Travel/Culture List

Amsadunchi Ecological Park (located in Amsa-dong) is a large scenic park with long winding trails passing by reeds and other beautiful plants of the Han River. It is here as well that visitors can watch the flight of Korea’s migratory birds. The Ecological Park is famous for its beautiful scenery and its lush groves of reeds and pussy willows growing alongside the natural riverside road. Wild roses, loosestrifes, and tiger lilies are in bloom from spring to fall and the observation deck gives visitors a beautiful view of Han River and the area’s wide variety of birds such as reed warblers, titmice, and swallows. The river basin and its surrounding stones are a great place to learn about nature and are home to various bugs such as beetles, river mayflies, big scarlet hairstreak butterflies, and other water insects.The Amsadunch Ecological Park is located nearby Godeok River Side Ecological Park and the Bicycle Theme Park, making this particular area one of the most popular tourist attractions along the Han River. 

The beloved outdoor swimming pools at Ttukseom was reborn as Supia, a year-round theme park in Hangang. Unlike the previous pools, Supia at Ttukseom and Yeouido is a water park that added Flow Pool to the existing Adult Pool, Youth Pool, and Children’s Pool.* What is Supia?- Combining Arisu (the former name of Hangang) and Utopia, Supia is a fun theme park in the middle of the city that can be enjoyed all year long. 

Mt. Bukhansan is situated in the northern part of Seoul. Designated as a national park in 1983, the mountain is 78.45km wide and has 6 districts and extends out into Gyeonggi-do Province. The name Bukhansan means "big mountain in the north," and it is also called Mt. Samgaksan. Mt. Bukhansan has such smooth curves that the large granite rocks sometimes look as if they would slide down the mountain. The sharp peaks provide contrast to the dozens of valleys and rivers flowing below. The mountain has many different kinds of peaks but its main peak is Baegunbong. The granite peaks blend well with trees, and there are about 1,300 kinds of animals and plants living on the mountain. Among the granite peaks, the best known is Insubong Peak's Giam rocks. The world famous granite rock peak Insubong is over 200m above sea level, and there are about 100 mountain paths leading to the rock. When you stand on Baegundae and look down, sometimes you can see as far as Seoul City and the Hangang River. Bukhansan has a rich history as well. Silla's King Jinheung Sunsubi Monument on Bibong Peak, the Bukhansanseong Fortress built along the mountain's ridges, Sangunsa Temple built by the monk Won-Hyo, and numerous other temples occupy the mountain areas. Especially, Bukhansanseong Fortress is a must-see tour site if you are visiting the mountain. The fortress was built with a wall spanning about 8,500m, built specifically to stop foreign invasion. It is one of the representative mountain fortresses of the Joseon Era. In the fall, the view you can get from the fortress of the mountain is spectacular. Temples are also representative of rich culture that flourished on Bukhansan. The Seungasa Temple on the east Bibong Peak, with Maaeseokgayeoraejwasang (seated rock-carved Buddhas) carved into a 5m granite rock, and the Munsusa Temple located halfway up the Musubong Peak, with purified mountain water dropping from the ceiling of Munsugol Cave, are indicative of both Bukhansan's history and culture. With its granite peaks and Bukhansanseong Fortress, Bukhansan is perfect for hiking in all seasons. In the spring, all kinds of flowers bloom, and in the summer, lush forests carpet the numerous valleys. The hiking path along the valley is perhaps the best summer mountain climbing course. And the fall is the perfect time to visit the temples and pavilions in their autumn colors. In the winter, the snow-covered mountain scenery is very beautiful. The park averages 5 million visitors and has received the Honor of being in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the national park with the highest number of visitors per square foot.

Gwongeumseong Fortress is the site of a castle ruins called Mt. Seoraksan, and it is also known as Mt. Onggeumsan Castle, or Toto Castle. It is located on the steep Dol Mountain of Mt. Seoraksan Sogongwon area. It is believed to have been built by the 23rd King of the Goryeo Period (918~1392), Gojong (1213~1259 reign). It is also called Gwon-Kim Castle, as there is a legend that two generals named Gwon and Kim, built the castle to avoid war.At the left side of Sogongwon, past the Biryonggyo Bridge over the ravine, there is a path which leads to Gwongeumseong Castle, but it takes over an hour of travel through a steep, rocky path (2.5km), so cable cars are used. The cable car was installed by Dr. Gi-Sup Lee in 1971 and is still used by many tourists. It is operated from 7 a.m. to 6 or 6:30 p.m., departs every 7 minutes, and you can only purchase round-trip tickets at the ticket counter for that day. At the plateau of Gwongeumseong Castle there are 80 sections of rocks and you can see the East Sea and city of Sokcho. Also, to the west, you can see all kinds of fantastic rocks and stones which make up the Seoraksan Mountains.

