Travel/Culture List

China Town, which is located across the street from Busan Station, is also known as Shanghai Street. In 1884, Busan established ties with Shanghai in China and developed a Chinese community by building a Chinese school, residences and a consulate in the area. In this Chinese-style street you can see the Shanghai Gate established by both Busan City and Shanghai City. Mainly packed with many Chinese restaurants, China Town attracts Korean, Chinese as well as many foreign tourists.

The Seoul Folk Flea Market is located around the Cheonggyecheon Stream's Hwanghakgyo Bridge and Sinseol-dong Station and is on its way to becoming a famous tourist attraction along with the already famous Cheonggyeocheon Stream. The Seoul Folk Flea Market is one of the major folk flea markets preserving the culture of the traditional Korean marketplace and drawing in visitors with a range of folk items that embody the unique charm of Korea. Folk items include everyday items, souvenirs, traditional goods and even traditional foods, allowing visitors to enjoy shopping and eating all under the same roof.The Seoul Folk Flea Market originated from the flea market in Hwanghak-dong where many street shops and vendors gathered around the Cheonggyecheon Stream before it was restored and modernized into its current state. The market was relocated to the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (Formerly Dongdaemun Stadium) while the Cheonggyecheon Stream was undergoing restorations, and was moved back to Cheonggyecheon Stream sometime later. Seoul City aims to market the Seoul Folk Flea Market as a new shopping spot at its current location, the former site of Sungin Women’s Middle School on Cheonggyeo 8-ga Street, near Cheonggyeocheon Stream to develop the Korean representative folk flea market related tourism industry.The main items of the Seoul Folk Flea Market include a diverse folk items, traditional crafts, local specialties and fashion items. You may also enjoy a range of food and snacks including traditional Korean food and fusion cuisine from all over the world. What is special about the market is that you can find rare goods and authentic traditional items that cannot be found at other markets. The market atmosphere is a mix of old, revered traditions and modern aspects, providing visitors with a great shopping experience. The Seoul Folk Flea Market is truly a traditional flea market well worth visiting.

Gyeongju National Park is a bevy of cultural preserves dating back to the Silla Kingdom. Unlike the other parks located in the area, this park is segmented into individual districts. However, admission fee covers entry to the entire park because the districts are segmented for the government administration. Because Gyeongju itself is a historic city with many important historic sites and relics, Gyeongju is divided into 7 districts, and the park is divided accordingly. The Namsan area of Gyeongju is called the Namsan District. This is where many stone Buddhist statues, stone pagodas and about 100 temples sites are found. Here you can find Poseokjeong Pavillion, which was part of the living quarters the king had prepared outside of the palace for feasts. The Namsan District contains many relics spread about the area. You might feel like you took a ride on a time machine to a Buddhist temple of the past. Another district is the Tohamsan Mountain District. Here you will find the most famous tourist sites of Gyeongju, Bulguksa Temple. Bulguksa Temple was built in 535, during the reign of King Beopheung (514~540) of the Silla Kingdom and is located at the edge of Tohamsan Mountain. In front of Daeungjeon, there is Dabo Pagoda (10.4m high) to the east and the 3-story Seokga Pagoda (8.2m) to the west. These two pagodas are known as the most artistically constructed Korean stone pagodas, domestically and internationally. On the east side of Tohamsan Mountain is Seokguram, which is called the principal Korean Buddhist statuary. Within the Daebon District, a district of Gyeongju National Park, is King Munmu’s Sujungreung. Nearby the King Munmu’s Sujungreung Tomb there is the Gameunsaji 3-Story Stone Pagoda, which was built to honor King Munmu. In downtown Gyeongju there is a palace built on a half-moon shaped hill called Banwolseong and there is also the oldest stone relic in the east, called Cheomseongdae Observatory (9.2m high). Cheomseongdae Observatory was built and used as an astronomical observatory during the reign of Queen Seon-Deok (reigned 632~647). Between Cheomseongdae and Wolseong is the Gyerim Forest, where Kim Al-Ji (65~?), the progenitor of the Kim family, was born. The name Gyerim was also once used as the country name of Silla. Half a kilometer west of Cheomseongdae is Hwangnamdong where Jeonmachong is located. Anapji Pond, which was built to serve noble guests and where feasts were held, is also located in downtown Gyeongju. Gyeongju National Museum is located in Inwang-dong, Gyeongju, where the relics from 1,000 years of the Silla Kingdom are preserved.

Geomum Oreum, with an altitude of 456m, is located in Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si and refers to a parasitic volcano (also called Oreum in Jeju dialect).Geomun Oreum was created by volcanic activities between 100,000 and 300,000 years ago. Lava flow from the crater went along the coastal slope to the Northeast and formed a unique geographical feature called Seonheulgot. The lave flow also formed Bengdwigul Cave on the left side, and Manjanggul, Gimnyeonggul, Yongcheondonggul and Dangcheomuldonggul Caves on the right side. Each of these caves has its own unique features.Upon entering Geomun Oreum, visitors are met by a dense forest filled with Japanese cedar trees. Further along, visitors will see a deciduous broad-leaved forest, shrubbery, and an evergreen broad-leaved forest. Not only featuring various types of forests, Geomun Oreum is also a breeding place for local birds such as Brown-Eared Bulbul, Korean Bush Warbler, Varied Tit, Streptopelia Orientalis, White-Backed Woodpecker and migratory birds such as Fairy Pitta and Tricolor Flycatcher.After it was designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, many visitors has come to enjoy the area's trekking course and the ecological exploring area.Excluding Tuesdays, the trails are open from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM in 30 minute intervals. A reservation must be made in advance for this activity.※ Geomun Oreum Visitors Center: +82-64-784-0456 (Reservation must be made two days before visiting)

