Travel/Culture List

Jeoksangsan Mountain (적상산, elevation 1,034 m) in Muju, Jeollabuk-do, is surrounded by precipitous walls of stratified rocks. The basin on the mountain top there is a lake called ‘Jeoksangho’; and along the ridge enclosing the lake stands Jeoksangsanseong Fortress (적상산성) extending over 8,143 m. During the Goryeo period the region was a place of refuge for civilians at times of war. The fortress wall was built during the Joseon era.

Digital Pavilion is a space for IT companies to market their company and product. I City is a futuristic city that has streets, schools, culture, and lifestyle of the future. In the ICT center, visitors can learn about the fundamentals of ICT technology in a fun way.

Naru Arts Center is a performing arts theater complex dedicated to contributing to the cultural and artistic development of Korea by offering a variety of quality programs. The arts center consists of a main 700-seat theater and a smaller 200-seat theater for staging performances of such varied genres as classical music, gugak (traditional Korean music), jazz, dance, musical show, and more. The center also makes efforts to develop quality educational programs in the field of culture and arts. Moreover, it keeps a low-price policy in order to reach a greater audience and provide more opportunities to enjoy fine performances.

Unmunsan Mountain (1,118 meters) is one of the seven mountains rising over 1,000 meters above sea level in the Yeongnam Alps in the Taebaeksanmaek Mountain Range. Unmunsan Mountain features dense groves, attracting a large number of hikers. From the summit, one can get a great view of the golden reeds on Cheonhwangsan Mountain to the south, and the ridges of Gajisan Mountain to the east. There are various sized temples and hermitages on the mountain, nestled among a splendid landscape. Unmunsa Temple is situated at the foot of the mountain on the northern side. It was built by Sinseung in the 18th year of the reign of King Jinheung (557) of the Silla Kingdom. Though some buildings burned down during the Imjin War, the Obaengnahanjeon Hall and Gwaneumjeon Hall have been preserved in their original state. The dense groves of pine trees and fir trees add to the tranquility of the beautiful scenery. In the temple, seven treasures are kept, including the stone lantern (Treasure no. 193) in front of Geumdang Hall. The historic relics date back to the Silla Kingdom and Goryeo Dynasty.

Surisan Mountain (수리산), a provincial park of Gyeonggi Province, surrounds Gunpo City and is easily accessible as it can be reached in about one hour from anywhere in the Seoul metropolitan area. Grand old trees that range from 100 to 300 years old make for picturesque scenery. The mountain is also an important ecological zone, inhabited by many species of flowers and butterflies that are only found in Korea, along with many endangered species of animals and plants. Meanwhile, the value of areas such as Bat Ridge along Taeeul Peak, Seulgi Peak, Surisa Temple, or Wind Hill in Sokdal-dong are all immeasurable for their natural scenery.

Hyangchon Cultural Center, opened in Oct. 30, 2014, renovated an old Commercial Bank-Daegu branch, to promote the revitalization of local economy at a slow economical period. During the refugee period in the 1950s, Hyangchon-dong served as a hometown to many cultural artists. The cultural center replicated the old looks of Hyangchon-dong, making the cultural space even more special. Moreover, on the basement of the building, is the original location and still running "Nokhyang", the oldest classical music hall in nation, which opened in 1946. 

Gimcheon World Porcelain Museum (김천세계도자기박물관) is located at the entrance to Jikjisa Temple. Nearly 1,000 artifacts, including western porcelain and crystal donated by the Korean-Japanese Bokjeonyeongja (복전영자) are on display. You will encounter refined, elegant porcelain from all over the world including Wedgwood, Meissen, and Royal Copenhagen, as well as famous Korean porcelain.

Located in the administrative district of Wonri-ri, Seokbo-myeon, Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Doodle Village's name means ‘village on a hill’ in Korean. In 1640, Simyeong Lee who used the pen name Seokgye, decided to build the village as an escape during the second Manchu invasion in Korea. His descendants, the family of Jaeryeong Lee have lived and continued to build up the village since his settlement. In the year 1899 during the Joseon Dynasty, Gwangjewon, the national hospital back then, was also established nearby. After the last syllable of Gwangjewon, the village was also called Wondoodle or Wonri The village master, Seokgye, lived in his own house called Seokgye Gotaek (old Hanok house) and Seokgye Seodang, a private learning institute where he taught his students. The village also treasures many cultural heritages including 30 houses, a memorial stone for Madam Jang's first cookbook written in Hangul and Gwangsan Literature Laboratory, set up by famous writer Lee Mun-yeol. Hwamaecheon Stream wraps around the village and on the rocky cliff hugging the stream, the fourth son of Master Seokgye set up Dongdae, Seodae, Nakgidae, and Sesimdae. The village was designated as a cultural village in 1994 by the government.

Chilyeon Valley is situated behind Tongan Village (Anseong-myeon) in Deokyusan (or Mt. Deokyu). While not as famous as Muju Gucheondong, the valley boasts a beautiful array of waterfalls, odd-shaped rocks, and ponds. Its best known attraction is Chilyeon Falls, meaning “seven falls connected to ponds.” There, pure water falls gently, moving from one pond to the next.

Located in Musil-dong, Wonju in Gangwon-do, Wonju Hanji Theme Park offers hands-on activities, educational materials and exhibitions related to hanji, traditional Korean paper, and its history. The 1st floor is dedicated to the history of hanji, including how it was invented and distributed along with presentation of remaining artifacts of hanji. Visitors will not only be able to learn the history of hanji, but will also get a glimpse of how the life was like in the past. On one side of Hanji History Exhibition Hall is an exhibition of various hanji artworks, such as Jiseung Fan by Na Seo-hwan, Manchu by Sobin, and Jumchi Armor by Hanji Development Institute. The Jumchi Armor is made using the jumchi technique, where hanji are layered on top of each other using water for adhesiveness, resulting in rocky and thick surface unlike regular hanji. Hanji that has gone through jumchi technique is light but has a strong enough surface to be arrow-proof and therefore it was often used as a material to make armory or winter outfits. The next exhibition hall, Hanji Media Hall, presents media works such as hanji related movies, documentaries, etc., as well as stories of hanji and the history of Wonju Hanji Theme Park. The 2nd floor is a special exhibition room prepared for hanji or paper related exhibitions. After the tour of the two exhibition halls, visitors can participate in hands-on activities. The two main activities offered by Wonju Hanji Theme Park are Hanji Making Experience and Hanji Craft Activity.