Travel/Culture List

The Lee Hyo-seok Culture Village is a place where author Lee Hyo-seok (penname “Gasan”) was born and raised. The village is also the setting of the author’s story "When the Buckwheat Blossoms,” one of the most celebrated Korean short stories to date. At the x_height of the blooming season, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the snowy-white fields of buckwheat flowers, and also from late August to early September. Buckwheat’s prominence in Pyeongchang comes about largely from its pristine nature. The culinary hero, buckwheat, memil in Korean, comes in different varieties, including memil-guksu (buckwheat noodles), memil-muk (buckwheat jelly), memil-buchim (seaoned buckwheat jelly), and memil-kkotsul (buckwheat flower makkolli). The natural buckwheat dishes are said to possess healing power. Since ancient times, Korea has been making and enjoying jelly and noodles made from buckwheat. It is no exaggeration to say that buckwheat jelly and noodles are one of Korea's national dishes. There is something special about buckwheat dishes in Bongpyeong. Its beautiful nature, along with its preserved literary and artistic heritage, has played a part in maintaining the good taste of its buckwheat dishes. It's a great place to find a thriving food culture.

Jeju Island, designated as Jeju Special Autonomous Province, lies southwest of the Korean Peninsula and is the largest tourist destination in Korea. The whole island was designated as a special tourist zone, and wherever tourists go, they can look upon beautiful scenery. Every year, about 8.7 million people from Korea and abroad visit this fascinating island that measures 73 km across, east to west, and 31 km, from north to south. Jeju Island was also designated as a World Natural Heritage. The climate of Jeju is quite different from the temperate climate of mainland Korea. Since the island has a subtropical climate as well as a subarctic one, there are many unique plants that can only to be found on this island. The unique sight of Jeju Island captivates travelers. The scenery that represents this volcanic island of Jeju was created by Hallasan Mountain and Oreum (parasitic cones in Jeju dialect) as well as the pillar-shaped joint on the beach. The piedmont area that visitors encounter on their way from the beach to Hallasan Mountain is a gift of nature and the piedmont area on the way to Geomun Oreum, where Jeju World Natural Heritage Center is located, is worthwhile to see. Another unique aspect here is the Jeju dialect and lifestyle. Traveling the 182 km circuit road along the coastline by car, motor scooter or bike is recommended. There is a trail for walking called “Jeju Olle” for those who choose to make a round trip on foot. Jeju Island is implementing more discretionary and diversified policies in politics and economy as well as tourism, and this is what makes Jeju worthy of the name “free international city.” * Current State of Jeju Special Tourist Zone 1) Districts Covered: All of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province (except the annexed island) 2) Area: 1,809.56k㎡ * Tourist Attractions Hallasan Mountain, Oreum (Parasitic cones), Coastal Road, piedmont area, Jeju Olle Trails, beach, museums, galleries, Jungmun Resort, etc.

Situated on the outskirts of a mountain behind Cheondong-ri (Danyang), Cheondong Cave is a limestone cave of 470m in length. Created 450 million years ago, the cave is known to have beautiful limestone rocks often called “flower trays.” The cave is decorated with a breathtaking array of stalactites, stalagmites, columns and soda straws as if they were part of a lush forest. Abundant animal deposits render the cave a huge specimen gallery.Although it is a relatively small, separate cave, Cheondong boasts plethora of splendid natural features. Along with Gosu Cave (designated as Natural Monument No. 256) in Gosu-ri, Danyang, Cheondong Cave is considered one of the most beautiful limestone caves in Korea. 

Gujibong Peak in Gusan-dong, Gimhae in Gyeongsangnam-do is believed to be the birthplace of King Suro, the founder of the Gaya kingdom. The peak was originally named Gusubong (“gu” meaning “turtle,” “su” meaning “head”) after its resemblance to the head of a turtle. The flat part of the peak (the turtle’s “head”) is home to the Tomb of King Suro. On the summit is a southern-style dolmen dating back to the 4th century BC that consists of 5 or 6 support stones and a large cover stone measuring 2.5m in diameter. The cover stone bears the inscription “Gujibongseok,” said to be written by Han Ho.Gujibong Peak is considered a sacred place by the local people because, according to legend, it is the place where the creation of the Gaya Kingdom took place. During the Japanese colonial rule, the “neck” of the turtle was destroyed by the construction of a mountain road. Years later, a pedestrian road was built to rejoin the neck and restore the feng shui of the mountain.

This three-story building located in Cheorwon-eup was constructed in 1946. Used as the headquarters of the Labor Party until the break of the Korean War on June 25, it is now a tourist attraction that still the hold on to the vestiges of the Korean War.Cheorwon Korean Workers' Party Headquarters is under the control of Cheorwon-gun Office as part of the Security Sightseeing Course. Every year hundreds of thousands of people visit this tourist destination.

Nestled in Songjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City, Ulsan Airport first opened in November 1970, with Korean Air’s newly-established route to Ulsan Airfield. It ceased operating in 1973, and was shut down in 1974. The airport later reopened in March 1992, when Asiana Airlines opened a regular route between Seoul and Ulsan. In February 1993, Korean Air started serving a route between Ulsan and Jeju, and Asiana Airlines also opened the same route in May that year. In December 1997, the airport expanded its passengers terminal. Now, the airport can handle 60,000 flights and 2.4 million passengers a year, and has a parking lot that can accommodate up to 534 cars.  

