Travel/Culture List

Songkang Canoe School is located in Naerincheon Stream and offers educational programs and tours led by a professional training team certified by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Also, the school operates a store that sells imported kayak and canoe equipment.

The Yanggu Unification Hall is located in the northernmost part of the Civilian Control Zone in Haean-myeon Yanggu-gun. It was built and opened to be utilized as a unification education center that would help broaden people’s understanding about the real situation in North Korea in preparation for reunification and encourage commitment for reunification. The location is 5 km away from The Fourth Tunnel, in the northern end of the punch bowl basin and it first opened in 1996. It has a first exhibition hall, second exhibition hall, agricultural specialty market, and a parking lot that can accommodate about 100 cars. Directly operated by Yanggu-gun District Office, the Yanggu Unification Hall displays things that show the reality of North Korea including household goods, exports and photographs. The agricultural specialty market sells agricultural goods, North Korean products, and tourism souvenirs. Located nearby is the 4th Tunnel, Eulji Observatory, and War Memorial Museum in Yanggu. The Eulji Observatory is the northernmost located observatory in South Korea. The Fourth Tunnel is the only tunnel among the four tunnels dug by North Korea that operates electric cars, allowing visitors to travel inside. The War Memorial Museum in Yanggu was built to shed new light on the nine battles fought in Yanggu during the Korean War. The Yanggu Unification Hall deals with works related to the Eulji Observatory, the 4th Tunnel and War Memorial Museum in Yanggu.

Bultapsa Temple is a branch of Gwaneumsa Temple, the headquarters of the 23rd district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It was built in 1914 by Monk Anbongryeogwan at the site of Wondangsa, a temple during the Goryeo Dynasty. After undergoing expansion in 1934, a prayer hall spanning four kans (a Korean unit of measurement referring to the square space created by 4 wooden posts in a traditional building; roughly 6 to 8 feet from post to post) was built. Most of the temple was destroyed during the Jeju Uprising on April 3, 1948. It was rebuilt in 1953. Today, the temple has Daeungjeon Hall, Yosachae monk quarters, Jonggak Bell Tower, and Cheonwangmun Gate. The five-story stone pagoda is Jeju's only stone pagoda from the Goryeo Dynasty. It was designated Treasure No. 1187 in November 1993.

Dogo oncheon Station opened in June 15, 1922 as Seonjang Station and was relocated to its current location in 2007.

Deokcheonseowon Confucian Academy, called “Yucheonsa,” was originally built in front of Gusan Village in Dugil-ri, Seolcheon-myeon in 1919. The confucian academy was moved to the Inam Village in Socheon-ri, Seolcheon-myeon in 1982, and was finally moved to its current site and renamed "Deokcheonseowon." Within the building is a shrine called Deokcheonsa, which has memorial stones that have been carefully placed inside. ​

Dangjin Marine Tourism Organization, also known as Sapgyo Hamsang Park, is a unique theme park where old battleships have been turned into experience and exhibition halls. The park is comprised of a themed exhibition hall focused on the navy and marines, the inside and outside of military ships, flights and other exciting facilities, including a 3-D video room, game center, carnival plaza, and indoor entertainment facility to help children admire and become intimate with the Navy and Marines. Also, Hamsang Cafe provides another resting area to enjoy ones visit fully.

The source of Yongchu Falls, Mount Yeoninsan (연인산) stands at 1,068 meters above sea level and features soft terrain and beautiful scenery. Local folklore has it that those coming to the mountain wishing for true love will have their dreams come true. The soil of Mount Yeoninsan is fertile, offering a great natural environment for a variety of flowers and trees. Numerous types of wild flowers thrive from early spring to late autumn. The trail connecting Mount Yeoninsan with mounts Myeongjisan, Cheonggyesan, and Gwimokbong remains relatively unspoiled by human influence: cooking and camping in the area is strictly forbidden. All the mountains in the trail are over 1,000 meters high. A defining feature of Mount Yeoninsan is the royal azaleas that bloom in late May. The County of Gapyeong celebrates the royal azalea by hosting the Mount Yeoninsan (Natural Ecology) Festival in May of each year. Also ideal for hiking, Mount Yeoninsan offers a number of trails: one starts from Buk-myeon in Baekdun-ri, one from Mail-ri, and one from Yongchu Valley. With a minimum of climbing, hikers can take in a variety of scenic views, ranging from the bloom of the royal azaleas in the spring to the beauty of the changing leaves in the fall.

