Travel/Culture List

Asanoncheon Hot Spring was discovered in 1987 and designated as a tourist zone in 1999. The mineral-rich spring water offers a slew of natural health benefits. The alkaline water found in the natural hot spring contains a variety of minerals (about 20 types), including calcium and sodium bicarbonate. When you bathe in the hot spring, your skin absorbs these minerals, which speed up cellular restoration and blood circulation. An oxygenated circulatory system is beneficial in keeping not only your stomach, but your body's other vital organs and tissues healthy and strong. The hot spring offers natural treatment options for various common ailments such as arthritis, neuralgia, high blood pressure, stomach disorder, and stroke. Nestled in the mountains, the spa offers the relaxation of walking in the forest and breathing in the fresh valley air. Also, stopping by the historical statue at Asanho Lake along the west coast highway to Asanoncheon Hot Spring will add an extra bit of fun to your weekend excursion.    

The architectural style of Yakcheonsa Temple is reminiscent of that of Buddhist temples of the early Joseon Dynasty. Measuring an impressive 30m high and spanning a total area of 3,305 meters squared, it is the largest temple in the East. Upon entering Yakcheonsa Temple, guests will be greeted by a 5m-tall statue of Vairocana, the tallest of such statues in Korea, on a 4m high pedestal. The walls on both the right and left have been sculpted into large altar portraits of Buddha and in front of the Dharma Hall is a giant Buddhist temple bell, weighing 18 tons. Beloved for its size and grandeur, the temple consists of a main temple (2,652 meters squared) and a 3-story residential structure for the Buddhist monks. Other notable sites are the Gulbeopdang (the Dharma Hall, built inside a natural cave), the Samseonggak Shrine, and the Sarira Pagoda. Yakcheonsa Temple is not only popular among Buddhists but is also a well sought after tourist destination.

Gongju National Museum manages and preserves the cultural treasures excavated from northern Chungcheongnam-do. It takes special care of cultural treasures discovered at the Muryeong Royal Tomb in 1971. The Muryeong Royal Tomb is the tomb of King Muryeong (501-523) from the Baekje Period, and his queen consort. You can view most of the relics from the tomb at the museum. The current buildings were specifically built to exhibit these relics. Gongju Museum has excavated many other relics and sites. he exhibit hall constitutes of 2 parts. It exhibits over 1000 relics, including National Treasure No.19 and No.4. The first room of the 2nd floor displays the relics from the Muryeong tomb. It is quite a treat to view the golden belt, bracelet and bronze mirrors. There is even a full-scale model of the Muryeong tomb for you to view.The 2nd room of the first floor displays the relics from the Chungcheongnam-do area chronologically. Outside, in front of the main building, is a garden you can visit after viewing the inside of the museum, and you can see many relics which were excavated from the entire Gongju district. An eye-catching sight is the two large stone bowls, used long ago to store water. Between the relics, there are dozens of golden pine, pine and cherry trees, which are over 70 years old. It is an ideal place for visitors to rest. If you are looking for souvenirs, there is a souvenir shop where you will find many cute souvenirs.

Jangneung (장릉) is located in Paju, Gyeonggi-do province. For preservation reasons, this royal tomb is not open to the general public. This is the mausoleum of King Injo (1595-1649, reign 1623-1649), the 16th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, and Queen Illyeol.King Injo took the throne in 1623 after having overthrown the previous king, Gwanghaegun, in a military revolt. During his reign, King Injo faced challenges from two foreign invasions in 1627 (Jeongmyohoran, 정묘호란) and 1637 (Byeongjahoran, 병자호란). He died in 1649 in Changdeokgung Palace. 

The Cheonan Three-way Intersection Park (Cheonan Samgeori Park) was known as the Samnamdaero junction back in the day. The prominent gorvernors passed by this road and the humble scholars stopped by to take a rest at this place. The park was built to commemorate Cheonan Samgeori, which is famous for Heungtaryeong (a Korean folk song that expresses happy and joyful feelings). Cheonan aims to make this historic road a tourist attraction by planting weeping willows along the streets. Yeongnamru Pavilion (영남루), the gatehouse of Hwachukgwan House (화축관) (the guesthouse for Kings), was also moved to the lake. Various cultural events like the Cheonan World Dance Festival (Cheonan Heungtaryeong Festival) (천안 흥타령춤축제) take place in this park every year.

