Travel/Culture List

The site of Hwangnyongsa Temple is located in front of the Bunhwangsa Temple in Guhang-dong, Gyeongju. During the Silla Era, the Hwangnyongsa Temple was the nation’s largest temple and housed the bulk of the country’s major Buddhist treasures.Construction of the temple began in 553 on a field near the royal compound of Banwolseong under the commission of King Jinheung. The king originally planned to build a palace, but decided to build a temple instead, after receiving reports that a yellow dragon had been spotted on the building site. The temple was thus named Hwangnyongsa (Temple of Yellow Dragon) and was completed in 569, seventeen years after construction began. The temple murals feature an old pine tree drawn by Artist Solgeo. During the Silla Era, the temple was the center of state-sanctioned Buddhism.Later, when monk Jajang was studying in Tang, he came across a god as he was passing by the Taihe Pond. The god said to him, “the yellow dragon, which is my eldest son, is guarding Hwangnyongsa Temple upon orders of Brahma, the Creator. If you build a nine-story pagoda upon your return to Silla, the neighboring states will surrender and pay tribute, and the royal cause will be stronger. Once the construction of the pagoda is complete, prepare a memorial service for the local gods and pardon any of the country's criminals. If you follow all I have told you, no other state will dare invade Silla.”After this encounter, Jajang returned to Silla and convinced Queen Seondeok to build the nine-story pagoda. Master architect Abiji of the neighboring state Baekje designed the pagoda and the project was built by Yongchun and his 200 men using wood and stone. The night before the columns were to be erected, Architect Abiji of Baekje dreamed of the fall of Baekje and refused to complete the project. With a peal of thunder, an old monk and a man of great strength suddenly appeared from the temple's main hall, erected the columns, and magically disappeared. Abiji was so shocked at the sight that he accepted his country’s future demise as the fate of the gods and once again restarted work on the temple. (From Samgungnyusa, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)In the twenty-three years following the completion of the pagoda, Queen Seondeok unified the Three Kingdoms; later, numerous scholars pointed to the pagoda as a contributing factor in the unification. Of the three treasures of Silla (the Jangyukjonsang statue, the nine-story pagoda of Hwangnyongsa Temple, and the Heavenly Belt of King Jinpyeong) two were located at the Hwangnyongsa Temple. The largest bell of Silla was also in Hwangnyongsa, but was taken away during the Mongol invasion. The highest monks of Silla preached at the temple, and many kings came to listen to the Buddhist teachings.During excavation work in July 1969, the massive foundation stones of the sermon hall, auditorium, and pagoda were found. Eight years of archaeological excavations and studies revealed the unique layout of the temple grounds, which consisted of one pagoda and three halls; also found were 40,000 or so ancient artifacts. Though foundation stones and other structures from the bottom of the temple were identified through excavation, there are no historical clues about the temple’s upper design, making the restoration of the temple in its entirety practically impossible. The size of the temple, based on archeological findings, was about 70 acres, roughly 8 times that of the Bulguksa Temple. 

Onjo, the progenitor of Kingdom Baekje, first settled in Wiryeseong Hanam. But no exact location is known till today. One thing for sure, however, is that Pungnaptoseong Fortress, Mongchontoseong Fortress, Bangidong Ancient Tombs of Baekje, Seokchondong Stone Mound Tomb of Early Baekje are the remains of Baekje. Pungnaptoseong Fortress faces Hangang River to its west and connects to Mongchontoseong Fortress to the south. To the northwest faces Achasanseong Fortress over Hangang River and far to the southeast is Namhansanseong Fortress. Pungnaptoseong Fortress, located at the south end of Cheonhodaegyo Bridge over Hangang River, is one of the remains of Early Baekje. Originally, the fortress was 4km in circumference, but due to massive overflowing of Hangang River during flood season in 1925, most of the fortress was lost and only 2.7km of it remains. To the east of the fortress are 4 vestiges of the fortress gates. The remains from the prehistoric era through the Samguk (Three States) era have been unearthed, indicating that this place was a residential area well before the Baekje Era. Through vigorous excavation, some people suggest that there used to be a palace located here during the Baekje Era.

Also known as Gwangtongnu, Gwanghalluwon Garden was originally built by Hwanghee Jeongseung in 1419 during the reign of Joseon Dynasty’s King Sejong. Because of its surreal beauty, Governor Jeong In-ji gave the garden the name ‘Gwanghallu’ in 1444, comparing it to a palace on the moon. It is famous as the location where Lee Mong-ryong and Chunhyang (two lovers from a well-known Korean folk story) first met. In the 1920’s Chunhyangsa Temple was established in the neighboring area and a portrait of Chunhyang was hung in a place of honor. On May 5th of every year, the garden is the venue of the Chunhyangjae Festival, celebrating the deep and lasting love of the famous couple.Namwon City, where the garden is located, contains many historical relics such as the Maninuichong Tomb, Gwanghallu, Ojak Bridge, Gyorongsanseong Fortress, Hwangsan Great Battle Monument Site, and Silsangsa Temple, as well as tourist courses such as the Namwon Tourist Site, Susang Amusement Park, Chunhyang Theme Park, Music Fountain, and Jirisan National Park.

