Travel/Culture List

Originally, no name was given to this mountain on topographical maps. But in 1973, when the Empor Alpine Club reached the mountain during a hike across the nation, the club members named it after Jin Yu-myeong, a member of the expedition. On old maps, the mountain had been called Mayusan Mountain because of the horses raised in the area, but today it is more widely known as Yumyeongsan Mountain. The trail that starts from Yangpyeong leads to an expansive and open grassland. The hiking trails are also connected to those of Mount Daebusan and Mount Sogunisan. On the summit, there is a pile of stones, and the view from the top is splendid.

One of the magnificent sights here is the breathtaking combination of bizarre rocks and the stratified bluffs of Deungdaeseom (Lighthouse Island) and Somaemuldo Island. At low tide, one can walk from one island the other. Yong Bawi (Dragon Rock), Buchudae Bawi (Buddha Rock), Geobuk Bawi (Turtle Rock), Chotdae Bawi (Candlestick Rock) and Geulssingi Cave are absolute masterpieces created by Mother Nature. Another must-see is the view of Somaemuldo Island from Deungdaeseom Island. From there, the rock formations look like a sitting dinosaur. Nammae Bawi (brother and sister rock) is made up of two rocks, one at the top and the other at the bottom. The name of the rock was inspired by a folk tale of a twin brother and sister. The upper rock is also known as Sut Bawi (charcoal rock) as it is bigger and darker than the other, while the bottom one is called Am Bawi. Maemuldo Island's name originated from the fact that the area was one of the largest producers of maemul (buckwheat). Somaemuldo Island was named as such since it is a small island sitting right next to Maemuldo Island. In 1904, The Kims from Gimhae moved to the island from the mainland as they heard that the island was so abundant in food that no one would starve. The Kims settled here and established a whole village. A growing number of visitors come to the island every year to enjoy the picturesque view of the island. * Composition: 1 main island, 2 islets * Area: 330,000㎡ (including islets)

Chilbosan Mountain Natural Recreation Forest is located near mountains and the sea. The observatory offers a great place to watch the sunrise over the East Sea and is particularly packed during New Year’s Day. Two trekking courses on Chilbosan Mountain and Deungunsan Mountain are opened for hiking lovers and a water park site which utilizes water from valley. Its regional festivals held in the area of Chilbosan Mountain Natural Recreation Forest are Yeongdeok Sunrise Festival, Yeongdeok Snow Crab Festival and more.

Soyangho Lake (소양호) is a man-made lake that was created when Soyang Dam, the biggest rock-filled dam in Asia, was built in 1973. The lake is a hotspot for marine tourism and the lakeside road is an important route that connects Chuncheon and Yanggu. You can travel overland for an hour to get to the dam or take the Kwaeryongho Boat (쾌룡호), a hovercraft that operates regularly on Soyang Lake, and get there in 30 minutes. The hovercraft travels by ejecting air against the surface below, sending up a spray of water on either side of the boat to the delight of passengers. Once you are in the valley, you can see fish farms floating among the islets. When the water level is high, you can travel on the lake all the way to Inje and Sinnam enjoying the beautiful scenery of Naeseorak. Both tourists and locals regularly make use of the ferry service.

 Daegullyeong Village is a tourist complex located in Gangwondo Gangneung-si, and provides visitors with a host of various traditional experiences, sporting events, and lodging accommodations. The village of 'Daegullyeong' got its name from the series of 832m ‘Daegwallyeong’ ridges that stretch along the bordering regions of Gangneung and Pyeongchang. Although the mountain ridges present rigorous passages with 99 turns, the area is popular as it boasts magnificent scenery.  Daegullyeong Village boasts the beautiful Daegwallyeong ridges and clear waters of the valleys in the mountain villages where tourists can take in the spectacular views of Bogwang 1(il)-ri, Bogwang 2(yi)-ri, and Eoheul-ri. The local specialties include the traditional doenjang (soybean paste), various soy and bean pastes, corn, traditional fermented soybeans, potatoes, and vegetables. Visitors can stay at any number of pensions in the area, then take a tour around a traditional soy and bean paste factory and participate in various experience programs such as soy and bean paste making, straw arts and crafts, folk games, and traditional performances.

