Travel/Culture List

Taehahyangmok (or Juniper Tree in English) Tourist Monorail takes visitors on a tour of the beautiful site in Ulleung-do Island. The monorail starts from ‘Charcoal Cave’ in Taeha-dong and ends at ‘Taeha Lighthouse’, the best vista point in Ulleung-do Island. The monorail travels for 6 minutes on a 304m rail climbing uphill at a maximumof  39-degree incline. The service consists of two cars from which magnificent views of the ocean can be enjoyed through the 360-degree glass windows.A 10 minute walk from the monorail departure point takes visitors to the Taehahyangmok (Juniper Tree) Observatory. The ocean views from the observatory are considered one of the ten most beautiful spots in Korea, attracting a large number of visitors every year. The image of the island’s forestry combined with the deep blue ocean and jagged rock formations like Gongam Rock, Noinbong Peak, Songgotbong Peak, and Samseonam Rock that also offer fantastic photo opportunities.

Hampyeong Expo Park has been emerging as a representative eco tourist attraction in Asia ever since the Hampyeong Butterfly & Insect Expo in 2008. The park offers visitors a wide array of eco-programs and participatory tour programs. The park consists of as many as 11 open-run exhibition centers and other themed zones including a horticulture therapy center, grass square, plant/insect eco school, themed theater, bug's village, golden bat exhibition center, butterfly/insect eco center, butterfly/insect specimen and fossils exhibition, fresh water fish science museum, butterfly land park, and wetland experience zone.

Unjusa Temple is unlike other temples in that it has unusual Buddha statues and pagodas – it is often referred to as a mysterious temple. The founder of Unjusa Temple is not known but it is speculated that it was built during the Silla Period (BC 57~935).Unjusa does not have a Geumgangmun or Cheonwangmun, which are very often seen in Buddhist temples. The first thing you see when you enter Unjusa is the 9-story stone pagoda (National Treasure no. 796). The tower, again, does not have intricate designs, and is very simple. As you walk past the 9-story pagoda, you come to a forked road. Turning left, you will see Chilseong Rock. Because it resembles the 7 stars of the Big Dipper, some people argue that the rock is imitating the constellation. Follow the same road further and you will see two Buddha statues, called Wabul, where Buddha is resting on its side, lying down. These statues are, among the ones in Unjusa Temple, the most intricate in design and execution. Go up a bit further, and you will see the Siwibul Statue standing. Pass Siwibul Statue through the thick groves, and you will come to a series of 7-storey and 5-storey stone pagodas. What makes the stone pagodas of Unjusa Temple interesting to examine is that they each boats several unique designs and features.

Samsung Transportation Museum, the nation’s first automobile museum, is located near Everland. It serves as a children’s traffic safety learning space. The museum displays a collection of over 700 world-famous pieces including 50 cars, 15 motorcycles, bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and other transportation-related articles such as vehicle prototypes, parts, hood ornaments, souvenirs, and artwork. There are many hands-on programs for visitors to learn about transportation safety.

Pyeongtaek International Passenger Terminal is a port located in Poseung-eup, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do. It connects geographically Dangjin-gun and Seohae-daegyo Bridge as well as Hwaseong-si.

Standing at 1,267m above sea level, Myeongjisan Mountain is the second highest mountain in Gyeonggi-do Province after Hwaaksan Mountain. It is a popular destination all year round, as it offers plenty of resting areas with splendid views of the surrounding nature. In addition, the Myeongji Valley, spanning 30㎞, is a great outdoor picnic spot, while the trail from Sangpalli to Ikgeulli is the most preferred hiking trail on the mountain.

Pinx Golf Club is the first golf course in Korea to make the 100 Best Course lists compiled by US Golf Digest and UK Golf World in 2005. Extra care has been put into the landscaping of this golf club. The golf course makes good use of the geographical features that make each hole distinctively unique. Designed by the renowned golf course designer Theodore G. Robinson, it combines traditional concepts of a world-class golf course with new concepts of the 21 century. The entire course offers a view of the Hallasan Mountain and the ocean. Year-round play is possible, and over 30 centimeters of sand paved beneath the greens provide good drainage. In addition, the club house is regarded as the new ideal in architecture that harmoniously combines nature with art. Accommodation within the golf club is available at Pinx Podo Hotel.

Dongguksa Temple was built by Japanese monk Seoneungbulgwan in 1909. The temple was run by Japanese monks for 36 years during the Japanese occupation, reverting to Korean jurisdiction when Korea was liberated in 1945. The historical temple is the only surviving Japanese-style temple in the nation. The temple is characterized by its two main buildings, Daeungjeon Hall and Yosachae, which are connected by a corridor, and the temple’s relative lack of decoration, which stands as a sharp contrast to the brilliantly-colored Korean temples. Dongguksa Temple was officially designated Cultural Asset No. 64 in July 2003 and is now a branch temple of Seonunsa Temple in Gochang, the 24th district of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order.

The 4th Tunnel was discovered on March 3, 1990. It is located 1,200m from the Military Demarcation Line in the demilitarized zone of South Korea. This is the only tunnel to be discovered that provides full access to tour groups. Educational instruction is given in the square outside the tunnel.