Travel/Culture List

Psyche World offers a wide variety of attractions including a display of over 10,000 butterflies representing some 3,000 different species. Psyche means “butterfly” in Greek and it is also known as the lover of Cupid in Roman mythology. Parody World depicts human life using butterfly and bug specimens. Live World offers children opportunities to observe and experience parakeets, hamsters, birds, rabbits, bugs, butterflies, hedgehogs, beetles, stag beetles, and cocoons. Study World is full of attractions and information on butterflies and bugs. Visitors can observe live butterflies and bugs flying everywhere and rest at Crystal House. Parody World, Live World, and Study World offer information in English and Chinese for international tourists. Located across from Jeju Horse Racing Park, Psyche World is 15.3km from Jeju International Airport toward Jungmun Resort Complex. Visitors may take a taxi from the airport. The fare is approximately KRW 9,500-10,000.  

Geared mainly towards children, Bandi Land is an excellent place to learn about and experience fireflies, insects, and the stars. Main highlights include the insect museum with its vast display of mounted beetles & butterflies and the observatory, where you can compare your weight on the moon, Mars, and other planets.Facility information is as follows:1. Insect Museum: Exhibition Hall 2 (rare mounted specimens), garden (live butterflies and tropical plants), ecological greenhouse3. Stone Media Hall4. 3D Media Room: “Meet our friends the fireflies”5. Firefly Experience, Ecological Experience Hall6. Bandi Nature School: learn about nature7. Bandi Observatory: 3D movie, try on an astronaut suit, see the stars8. Youth Camp: diverse programs for groups9. Log House: a place of rest fresh with the scent of pine

The Energy Exhibition Hall in the Energy Environment Science Park is in the shape of a sailboat to complement the oceanic scenery surrounding the museum. The exhibition hall consists of a showroom and an observation room that introduce the principles and usage of alternative energy. The exhibition center demonstrates how wind and photovoltaic power plants work, and in what ways clean renewable energy is being used. The center is also used as a solar power plant, and visitors can observe devices and facilities powered by future energies.

Located in Cheongsong-gun County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Pyeongsansinssi Pansagongpa Jongtaek is the head house of the noble Pyeongsan Sin family line. The house was created by Sin, Han-Tae, during the era of King Sukjong (1674-1720) of the Joseon Dynasty. Ever since its construction centuries ago, the house has been inhabitated by the descendants of Sin, Deuk-Cheong, the 15th eldest grandson of the General, Sin, Sung-Gyem. This house has all of the features that are representative of upper–class houses of the Joseon Era. The buildings of the house are built in a rectangular shape, with the courtyard in the center. The compound consists of Soteuldaemun (high-rising gate), Haengrangchae (servants’ quarters located next to the gate), Gotgan (storeroom in which grain and other items were stored), Anchae (room for the female family members) and a pavillion. Within the same village as Pyeongsansinssi Pansagongpa Jongtaek are Seobyeok Gotaek and Sanam Gotaek, houses of the Sin clan. The entrance of the village is protected by thick pine groves and the Yonjeconcheon Stream (a tributary of Nakdonggang River), both of which add natural beauty to the deeply historic area.

The Yangjaecheon stream (15.6km long) is one of the tributaries of the Hangang River, originating from Cheonggyeosan and Gwanaksan mountains and flowing through the Gwacheon region to Gangnam. The small road and path that run from Dogok-dong to Daechi-dong along Yangjaecheon Stream is known as the ‘Yangjaecheon Stream Gil’.The Trail is the perfect place to take a drive since the road is lined with around 830 stately metasequoia trees. The walking path that runs along the banks of the stream (known as the ‘streetlight walk’) is a particularly popular date spot, since the trees backlit by the streetlights provide a wonderfully romantic atmosphere. The ‘Yangjaecheon Stream Trail’ area is famous as well for its bike course that runs all the way from Gwacheon to Gangnam.

