayangju Class, operated by Sansawon, anyone who wants to know more about traditional liquor may have a chance to learn about liquor ingredients, liquor-related folktales, and the brewing process. You can even learn first-hand how to make traditional liquor. You may either take your alcohol home with you after the class or leave it at the museum and stop by for it later. *Grand open November, 1996

Yumyeongsan Mountain Natural Recreation Forest
 
Gyeonggi-do(Gapyeong-gun)
Located in Gyeonggi-do Gapyeong, Yumyeongsan Mountain was designated as the best natural recreation forest in Seoul because of its beautiful assortment of trees, valleys, and log cabins. Yumyeongsan Mountain’s trail is particularly nice and is what it’s famous for.Facilities within the recreation forest include a promenade, sporting equipment, a forest exhibition. Lodging facilities include the Forest House, a recreation center, camping deck, and camping site. Reservation can be made through the homepage.

Dora Observatory
 
Gyeonggi-do(Paju-si)
Situated in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do and at the northernmost point of the Military Demarcation Line, Dora Observatory replaced the previous Songaksan Observation Post. From the observatory, visitors can overlook North Korea and various locations including Gaeseong, Songaksan, Kim Il-Sung Statue, and Cooperation Farm (Geumamgol). The observatory offers 500 seats, VIP rooms, and abundant parking space. It was first opened to the public in January 1987. Near the observatory is the Third Underground Tunnel, built by North Korea and found in 1978. It stretches over 1.6km with a x_height and x_width of 2m, capable of mobilizing 30,000 troops in one hour. In front of the tunnel are a variety of attractions such as the DMZ Media Hall (offering the history of the divided country and flourishing ecosystem in the Demilitarized Zone), DMZ Exhibition Hall (displaying relics and documents related to the Demilitarized Zone), sculptures, and souvenir shops. Visitors can see inside the tunnel by either walking or riding the monorail. Because civilian access is restricted in this area, visitors must participate in the DMZ Peace & Security Tourist Program (implemented by Paju-si) to visit the observatory. Conducted by a shuttle bus either from Imjingak Resort or Dorasan Station, it goes through the Dora Observatory, 3rd Underground Tunnel, Dorasan Station, and Unification Village. Visitors must carry their passport, which is examined at the checkpoint just beyond Unification Bridge.