Travel/Culture List

Daejeon National Cemetery covers a vast area of land spanning around 330,000㎡. The cemetery is comprised of graves for the deceased patriots, men of national merit, generals, officers, soldiers, etc. Major facilities include the Memorial Tower and Memorial Gate for paying reverence to the patriotic spirits, Patriotic Spirit Exhibition Center displaying photos and articles left by the deceased, and an outdoor exhibition space, where military battle equipments are on display. Other facilities within the cemetery grounds include fountains, statues, sculptures, pavilions, and Hyeonchungji, which is a man-made pond in the shape of the Korean peninsula. The cemetery is well kept with ample rest areas against the backdrop of the beautiful natural landscape.

Cheokpanam Hermitage was initially built in 673 by a monk named Wonhyo, whose legend is still passed down, and was restored in 1938 by another monk named Gyeongheo. Nestled inside the forest on Bulgwangsan Mountain, the hermitage offers a splendid view of the its surroundings. It is located nearby Jangansa Temple, also built by Wonhyo.

Sido Island is located 5km south of Ganghwado Island, 3km to the east of Jangbongdo Island, and is neighbored by Sindo and Ttiseom islands to the east and west respectively. It is connected to Sindo Island via Yeondogyo, a 579 meter-long bridge that was constructed in 1992. Sido is also known as ‘Salseom Island’ and ‘Hwasalseom,’ which means ‘arrow’ in Korean. It is said that during the late years of the Goryeo Dynasty, the military (then led by famous generals Choi Yeong and Yi Seong-Gye) practiced archery at the foot of Mt. Manisan while using the island as the main target. Since many earthenware and shell instruments were excavated from Sido, it is believed that the island has been inhabited ever since the Neolithic era. The island has unique topographical features. Wide tidelands can be found on all sides and to the north and south, there are rocky coasts and low hills. The central area is comprised of flat fields filled with oak trees bearing acorns and the more mountainous areas are dotted with pines and oak saplings. Residents here work primarily as a fishermen and farmers. The island is famous for its high-quality grapes and octopus and shellfish that are caught from the islands wide tidal flats.  

Manhangjae Hill is located at the point where three areas (Gohan-eup in Jeongseon-gun, Sangdong-eup in Yeongwol-gun, and Taebaek-si) in Gangwon-do all meet. Manhangjae refers to the area where the slope of Hambaeksan Mountain (1,567m, South Korea's 6th highest mountain) rests for a while before going down towards Tabaeksan Mountain (1,172m). In Korea, this is the highest mountain path accessible to motor vehicles. When driving to Manhangjae at night, one can see stars right above one's head.

Pungam Reservoir was originally built in 1956 for agriculture, but was turned into a park in 1999 as part of the pilot program for developing parks nationwide. It is a popular resting area featuring traditional pavilions and wooden bridges.

Located five kilometers northwest of Cheorwon-gun Office, Sundam (순담계곡) is one of the most beautiful valleys among the branches of the Hantangang River (한탄강). It offers diverse views of fascinating rock-formations, steep cliffs and ponds. The valley is filled with abundant water, trimmed by rare naturally white sand. Also, the stream behind the valley attracts many rafters each year.

The city of Bupyeong is surrounded by Gyeyangsan Mountain, Cheolmasan Mountain, and Manwolsan Mountain, which all form a basin-shaped area in the center. Bupyeong slowly began to establish itself as a city after the opening of Gyeongin railway and the U.S. Army base established right after the Korean War.Sinteuri Park in Bupyeong 4(sa)-dong neighborhood is equipped with outdoor recreational facilities including a soccer field, tennis court, badminton court, children’s playground, walking trail, and water fountain, spanning an impressive 58,594㎡. It also has a library with 1,500 seats, and a floor area of 7,869㎡. The park serves as a main recreational area for Bupyeong-area residents.

Seolbongsan Mountain (설봉산, 394 m) dominates the western portion of Icheon City. It has also been called Bugaksan Mountain and Muhaksan Mountain since the mountain resembles a crane with its wings spread open. Although the mountain is not rugged and maintains a well kept walking trail, it has many intriguing rock formations. There are as many as eight natural springs from which clear water gushes, and there are also Buddhist temples and relics scattered across the mountain. There are other attractions to see and enjoy as well, such as Seolbong Park, which was established at the opening of the World Ceramic Exhibition, as well as the municipal museum.

At the foot of Woraksan Mountain lies Songgye Valley in Jecheon. Here, crystal-clear waters flow through the rocks scattered througout the valley. From here, visitors can see Worak Yeongbong Peak, Jayeondae, Wolgwang Falls, Haksodae, Mangpodae, Sugyeongdae, Pallangso, and many more.  

Situated in Taejongdae Park, Yeongdo-gu, Busan-si, the Yeongdo Lighthouse was established in December 1906 and provided a guiding beacon of light to ships around Busan Port for over 100 years. The old lighthouse was replaced with a new one in 2004 and facilities were developed, making the site a maritime tourist attraction. The newly established site (720㎡) consists of a lighthouse, an art gallery, and a gallery of natural history. The white cylinder-shaped lighthouse is 35 meters high and its beam can be seen for about 40 kilometers. On Sinseon Bawi Rock next to the lighthouse, a dinosaur footprint was discovered that is presumed to date back to the Cretaceous Period. The footprint, along with other artifacts, is on display at the natural history gallery.