Travel/Culture List

Located in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul-si, the Figurine Museum W is a new concept museum that combines figurines, toys, and a theme park all in one. The museum showcases unique figurines for all types of visitors, including children, youth, and adults in order to help visitors enjoy and experience a fresh culture and discover a tasteful hobby. Its aim is to establish a cultural tourism landmark for locals and visitors.Comprised of six themes, the exhibition hall includes a site for entertainment, a grand hall with a coffee shop, a "mania shop" available for shopping for figurines, and other facilities that allow visitors to experience various displays and activities.

Daecheon Beach is located on Korea's west coast in Chungcheongnam-do Province.Clamshells blend into the white sands of this beach that stretches 3.5 km. No matter if it's high or low the tide, visitors can enjoy the waters anytime. A cruise boat sails in the waters off Daecheon Beach, offering visitors a view of white pebbles that line the ocean floor. This spot has been a popular tourist destination for quite some time and the facilities are well made. Cultural points of interest include Jogak (sculpture) Park and Dol (stone) Park. Most people come to this beach to cover their bodies in the thick, mineral-rich mud. The therapeutic treatment is known to improve the look of skin and is even said to help those suffering from skin disorders.

Gwangju Art Street is aimed at developing Gwangju’s traditional art scene through exhibition of local work. The street is 300m long and located behind Jungang Elementary School, nearby Gwangju Dongbu Police Station. Items commonly found here include Korean fine art such as paintings, ceramics, writings, and industrial art.Every Saturday, an art flea market famous for its unique pieces is held here. People from all over the nation gather to display items that include old calligraphy materials, collector coins, stone hairbrushes, Chinaware, wooden sculptures, folk drawings, classic books, ink, and incense burners. Part of the attraction is the stories the collectors share with each part of their collection. Enjoy the many shows and exhibitions that draw regular crowds to this famous road.The Mudeung art exhibit operates according to districts, and functions as a cultural festival as well. The outdoor exhibition was built in February 1995, and is open throughout the day. The large exhibition space has 32 booths and regularly holds special exhibits. Many regional cultural treasures are also on display here. Every Saturday, the Street of Fine Arts is blocked from traffic, and people gather to share and enjoy art culture. Gwangju Summer Universiade will be held this summer, 2015

Horim Art Center is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu. The Horim Museum at the art center is a branch of the Sungbo Cultural Foundation's Horim Museum. This museum has exhibition halls on the second through fourth floor, a museum shop, and a lounge. The building, themed to look like comb-patterned ceramics, is a piece of artwork in itself.

Jeju Love Land is a theme sculpture park based on sensuality and eroticism. Twenty artists, mainly graduates of top art school Hongik University, helped open it in November 2004. It was the first such museum in Korea at that time. The spacious park (39,667m²) is home to over 140 sculptures (40 within the gallery and 100 outside). The park as a whole looks like a piece of land art. Jeju Love Land is open every day. It usually takes 30-40 minutes to look around the park. Jeju Love Land houses a glass-dome restaurant, an outdoor café, an art shop, and various works which visitors can touch. Jeju Love Land is an attractive place where art and eroticism meet in cool, fun, humorous styles. * Area: 39,667m²    

Jajangmyeon (black soy bean noodles) is one of Korean's most beloved dishes, known to have originated from Chinatown in Seollin-dong, Jung-gu of Incheon. This birthplace of jajangmyeon also houses a special museum dedicated to the dish, introducing its history, progress in development, and the influence and value it effected on Korea. The museum took an empty brick building and restored it for the citizens, allowing visitors to trace the history of the community which is inevitably deeply connected. There is a one particular restaurant called Gonghawchun, standing two stories, which continues the tradition of making the best jajangmyeon in town, including keeping the original recipes and ingredients. * Opening date: April 28, 2012 * Cultural heritage property No. 246: Gonghwachun (공화춘 (共和春)) (Registered April 14, 2006)      

Daejeon O-World (Formerly “Daejeon Zoo”) was established when the Daejeon Zoo and Joy Land, an amusement park, were integrated under the supervision of the Daejeon City Corporation. The project cost a whopping 40 billion won and resulted in the construction of Flower Land (580,000m²) in addition to the renamed Zoo Land and the preexisting Joy Land.The three main sections of Daejeon O-World are Zoo Land, Joy Land, and Flower Land. Zoo Land is currently home to a total of 600 animals of 130 different species including American black bears, Bengal tigers, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and ostriches. Amusement rides, waterslides, and four-season sledding are housed at Joy Land. Flower Land boasts a number of smaller sections such as Rose Garden, Four Season Garden, Herb Garden, and Maze Garden and is home to a total of 150,000 tress of 100 different species and 200,000 flowers of 85 different species. An outdoor stage and concert hall are also located in the area.There are plenty of things to see and enjoy in every corner of Daejeon O-World. Just beyond Festival Street, visitors will find a large (3000m²) pond with a fountain that shoots water as high as 20m. At night, colorful lights illuminate the pond and fountain, creating a dazzling scene. The water from the fountain is also used as a water screen for special performances.In recent years, O-World expanded its attractions to include Herbivore Safari (with around 20 deer) and Wolf Safari (with about 7 wolves) in the area between Zoo Land and Flower Land.

