Travel/Culture List

Chuncheon Culture & Art Center (CCAC) is a leading performing and visual arts center located in the city of Chuncheon. The auditorium holds up to 1,004 seats including 989 regular seats and 15 seats for people with disabilities. Various performances and exhibitions are held throughout the year in order to offer diverse cultural experiences to the citizens.

Bunhwangsa Temple was built during the year 634 and the third year of Queen Seondeok's rule, the 27th ruler of the Silla Kingdom. Prominent Buddhist priests Wonhyo and Jajang have resided at the temple.As the temple has a long history, it once held many historical relics but most of them have been lost due to the Mongolian invasion and the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. The remaining relics are Mojeon Stone Tower, Hwajaengguksabibu (A memorial stone placed in memory of Wonhyo, a renown Buddhist priest from the Silla Kingdom), Samnyongbyeoneojeong (A well in which the three dragons that protected Silla were believed to reside), and Danggan Pillars.Mojeon Stone Tower, the 30th National Treasure reaching a x_height of 9.3 meters, was built using bricks carved from andesite rocks. While the tower is presumed to be originally a 7-9 story structure, only 3 stories remain today. Danggan Pillars, two stone pillars that stand 3.6 meters high, are located at the entrance of Punhwangsa Temple. Danggan refers to flagpoles made of either wood, metal or stone that were used to hang flags which signified Buddhist festivals so that even people far away would be aware of them. The pillars are supported by stone turtles, a unique feature as most pillars do not possess such characteristics. There are also statues of Buddha displayed in the yard of Gyeongju National Museum. These statues were found in a well situated 30 meters north of the rear wall of Bunhwangsa Temple.

Seogwipo City's Pyoseon Beach is quite a large beach, taking up more than 150,000 m². During low tide, the beach looks like an elegant circle, and it becomes a circular lake less than 1 meter deep during high tide, and displays many different colors. The beach is a great place for children to play and for watching the sunrise. The sand on the beach is formed out of broken shells, and sand baths are believed to be effective for people suffering from neuralgia. Every August, this beautiful beach hosts the Pyoseon White Sand Festival, which offers fun and colorful events. The beach is equipped with excellent amenities (a campground, abundant parking space, dressing rooms and shower rooms) and surrounded by nearby attractions, such as Seongeup Folk Village and Jeju Folk Village Museum. 

Designated as a Busan monument, along with Oryukdo Island, Taejongdae (태종대) represents Busan, and is especially famous for its rock beach. Featuring its highest peak at 250 meters, there are forests of pine trees and other 200 varieties of trees. Taejongdae was named after the 29th king of Silla Kingdom BC57-AD 935), King TaeJong Mu-Yeol (604-661). King TaeJong had traveled to many places but this was the place he enjoyed shooting arrows.Under the lighthouse of this resort is a rock called Sinseon Rock, named after the myth that gods and goddesses came down here to relax. At this rock is a figure called Mangbuseok, named after the story of a woman who waited for her husband who had been taken to Japan. Taejongdae is also famous for the ritual of praying for rain, performed when there are droughts, and rain on the 10th of lunar May is called the 'Taejong Rain'. On days with clear skies you can see Japan’s Tsushima Island from the observatory.

The sunrise along the East Coast can be viewed earliest at Ganjeolgot Point in Daesong-ri, Seosaeng-myun, Uljin-gun. The breathtaking view of the sunrise can be seen a minute earlier than Homigot Point in Yeongilman Bay and five minutes earlier than Jeongdongjin in Gangneung. Ganjeolgot Point is in the spotlight as a new tourist attraction along with Jinha Beach and Seosaengpo Fortress. The lighthouse is located 20 minutes away from the entrance to Ulsan Nambu Ring Road. When acacias bloom along the coast from Ulsan to Haeundae Beach in Busan, the road is filled with its subtle perfume. This road is perfect as a driving course with the combination of beautiful white acacia trees in the hills and the occasional appearance of the sea. Enjoy the tremendous scenery of the invigorating sea and the misty view of the hills. Although it is only 20 minutes away from Ulsan Nambu Ring Road, the scenic beauty contributes to the exotic look.

