Travel/Culture List

In the early 1960s people would cross the Hangang River from Ttukseom Ferry Dock and arrive in Cheongdam-dong, which is now one of the more ritzy areas of Seoul. Though highly developed, there is still an area that is relatively untouched and that is the small Cheongdam Park. The park is quite crowded in the morning with people who exercise and offers a resting place to enjoy the fresh air thanks to many trees in the park. The park spans over 59,347 ㎡.

The indoor ice-skating rink is located on the first floor basement of Korea University in Anam-dong in the Seongbuk-gu district of Seoul. This Olympic size rink welcomes guests all year long.

CGV Myeongdong Station is a multiplex cinema located on the 10th & 11th floor of Tabby Shopping Mall. The shopping mall is directly linked to Myeongdong Station. CINUS Myeongdong is relatively small in scale with 6 cinemas, but it has a unique, sophisticated interior design. Its walls are made entirely from glass and so offer panoramic views of Mt. Namsan and Myeongdong shopping towns. Visitors, therefore, feel as if they are in a sky lounge. Also, the screening halls are all equipped with a special air purification system. This system even has an aromatherapy effect, so audiences can enjoy movies in a clean and refreshing environment. The theater is located in Myeongdong, Korea’s shopping and cultural center, so audiences can enjoy shopping and live performances after watching a movie.

Samnak Riverside Sports Park is a civic park located in Samnak-dong, Sasang-gu, Busan. The 1,430,000-pyeong park has facilities for 12 different sports activities as well as a grass square, wildflower complex, natural wetland area, bike path, walking course, and cultural grounds. The park is also a popular venue for performances, concerts, and public sporting events. Family visitors can often be found at the acupressure walkway and wildflower garden, while the 17,000-pyeong canola field is most frequented by tourists. Easily accessible via public transportation, the park also offers a spacious parking lot.  

The National Theater of Korea was opened in 1950 as the first national theater in Asia. The theater is the base of operations for four performance groups: the National Drama Company, the National Changgeuk Company, the National Dance Company, and the National Orchestra Company. By supporting these performance troupes, the National Theater strives to globalize Korean traditional arts, modifying select pieces to reach a larger audience.

Since its foundation in 1986, the museum has displayed historical relics related to kimchi, different types of kimchi, mock-ups of the kimchi-making process, and information about the efficacy derived from the kimchi fermentation process. The museum now has changed its name to Kimchikan and has relocated to Insa-dong, a center of hallyu. Kimchikan aims to provide visitors with fun hands-on activities and a variety of information on kimchi. Visitors will learn about the origin and history of kimchi through historical books, paintings, and writings. Various types of kimchi containers, along with traditional kitchen utensils that were used to prepare it, will also be introduced. Various models show specific types of kimchi that were developed in regions all over Korea.

Achasanseongseong Fortress boasts magnificent views of the Hangang River and skyline. The 200m-high mountain fortress wall was built to face southeast, towards the Hangang River. It is also called Janghan-seong or Gwangjang-seong. A fierce battle was once fought here among Gogury, Baekjae and Silla because of its strategic location during the period of the Three Kingdoms. King Gae-Ro of Baekje (reign 455 ~475) died in the war by the Goguryeo forces sent by King Jang-Su (reign 413 ~ 491) and General Ondal of Goguryeo was also killed in a battle with the Silla army in 590.Mt. Achasan is popular as a citizens’ resting place with a historical trail and a natural park including various facilities such as walkway, mountain walkway, a badminton court, a wrestling range, an archery range, various amusement facilities for children, benches, and pavillion.

Hanok Homestay Information Center was opened in the famous Bukchon Hanok Village by the Jongno-gu District Office to promote 'hanok tourism' in Seoul. The center spans over a lot area of 102.5㎡, with a total floor area of 52.05㎡. At the center, professional staff are working to offer hanok homestay reservation services, interpretation services and traditional cultural programs, a resting place for all visitors, and tourism information throughout the Jongno area, including Bukchon.The information center is divided into three sections: Information, Exhibition & Experience, and Daecheong. The Information section offers reservation services, operates hanok homestay program and introduces the features of hanok and available traditional culture program for hands-on activities. The Exhibition & Experience area is the venue for trying on hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) or ancient royal clothing as a traditional experience.

Take a look down Chuncheon’s most famous side street and you will find out what the area’s most popular food is. The name of the food is dakgalbi, spicy stir-fried chicken with vegetables. The other famous food of this region is makguksu, cold buckwheat noodles. This side street is Chuncheon’s most famous shopping street. Locals refer to this street as the Myeong-dong of Chuncheon.*(Myeong-dong is a famous shopping district in the capital city of Seoul.)Dakgalbi is prepared by marinating chopped chicken in spicy red pepper paste with peppery seasoning for about one day. Cabbage, green onions, sweet potatoes, and cylinder shaped rice cakes are then added and the ingredients are all placed in a large cast iron pan. The mixture is then typically stir-fried at the table. These days many people prefer the boneless option. Dakgalbi can be enjoyed on its own or wrapped in lettuce leaves for a fresh, crunchy taste. After most of the Dakgalbi has been eaten, rice is then stir-fried with the remaining sauce in the pan. This dish is ordered according to the number of people eating. Large quantities are usually given, so if you go with three people it is recommended to order Dakgalbi for two.For years, the Chuncheon region has been well known for its abundant poultry farms. The famous shopping street in Chuncheon started out with only 2~3 dakgalbi restaurants. Now there are currently around 25.Due to the close proximity of the restaurants, the prices are almost identical.

Sanbangsan Mountain Hot Springs is a rare carbon hot spring, and the first public hot spring in Jeju, situated in the center of three islands (Marado, Gapodo, and Hyeongjedo) and five mountains (Hallasan, Sanbangsan, Gunsan, Songaksan, and Dansan). In May 2004, it was designated a site for protection as a hot springs source (Jeju Notice No. 2004-12). Gumyeongsu, a hot springs public bath, opened on the site, spanning 11,111 square meters, housed in a 3,300-square-meter building with an estimated 1,000-person capacity. Sanggoji is the on-site restaurant, and means "rainbow" in the local dialect. Carbon hot springs are known to have health benefits for the heart, as carbonic acid gas is absorbed in the skin, stimulating capillary vessels and expanding blood vessels. This enhances blood circulation, lowering blood pressure and reducing the burden on the heart.