Travel/Culture List

Yeongdeungpo Station is located in Yeongdeungpo-dong 1-ga, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul-si, and runs between Singil Station and Sindorim Station. It began operating as an ordinary station on September 18, 1899, and was included as part of the Gyeongbuseon Line from the Gyeonginseon Line in 1936. In 1971, it was the first station where the special train made a stop. The station sells tickets for passengers carrying luggage, and visitors can use the station to take the Saemaeul Line, the Mugunghwa Line, and the metropolitan subway as well.

Jangseogak (장서각) was established by Yi Wang-jik in 1918 as a library for Korean studies. Since its opening, the library has housed archives of Korean classics and modern works as well as the Jangseogak documents, which were transferred from the Cultural Asset Management Bureau (now Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea) in 1971.Jangseogak has a stack room, a space for collecting and arranging classical manuscripts and general books, a reading room, a room for references and genealogical records, a theses and periodicals room, an area for special documents, and rooms for filming, photocopying, and developing microfilms. It contains documents for scholastic research and education.Most notably, the Jangseogak holds the Uigwe (287 types 490 books, or Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty, and Donguibogam (25 volumes 25 books/Treasure No. 1085-2) documents, which are both listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World register. 

Sebyeonggwan Hall, located in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, was established in 1605 by the 6 generation commander-in-chief Lee Kyung-jun and is well known as one of the widest buildings of the Joseon Dynasty Period along with Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jinnamgwan Hall in Yoesu-si.Sebyoenggwan Hall is placed at the foot of Yeohwangsan Mountain and overlooks Tongyeong. Right next to the hall, are the remains of the naval base Tongjeyeong, which includes Unjudang (also named as Jeseungdang, a military education center for the Joseon Navy) among others.Sebyeonggwan Hall symbolizes the ending of the war, the washing away and cleaning up of the weapons of war.

The descendants of Mun Ik-jeom, who are known to have brought the Nampyeong Mun clan to prosperity, reportedly came to Daegu about 500 years ago. It was during the time of Mun Gyeong-ho (1812-1874), the 18th descendant of Mun Ik-jeom, that the clan became established in Inheung. Mun executed his plan to create a village for the clan by putting down roots in the old site of Inheungsa Temple, a large-scale temple in the Goryeo era.Yonghojae, which is a place for offering ancestral memorial services, is the first building established at the village constructed before or after 1920. The first residential building was built around the late 1800s in the form of thatched cottage. During the course of a hundred years, the village developed into what it is today. Featuring about 70 or so tile-roofed homes, Inheung Village is only about 200 years old but it is a great example of traditional residential homes of the yangban upper class in the Yeongnam region. The harmony between the way the village is organized and the surrounding landscape is unique and rare.

Located along the national highway between Jecheon and Wonju, Baeron Holy Ground has great spiritual significance as it served as the fountainhead of the spread of Catholicism in Korea. During the early years of Catholicism in Korea, Catholics fleeing from the Sinhae Persecution (1791) came to this place, formed a community, and made their faith deeper. A man named Hwang Sa-yeong (Alexander, 1775–1801) hid in a tunnel and wrote letters about the situation of the Joseon Catholic Church on silk fabrics, but was captured and martyred in 1801. Baeron is a historic place where Joseon’s first theological school, St. Joseph Theological School, was founded, but the school was eventually shut down. The graves of Fr. Tomas Choe Yang-eop (1821–1861), Korea’s second Roman Catholic priest, and the Martyr Hwang Sa-yeong Memorial Tower can be seen at Baeron Holy Ground. Baeron Holy Ground is surrounded by rugged mountains such as Guhaksan Mountain and Baegunsan Mountain and Chiaksan Mountain. The mountain path from the holy ground eventually leads to Bakdaljae Natural Forest.

Seolbong Park is a pleasant resting area that includes a walking path around a wide lake in the middle of the park, a traditional garden and a traditional palanquin. Visitors can take part in caramic making programs at a reasonable price with a professional instructor at the Ceramic Experience Hall which is located near the World Ceramic Center.

Situated in Pocheon (Gyeonggi-do), the Hangaone facility consists of the Hangwa Culture Museum and the Hangwa Cultural Education Center. Visitors can tour the museum and participate in making Hangwa (traditional Korean confectionery). After the experience program, visitors can even taste hangwa, along with a selection of traditional teas.The Hangwa Culture Museum is the first museum in Korea to have a theme centered on traditional Korean sweets. Its first floor exhibits the history of hangwa, tools used to make it, and the various types (Yakgwa, Yugwa, Yumilgwa, Jeongwa, Dasik, and Gangjeong), while the second floor offers seasonal hangwa, hangwa with tea, hangwa areas in Pocheon, information from hangwa experts, and tourism information on Pocheon. The education center runs colorful hands-on programs offering visitors an opportunity to make hangwa and also learn about traditional tea culture. 

Cheongok Cave (천곡천연동굴) is a limestone cave that extends horizontally for 1,400 meters. Estimated to have been created 400 to 500 million years ago, it is the only natural cave located in a downtown area. The cave features ceiling craters, one of which is the longest in Korea, along with stalactite curtains, travertine terraces, stalactite cascades, and many other fantastic rock formations. It provides a grand spectacle for tourists and great speleological samples for researchers. As the inside of the cave is lined with over 20 types of secondary formations, such as stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone pillars, it is an invaluable resource for earth science education. 

Beomeosa Temple is located at the edge of Mt. Geumjeongsan, a famous mountain in Busan. About 1,300 years ago it was constructed by monk Ui Sang in the 18th year (678) of King Munmu (reign 661~681) of the Silla Kingdom (the kingdom mainly occupied the Gyeongsang-do Province region in 678A.D.). In the geography book 'Donggukyeojiseungram' the origin of Beomeosa Temple is written as follows: "There is a well on the top of Mt. Geumjeongsan and the water of that well is gold. The golden fish in the well rode the colorful clouds and came down from the sky. This is why the mountain is named Geumsaem (gold well) and the temple is named 'fish from heaven'." The original Beomeosa Temple building was lost during Imjinwaeran Invasion (Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592) but was renovated in 1713, which remains as it now is. Daeungjeon is one of the most delicate and luxurious architectures of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910). There is Iljumun, the three-story pagoda with four pillars, built in the 9th century, and seven royal palace wings, pavilions, three gates, and eleven hermitages. Designated as a natural monument, the wisteria woods and valleys are most beautiful in May.

Located just outside of Seoul, Samaksan Mountain and Deungseon Fall is the perfect destination for weekend outings for those in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas. The most popular hiking course on the mountain (appropriate even for beginners) starts from one waterfall (which is fairly small with a x_height of 10m) and passes two other waterfalls, and Seonnyeotang. The course runs all the way to the top of Samaksan (654m above sea level). The mountain has several steep valleys and unique rock formations covered with thick forests. Looking down from the top, a stunning panoramic view of Uiamho Lake and Bukhangang River (and its many small islands) unfolds below.