Travel/Culture List

The district of Jeollanam-do is located on the western coast, bordering Jangheung-gun in the east, a narrow bay in the west, Haenam-gun and Gangjin-gun to the south, and Naju-si to the north. Its entire area spans over a 565.9 ㎢, with a population of almost 60,000 (as of January, 2015) and is divided into of 121 ri, 9 myeon,and 2 eup. Its county office is in Dongmu-ri, Yeongam-eup. * Nature Having Noryeongsanmaek Mountain range descending from the top of Cheonwangbong Peak (alt. 809 m), Wolchulsan Mountain forms the mountain ranges in the southeast. The northwest district features flatlands unfolding toward the vicinity of the Yeongsangang River and Yeongsanho Lake, and the southeast area mainly features rolling hills. Nearly 20 streams, including Yeongamcheon Stream, begin in the vicinity of Wolchunsan Mountain and other nearby mountains, passing by the plains and joining up with the Yeongsangang River. The river eventually flows into Seohae (West Sea) through an estuary at the mouth of the Yeongsangang River in Samho-myeon. * Culture The Yeongbo Cultural Event is a folk event held by each myeon (township) of Yeongam-gun every 5th of May. Also, Yeongbo Aehyanghoe, organized and held in Deokjin-myeon, has been giving awards for filial children since 1979, and also holds a gukak (traditional Korean music) festival to honor the independence movement of Hyeongjebong Peak in May 1931 by inviting of survivors and bereaved families. During the feast, various folk games take place, as well as Jehyang (an ancestral ritual). Wangin Culture Festival is also held in the area of Yeongam to view the achievements of Dr. Wangin, who spread knowledge, culture, and art of Japan using Chunhyangdaeje, Doil Parade, Dopoje juldarigi (tug-of-war), Yeoseoksan Ssangpae nongak (farming music), as well as food exhibitions from each eup and myeon units. Folk games of this area include hwaetbul nori (torch parade), yut nori (Korean board game), juldarigi (tug-of-war), and ganggangsullae (Korean circle game). In particular, ganggangsullae is mainly done by women at night on the day of Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), and it is said to have originated during the Imjinwaeran War (Japanese invasion). Also, there are other ancestral rites such as Dangsanje, Sanje, Mireukje, Saeamje, Saemje, Chonje, Jeonghoje, and others that are held at dawn on the 15th of January on the Lunar calendar.

Chi-ong Art Hall is a cultural complex center, established to support local artists and also citizens’ various artworks who lives in north-east of Gyeonggi-do, with Gapyeong as the central region. They operate schools that offer a variety of cultural programs such as making of earthenware, pottery, natural soap, natural dye, tea ceremony, traditional songs and samulnori. Also, they hosts exhibitions, outdoor performances, and a regular Youth Art Festival. Moreover, visitors can learn the process of how a hanok is built through the outstanding skills and knowledge acquired through over 20 years of research, as well as a whole representation of traditional hanok structure.

The Donggang River flows through the Gangwon-do district, and is a tributary to the South Hangang River. The Donggang River spans an area of 60km from Jeongseon to Yeongwol. The Donggang River is a well-preserved river, left untouched due to the strong current of the waters and the rugged geography of the mountains. The Donggang River follows a snaky path splitting the chiseled cliffs surrounding it. Many tourists visit the area to see rare animals such as otters, Mandarin ducks, and Chinese scops owls and so on. Donggang River is also famous for white-water rafting.