Masan, located on the southern coast of Gyeongsangnam-do, is famous for agu-jjim (steamed monkfish). The dish is both spicy and pure, using a fish with a simple flavor, but adding plenty of spices to the broth. Monkfish is also full of vitamin A, making it good for the skin, as well as having little fat and helping with digestion. The vegetables mixed into the broth contain vitamin C, making this spicy dish very healthy. Masan Agu-jjim Street got its start in the mid-1960s, around the area of Odong-dong. Shop-keepers who generally sold jangeo-guk (eel stew) began to create something similar to bukeo-jjim (steamed pufferfish), using monkfish instead of the usual pufferfish. This new creation, agu-jjim, was easy enough for the locals to adjust to, and soon many people were ordering it. From just one shop, the dish has spread into over 20 shops on this street selling agu-jjim.

Mt. Juwangsan (721m), designated as National Park No.12 in 1976, is the smallest of the national parks in Korea. Mt. Juwangsan is not so steep, making it a great place to walk and enjoy the wonderful scenery. Mt. Juwangsan is also called Mt. Seokbyeongsan, Mt. Jubangsan and Mt. Daedunsan. There is a legend that King Juwon of Silla (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) lived on this mountain after turning Silla over to Goryeo. This is where it got its name 'Juwang'. There is another legend that General Mailseong of Goryeo assassinated King Wuju, who was living here, with arrows and iron hammer.At Juwangsan, there are temples such as Daejeonsa, Gwangamsa, Yeonhwasa Temples, and hermitages such as Juwangam and Baengnyeonam. Daejeonsa Temple preserves national treasures such as the portrait of the Great Buddhist Monk Sa-Myeong, and the engraved wooden board personally made by General Lee Yeo-Song sent to the monk Sa-Myeong. In addition, You can find many interesting rocks such as Giam, Seokbyeokam, Geupsudae, Jeongsam & Adeulbawi, and also caves such as Juwanggul where Juwang hid before he was captured, Mujanggul where weapons were kept and Yeonhwagul, which used to be training grounds.There are many waterfalls that represent the beauty of Juwangsan. The representative waterfalls are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd waterfalls and the Dalgi Pokpo Waterfall. Also there are many beautiful valleys such as the Outer-Juwang Valley, Inner-Juwang Valley, Woroe Valley and Naewon Valley. On the mountainside there is a 6 meter high Jahaseong Fortress that spreads out 15km, and there is the Dalgimul Mineral Spring in the Goenae mid-stream.

On July 29, 1998, the Gimhae National Museum was opened in order to research and preserve the cultural heritage of the ancient kingdom of Gaya. The museum is at the foot of Gujibong Peak in Gimhae-si, the spot where the kingdom is believed to have been founded. The museum exhibits the cultural assets of Gaya, as well as cultural relics from the prehistoric age in the Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do areas, and the cultural heritage of Byeonhan, which was the foundation for the growth of Gaya.Compared to other ancient kingdoms, relatively few historical records on Gaya remain. For this reason, relics and remains that have been unearthed through archaeological excavations need to be studied in order to gain an understanding of the ancient kingdom. In this sense, the Gimhae National Museum is a specialized museum used by professional archaeologists as well as the general public. 

Located in the east sea, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Yeongdeok Crab Village is famous for its classical scholars, and its wonderful scenery, where the mountains meet the eastern sea. The traditional fishery village is the home of Yeongdeok snow crab that was well-known from Goryeo Dynasty (King Taejo) and also has a huge street for snow crabs, packed with around 100 shops selling crabs along the Gangguan Port. When the season for snow crabs arrives in November, lasting through May, the village is crowded with visitors from all over the world eager to try Yeongdeok snow crabs. In addition, the location of the village gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful sea roads in Korea. In the area are also a sea fishing site, beaches, and water resort venues that are suitable for both recreation and relaxation.

This 600-year-old pine tree stands at the entrance to Mt. Songnisan (속리산) in Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. This old tree, designated as Natural Monument No. 103, is 15 meters in x_height and 4.5 meters in girth. Its branches stretch 10.3 meters to the east, 9.6 meters to the west and 10 meters to the north. Shaped like an open umbrella, this pine tree has long been the symbol of Mt. Songnisan, and has even been awarded the title of a Jeongipum grade official of the Joseon Court. * Legend King Sejo visited Onyang Hot Spring and Mt. Songnisan in 1464 to cure an illness. While passing under this tree, he looked up and saw that his royal sedan chair was about to be ensnared in the tree’s branches. As he called for his bearers to look out, the branches suddenly lifted for the royal procession to proceed. On his way to Seoul, King Sejo was also able to take shelter from a rain shower under this tree. Therefore, he bestowed upon the tree the ministerial rank of Jeongipum.