Naesosa Temple was built by Buddhist Monk Hye-Gu in 633 AD during the Baekje Dynasty and was rebuilt by Monk Cheong-Min in 1633 during the Joseon Dynasty. The Daeungbojeon (the main hall) was built at this time. In 1986, the temple area (radius of 500m) was named a culturally protected area.On both sides of the main gate (600m across) are large fir trees, which also line the path into the temple. As you continue down the walkway, you’ll come across a row of cherry trees. Just before the temple itself, are four gods called Sacheonwangsang that “guard” the temple. Upon reaching the temple itself (just past the guards) the first thing you’ll notice is the 1000-year-old Dangsan tree. Long ago, people used the base of the tree as a site of prayer.Housed in Beomjonggak is a bronze bell that can be found in many Buddhist Temples. This particular bell was made during the Goryeo Era and is engraved with three images of Buddha, called “Samjonsang.” The center building of the temple, called “Daeungbojeon” is also an artistic masterpiece, decorated with splendid colors and designs. The flower Salmun doors featuring lotus and Chrysanthemum flowers add another element of traditional beauty to the building.Of all the temple treasures, Haewuso (meaning “a place that gets rid of worrries”) is not to be missed. True to its name, you’ll almost find yourself forgetting all your worries as you listen to the soft swaying of the surrounding bamboo grove.

The primary attraction on the coastal road is the shore line of Dongmak Beach connecting Janghwa-ri in the town of Hwado-myeon (located south of Ganghwado Island) with Dongmak-ri. Visitors can comfortably enjoy the sunset after parking their cars on the roadside or in the parking lot of a nearby restaurant. Another great spot to enjoy the sunset is the high ground of Buno-ri. In Seokmodo Island, the best spots to enjoy the sunset are Minmeoru Beach and Janggu Neomeo Port. The beach of the island has a bow-like shape, and when the tide ebbs, a vast foreshore appears with all kinds of sea animals such as clams, crabs, trumpet shells, corb shells and more, making the island an excellent spot for children.>> Click to check out the tide time

Constructed in 1973, Soyangdam is the largest rock filled dam in Asia. As the waterway is used to bridge together cities, Soyangho Lake which is the largest artificial lake in Korea is called ‘the sea inside the land.’Soyangho Lake has the largest fishing farm, and is called the fresh-water fish museum because more than 50 kinds of fresh-water fish such as cyprinus carpio nudu, trout, carp, eel, and smelt live here. The valleys around the lake is especially famous for smelt fishing in the winter, and nearby are Cheongpyeongsa Temple built in the Goryeo Dynasty and Mt. Obongsan. There are the Yanggu Prehistoric Museum, the 4th tunnel, Eulji Observatory, Pallang Waterfall, Hugok Mineral Spring, Cheonmi Valley, Wolmyeong valley, Suipcheon and Yang-gu Pallang Folk Center on the Yanggu area. The upper area of Soyangho Lake is the Injegun area and includes Gyeongnojeong. There is a ferry terminal and other facilities at the top of the dam.

Jeongnimsaji Museum is located in Buyeo, the last capital of Baekje, where the Baekje culture flourished for the 123 year long “Sabi Era.” The museum was established on the building site of Jeongnimsa Temple, which was a symbolic meeting place for royalty and a center for politics based on Buddhist morals. The museum highlights the Buddhist culture of Baekje, said to be the origin of Buddhism in Korea and Japan, and Jeongnimsa Temple, known as the culmination of Baekje Buddhism. The museum also seeks to emphasize the advanced technology of Baekje and reenact the Sabi Era using an interactive approach that relies heavily on videos, panels, replicas, and hands-on programs. Main attractions at the museum include the Jeongnimsaji Temple Site (Historic Site No. 301), the five-story stone pagoda of Jeongnimsaji (National Treasure No. 9) and the seated stone Buddha (Treasure No. 108).

Built by an army unit in 1983, Goseong Unification Observatory is the nearest place for viewing Geumgangsan Mountain in North Korea, the shortest distance being 16km away and the farthest being around 25km away. From the observatory, you can see Haegeumgang, and the islands nearby, Manmulsang, and Hyeonjongam. On clear days, you can also glimpse various peaks of Geumgangsan Mountain such as Ilchulbong Peak (1,552m), Chaehabong Peak, Jipseonbong Peak, Yukseonbong Peak, Gwaneumbong Peak, and even the greatest peak, Birobong Peak. Goseong Unification Observatory is the closest observatory to the North, and many people who visit are those who had to leave their home and were separated from their families during the Korean War. You can see monuments built in the hope of reunification here.Tongil Security Park, which can be considered the entrance of Unification Observation, was built in 1987 to be used as a national security site. You must pass through a security training here to get to Goseong Unification Observatory.