Travel/Culture List

'Nangye Hall of Korean Classical Music' opened in 1987 in Yeongdong (Chungcheongbuk-do). The 2-story building has 496 seats and a performance hall, exhibition center, powder room, projection booth and sound box. The center holds over 50 cultural events annually including the ‘Yeongdong Nangye Gugak Festival’ and is visited by traditional music enthusiasts. The area is also home to Yeongdong’s dried persimmon production and promotes the local specialty through a number of diverse interactive programs at the center. These programs include playing Korean traditional musical instruments and a hands-on experience with dried persimmon fruit.

Located in the Eastern part of Taebaeksan mountain range, Micheongol Recreational Forest is known for its rich forest where the natural ecology is well preserved. In secluded areas, thick stands of trees rise, and clean valleys have been undisturbed by human activity, providing breathtaking scenery. The forest is also home to Seollimwonji, a cultural asset of the Silla period (BC57~AD935), the Bulbaragi mineral springs, and a honeybee yard. While offering an experience in both culture and nature, one can tour Micheongol on foot or while riding a mountain bike. As accommodations in the forest offer only bedding, visitors must make sure to bring toilet articles, cooking utensils, and tableware. Prices range between 30,000 and 50,000 won. To get there, take a bus for Yangyang at the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal. In Yangyang, take a local bus for Galcheon and get off at the entrance to Micheongol. Walk up about 2 kilometers and you will see the entrance to Micheongol Recreational Forest.

Gongjaksan Mountain (887m), home to Sutasa Temple, gives visitors a bird’s-eye view of Hongcheon, named for its resemblance to a peacock proudly displaying its tail feathers. From the bottom, Gongjaksan Mountain looks like a giant laying on his back, looking up to the sky. The mountain offers elegant azaleas in spring, beautiful fall foliage, majestic cliffs with unusual rocks, colonies of pine trees, and a serene snowscape in winter.Sutasa Valley, stretching over 12km between Sutasa Temple and Nocheon-ri, is full of large ponds and broad bedrocks and is flanked by rocky cliffs and pine groves.Located among the foothills, Sutasa Temple is an ancient temple built by Monk Wonhyo in 708 A.D. The temple boasts numerous cultural properties including the gabled roof of Daejeokgwangjeon, a bronze bell (circa 1364), a three-tiered pagoda, and Wolinseokbo (a biography of Buddha, National Treasure No.745). 

Bongsudae Beach is located north of Sampo Beach and the white-sand coastline stretches along the side of National Road No.7. The campsite for motor homes attracts many motor-tourists. Since the beach was not accessible to the public before 1997, it is still rather new and clean, and many visitors comment on its cleanliness upon their first impression. Sampo Koresco Resort is located along the seashore, and visitors can easily enjoy the 800-meter stretch of pristine beach at Bongsudae.

Tancheon Stream originates in Yongin-si, flowing through Seongnam-si and finally into the Hangang River. The stream is under the jurisdiction of the local government and has a 302㎢ drainage area and stretches 35.6km in length. Roughly 25km is located in the heart of Seongnam-si.

Lohas Garden & WacaPuca is an eco-themed park located 700 meters above sea level in the highlands of Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province. Sitting in the most beautiful national forest of Phyeongchang ( Total area 3,305,785㎡ Structural area 396,694㎡), Lohas Garden offers the most natural scenic views in Korea.

First opened in June 2004, Yanggu Eco-Botanical Garden was built on a total area of 189,141㎡. 3.1 billion Korean won (approximately 3 million USD) was spent on the construction and it was built to be developed into a South and North Korean ecosystem restoration center. Located in the northernmost region of South Korea, it houses more than 400 rare plants including plants that are Korean native species and protected by Korean Ministry of Environment. The garden is divided into six parts by their features including Botanical garden, Natural forest, and facilities zone. In the Botanical garden, rare plants such as northern native plants and alpine plants that are naturally grown in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and Yanggu area are displayed in one place. There are also walking trails, a medicinal plants exhibition hall, a plant nursery, and a greenhouse. In order to supplement the shortcomings of the botanical garden, which is a static atmosphere, a mountain stream zone and wetlands zone were prepared to provide people with the chance to enjoy the pleasant sound of running water. * Total area: 189,141㎡ * Plants that are Korean native species and protected by Korean Ministry of Environment in the garden: Geumgang Chorongkkot (금강초롱꽃 (Diamond bluebell, scientific name: Hanabusaya asiatica Nakai) Kkaengkkaengipul 깽깽이풀 (Asian Twin Leaf, scientific name: Jeffersonia dubia) Gaeneusam 개누삼 (scientific name: Echinosophora koreensi) * Other rare plants in the garden: Sankkoripul 산꼬리풀 (scientific name: Veronica rotunda var. subintegra) Jebidongjakkot 제비동자꽃 (scientific name: Lychnis wilfordii) Somdari 솜다리 (scientific name: Leontopodium coreanum) Geummatari 금마타리 (scientific name: Patrinia saniculaefolia) Norangmunuibutkkot 노랑무늬붓꽃 (Korean Iris, scientific name: Iris odaesanensis) Haneulmaebaltop 하늘매발톱 (scientific name: Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila) Solchekkot 솔체꽃 (Mansenese morning bridge, scientific name: Scabiosa Scabiosa mansenensis) Byeongjohoepul 병조회풀 (scientific name: Clematis heracleifolis)