Bomunsa Temple is located at Seokmodo Island, which is the west of Ganghwado Island. It is said that the temple was constructed by Queen Seondeok during the Silla Era (635).  Entering the temple, you will see a 600-year-old Chinese juniper tree. Behind the tree is Seokgulamja, a small Buddhist temple in a natural cave. The entrance of the grotto is small, but the room inside is large. There is a huge millstone that the monks used for cooking beside Seokgulamja. It Is designated as Cultural Monument. If you go back side of the temple, you can see the must-see attractions here; the *Ma-aeseokbuljwasang and the Nunseop (implies eyebrow in Korean) Rock. The 10m high Ma-aeseokbuljwasang is engraved on the rock that looks like an eyebrow. The view of West Sea from Bomunsa Temple is beautiful.  The West Sea and sandy beaches of Seokmodo Island in which Bomunsa Temple is situated were featured in many films. Harmonizing with the mountains and the sea, the island is especially known for its sunset and seashore.  * Ma-aeseokbuljwasang  Ma-aebul is the Buddha image engraved on cliff or rock and Jwasang implies the image in a sitting posture. Telephone  +82-2-933-8271~3 Fax  +82-32-933-8270 Parking Facilities  100 spaces Admission Fees  Adults - Individual 2,000 won / Group 1,600 won Youth - Individual 1,500 won / Group 1,200 won Children - Individual 1,000 won / Group 800 won  ※ Group - 30 or more people ※ Free admission (with proper ID): Member of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Seniors (age 65 and older), children not yet in school, men of national merit, wounded veteran and one guardian, persons with disability (levels 1-3)  

Located in Dongsung-dong, Daehakro (College Street), The Lock Museum displays an impressive array of locks. The owner of the museum, Mr. Choi Hong-gyu worked as a hardware shop employee most of his life and ran his own store, Choi Family Hardware in Gangnam. He invested all of his fortune to make The Lock Museum. Opened in November 2003, The Lock Museum boasts locks, keys, and key holders from around the world. The museum aims to collect, preserve, and study Korean locks and to promote their benefits and design worldwide.The Lock Museum is an important spot in which visitors are exposed to new perspectives on locks. It offers visitors the opportunity to understand the cultural and aesthetic meaning of them. Centered on visitors, the museum will continue to be a facilitator of cultural communication between visitors and locks. 

Motorcycle Street is located in Ingyo-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu along Sijangbuk-ro Road. The street was originally a creek lined with houses, but in 1953 the creek was covered over and made into a paved road. Gas stations and stores selling automotive parts sprung up, turning the area into a thriving commercial district. In 1961, the first motorcycle store opened its doors and was quickly followed by several more.Currently there are 40 motorcycle stores, making this 200 meter-long street one of Daegu’s most unique shopping areas. With a vast array of new and secondhand motorcycles (both domestic and imported) motorcycle enthusiasts will be in their glory. Shoppers will also find a wide selection of motorcycle parts and accessories.

With a 5-star hotel, high-rise condominium buildings, ski-slopes, and top-class golf courses, the mountain peak recreational complex of Phoenix Park provides various recreational and amusement facilities for a great vacation. The resort is located approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes from Seoul in Pyeongchang, a county in Gangwon province. Pyeongchang is a major winter sports region in Korea and it has been declared as the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Phoenix Park has become one of Korea’s most famous resort complexes since its appearance in the extremely popular drama ‘Winter Sonata’. The resort has a total of seventeen slopes, four of which are approved by the FIS (International Ski Federation), and has superb snow quality. Particularly popular is the ‘Panorama Slope’, which is at an impressive 2.2km length and has an average x_width of 46meters. Eight ski lifts, state-of-the-art gondolas, and six conveyer belts transport visitors around the park quickly and efficiently. Phoenix Park has many excellent accommodation options, including the main condo (famous for its unique design), the Euro Villa Condo (which was the filming location for Winter Sonata), a youth hostel, and a luxury hotel. In addition, the outdoor swimming pool, 18-hole members only golf club, and the 9-hole public golf club mean that visitors can have fun at Phoenix Park all year round! Phoenix Park Ski Resort is an environmentally friendly resort, created with the minimum possible disruption to surrounding nature. For more information on the Phoenix Park Ski Resort and subsidiary facilities, please visit the homepage or call the ski resort helpline.    

The Jeju Museum of Art is surrounded by the beautiful and pristine nature of Jeju. The museum is the epicenter of Jeju art and reflects the local culture, colors and sounds of the island. It is a center at which locals and tourists can appreciate historical and recent artworks at its permanent exhibition halls, special exhibition hall and outdoor gallery. The Chang Ree-suok Hall displays 110 artworks made by the major Korean artist Chang Ree-suok. The museum also hosts various cultural and art programs.

The Songtan Special Tourist Zone in Pyeongtaek is located near a US military base and consists of shopping malls and entertainment facilities. It is often referred to as “Little Itaewon” because it bears a similarity with Itaewon’s alleys. The districts of Sinjang and Seojeong are part of this tourist zone.The main attraction in the Sinjang district is the shopping mall that was completed in 1998. Visitors can shop and spend their leisure time along the 300-meter-long pedestrian road that starts from the US military base. In Songtan’s Seojeong district, there is a popular cherry blossoms road and a public park where people can relax.There’s a bike path on Buraksan Mountain and a wide variety of delicious food at the Pyeongtaek Jungang International Market. The Korea-US Friendship Culture Festival is held in September and the Moro Culture & Art Festival in October. The tourist zone is conveniently located near Songtan Station (Seoul Subway Line 1).[Songtan Special Tourist Zone]Areas included: Areas around Sinjang 1 (il) to 2 (i), Jisan, Songbuk and Seojeong-dong in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-doArea size: 491,316㎡Tourist attractions: Sinjang Shopping Mall, Jungang International Market, Culture Street, Buraksan Mountain, etc.