Travel/Culture List

Located in beautiful Gwacheon, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon displays works by Korean and international modern artists, as well as works by contemporary artists currently making waves in the art world. As well as its permanent collection, the museum generally presents several special exhibitions, which run for three to four months. For English information on the special exhibitions, visitors should check the Art Exhibitions section of VisitKorea’s “What’s On This Month” calendar, the link to which can be found on the main page. Most of the exhibitions can be seen free of charge, although some of the major special exhibitions may charge an admission fee. The museum’s six exhibition galleries are spread over three floors, and include a children’s gallery. The museum is conveniently located on the outskirts of Seoul near several other attractions, such as Seoul Grand Park and SeoulLand amusement park, so the area makes for a good day-trip.

Seoul Zoo is an open space of natural education, created to foster children’s interest in and love for animals and nature. The zoo runs educational programs where children can learn about various animals. Through the programs, children are able to interact with and feed dogs, monkeys, rabbits, deer, goats, and more.

Seoul Global Cultural Center offers a program that visitors can try on hanbok, the Korean traditional costume. Also, foreign language assistance by professional consultants is available in English, Chinese and Japanese so as to provide information regarding Seoul to the foreigners.

Gwangju National Museum collects and preserves cultural relics from Jeollanam-do. The exhibits are grouped in seven categories according to period and type. The Prehistoric Hall displays stone age tools from the Paleolithic Era, Neolithic Era, and Bronze Ages, as well as other relics from the early Iron Age. Samguk Hall displays many earthenware and ironware items from the Great Onggwan in the Jeolla-do area.The Buddhist Art Hall exhibits cultural Items related to the religion, the Painting Hall exhibits works of artists of the Honam district from the Joseon and modern periods. Jeolla-do is also considered the birthplace of Korean Pottery. The Goryeo Pottery Exhibit Hall showcases the transition from the Cheongja of the Goryeo Period to the Joseon Period's Buncheongsagi and Baekja. It is possible to witness the entire pottery-making process at once. Pottery items are also on display at Joseon Buncheongsagi Baekja Hall.The Shinan Ocean Floor Relic Hall is a unique exhibit hall with items on display from a trade ship submerged for 600 years in the Shinan Sea. The items were excavated during 11 operations that took place from 1976 to 1984. Admission is free on the first Sunday of every month, and the museum is closed on Mondays. 

Designated the ‘No. 1 Gwangju Metropolitan City Folk Material’ on March 20, 1989, the House of Lee Jang-woo is an upper-class, tile-roofed house with a gate, storeroom, servants’ quarters, detached building, and main building. Estimated to have been constructed in 1899, the house was originally owned by Jeong Byeong-ho, but has been primarily known as the House of Lee Jang-woo, the house’s current owner, since 1965.The L-shaped main hall of the historic building is rather large and consists of (left to right) a wooden verandah, a small room, a hall, the main room, a kitchen, and another small room. Doors that lead to ondol rooms (those heated by traditional Korean floor heating) are double doors with a sliding door on the inside and a hinged door on the outside. The hall has partitions that can be hung up as necessary. Overall, the house is a sturdy example of Korean architecture and remains well-preserved in its original state.

Gyeongju World Amusement is the largest themed park in the southern area. The park's most famous facility is X-Zone featuring exciting thrill rides including rollercoasters Phyton, Mega Drop, Tornado, and Grand Canyon as well as King Viking and Submarine Splash. People who don't enjoy roller coasters will still have fun at the park in Wizard Garden (kids zone), California Beach (summer only), and the large-scaled ice sledding site (winter only). The various rides, diverse convenient facilities, and restaurants will fulfill every visitors’ tastes.

With a total of 117 houses and facilities, Jeju Folk Village Museum has restored the scenes of the village to that of the 1890’s. Among them are Mountain Village, Hill-Country Village, Fishing Village and Shamanism Village. On land of more than 40 acres it has been reconstructed following long-term research and analysis of experts. Some of the extensive range of folk items on display are 1,627 woodenware, 1,046 bamboo ware, 1,699 earthenware, 1,544 porcelain ware, 765 wax candles, 921 ironware and 579 other items. The Jeju Folk Village Museum is the island’s main tourist attraction where customs of the old days can be explored. Since March 2006, Daeganggeum Mini Theme Park located at the Jeju Folk Village, offers various things for visitors to see. Many of the scenes from episodes 27 to 32 of the historical drama, in which Jang-geum learns medicine as a maid were filmed at Jeju Folk Village. In order to fit the theme of Daeganggeum, the separate locations have joined together, and are now open to tourists. Visitors can appreciate the amazing scenic beauty of Jeju as well as experience the traditional culture of Jeju at this theme park.  

Jeondeungsa Temple, located within Jeongjoksanseong Fortress in Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon-si, holds temple stay programs every weekend. The program entails learning temple etiquette, performing zen meditation, having a dialogue with a monk, and doing chores together.

Dongbaekseom Island (Island of Camellias) is an island located off one end of Busan's famous Haeundae Beach. Though the years of sedimentation have connected the island to the mainland, Dongbaekseom was originally an island and is still referred to as one. Dongbaekseom is easy to navigate thanks to the walking path that is built around it. The island has several different points of attraction, including the monument inscribed with a poem of scholar Choi Chi-won, the mermaid statue based on the legend of Princess Hwagok, and the Nurimaru APEC House. It also offers fantastic views of the Busan shoreline towards Mipo, Dalmaji Hill, Gwangangdaegyo Bridge, and Oryukdo Island. As the name suggests, camellias burst into bloom everywhere on the island from winter to spring.  

Silmi Beach, also known as Keunmuri Beach, is located on Muuido Island. The clean, sandy beach stretches out beautifully against the backdrop of a lush pine tree forest so dense that it does not let daylight in, even at midday. Facing the beach is Silmido Island, the location for the filming of ‘Silmido’ (2003), a Korean movie based on the tragic story of Korean Special Ops Unit 684. The film set, however, was demolished after the shooting. The pathway to the island, which has no residents, can be shown during low tide. Therefore, visitors should be aware of the tidal times to know when they can cross back to the mainland.