Travel/Culture List

Cheongchoho Lake is a lagoon that is connected to the East Sea, with an area of 1.3 Km2 and an approximate circumference of 5 Km. Located in the center of the city, the lake can be viewed easily from downtown Sokcho. Adjacent to Cheongchoho Lake, one of Sokcho’s 8 must-sees, is the Expo Tower, Expo World, and Expo Excursion Steamer. These were constructed for the 1999 Gangwon International Tourism Expo. The Expo tower rises 73.4 meters high with an observatory. An I-MAX theater is located in Expo World and an Ecology Park is nearby. Additionally, the Expo Excursion Steamer can be taken around the entire lake for great views of the surrounding area.  

Museum of Musical Instruments of the World is the first Korean museum that collects musical instruments from all over the world. At present, it houses about 500 musical instruments from about 70 countries including African percussions (made with rocks, trees, animal’s bone such as balafon, jembe, didgeridoo, angklung, and others), musical instruments from the Middle East, Islamic northeast Asia, and an island country in the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can attempt to play the instrument in person at the designated hands-on activity area, and try on traditional costume, as well as, other entertainment activity like pungmul (traditional Korean percussions). Visitors who don’t get enough by just playing and touching the instrument can also take part in the folk music lectures to learn more about their favorite musical instrument that features a cultural artistic hands-on activity space. In addition, to provide more knowledge on the regional culture, the museum showcases musical instrument with dolls of respective region's traditional costume, pungmul, and painting.

Uireung (의릉) is the royal tomb of King Gyeongjong (1688-1724, reign 1720-1724), the 20th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, and his second wife, Queen Seonui (1705-1730).King Gyeongjong was the first son of King Sukjong and Janghuibin, who was one of King Sukjong’s concubines. King Gyeongjong, who was born weak and anemic, died only four years after becoming king, without any great political achievements. As a results, queen Seonui became the crown princess in 1718 and queen in 1720 when King Gyeongjong ascended to the throne. She is known to have had a kind heart and prudent personality.Uireung’s tombs differ from the other royal double tombs in that they are not placed side-by-side. Instead, according to geomantic theory, one tomb has been placed directly behind the other one. The arrangement also shows that when making tombs, Korean ancestors did their best to protect the natural environment.

Heungjeong Valley is about 5 kilometers away from the town of Bongpyeong-myeon in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province. The 5-kilometer long valley that starts at Heungjeongsan Mountain has beautiful surrounding landscape. A wide variety of freshwater fish like trout inhabit the clear waters of the valley. Heungjong Valley has become a famous attraction in the Bongpyeong area along with Bongsan Seojae, the shrine of the prominent neo-Confucian scholar Yulgok (1536-1584), and Palseokjeong, a site where eight rocks stand.

The Korean Traditional House Association is a non-profit organization, working towards promoting Korean traditional houses as the world's cultural asset by holding various hanok stay programs as well as doing field research for different architectural methods that are worth inheriting and preserving.

Situated off the eastern coast of Jeju Island, Udo Island was named because it resembles a lying cow. It boasts fertile soil, abundant schools of fish, and scenic sights; local heritages (female divers, stone walls, and stone tombs) as well as natural attractions abound on the island, making it a miniature of Jeju Island. The island is also full of amenities and tourism outlets: fishing, bike trails, sand massages, submarine tours and cruises.Seobin Baeksa (a white beach designated Natural Monument No. 438) has appeared regularly in films and TV commercials thanks to its breathtaking white sand and emerald sea. The sea around the beach showcases different colors depending on the water level. This makes Seobin Baeksa one of the most popular tourist attractions in Jeju-do, along with Hallasan Mountain. Standing on Udobong Peak (132.5m), the highest spot on the island, is a lighthouse surrounded by a spacious park. The peak offers outstanding overlooks of the island at a glance.To protect the exquisite nature and promote maritime tourism, Bukjeju County designated two ports on the island (Udo Port and Haumokdong Port) and the sea surrounding it (25,863㎢) as Udo Maritime Park in January 2001. Visitors can appreciate maritime tourism at its best including a trip under the sea by submarine.* Area site: 6.18 k㎡

Opened in October 2007, National Institute of Biological Resources has the largest collection preservation facilities in Asia. The institute collects, preserves, manages, and conducts research on biological resources with the aim of growing into a biological resource hub of North East Asia.The institute is comprised of the spine-shaped collections and research centers and the leaf-shaped exhibition and education centers. The exhibition hall has 3,905 specimens of 1,287 native species on display. Korea's diverse ecosystems are recreated as highly detailed dioramas at the exhibition hall. A small restaurant is located inside the research center, and the extensive grass field in front of the institute provides an ideal picnic spot.