Opened in 1964, Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market in Korea with various goods in store. All products are sold at affordable prices and the stores in this area also function as a wholesale markets.Most of the goods are made directly by the storeowners. Namdaemun Market opens from 11:00pm to 3:00am, and is crowded with retailers from all over the country. When day breaks, the site of busy Koreans bustling around the market, creates a unique scene that attracts tourists worldwide. The Namdaemun Market sells a variety of clothes, glasses, kitchenware, toys, mountain gear, fishing equipment, stationery, fine arts, accessories, hats, carpets, flowers, ginseng, and imported goods.* Children’s / Infants’ WearThe Children’s Wear area at the Namdaemun Market offers the best selection, as it is the largest children’s wear market in Korea with a 90% market share. Children’s items comprise of products such as t-shirts, dresses, shoes, and socks.* Ladies’ WearLadies’ Wear at the Namdaemun Market offers quality clothing with the latest designs in fashion, such as casual wear, women’s suits, clothing for the elderly, and much more. The clothes are made and sold directly from the stores.* Imported GoodsThe Namdo Import Market and the underground market known as the Doggaebi Market also have many goods in store, including furniture, clothing, medicinal drugs, liquor, infant goods, kitchenware, electronics, canned food, dried fish, and more. Newly designed Hanboks (traditional Korean costume), blankets, and bed sheets can be purchased at great bargains.* Kitchenware & Lacquer WareKitchenware range from China used in restaurants, stainless steel ware, lacquer ware inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and pottery, to imported kitchen utensils.* Optician’s ShopsAll of the opticians are gathered in one area at the Namdaemun Market. A wide selection of eyewear are sold at reasonable prices, including corrective glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses for both children and adults. The shops are open until late at night, and also function as a wholesale market.* Mountain, Ski, & Fishing GearSporting goods stores in the area offer backpacks, mountain boots, and other various equipment for mountain climbing, skiing, and fishing at wholesale prices.* GinsengGinseng, laver, dried squid, croakers, dried cod, octopus, peanuts, and pine nuts are all available at both retail and wholesale prices so that customers can make reasonable purchases. 

Ssamzigil, a shopping mall specializing in crafts that opened on December 18, 2004, has been called the "New Insa-dong within Insa-dong." The many shops gathered here sell everything from luxury traditional crafts to modern artworks that still manage to convey Korean charm in their designs. The mall also has a food court with restaurants and cafes selling popular Korean dishes.

As a main symbol of Jeju Island, Dol Hareubang, literally meaning "Old Grandfather" stone statues, can be found everywhere on the island. But a lack of historical documents has hampered the true understanding of the statue among people. Bukchon Dol Hareubang Park puts together a wide variety of the statutes and, in doing so, illuminates their aesthetic and scholarly importance to visitors as well as future generations. In this sense, the park is not only a tourist attraction, but also a learning center for children and adults alike. The park consists of 48 Dol Hareubang, a promenade, reinterpreted Dol Hareubang focusing on the theme of peace, a traditional local garden, and a learning center. * What’s Dol Hareubang? Symbolizing Jeju Island, Dol Hareubang was also called Useokmok, Museokmok, or Byeoksumeori in the past. Dol Hareubang became the official name in 1971 after being designated as a local folk heritage. Although Dol Hareubang was originally seen only around the entrance of government seats such as (Jejumok, Jeonguihyeon, and Daejeongheyon), there are over 48 Dol Hareubang throughout the island (21 in Jeju City, 2 in National Folk Museum of Korea, 12 in Seongeup, and 13 in Daejeong). The shamanistic statues are believed to be offering protection and warding off demons. According to Tamnaji (Record of Tamna) published by Damsugye (a group of scholars on Jeju Island in the past), Dol Hareubang is believed to have been initiated by Kim Mong-gyu, then Magistrate of Jeju in 1754 (30th year of King Yeongjo’s reign). Carved from porous basalt, Dol Hareubang reveals simple expressions blending naturally with the island. It is the unique cultural heritage that can only been seen and appreciated on Jeju Island.