Of the 4 Great Gates (Sukjeongmun, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, and Seodaemun), established by the Emperor of 1396, Sukjeongmun is called the north gate.Located to the north of Seoul, this gate, with Gyeongbokgung Palace in the center and Changaemun (Jahamun) to the right, make up the wings of the north gate. Due to the possible danger of the area being damaged from all the pedestrians, the Emperor of 1413 planted pine trees and prohibited passing this area. Henceforth, Sukjeongmun became a scenic walkway until the North Korean Communist infiltration of 1968, which prohibited the passing of all civilians.The reopening of Sukjeongmun in April of 2006 has led to the opening of Bukak Mountain in April of 2007 and is in the process of dividing it into 3 courses. Bukak Mountain has been kept well-preserved due to a long period of restriction in this area, and if you climb the mountain, you will be able to see all of Seoul in one breath. 

Dream Forest, previously known as ‘Odong Geullin Park’, is located at Bun-dong, Gangbuk-gu Seoul.Renovated and reopened on October 2009, Dream Forest is the fourth largest park after World Cup Park(2.76million ㎡), Olympic Park(1.45million ㎡), and Seoul Forest(1.20million ㎡) and the first large-scale green park created in Gangbuk area.Major attractions of the park include Wolyeongji Pond, Grass Square, Wolgwang Waterfall, Aewoljeong Pavilion, and Chilbokji (confluence of 7 different artificial waterfalls), Event Garden, Children’s Gallery, Wild Grass Garden, Deer Ranch, Exploring Path, Forest Rest, and a water park. Recently, the Changnyeongwigungjaesa estate (registered cultural heritage No. 40) has been restored with other traditional landscape architectures such as a pond, pavilion and waterfall created nearby to double the genuine beauty of Korean traditional park.On the slanted hill side where used to be sleigh slopes are now turned into a complex cultural space with Northern-Seoul Art Center that houses fantastic-looking observatory, performance hall, book café, and gallery; and a restaurant; jumping fountain; and children’s playground. Dream Forest Observatory where a drama ‘IRIS’ was filmed, provides a fantastic view of Bukhansan Mt., Dobongsan Mt. and Suraksan Mt. to the north while N-tower and Hangang River to the south. Just outside the park that is surrounded by apartment buildings and roads are a cultural exhibition lounge, forest workout space, badminton court and walking path for the residents. 

With 25 years of theme park know how, the Lotte Group has opened the largest water park in Korea. The Gimhae Lotte Water Park is “Polynesian” themed and its styled surroundings and water rides are sure to leave visitors with lasting memories. Equipped with an outdoor water pool, indoor wave pool, tornado slides and much more, the facility is the size of 17 soccer fields and aims to grow as a must-visit vacation spot in Busan.

The magnificent cliffs and tree-lined seaside views of Amnam Park bring the harmony of the bluish-green waters and the forested landscape together. Made into a protected area, entrance was not permitted until its opening to the public in 1996, when visitors could first experience the untouched landscape. In the park one can fish, visit an observatory, and enjoy the walking path and elevated bridge. The abundance of pine trees along the walking path makes for a pleasant stroll; going up to the observatory, this well-forested area offers great views. If it is fishing that you want, here you can fish on the ocean as well as off the fantastically shaped rocks. There is a famous road from Songdo Beach to Amnam Park that is popular for leisurely drives. This drive is about 5 minutes, but for those who want to walk it’s about 20 minutes.

Yeonmudae Post is located inside Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Situated on a relatively high hill between Changryongmun (the east gate of the fortress) and Hwahongmun (a north floodgate), Yeonmudae is an excellent military observation post with sweeping views of the inside of the fortress. After the fortress was completed in 1796, Yeonmudae was used as a training ground for troops for over two centuries, where they learned fighting skills involving swords, spears and arrows.At Yeonmudae, visitors can learn archery while wearing traditional military attire; the fortress also offers a wide array of performances for visitors to appreciate traditional Korean culture. Yeomudae is included in the Suwon City Tour course. 

The Owen Monument and Memorial Hall is located inside the Christian College of Nursing. The monument was erected in 1914 in memory of missionary Clement Owen who, together with Priest Bae Yoo-ji, was the first missionary to come to Jeollanam-do Province. The monument was built using the 4,200 dollars collected by Owen’s relatives in the USA after Owen died as a martyr in Gwangju.A Western-style building with a total surface area of 434 square meters (including the annex building), the monument is said to have been used as chapel and assembly room. Today, the building serves as the auditorium of the Christian College of Nursing.Clement Owen came to Yangnim-dong, Gwangju in the 1900s and served as a missionary and medical volunteer with his wife, who was a nurse, before dying of exhaustion and overwork in 1909. Owen had hoped to build a memorial hospital in honor of his grandfather, but died before his plan was materialized. The plaque hanging in the hall honors both men in English and Chinese reading, “In Memory of William L. and Clement C. Owen.”