Travel/Culture List

Hwaseomun Gate is the western gate of Hwaseong Fortress, Treasure No. 403. Over the stone mujigae (rainbow) door is a single-story tower gate. Hwaseomun Gate's ongseong (defensive gate) forms a crecent shape, with one side of the ongseong remaining open.

"Neglected for Royal Ascendance"Jeongneung Royal Tomb (정릉) is the tomb of Queen Consort Sindeok, the second wife of King Taejo (1392-1398), founder of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). However, this tomb was not well-maintained compared to other royal tombs because of a power struggle. The queen consort had many children, which naturally induced a battle for the throne. Usually the son of the first wife is the successor of the throne, but Queen Consort Sindeok was determined to have one of her sons ascend the throne instead. However, the successor, King Taejong, killed all her sons and developed an extreme abhorrence towards the queen consort. When she died, King Taejong issued an order to not maintain and preserve her tomb. Therefore, the tomb is rather unkempt and the layout and composition is different from other royal tombs.Upon entering the red gate, the sacrificial building can be seen in front of the tomb along with a pavilion and tombstone. Stone sculptures of sheep and tigers watch over the tomb. A major difference between this tomb and other royal tombs is exhibited in the path from the red gate to the sacrificial building. Usually the path is a straight line, but at Jeongneung Royal Tomb, it is crooked and bent. Furthermore, the color of the sacrificial building is dull and faded.Even though the tomb symbolizes the turmoil and wrath of political struggles, many couples and families come to Jeongneung Royal Tomb for a stroll because of its peacefulness and natural surroundings.

A neighbourhood of cafes that has an almost European feel, people come to the Bojeong-dong Café Street for a taste of something different.The cafes boast unique interiors with diverse concepts, offering books (Eco’s Library), food, or clothing. Lush trees adorn the street, and families stroll freely up and down. Many cafes offer delicious brunches such as waffles and crepes. Café Street is an ideal place for friends, couples, and families to walk around or date. 

Located at the western end of Mt. Buso along the Baekma River, the Gudeurae region boasts beautiful scenery and a well-developed sculpture park. The port in the region acted as an entrance to the Sabi Castle during the Baekje Dynasty and today serves as a dock for the cruise ship that travels up and down the Baekma River. Restaurants serving delicious regional cuisine are located near the dock, making the area a recommended tourist location for visitors who are looking for a combination of natural beauty and flavorful culinary delights.Gudeurae was designated a Korea tourist region in 1985. Following the official designation, a sculpture park housing 59 sculptures was established in the area. Thirty of the works of art were crafted by sculptors residing in Gudeurae who are known for skills that have been handed down from artists dating back to the Baekje Period. The other 29 pieces are from Korean and overseas artists who participated in the International Modern Sculpture Symposium in 1999. The sculptures bring about a sense of beauty that reflects the region’s history as well as modern art, making the park a popular tourist site and retreat for residents. A monument built in memory of a well-known folk song describing the beauty of Gudeurae is also located in the region.

This is the fastest way to go downhill from Sanbok road to Busan port. The stairs is known to be as tall as a 6-storey building, and there used to be 3 wells located at the bottom of the stairs. The flight of stairs has exactly 168 steps. Currently, there is only 1 well with drinking water, and on days when there is insufficient water, you may see locals waiting in line to draw water.

E-world has several types of sledding hills such as the bell-shaped sledding hill, snow jet sledding hill and the children’s sledding hill. The bell-shaped sledding hill measures 150m in length and 20m in x_width and allows as many as 30 people to start off at the same time. The best thrills can be felt at the 120m-long and 20m-wide snow jet sledding hill, which is a newly-introduced attraction. The children’s sledding hill is operated with safety as its focus and lets the whole family experience fun in the snow. The newest snow removal and snow making equipment are used to maintain the finest snow conditions.

Visitors to ‘Jeju Glass Castle’ will be entranced by its magical atmosphere. ‘Jeju Glass Castle’ is a glass art theme park featuring an exhibition hall, garden and models all made entirely out of glass. There are six themed model parks, in which over two hundred and fifty models are exhibited. These include the world’s very first all-glass labyrinth, the world’s largest glass ball and largest glass diamond, a glass stonewall, a mirror lake, and a glass bridge. There are also glass art masterpieces by internationally famous artists from Italy, the Czech Republic, Japan, and more.Visitors to ‘Jeju Glass Castle’ can even experience making glass artwork. In the main hall of the Glass Castle they can try making glass ornaments, glass balloons, and glass bottles.

The National Hangeul Museum showcases the history and value of Korean orthography, Korean’s most-valued cultural asset, through exhibitions, activities, and education. Occupying over 11,322㎡, the museum has one basement level and three ground levels, along with an outdoor grass field and resting area perfect for cultural events, exhibits, and education. The museum is comprised of the Hangeulnuri (library) on the first floor, a permanent exhibition hall and Areumnuri (Korean cultural item store/tea house) on the second floor, and then a planned exhibition hall and a Hangeul playground for children and foreigners on the third floor. * Opening date: October 9, 2014

Built on the peak of Mt. Bongnaesan (799.8 meters) in Yeongwol, Byeolmaro is Korea’s largest astronomical observatory. The term ‘Byeolmaro’ combines the words ‘byeol’ (star), ‘ma’ (peak) and ‘ro’ (peaceful). Together, they collectively represent the wish to view stars in a clean and peaceful environment.The observatory has a total of 11 telescopes, including the nation’s largest telescope with a diameter of 80 centimeters and 10 supplementary telescopes. Inside the building, there is an astronomy gallery, audio & visual material room, and both main and auxiliary observation rooms. Located in a mountainous region in the inland of Gangwon-do, Yeongwol has a clean natural environment free from pollution. As such, it has an annual average of 192 days of clear skies (50%) for star viewing.* The nation’s largest star observatory* Located 800 meters above sea level for optimum viewing* Combine your visit with rafting, caves, or paragliding* Has the biggest astronomical telescope of 80 centimeters in diameter* Enjoy the forest, self-control training center, and outdoor stage in the woods

At 629 meters in x_height, Gwanaksan Mountain is the symbol and pride of Gwanak-gu district in Seoul. Most of the cultural heritages of the district originate from Gwanaksan Mountain. Since it was designated as a city natural park in 1968, it has continued to serve as a favorite place for relaxation and excursion for Seoul citizens. The various rocky peaks and the deep valleys give the mountain a rugged feel. The mountain's size and close proximity to Seoul make it easy for Seoul residents to visit in a single day. In the spring, cherry blossoms are in full bloom near the entrance to the mountain, and a Rhododendron Festival is held when the rhododendrons are in full bloom. At the mountain's summit are Wongaksa Temple and Yeonjuam Hermitage, which were built by Taejo Yi Seong-gye (the founder of the Joseon Dynasty) to ward off misfortune when he decided to move the capital to Seoul. There are also other temples and hermitages, and a ground radar observation post. Yeonjudae Hermitage, located atop a cliff, is where all the hiking trails of Mount Gwanaksan meet.