The Jeju Horse Park offers a venue to understand Jeju’s horse culture in an easy and fun way. The park has kept intact a 600-year nomadic cultural history of nomadic cultures at the site of the Gasi-ri village which used to house Gammajang, the place for raising the best horse during Joseon Dynasty. The park includes the Jeju Horse Museum, Ttarabi horseback riding place, Maeum Cafe, Mongol Ger Guesthouse, camping site, art shop, and an experience place to focus on the Project for a New Cultural Space Creation through the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The Jeju Horse Museum was the first national museum created by a village and its main theme covers the history and culture of the village is also regarded as a new kind of community business model. * Opened on September 8, 2012

Busan Cultural Center is one of the representative cultural arts institutions in Busan and hosts a diversity of concerts, dances, plays, and other performances. It boasts international conference facilities and is a center of operations for seven different metropolitan arts organizations including the philharmonic orchestra, traditional orchestra, chorus, dance company, theater company, philharmonic youth orchestra, and the boys & girls chorus.Reflecting the traditional architectural style of Korea, the Main Theater has been built to resemble a ‘Bonchae’ (the main building of a traditional house), while the Medium and Small Theaters resemble a ‘Sarangchae’ (typically, the men’s quarters of a hanok). The structure of the center highlights the traditional beauty of Korea and seeks to capture the powerful spirit of the nation. Hosting over 1,000 exhibitions & performances throughout the year, the Busan Cultural Center strives to preserve the country’s culture while promoting local art forms from various regions of Korea.

Misari Speedboat Park was created for use in rowing and sailing competition during the 1986 Asian Games and 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. The park features various other sports facilities around the lake, including soccer fields and footvolley courts. Other amenities include pavilions and snack bars, making this place beloved by locals as a place to relax and play.

Jamsil Special Tourist Zone has Lotte World Amusement Park, the landmark of Jamsil, at its center. As Jamsil Special Tourist Zone functions as a resting area in the heart of the city, visitors can play, go shopping and participate in historical inquiries all within a comfortable distance of each other. The zone has a lot of entertainment and places to see and eat for international visitors of all ages with its diverse tourism resources, such as Seokchon Lake, Café Alley, Bangi Food Street, Olympic Park and Hanseong Baekje cultural relics. Seokchon Lake is great for a stroll in a tranquil ambience, and Bangi Food Street has restaurants serving a variety of appetizing dishes. Inside and around Lotte World Amusement Park are attractions and amenities that include Lotte Hotel World, Lotte World Indoor Ice Skating Rink and Food Court. It is popular among families with children and the elderly. Jamsil Station Shopping Mall in Jamsil, apart from Lotte Department Store (Jamsil Branch), is widely known as a shopper’s haven. The items sold at the shopping mall are affordable, attracting a crowd of young people. Olympic Park is frequently used as a venue by Hallyu (Korean wave) stars for shows and performances. There is a swimming pool inside the park where sports activities take place, like a scuba diving program for beginners. It is easy to access Songpa-gu District, where Jamsil Special Tourist Zone is located, from Gimpo International Airport on subway line No. 9. * Current State of Jamsil Special Tourist Zone 1) Districts Covered: Areas around Shincheon, Seokchon, Songpa, Bangi and Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (Lotte World~ Seokchon Lake~ Bangi Food Street~ Olympic Park) 2) Area: 2,310,000㎡ * Tourist Attractions Lotte World, Lotte Hotel, Folk Museum, Seokchon Lake, Olympic Park, Cafe Alley, Museum, etc.

Located in the northern area of South Korea, Baengma Battlefield was one of the bloodiest battlefields during the Korean War. The communist Chinese army launched a major offensive attack for 10 days on October 6, 1952 during the Battle of Baengmagoji (Baengma; White horse). Due to this battle, the communist Chinese army suffered around 14,000 casualties and the army completely collapsed while the 9th Infantry Division won the battle of the Baengma High Ground and got the name “White Horse.” After the battle the area gave off a bad smell because of the dead bodies. The mountain area lost its original shape due to the severe battle and as a result the area was named “Baengmagoji” as it was said to resemble a white horse (Baengma) lying down.

Jeju KAL Hotel Casino is for foreigners only, and offers games such as Black Jack, Roulette, Baccarat, Big Wheel, and Tai-Sai. It is equipped with the highest quality facilities and the largest casino on Jeju-do island. KAL Hotel is also a first class tourist hotel of international standards, with two basement floors, 18 floors, and 282 rooms.