Travel/Culture List

The Yeolsoe Observation Deck, located in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, is positioned so that North Korea can be viewed easily at a glance and will play an important roll in the progress of unification. To increase security education and to appease homesickness, the Yeolsoe Observation Deck was built on April 11, 1998 and is open to the public. After the army conducts a simple check, the barricade is cleared and the path to the observation platform opens. Although verdant green landscape of the North can be seen as soon as you reach the observation platform, photography is banned at this point. Within the Yeolsoe Observatory is an exhibit of North Korean daily products and military equipment that allows viewers to catch a glimpse into North Korean life and around the observatory are churches and other various religious facilities for visitors to pray for a peaceful reunification. Yeolsoe Observatory, located right on the Southern Limit Line, helps us feel the pain of separation and acts as a constant reminder to the current generations of the importance of unity and peace.The guardrail that runs along the barbed wire fence is laden with many ribbons that hold the hopes and desires of the tourists that visit the DMZ. “Peaceful Unity”, “Our wish is unification”, “We must become united” are just a few of the messages written on the countless number of ribbons that seem to relay the sentiments to the people across the DMZ.

Muchangpo Beache Palace Spa has a variety of facilities including Spa Santorino, a couple’s spa, a therapeutic foot massage spa, a pine tree leaf spa, a rooibos spa, an outdoor swimming pool (1.2m deep, 25m long), sun beds, and beach parasols.The pine tree spa is good for boosting blood circulation, relieving nerve pain, and reducing stress, while the rooibos spa is said to reduce pain, fever, and allergy symptoms. 

Located between Choseong-ri Station and Jeongok Station, Hantangang Station is a railway station that started operating on June 28, 1975 as a temporary station. Some tourist attractions near Hantangang Station include Hantangang River Resort, the Paleolithic Historic Site. Near the entrance to Hantangang Railway Bridge, one can see the Monument for the Korean War's UN Forces, and the 38th parallel boundary stone.

Jecheon Oriental Medicine Expo Park is an educational, cultural and recreational space that promotes hanbang (traditional Korean medicine). The park's facilities include the Hanbang Life Science Center, Fermentation Museum, a medicinal herb sales and exhibition center, and a hanu plaza. Visitors can also take part in the many hanbang-related programs and activities available.

Located in the southern part of Mireukdo Island, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Dara Park was originally named for its resemblance to the tusk of an elephant. The currently means "A vista point for a view of the moon." On the path to the park is Gwanghaejeong Pavilion, which has an broad view of Hallyeohaesang National Park offers a prime location to watch the sunset.

Jinhae Station was completed on November 11, 1926, as a stop on the light rail train connecting Samnangjin and Masan. The initial purpose of building Jinhae Station was to transport military supplies. However, it has now changed character to become more of a tourist-friendly attraction, renowned for being one of the best spots to view the blooming of spring flowers. Every year in April and May, crowds gather near the station to enjoy Jinhae Gunhangje Festival and showers of beautiful flower petals. Besides being a popular place for sightseeing, the station is also dubbed as a transportation hub strong on industrial, maritime, and port activities.

The Jeju Mysterious Road, also known as Dokkaebi Road, lies on a hill at the foot of a mountain, and connects two major highways on Jejudo Island. It has earned its name, as objects and liquid appear to roll and flow up the hill instead of down, when, in fact, such image of gravity defiance is an optical illusion rendered by the seemingly high surroundings.

If you begin at Seorak-dong in Oeseorak, cross the Biryong Bridge and pass by the Biryong Falls, you will reach Yukdam Falls (육담폭포), which actually consist of six waterfalls and a pond. Despite the fact that only a small amount of water actually flows in these waterfalls today, what is interesting, is how they came into existence: a slow-flowing stream of water eroded the rocks, creating dips and puddles at various levels, which later became a series of cascading waterfalls. The splendid scenery around the waterfalls is always a pleasing sight to the eyes of visitors.  

Located in the eco-village of Husan-ri (in Damyang, Jeollanam-do Province), Myeongokheonrimwon Garden was the garden of Oh Hui-do (1583~1623) of the Joseon Dynasty and served as a simple, countryside sanctuary where the scholar read and wrote many books. Main features of the garden are the Myeongokheon pavilion, where the scholar held lectures, and the square-shaped pond in front of the pavilion that is surrounded with graceful flowering trees.‘Myeongokhen’ (the name of the pavilion) is the word for the sound jade beads make when they softly clink together; it describes the sound of the water lapping gently along the banks of the pond. The flowering trees around the pond include red pines and crape myrtles and beside the creek is a large rock engraved with ‘鳴玉軒癸丑,’ Chinese characters meaning ‘Myeongokheongyechuk.’On the right side of Myeongokheonrim Garden you’ll see a 300 year-old ginkgo tree, which is where King Injo (1623~1649) of the Joseon Dynasty tied his horse when he went to visit Oh Hui-do. Myeongokheonrim Garden is as beautiful as Soswaewon Garden and in 2009 was designated as Scenic Beauty No.58. 

Deogyusan Mountain was designated as Korea's 10th National Park in 1975, along with Odaesan Mountain.  To the east is Gayasan Mountain, the west Naejangsan Mountain, the south Jirisan Mountain, and to the north Gyeryongsan and Songninsan Mountains. The auto campsite, located inside Deogyusan National Park, has a clean and organized surroundings due to the divided grass-covered sections.