The Incheon Open Port Museum is a cultural and historical landmark located in a late Renaissance-style stone building that originally housed the Japanese 1st Bank's Incheon Branch, built in 1899. This museum provides visitors with a deeper understanding of Incheon's modernization and its role as an international trade hub following its designation as an open port. The exhibitions highlight the significant social, economic, and cultural transformations that took place during this period. Exhibitions The museum consists of four permanent exhibition halls, each focusing on a different aspect of Incheon’s development: * Hall 1 – Introduction to the opening of Incheon Port and its role in modernization * Hall 2 – Changes in Incheon’s urban landscape, featuring historical photographs and architectural models * Hall 3 – Development of transportation, communication, and infrastructure that contributed to Incheon's growth * Hall 4 – Daily life in Incheon during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with artifacts and interactive displays Visitors can explore a range of historical materials, including old maps, documents, and objects that illustrate Incheon's transformation into a modern city. Visitor Information * Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last admission at 5:30 PM) * Closed: Mondays, New Year's Day, Seollal (Lunar New Year), and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day). If a public holiday falls on a Monday, the museum will be closed the following Tuesday. Admission Fees: * Adults: 500 KRW (Group: 300 KRW) * Teens (ages 13–18): 300 KRW (Group: 200 KRW) * Children (under 12): Free * Integrated Ticket (includes access to five museums in the area): Adults 3,400 KRW, Teens 2,300 KRW, Children 2,100 KRW Museum Facilities * First Floor: Information desk, exhibition halls 1–4 * Second Floor: Seminar room, honorary director's office Nearby Attractions Visitors can explore several cultural and historical attractions within walking distance of the Incheon Open Port Museum: * Jajangmyeon Museum – A museum dedicated to the history of Korea’s famous black bean noodles, tracing its origins and evolution. * Incheon Open Port Modern Architecture Museum – Showcasing the architectural heritage of the port-opening period, housed in a former bank building. * Korean-Chinese Cultural Center – A space highlighting the cultural exchanges between Korea and China, with exhibitions and performances. Why Visit? The Incheon Open Port Museum offers a fascinating insight into Korea’s modernization period, making it an essential stop for history enthusiasts, cultural explorers, and those interested in understanding Incheon's transformation into a major international city. Whether you are visiting for educational purposes or simply to enjoy a unique historical experience, the museum provides a valuable perspective on Korea’s past and its path toward modernization.

The Trick Art Museum KOREA is the first museum in Korea to show optical illusion art, and is located in Seogwipo City nearby the Seongeup Folk Village. Exhibitions on walls and floors are done in such a way as to appear in three dimensions. Exhibitions consist of seven themed sections: Parody Zone (showing famous paintings and sculptures), Animal Zone, Jurassic Zone, Aquarium Zone, Egypt Zone, Magic Zone, and Illusion Zone.Optical illusion art renders two dimensional paintings in three dimensions by the use of a unique painting style employing shadows and extending paintings out of their frames. Each work looks differently when seen from different angles or spots. Its magic magnifies when seen from a camera lens. Visitors can take pictures with various fun poses blending nicely with exhibitions. Cameras as well as video equipment are permitted in the museum. 

The Royal Tomb of Queen Seondeok (선덕여왕릉), located in Bomun-dong, is a round-shaped tomb with earthen layers, 73 meters in circumference. Aside from the fact that it was constructed using natural stones in double layers, the tomb has no other unique features. As the oldest daughter of King Jinpyeong, Queen Seondeok became the first queen of the Silla Kingdom. During the 16th year of her reign, Bunhwangsa Temple (분황사) and Cheomseongdae Observatory (첨성대) were built. She also ordered the construction of the famous nine-story pagoda of Hwangyongsa Temple, an achievement of Buddhist architecture. While many of her efforts laid the foundation for the unification of Three Kingdoms of Korea, Queen Seondeok’s reign was plagued by rebellion and strife and she died in 647 during a rebellion, 23 years before unification was realized.