Travel/Culture List

The fortress on Munsusan Mountain (문수산, 376m) was built in 1694, the 20th year of the reign of King Sukjong, the 19th king of the Joseon Dynasty, to defend Gwanghwado, particularly from marine invasion. The fortress walls span 6km in length, 4km of which remain un-restored. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, the top of the fortress commands a spectacular view spanning from North Korea to the Hangang River inlet, and from Samgaksan Mountain to the sea off Incheon in the distance. It can be called Geumgangsan Mountain in Gimpo as it boasts superb scenery throughout all four seasons. (For all Koreans, Geumgangsan Mountain in North Korea symbolizes a ‘beautiful mountain’)

Naju National Museum displays artifacts found near Yeongsangang River region and preserves artifacts excavated from throughout the Jeolla region. While most national museums are found within the city, Naju National Museum is the first national museum to be located in a rural countryside. Its location provides a perfect relaxing atmosphere for visitors to take time and appreciate what the museum has to offer. Although the museum may be isolated from urban cities, it uses modern technology to provide convenient museum experience. Naju National Museum is the first national museum to integrate NFC feature within smart phones with the exhibition guide system for all exhibition halls. This integrated feature acts as a mean to provide communication both ways, as visitors can receive information guides and upload them on social media via smart phones. In addition to the collection of artifacts, the open-type storage rooms and the hands-on activities offered at the experience center provide opportunities to personally witness and experience the process of preservation and storage of cultural assets.

Chungnam Boryeong’s Oseosan Recreational Forest is located south of Oseosan Mountain. The area boasts magnificent scenery. The recreation forest area features a Water Park, a barefoot walk, a nature observation road, a promenade. Lodging facilities include Forest Cabin, Forest Lodge, and row houses.

The Baegamsan Mountains are also known as the ‘White Rock Mountains’, since their peaks are covered in white-coloured rocks. These mountains are also famous for receiving plenty of snow during the winter season. If you hike up to the mountain peak early in the morning, you may catch a glimpse of the gorgeous sunrise over the East Sea. The hiking trail starts from in front of the Baegam Hot Springs Hotel. Hikers follow the southern ridges and continue through the pine tree forests to reach the top of the mountain. From the top of the mountain, you can admire beautiful views of the East Sea and the tall mountains that stretch to the west and the north. Below the peaks are the Gomosanseong Fortress, Halmaesanseong Fortress, and Baegamsanseong Fortress. After admiring the beautiful wildlife from the peak of Baegamsan Mountain, enjoy the spas at the Baegamsan Hot Springs Resort, which is located just at the foot of the mountain.  

The Korean War Experience Hall, located next to Unification Observatory, offers a view at the lessons learned through the tragedy of civil war and offers up the hopes for a peaceful reunification and harmony in the homeland. Visitors can get a deeper understanding of the Korean War and the hardships it led to through the videos, materials, and relics on display in this hall.

Seongnam Botanical Garden is operated by Seongnam-si, Seongnam Botanical Garden that was a discarded drainage area that was transformed into an ecological park with an arboretum. It is located in Eunhaeng 1-dong, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si. The garden is rich in greenery, with a diverse range of plant, wildflowers, and insects, making it an ideal place for students to see and learn about nature. The garden is also a beautiful recreation area for local residents. * Facility area - 34,760㎡ (10,533 pyeong) / Visitor center area 202㎡ (61 pyeong) * Plants: 89 species 2,317 plants, Shrub: 78 species 13,689 shrubs, Flowering plants: 209 species 94,329 plants * Insects - Ladybird, butterfly with four feet, Monema flavescens, Riptortus clavatus, black-tipped leafhopper, Poecilocoris lewisi, etc.

This open set is the filming location of the TV series Taewangsasingi (The Legend). This is where scenes of a shipyard that built ships during the years of the great King Gwanggaeto were filmed. Major scenes for the drama series Haesin (Emperor of the Sea) were also shot here. The 16,000-pyeong space houses a variety of sets, including a dock, ships, inns and military quarters. The compound was designed to recreate various scenes from the Tang Dynasty. A number of historical dramas have been filmed here. In addition to the Sosepo Village, where Taewangsasingi (The Legend) was filmed, the Silla Village set in the east part of the site has private houses and taverns.

The Midang Literary House is a memorial center for the great poet Seo Jeong-Ju (penname ‘Midang’) built in Seonun-ni Village, Buan-eup, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, where the poet was born and is buried. In the fall of 2001, a year after the poet’s death, the center opened on November 3rd on the anniversary of the Gwangju Student Movements (1929 and 1930), which took place while Midang attended Jungang High School. Located adjacent to the center are the poet’s birth house and grave. Housed in a renovated branch of Seonun Elementary School, the Midang Literary House was structurally designed to convey the architectural concepts of 'Eco-Friendly' and 'Learning.’

The Songcheon-ri, Unsu-ri, Ipseok-ri, Susan-ri, and Bigeum-ri areas in Sudong-myeon, Namyangju City boast picturesque scenery with refreshing water flowing everywhere, for which the region is also widely known as “Mulgolan,” which means “inside water valley.” Opened in 1983, the park is surrounded by the mountains of Jugeumsan, Seorisan, and Chungnyeongsan. It is a great summer vacation spot with lush forests and clear valleys. The park is also abundant with many varieties of mountain vegetables and fruits including mushrooms, a type of mountain herb called deodeok, balloon flower roots, fatsia shoots, honey, chestnuts, and pine nuts.* Mongolian Cultural Arts Performance Group at Sudong National Tourist ParkMongolia Culture Town is a theme park that was established upon the signing of a friendship pact between the city of Namyangju and the Mongolian capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Opened in April 15, 2000, the 6,876 square-meter park consists of seven tent gers (traditional dwelling of the nomads in Mongolia), two carriage-style gers, and one exhibition hall. All of the materials used to construct the gers were directly shipped from Mongolia. The largest ger at the center of the park has an estimated 150 items from Mongolia on display including traditional clothes, horse saddles, accessories, household goods, and musical instruments.