Travel/Culture List

The Oreung Tombs (“oreung” meaning “five royal tombs”) have been officially designated Historic Site No. 172 and are the final resting places of four kings of the Park clan—King Park Hyeokgeose (founder of the Silla Kingdom), King Namhae, King Yuri, and King Jabi—and one queen (Queen Aryeong, wife of King Park Hyeokgeose). To the east of the royal tombs lies Sungdeokjeon Shrine, which holds the ancestral tablet of King Park Hyeokgeose. Behind the shrine is the Aryeongjeong Well, said to be the birthplace of Queen Aryeong.

Jeju World Natural Heritage Center was established to promote the value of UNESCO World Natural Heritage. It is comprised of various facilities including a 4D video room, lava tunnel experience, origins of Jeju-do, and many other activities that visitors can learn and experience first-hand. Jeju World Natural Heritage Center is located in the Geomunoreum Lava Tube System, which was designated as UNESCO World Heritage in 2007, one of 20 ecological tourism spots by Ministry of Environment of Korea in 2009, as well as a Korean-style ecological tourism model.

The Imcheonggak Pavilion was built as a home during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1919) because of one aristocratic family’s love for the scenic beauty of the surrounding area. The most famous structure on this property is the annexed pavilion. Imcheonggak is designated Treasure No.182. Thankfully this structure was untouched during the Japanese invasion taking place from 1592-1598. An autograph of the famous Confucius scholar, Lee Hwang (1501-1570), can be found hanging outside the pavilion.

Located in Gongju-si, Gongsanseong Fortress is a mountain castle which was established during the Baekje Period (234-678). The castle is about 2.5km long, and there are two ways of touring the castle. One way is to start from the parking lot, pass the west gate, Geumseoru, and walk along the cement road. The other way is to turn left at the beginning of the cement road and walk along the top of the castle, which is called Sanseong Road. The cement road is very smooth and you can walk along it comfortably. On the other hand, Sanseong Road has many twists and the passage is narrow, but it has the advantage of following along the Geumgang riverside.When you begin the tour, the first site that you will meet is the Gongbukru, in front of the Sanseong village. From Gongbukru, follow the Sanseong Road, go over a low hill, and you will see Yeongeunsa, a small temple built in the 4th year of King Se-Jo’s reign. In front of the temple is Manharu and Yeonji, and this place is probably the most elegant out of the whole fortress. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Geumgang riverside right here. Follow the trail path a little further up and Imryugak Pavilion appears, known as the largest of its kind within the fortress. You can glimpse a view of Geumgang River, but the trees may obstruct the open view of the scenery.It is worth the visit for its historical and cultural significance, and also for the beautiful view Geumgang riverside and the castle’s trail. The whole course is about 3 km, and 110m high, and so if you travel at a leisurely pace, it will take you about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Computers have undergone a dynamic and fast-paced evolution for the last four decades. It set critical roles for the establishment of world-wide gaming industries, including NEXON. Thus Nexon Computer Museum was established in Jeju to share the rich history of computers and to display the digital phenomenon, which has increasingly become a pivotal segment of society, is valuable for future generations. The opening date of the museum: July 27, 2013

Osaek Mineral Spring is situated 20 kilometers west of Yangyang and 7.5 kilometers southeast from Hangyeryeong. The water, which springs from three base rocks by a brook, is carbonated and rich in iron. Up to 1,500 liters of iron-rich water spring out on a daily basis. Osaek became well known due to the splendid landscape leading up to the mineral spring and its location on the way to the summit of Seoraksan Mountain.

Daejeon History Museum, comprised of a permanent exhibition hall, donated relics exhibition hall, planned hall, and city promotion hall, was created as a cultural area for citizens according to the Doan new city development project of Daejeon on October 16, 2012. The permanent exhibition hall presents precious cultural assets in Daejeon with the theme of life and culture of Confucian scholars of Daejeon. The donated relic exhibition hall showcases artifacts donated by residents of Daejeon, and in the planned exhibition hall, a special exhibition is held to offer diverse items to see one or two times a year. In addition, plenty of hands-on programs, lectures, and performances are given in the museum to entertain visitors.

Seodong Park (서동공원) is a sculpture park displaying 68 sculptures created by famous Korean sculptors. Mahan Hall showcases the lifestyle and culture of Mahan, a tribal confederation during the Samhan period. The park also features various facilities such as an observatory, fishing spot and a promenade.Gungnamji Pond (Historic Site No.135, 궁남지), located in Seodong Park, is Korea’s first artificial pond and was created by King Mu (from the Baekje Dynasty) who was in love with and eventually married Princess Seonhwa. ‘Gungnamji’ (literally means ‘a pond in the south of the royal palace’ in Korean) was named according to the Samguksagi record.According to a record in the Samguksagi, the History of the Three Kingdoms, King Mu dug this lake south of his palace in the 35th year of his reign (634) and connected it by a 7800-meter long waterway to the water source. The king then had willow trees planted around the bank and had an artificial mound constructed in the middle of the lake.

Originally, it was an island, but now having installed the bulwarks of Yeosu Port all the way to Odongdo Island (오동도), visitors can simply walk along the breakwater. There are 70 species of wild flowers that flourish here, a hill commemorating the plantation of the very first tree and a spacious grassy field making this place great for ecological education.The Odongdo Island of Yeosu is one of the most spectacular spots to appreciate camelias. The camelias on Odongdo Island begin to bloom in November and color the entire island in scarlet until April the following year. Indeed, during this period the entire island looks like a huge camelia blossom. The promenade that stretches across the entire island is popular with couples. You can have fresh catches from the sea prepared for your meal.

Yudalsan Mountain (유달산), at only 228m, is located in Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do. Despite its short x_height, the mountain boasts a panoramic view of the entire city of Mokpo and the sea. At the summit of the mountain visitors can find Nojeokbong Peak (노적봉) where a statue of Admiral Yi Sunsin stands – this is the landmark where admiral Yi is said to have fooled and scared away the Japanese troops by stacking straw thatches over the rocks making their small army seem like a much larger one. There is also a pavilion, the April 19th Memorial Tower, a monument with lyrics to the song ‘Mokpo’s Tears’, a Buddhist temple, a sculpture park exhibiting some 100 pieces of sculpture, an orchid park and the Dalseong Park with many things to see. These features make the mountain a must-see destination for those visiting the Mokpo region.