Travel/Culture List

The four-way street right in front of the Seosomun Gate area was once an official execution ground in the Joseon Era. It was also called “Sigumun,” literally meaning “the gate where dead bodies were carried out.” The corpses travelling through the gate scared many people, alerting the public to keep away from criminal acts and actions against the royal regime. For the Catholic believers in Korea, Seosomun is considered to be one of the significant holy sites because many Catholic priests were martyred at this very site. Among 103 Korean martyrs, 44 were martyred here. In addition, a beatification was held here in 2014, blessing 124 people.

Jirisan-gil is a 300-km walking trail connecting five cities (Namwon, Gurye, Handong, Sancheong, Hamyang) and spanning three provinces (Jeollabuk-do, Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do). After discovering hidden or deserted paths linking woods, rivers, rice paddies and villages, Jirisan-gil was established to join the paths into one long walking trail.The Jirisan Dullegil runs along the periphery of Jirisan Mountain (1,915m). Comprised of 22 courses, the trail meanders through old villages and forests, and over the hills and along the rivers, thereby connecting nature and humans.Reviving those trails means reviving the history and culture of the villages of Jirisan. Take a slow walk on the path to meditate on the beauty and peacefulness of Jirisan and its surrounding villages.

The leading Uijeongbu Budaejjigae Street (의정부 명물찌개거리) is where local restaurants began to be built in 1998. Here you can taste budae jjigae (부대찌개, ‘army base stew’, a thick Korean soup), which is made by boiling Western ingredients such as ham, sausage, canned American beans, and mixed with kimchi (traditional Korean pickled dishes made of vegetables with varied seasonings) and hot pepper paste. Budae jjigae is one of Korea’s leading fusion dishes as well as a dish that embodies the memories of the Korean War; it was named budae jiigae because it was most commonly found nearby American army bases. The soup was also called the ‘Johnson Tang’ after former American president, Lyndon B. Johnson. Jungangno, where the local-specialty soup street is located, is a virtual Mecca of street culture. Not only is Uijeongbu Budaejjigae Street a place to enjoy delicious food, the vibrant Rodeo Street is a popular gathering spot for local youths, and the hustle and bustle of Jeil Market is also just down the road.

Two hundred meters upstream from Dodamsambong Peaks is a large rainbow-shaped stone gate on the left side of the river. This oddly-shaped stone arch is called Seongmun. With its fascinating scenery, Seongmun is the second of Danyang’s Eight Scenic Wonders. To the left of the stone gate is a small cave. Inside the cave is Okdap (Stone Field), which is believed to have been cultivated by an old enchantress. The legend of Okdap says that an old enchantress who lived in heaven once came to the earth to get water and then dropped her hairpin, just near the stone gate. She looked for the hairpin but was extremely impressed by the beautiful views. She gave up heaven and lived near the Stone Gate as an ordinary peasant for the rest of her life.

Designated National Treasure No.16, this is Korea’s oldest and largest stone pagoda.The pagoda measures 16.8 meters high with a x_width of 7.75 meters. The pagoda was originally built at Beopeungsa Temple during the eighth century of the United Silla Kingdom [654~935] and is the only remaining relic from the temple.The pagoda is presently located on the estate of the head house of the Goseong Lee family. The sangryunbu, the ornamental top portion of the pagoda, has been totally lost, but the lower tiered portions are intact with beautiful carvings of Buddhist tutelary deity. Traces of tiled roof were found on each story of the tower. Historical records show that the tower was rebuilt in 1487 and that around the same period, three parts of the temple remained. 

KOFIC Namyangju Studios is located at Yangsu-ri, Gyeonggi-do and includes outdoor sets as well as studios. At the Film Culture Museum, it is possible to see and experience all stages of film production from beginning to end. In addition, there are many props and accessories as well as wardrobe departments. The outdoor sets from the Korean hit "JSA" in 2000 to director Im Kweon-taek's film "Chilhwaseon (Strokes of Fire)" are located here.

Hwasun Golden Sand Beach is surrounded by beautiful nature. It is close to Sanbangsan Mountain and the Yongmeori Coastline, and the islands of Hyeongjedo, Marado, and Gapado are off the coast to the southwest. On one side of the beach is a fresh water spring where people can enjoy a freshwater bath. The beach is located in Hwasun-ri in Andeok-myeon, which is easily accessible and has accommodations, shops, and restaurants. ※ Size - Length 250m, x_width 80m

Surfyy Beach is a 1 kilometer-long surf designated beach, just north of Hajodae Beach in Yangyang. It's the first of its kind in Korea and has the most trainers and approximately 1,000 surfboards while also operating Surf School. Training is available for all different levels from beginners to advanced, and for those only looking to surf, board and wetsuits are available for rent. Surf yoga, longboard, snorkeling and other programs are also available. The beach has various zones including bean bag zone, hammock zone, chilling zone, and sunbed zone for visitors to enjoy. There are also pub & lounge, camping facilities and more for visitors convenience.

Suwon Station first started out as a non-express train station on January 1, 1905. Subsequently on December 31, 1975, a subway station was added. The station is on Seoul Subway Line 1 and Gyeongbu Railroad, on which Samaeul Train and Mugunghwa Train operate. On January 1, 1996, they closed down Suin Line and the Narrow Gauge Train Station was no longer in operation. In February 2003, a privately-funded station was established. A KTX train operating on Gyeongbu Line from Seoul to Daejeon began to include Suwon Station as a stop on November 1, 2010.

Dongnaeeupsong Fortress Site is a representative fortress that combined the mountain and flatland. Built around late Goryo and early Joseon period, the fortress was a fierce battleground during Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. After the battle the fortress was abandoned until being renovated in 1731, making the fortress bigger than before. The fortress had many gates with additional half circle rock wall to protect the gate. During the Japanese occupation, most of the wall was damage with only the walls along Naansan Mountain remaining. After year 2000, Busan-si has attempted to excavate the remains and conserve and restore the fortress site.