Geommeolle Beach is a very small beach, reaching only about 100m in total length, with a name literally translating to "black sand" in Jeju dialects. The nearly all-grey beach will look strange at first, but soon visitors eyes will adjust and they will begin to pick out where the cliff and rocks end and the sandy shore begins, all in various shades of grey. It is very tiny in size but a charmingly attractive destination for both travelers wanting some quiet time and extreme sports-enthusiasts seeking fun maritime activities along the seashore. The place also displays an amazing view of the sunrise over the Jeju sea, making the beach a destination worth visiting.

Sujongsa Temple is visited heavily by both the believers of the religion as well as average people who enjoy hiking, owing to its mild condition of trekking route reaching about a little over 600 meters, and its convenient location from Seoul. Nestled in Joan-myeon of Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, the temple has a commending view over Bukhangang River, which is rated to have one of the top magnificent views. Thanks to this geological reason, visitors here can hear clearer sounds of bell ringing from the temple, and the soothing water streaming down the mountain peaks and valley. It is no coincident that the place was named after this define sound-effect, thus called sujong, which directly translates into 'water-bell.' There is another folklore that has been passed down for generations, with regards to the origin of the temple's name. When King Sejo (1417-1468) was returning from the Geumgangsan Mountain trip, he stayed a night in the current Yangsu-ri region, and had heard the bell ring from afar. On the next day, he had his courtiers to look for the bell-ringing source but only ended up finding a cave, where water falling from the cave's ceiling has been making the the supposed 'bell-ringing' sound. Besides the discovery of the cave, King Sejo also found 18 small Buddha statues. To commemorate the excavation, the king ordered to construct a temple at the very site. Visitors will not be able to see these valuables on-site currently, but still be able to enjoy beautiful sights of Ungilsan Mountain and learn some historical facts. The artifacts from the temple site are now managed by and exhibited at the National Museum of Korea. Although the exact date of the temple's foundation has not been proven yet, experts estimated the period to be during the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

Mt. Eungbongsan (998.5m, 응봉산) in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do is shaped like a hawk soaring into the sky. Therefore, it is also called, ‘Mt. Maebongsan.’ Even though it is not very tall, the terrain is steep and rough. This mountain has the only open-air spa in Korea, and because the hiking trail is only partially developed, it still retains its unspoiled beauty. But, due to the scenic landscape and hot spring, Mt. Eungbongsan has become more popular. It borders Mt. Tonggosan in the southwest, Deokgu Valley in the east and Gusugok Valley in the southeast. Also, Uljin Geumgangsong Natural Forest is found in the upper part of Deok Valley and Gusugok Valley while Mountain Goat (a natural monument) can be observed on the valley cliff to the southeast. This mountain also borders Samcheok, Gangwon-do in the northwest. The mountain peak offers a great view of the Donghae Sea and spectacular sunrises. You can also visit a nearby hot spring, beach, Gusugok Recreational Forest and Jukbyeon Port.  

Located in Namwon, the birthplace of gugak (Korean classical music), the Chunhyang Culture & Art Center was established to preserve and promote the cultural asset, while providing spaces for art and culture.

Dongho Beach (동호해수욕장) is located south of Gomsoman Bay, between the Byeonsan Peninsula of Buan and Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do. Skirting the 1km-long white sandy beach lies a green forest with pine trees hundreds of years old. The sunset viewed from the forest is particularly eye-catching as the soft pink from the falling sun covers the sky. The water just offshore is relatively shallow, varying in depth between 0.5 and 1.5 m. The high salt content in the seawater makes it an ideal place for sea and sand bathing. On the hill above the Haesong forest is Suseongdang, a temple honoring the God of the Sea, where the local fishermen gather each year to pray for big catches.