Travel/Culture List

This is the house where Empress Myeongseong (Joseon Period) was born, and lived until she was eight years old. She would grow up to be the wife of the dynasty’s 26th ruler, King Gojong. The birthplace and the adjoining Memorial Hall are open to the public.Empress Myeongseong was a brilliant diplomat who pursued openness and reform to maintain the sovereignty of the nation. Unfortunately, her tumultuous life came to an end in the early morning hours of October 8, 1895 when she was murdered by the Japanese army.During Japanese colonial rule, the empress was wrongfully accused of being a jealous and overly ambitious person. Studies of various archives have since revealed what a great person she really was. Recently, numerous television productions and musicals have also corrected those misunderstandings. Renovated in 1995, her birthplace includes three buildings with servants’ quarters, master’s quarters, and a separate house. A commemorative monument now stands at the site of the room where the empress studied as a child. The Memorial Hall in front of the house contains various archives and artifacts related to Empress Myeongseong’s life. There is also a 161-seat theatre.

The Cheongnamdae (청남대) is a presidential vacation villa located near Daecheong Dam (대청댐) in Cheongwon-gu, Chungcheongbuk-do. The former president Chun Doo-hwan was greatly impressed by the scenic surroundings while attending the ceremony for the completion of Daecheong Dam in 1980. The construction of Cheongnamdae started in June, 1983 and was completed in six months (December). Cheongnamdae, built on a 560,000 pyeong-wide area, means ‘Cheongwadae in a warm southern land’ in Korean. South Korean presidents would stay in this remote vacation villa 4-5 times (or sometimes 7-8 times) a year during summer vacation or national holidays. In total, Korean presidents have stayed here nearly 400 days over 88 visits in two decades.There were four presidential villas including the one in Gimhae in the past. During Kim Young-sam’s administration, however, all but Cheongnamdae were closed. Cheongnamdae, which had been closed to the public for twenty years, was finally opened to the public on April 18, 2003 by former president Roh Moo-hyun. Visitors can view a music fountain inside the ecological wetland garden (990㎡), hike a 3.3km mountain trail and visit the Hoban Promenade (8km), or simply take a pleasant walk along a beautiful trail, and enjoy the scenic landscape of Daecheongho Lake.* Geographical Location Cheongnamdae is located in Munui-myeon, Cheongwon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. Encircled by mountain peaks including Oksaebong Peak, Wolchulbong Peak, Mt. Jakdusan and Sowibong Peak, it is completely hidden. The beautiful Daecheongho Lake surrounds the presidential vacation villa as well and many feng-shui masters have declared this spot to be the finest in Korea. * Size1) Site area: 330 land parcel area, 558,000 pyeong (1,844,628.1 ㎡)2) Buildings: 46 houses / 3,377 pyeong (11,163.64 ㎡)

The Ssamgneung (Twin Tombs) in Iksan are stone chamber tombs that were unearthed during an academic excavation survey in 1917. At the time of the survey it was discovered the tombs had already been illegally excavated, most likely during the reign of King Chungsukwang of the Goryeo Dynasty. Though looters had stripped the tombs of any burial accessories, the wooden coffins were found to be relatively intact. The coffins were severely damaged in the aftermath of the Korean War, but were later restored by the Jeonju National Museum. When they were first found, the twin tombs measured 3.1 meters high and 0.5 kilometers wide, but some of the original wood was lost during the tombs’ tumultuous history and the restoration that followed. The larger of the restored tombs now measures 30 meters in diameter and 5 meters in x_height while the smaller tomb measures 24 meters in diameter and 3.5 meters in x_height. On January 21, 1963 the tombs were designated Historic Site No. 87. The Twin Tombs are roughly 200 meters apart, with the tomb in the east called Daewangmyo (big royal tomb) and the one in the west Sowangmyo (small royal tomb). The interiors of the tombs are done in the same style as the stone chamber tombs found in the tomb cluster of Neungsan-ri, Buyeo. Considering that the nearby Mireuksaji Temple Site was built during the reign of King Mu of Baekje Dynasty, it is highly likely that the Twin Tombs are those of King Mu and his wife, Queen Seonhwa.

Baengnokdam is a crater lake that sits on top of Hallasan Mountain at the center of Jeju Island. It spans 3㎞ in circumference and 500m in diameter, and is surrounded by over 300 parasitic cones. Baengnokdam is accessible from Seongpanak and Gwanemsa trails, which offer fantastic views of Jeju-do.