Seooreung (서오릉) is composed of Gyeongneung (경릉, the tomb of the posthumously designated rulers, King Deokjong and Queen Sohye), Changneung (창릉, the tomb of King Yejong, the 8th ruler, and Queen Ansun), Hongneung (홍릉, the tomb of Queen Jeongseong, a consort to King Yeongjo, the 21st ruler), Ingneung (익릉, the tomb of Queen Ingyeong, a consort to King Sukjong) and Myeongneung (명릉, the tomb of King Sukjong, the 19th ruler, and his two wives, Queen Inhyeon and Queen Inwon).Seooreung is the second largest royal burial site of the Joseon Dynasty after Donggureung. In Korean, the mausoleums of Kings and Queens are named “Reung” or “Neung”, the tombs of Kings’ parents, Crown Princes and Princesses are called “Won”, and the tombs of princes and princess are called “Myo”.In addition to the five “Reung”s (the tombs of the Kings and Queens) in Seooreung, there are three “Won”s. These include Sunchangwon (순창원, the tomb of Crown Prince Sunhoe and Crown Princess Gonghoebin), Sugyeongwon (수경원, the tomb of King Yeongjo’s concubine, Yeongbin) and Yeonghoewon (영회원, King Injo’s son, Crown Prince Sohyeon and Crown Princess Minhoebin). Also, Daebinmyo, the grave of Janghuibin who was King Sukjong’s concubine and King Gyeongjong’s mother, was recently moved to Seooreung.

Auraji is a train station on the Jeongseon line located in Gangwondo. It is about 19.4 km away from Jengsoen-eup, and is the meeting place of two streams, the Songcheon stream from Gujeolli and Imgyemyeon’s Goljicheon stream, which flows down from Samcheok’s Jungbongsan. The name of the station, Auraji, comes from the verb eoureuda, meaning “be in harmony” in Korean. Auraji Station was once named after the region, Yeoryang, but was changed to Auraji, which describes the unique geographical features of the village. The area where the two streams meet and become a river became a bustling business zone in the past, where rafts were floated with lumber all the way to Seoul. It is quite a sight looking at the beautiful scenery enveloped by the crystal clear water and pebbles on the riverside surrounded by Nuchusan, Sangwonsan, Okgapsan, Goyangsan, Ballonsan, and the Wangjaesan Mountains. At the confluence of these two streams, a statue of Virgin Auraji and a newly built pavilion rest on a hill in the middle of the peaceful landscape. There are also rail bikes being operated at this station, which run 7.2 km from Gujeolli Station to Auraji Station. Notably, this is the birthplace of Jeongseon Arirang – Aejeongpyeon. Legend has it that there was a girl and a boy who were deeply in love in this village. The girl lived in Yeoryang and the boy in Gageum, with the Auraji Valley sitting in the middle. One day they were going to pick some camellia flowers in Ssarigol Valley. However, torrential downpours from the night before made the river overflow, making it impossible to use the raft to see each other. Their heart was aching for they couldn’t see each other. The lyrics of the traditional song Arirang were inspired by this story: “Rower in Auraji, listen to me, please let me cross the river.   Beautiful camellia petals in Ssarigol Valley are scattered around.   The beautiful camellia shed its petals and piled up with dead leaves. I miss my dearest one all year around and my heart aches.” The old rafts still remain in Gageum Village (also known as Gagumi) and Yeoryang village. A camp site of about 2,000 square meters is open in the months of July and August each year. Many tourist sites are nearby, such as Ojangpokpo Waterfall, Hanggolgyegok Valley, Hwaamdonggul Cave, Hwaamyaksuteo Mineral Spring and others. Intercity buses operate from Jeongseon, Yeoryang and on to Gujeolli. From April to November, trains run from Cheongnyangni Station to Jeongseon station on days ending with the number 2 and 7 (ie. 2, 7, 12, 17).

Like Seoul, the city of Changwon also has a romantic promenade called "Garosu-gil," lined with metasequoia trees on each side. The street is filled with a lovely ambience, dotted by small and cozy coffee shops, galleries, and art shops, making it the perfect place for a leisurely walk or a tea-time.

Dasan Heritage Site is located in the hometown of Dasan Jeong Yak-Yong (1762~1836), a scholar from the late Joseon Dynasty. Growing up in the village, Dasan criticized corruption, and tried to reform outdated institutions and conventions. During his long exile, Dasan authored "Mongminsimseo" (a book on how to rule the people) and "Gyeongseyupo" (a book on how to reform land policies, stabilize people's lives, and strengthen the nation and its army) among others. Today, Dasan is regarded as one of the greatest scholars of Silhak (Realist school of Confucianism) of the late Joseon Dynasty.At Dasan Heritage Site, Dasan's birthplace, Yeoyudang, grave and works are well preserved. Dasan Memorial showcases the scholar's achievements and footprints such as Geojunggi, a traditional equipment used to lift heavy objects in the Suwon Fortress construction, and the miniature Gangjin Dasan Chodang, where he lived in exile. Dasan Cultural Center houses Dasan's numerous writings and books.