Gwanchoksa Temple (관촉사) in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do is located at the foot of Mt. Banyasan (100m in elevation). This temple enshrines a Seokjomireukbosalipsang Buddha (Treasure No. 218), which was built over the course of 38 years, beginning in 967 during the Goryeo period. According to a legend, while a lady was picking fernbrake on Mt. Banyasan, she heard a baby crying. When she went to the spot from which from which the crying was coming, there was no baby but instead was a large rock sticking out from the ground. Upon hearing this story, the government ordered a Buddha statue to be made from the rock. This Buddha statue, widely known as ‘Eunjimireuk Buddha,’ is the largest stone Buddha in Korea (18.12m in x_height, 9.9m in girth, 1.8m in the length of ears, 2.43m at the x_height of crown). There are many other cultural heritages in this temple and every April, a splendid cherry blossom tunnel strecthing from Nonsan to Gwanchoksa Temple is at its peak.

The Mungyeong Coal Museum exhibits the history of coal and explains its important contribution to Korea's rapid industrialization. Systematic exhibition of coal and related information helps visitors understand the vital role that coal has played in shaping modern life. The museum displays coal-related relics in addition to scholarly materials.The museum offers various exhibition halls: the Central Exhibition Hall (1F-2F), Outdoor Exhibition Hall, Mine Exhibition Hall, and Miner’s Private House Exhibition Hall. Though coal, one of Korea’s few natural resources, used to be the driving force of the Korean industry and economy, it has become less visible due to the emergence of oil and natural gas. The museum helps visitors appreciate this forgotten resource as well as the lives of miners in Mungyeong, once one of the most productive coalfields in Korea. 

Embracing the former downtown of Incheon, Wolmi Special Tourist Zone is deeply involved in Korea’s modern history and culture. Since modern Western culture and institutions were introduced through the port off the coast of Incheon, the zone has become rich in modern architecture and cultural heritage that tell the stories of the Open Port Period. Visitors can experience the foreign cultures of old when walking on the road along the foot of Wolmisan Mountain, which overlooks the port. The small amusement park in Wolmi Special Tourist Zone is popular with young people for leisure activities and dates. Along the coastline, always busy with travelers, are sashimi restaurants and fancy cafes. Visitors can see a panoramic view of the port and downtown from Wolmi Observation Platform. They can also experience the charm of the fish market and the unique atmosphere of Yeonan Pier where ferries go back and forth near the port. Sea fishing, eating fresh seafood or walking on Open Port Nuri-gil, which is adjacent to the sea, are worth the experience. Chinatown in Wolmi Special Tourist Zone shows the past and the present of Chinese immigrants. There you can find Chinese restaurants, the Incheon Open Port Museum and the Modern Architecture Museum. The Incheon Modern Open Port Street Festival and the Wolmi Special Tourist Zone Culture Festival are held every year. Travelers can learn about Korea’s emigration and open port history at the Museum of Korea Emigration History. * Current State of Wolmi Special Tourist Zone 1) Districts Covered: Areas around Yeonan, Shinheung, Bukseong, Dongincheon and Sinpo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 2) Area: 3,000,898㎡ * Tourist Attractions Incheon Port, Wolmi Park, Wolmi Observation Platform, The Museum of Korea Emigration History, Art Museum, Chinatown, Modern Open Port and Sinpo Culture Street, Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village, etc.