Sun Cruise Resort is a resort located 60m above the sea in the shape of a cruise ship. Surrounding the resort is an extensive park, with themed gardens and sculptures. The theme park's main attraction is the sunrise garden, opening up at the main gate of Sun Cruise Resort. The garden features the famous sculpture "The Hands of Blessing," and other art pieces that blend with the sunrise over the ocean. Other attractions of the park include Grass Park, a large green field, Sculpture park with pieces in three themes, glass observatory, providing a walk right over the ocean, an observatory platform to view the surrounding area, and exhibition hall, showcasing the history of Sun Cruise Resort.

Located at the entrance of Sanjeong Lake, Pyunggang Botanical Garden opened in May 2006, and was designated as a habitat for preservation by the Ministry of Environment. The garden has on exhibit both native plants and around 5,000 species of plants from around the globe. Additionally, the garden features an exquisite collection of 1,000 different alpine plants that normally reside on an altitude of 2,000 meters.The scope of the garden is comprehensive, but it is divided into 12 themed areas, including a Rock Garden, where the largest alpine plants in Asia are concentrated; a Wetland Center, which mimics the natural ecology of a wetland region; a Pond Garden consisting of roughly 50 ponds lined with gorgeous flowers; a Moss Center where moss that grows in deep valleys and forests can be seen; and a Grass Square, which serves as a green common year round. The Pyunggang Botanical Garden, serves an important role in preserving rare plants, but is also creating a new botanical garden culture, and serving as a center for public ecological education.※ Non-smoking area/cooking and drinking is strictly prohibited.Collecting plants, bugs, soil and stone without authorization is banned.

Originating in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do, Hantangang River meets with Youngpyeongcheon Stream that runs through Uncheon and Pocheon to the Imjingang River. Hantangang River is divided into two branches at Jeongok Dam before joining the Imjingang River. One branch runs through Pocheon and the other goes through Yeoncheon. The Hantangang River area around Jeongok Dam, is known for its bass fishing, but the anglers avoid the branch that runs through Pocheon because the water is polluted.

Located on Jirisan Mountain, the Jirisan National Park was Korea's first designated national park. The Jirisan mountain range extends across five cities in three provinces: Gurye-gun in Jeollanam-do; Namwon-si in Jeollabuk-do; Hadong-gun, Sancheong-gun and Hamyang-gun in Gyeongsangnam-do.Jirisan Mountain has over 10 peaks including Nogodan (1,507m), Banyabong (1,732m), Jeseokbong (1,806m) and Cheonwangbong (1,915m), several valleys including Baemsagol and Chilseon, and waterfalls including Guryong, Buril, Yongchu and Chilseon Falls. The park is also home to such cultural assets as Hwaeomsa, Ssanggyesa and Daewonsa Temples.

The Meoru Wine Cave in Muju is surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape and various cultural heritages. The wine tunnel in this cave matures, stores, and sells meoru (Korean wild grape) wine, which is a representative local specialty of Muju-gun County. The cave is composed of the Wine House and the Secret Gate of meoru wine. The two-story Wine House has the Banditbul Agricultural Specialty Shop and the Wine Café that also sells traditional teas. The Secret Gate includes a wine café, wine tasting room, and a wine storage area.

Mt. Songnisan National Park is comprised of Mt. Songnisan and the valleys of Hwayang, Seonyu, and Ssanggok. Situated in the middle of the Sobaeksanmaek Mountains, which is the southwest branch of the Taebaeksanmaek Mountains, Mt. Songnisan is one of Korea’s most beautiful sites. The sharp granite peaks of Mt. Songnisan and the deep valleys of sedimentary rocks are spectacular. Therefore, Mt. Songnisan is also referred to as Mt. Sogeumgangsan, meaning a smaller version of Mt. Geumgangsan. One of Korea's largest temples, Beopjusa, can also be found on Mt. Songnisan. Uisang indicates a sitting Buddha statue and Maaeyeoraeuisang describes the Buddha sitting on a lotus flower. The years have damaged the figure quite a bit, but it still maintains its original beauty. Visitors to the temple will witness the Cheongdongmireukbul, which is the largest Buddha statue in the world. With its numerous treasures and National Monuments, Beopjusa Temple is the best place in which to experience the brilliant history of Buddhist civilization. Mt. Songnisan's deep valleys and the many Natural Monuments attract countless mountaineers and tourists. The cherry blossoms in the spring, green pine forest in the summer, and the lovely autumn leaves in the fall make this place beautiful all the year round.