The city of Suwon established the Suwon Hwaseong Museum to present the history and culture of the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, an important Korean cultural asset and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.The museum has two permanent exhibition spaces: ‘The Exhibition Hall on Construction of Fortress’ (construction process of the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and the development of the city) and ‘The Cultural Center’ (illustrates various historical events related to the fortress such events held during the 8-day visit of King Jeongjo in 1795).In addition, the museum runs a ‘Children’s Experience Center,’ where children can learn ancient measurement systems, try on royal court costumes, and more. The Suwon Hawseong Museum not only displays relics from Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (one of Korea’s most impressive historical heritages); it also gives visitors an opportunity to experience and explore.

The Ahn Jung-geun Memorial Hall located in central Seoul showcases a collection of materials, personal belongings, and relics related to the independent movement activist Ahn Jung-geun’s. It also carries out memorial events to honor and remember the patriot. The two-story building that also has two underground floors consists of a memorial room, exhibition room, multimedia room and an auditorium. The memorial hall is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and visitors are allowed entrance up to one hour before closing.

[Gyeonggijeon Shrine; where the Portrait of King Taejo is preserved] Opened on November 6, 2010, the Royal Portrait Museum is one of the newest attractions of Jeonju, located within the Gyeonggijeon Shrine. Royal Portrait Museum is a valuable museum as a new tourism resource of Jeonju as well as Gyeonggijeon Shrine and the Portrait of King Taejo, as well as other various high-class exhibitions to preserve, manage, and enhance the glorious cultural assets of Joseon royal family. The museum is comprised of one above-ground level and one underground level with an area of 1,193.71 square meters. The Portrait of King Taejo and six other king’s portraits (Portrait of King Sejong, King Yeongjo, King Jeongjo, King Cheoljong, King Gojong, and King Sunjong) are exhibited on the first floor. The portraits are preserved in temperature- and humidity-controlled cases. In addition, the museum houses History Hall, Palanquin Hall, a planned exhibition hall, resting area, management office and storage room for relics. Palanquin Hall exhibits Hyangjeong (Palanquin for Incense Burner and Case), Sinyeon (Palanquin for Royal Portrait and Palanquin for Mortuary Tablet), Chaeyeo (Palanquin for High Officials), Gagyo (Palanquin for Ritual Items) featuring Korea’s sole preserved palanquin. History Hall houses approximately 80 relices related to Gyeonggijeon Shrine and Jogyeong Shrine, ancestral ritual ceremony, building, and others relics. Since the museum's opening, it makes continual efforts to become a central place for Jeonju residents to fulfill their cultural feelings. The museum operates various program like exploring famous historic sites in Gyeonggijeon Shrine, hands-on programs such as a guard experience to protect the shrine, and duplicating Gyeonggijeon Shrine’s relics using traditional portrait-making techniques.

The Uijae Museum of Korean Art was established in memory of the famous Korean artist Heo Baekryeon. Construction of the museum ended in December, 1999, but the museum wasn’t officially opened until November 17th, 2001. Built to mimic the curve of a gently sloping road, the museum’s unique design earned architect Jo Seongryong the 10th Korean Architecture Award the same year as the museum’s opening. Measuring 6,000㎡ (B1-2F) in size, the museum is comprised of two exhibition rooms, a storage facility, a seminar room, and a tea ceremony room for visitors.Since its opening, the Uijae Museum of Korean Art has hosted notable exhibitions and seminars such as the 2002 Biennale Project 2 International Symposium. Currently, the classic works of Heo Baekryeon and a photographic exhibition of the famed artist are on display.

Bosu-dong Book Street has a unique background. It was formed after the independence of Korea (August 15) as a residential area in the empty place where the previous Gukje Market was demolished. People started selling the books Japanese left behind, and later on, when it became a private area, book sellers moved to the current place to sell their books. When Busan became the provisional capital during the Korean War, refugees brought and sold their precious books for a living. As time went by, professors and students came to the alley and started purchasing books, contributing to the build up of the current book street. Once, used books were gathered in the alley and rare books could be found. Thanks to this, more temporary buildings were formed. At that time, about 70 books stores were available for students to sell and buy used books. In the early 60’s when the publication culture was not yet settled down, many students and educated people had to sell their books and then buy secondhand books or magazines. After going through this time, the Bosu-dong Book Street became a famous book street throughout the nation. The prices of books are scaled according to the conditions of the book or bargaining.

Oedolgae sits not far from the shores of Sammaebong Seogwipo City. It is an amazing rock 10 meters in circumference and 20 meters in x_height and is also known as the Changgun Rock. It is surrounded by beautiful islands such as Bum Island, Sae Island and Seonnyu (fairy) Rock.Oedolgae was also a filming location in the 2003 TV drama series, 'Daejangguem' where Hansangoong (Mee Kyung Yang) faced her death under a false accusation while being carried on Daejanggeum's (Young Ae Lee) back. Fantastic rocks of Oedolgae and fields of reeds in the extensive ranch is a perfect place to go trekking. The sunset of Bum Island, which can be seen from Oedolgae, has long been an essential stop for tourists going to Jeju-do Island.