Uiamsa Shrine was built to the memory of Chu Nongae, who sacrificed her life during the Imjin War (Japanese Invasion of Korea). In 1846, the Nongae-saeng-jang-hyang-su-myeong-bi monument was put up in praise of Nongae’s patriotism. In 1955, a shrine was built and named Uiamsa, which was then moved to the current location in 1974. Within the precincts of the shrine are a memorial stone, the portrait of Nongae by artist Kim Eun-ho, and the three gates Woesammun, Naesammun and Chunguimun erected one after another. At the memorial hall, the existing possessions of Nongae and her husband General Choi Gyeong-hoe are on display. The annual Nongae Festival takes places on September 3rd by the lunar calendar, during which memorial services and cultural events are held to commemorate Nongae.

Chungju Dam is the nation’s largest multipurpose concrete dam and plays a role in water resources planning and management, prevention of flood damage, and electric power production. On one side of Chungju Dam are various facilities like the Water Exhibition Hall, Memorial Tower, and a resting area, while the other side has a resting area, heliport, as well as a pleasure boat are available for tourists. As for the structure, the dam is 97.5m high and 447m long. Beneath the main dam, there is a balancing reservoir dam which is 21m high and 480.7m long.

Girimsa Temple is located in Mount Hamwolsan in Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju. The temple was built in the Silla era and, with 16 buildings, is the second largest temple after Bulguksa.Legend has it that the temple was originally built by the Venerable Gwang-yu, a sage from India, in the early part of the Silla Kingdom. The temple was reportedly called ‘Imjeongsa’ at first, but was later changed to ‘Girimsa’ after undergoing expansive renovations by Monk Wonhyo. It is still unclear exactly what year the temple was built in.Girimsa is divided into two main areas. The first is the area around Daejeokgwangjeon Hall where the statue of Birojanabul is enshrined. The second is the area around the majestic 500-year-old bo tree (a kind of large fig tree) that is home to a wooden pagoda, the Seongbo Museum, Samsingak, Mangbujeon, and Gwaneumjeon halls. The Daejeokgwangjeon Hall was first built during Queen Seondeok's reign, and was rebuilt six times since its original construction. Its simple but majestic architecture is characterized by baeheullim (aka, entasis columns) and a Dapoyangsik (Dapo-style) single-tiered gabled roof.Girimsa is famous for Ojongsu, water that is said to have five different tastes. It consists of gamrosu, which is best for making tea; hwajeongsu, which supposedly gives comfort to the drinker; janggunsu, which makes the body stronger; myeongansu, which gives clear vision; and otaksu, which is said to sparkle so brightly that it attracts all the birds of the air. During Japanese colonial rule, the source of janggunsu, literally meaning ‘water of a general,’ was reportedly blocked off by Japanese soldiers, who were afraid the water would give the Korean people the strength to overthrow them. Except for janggunsu, water still continues to flow from each source.On the way to Girimsa temple is the Golgulsa Temple, well known for its 12 grottos. Golgulsa was originally a hermitage (monastery) of Girimsa. After becoming an independent institution, it became the center of Seonmudo practice in Korea. The temple aims to promote the art of seonmudo on a national and international level.* Major Cultural Properties Lacquered Seated Mercy Bodhisattva of Girimsa Temple (Treasure No. 415)Daejeokgwangjeon Hall (Treasure No. 833)Sojo Birojana Samjonbul (Treasure No. 958)Sutras kept inside the Vairocana Buddha of Girimsa (Treasure No. 959) 

At the foot of Hambaeksan Mountain where was the main producing place of anthracite, Samtan Art Mine transformed an abandoned mine which is unique and special point of the place, into a cultural art complex. The name of ‘Samtan’ refers to Samcheok Tanjwa, one of major coal mines in Korea, and ‘Art Min’ refers to ‘Coal mine’ in English and has meaning that of a mining coal turning into cultural art space. Throughout the nation, many cultural art places are located but Samtan Art Mine attracts visitors for being an actual mine site, which was closed in October 2001 after its first opening in 1964 when it was developed as a industrial establishment. Likewise, it is meaningful that the mine site became an artistic site despite its historically poignant history.