Travel/Culture List

Ihwajang House
 
Seoul(Jongno-gu)
After Korea gained independence from Japan in 1945, the former president Lee Seungman and his wife lived in their house called Ihwajang. Even though he moved out of the house after he was elected the first president of Korea, he used to return and visit for walks in the garden. After he relinquished his appointment as president, he stayed here for a while before coming to America as an exile.Ihwajang house consisted of the bonchae, or the main building, which was where Lee Seungman and his wife’s living quarters were, jogakdang(president’s office area) and other buildings. Jogakdang, the president’s office area, is a small and narrow building but it is an important historical place where he had a conference to form the first Korean ministry. Ihwajang house shows the change of Korean traditional house under Japanese control. 

House of Yi Sang-hwa
 
Daegu(Jung-gu)
Yi Sang-hwa is a nationalist poet, who resisted the Japanese colonialism. This house had been his residence from 1939 until he died in 1943. Unfortunately, the house had been neglected since. However, the citizens' movement in 1999 to preserve the house urged the Military Mutual Aid Association to purchase it, and donate it to the City of Daegu on October 27, 2005. It has been restored and opened to the public, serving as the center for education of the poet's brave spirit and work.

Incheon Grand Park
 
Incheon(Namdong-gu)
Incheon Grand Park is an urban nature park located in Jangsu-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. The park is surrounded by Gwanmosan Mountain and Sangasan Mountain. Spanning across 727 acres of land, Incheon Grand Park is the only large-scale natural green park in Incehon. The park provides a pleasant atmosphere for citizens to escape city life and enjoy natural surroundings. Opening date  April 13, 1996 Closed  [Park] N/A (Open all year round) [Zoo & Botanical Garden] Mondays Natural Preservation Areas (closed to public)  2.6km of Gwanmosan mountain path, 1.9km of Geomasan mountain Operating Hours  March-October 05:00-23:00 November-February 05:00-22:00 Parking Facilities  Available (Main Gate Parking Lot: 2,685 spaces / Manuigol Parking Lot: 275 spaces) * Parking fee collection time March-October 07:00-21:00 November-February 08:00-20:00 Admission Fees  Free Available Facilities  Outdoor theater, artificial turf grounds, skating rink, botanical garden, bicycle trails, lake, sledding hill, children's zoo, observatory, etc. Facility Utilization Fees  [Bicycles] Solo Bike: 2,000 won / 500 won for each additional 10min Tandem Bike: 5,000 won / 1,000 won for each additional 10min Group Bike: 10,000 won / 2,000 won for each additional 10min [Sledding Hills] Adults 7,000 won / Teenagers 5,000 won / Children 4,000 won  Restrooms  Available Facilities for the Handicapped  Free wheelchair rental services (09:00-17:00) * Identification card required. Parking Fees  Small cars: 3,000 won / Large cars: 4,000 won Baby Stroller Rentals  Free rentals available (60 baby carriages located at the park's information center.) * Identification card required to rent Pets  Permitted (Pets must be leashed and cleaned up after)

Hangang River
 
Seoul(Seongdong-gu)
Running through the central part of the Korean Peninsula, the Hangang River flows from Gangwon-do towards Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeonggi-do, through Seoul and continues on to the Yellow Sea. The river has witnessed the history of the Korean people for over five thousand years, through good and bad times. The riverside parks offer a nice retreat for the citizens of Seoul. The Namhangang River (South Hangang River), which is the main source, originates from Taebaek-si in Gangwon-do. The water runs north through Goljicheon Stream in Samcheok-si and then passes through Gwangdong Dam before flowing into Songcheon Stream. Songcheon Stream starts from Hwangbyeongsan Mountain (1,407 meters) in Jeongseon-gun and flows into Joyanggang River. After joining Odaecheon Stream, it flows south into Donggang River, which in turn flows into Seogang River. Then after joining Dalcheon Stream in Chungju-si, Seomgang River and Cheongmicheon Stream, the river combines with the branch streams of Yanghwacheon, Bokhacheon, and Heukcheon before it finally joins Bukhangang River (North Hangang River) in Yangsu-ri.

Saebyeol Oreum
 
Jeju-do(Jeju-si)
Located in Bongseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Saebyeol Oreum (also called Hyoseongak) is a parasitic volcano located almost 520 meters above sea level. It is a famous oreum, which means 'mountain in the Jeju dialect, and hosts the Jeju Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival every year, marking the first full moon day of the lunar calendar. During the festival, the pampas grass covering the oreum is lit and the entire oreum becomes engulfed in flames. The mountain is renowned for it’s elegant curves, connecting ridges as well as being one of the best spots to overlook the nearby landscape.While thickets blanket the North Slope, the rest of the mountain is a meadow. Burial mounds can be seen on the northwest, southwest and the southern outskirts of the mountain. The name is related to Saebyeol Oreum the lonely morning star rising first in the night sky. Visitors can climb to the top of the mountain within 30 minutes.Visitors are not permitted to climb Saebyeol Oreum at times due to fire danger (Feb 1 to May 15 and Nov 1 to Dec 15), so they should check the availability of hiking at the Aewol-eup Office prior to their visit.※ Aewol-eup Office: +82-64-799-6001* Information on Hiking Restrictions during the Mountain Fire Warning Period 

Amethyst Cavern Park
 
Ulsan(Ulju-gun)
The Amethyst Cavern Park is the largest man-made cave tourist attraction in Korea. It is made inside a closed amethyst mine. Connected like a labyrinth, the cave is 2.5 kilometers long and about 16,529 square meters wide. The average temperature is between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius year round. Visitors can observe amethyst stones, see exhibitions, and attend a circus performance full of thrills. Outside the cave, visitors can enjoy a snow sleigh during winter, play facilities, ceramic workshop for youths and children, and hands-on learning experiences using sweet potatoes, peanuts, corn, and herbs.

Incheon Port Floodgate
 
Incheon(Jemulpo-gu)
Incheon Port Floodgate is located between the beautiful Wolmisan Mountain and Sowolmido Island. Surrounding the floodgate is a large 66,000 square meter garden covered with grass, pine trees, ginko trees, and cherry blossom trees, creating a beautiful scene. Especially in the spring, azaleas, royal azaleas, cherry blossoms, and magnolia blossoms are blooming, adding to the beauty of the garden.If you visit when the floodgate opens, you will witness giant cargo ships and cruise ships passing through the gate to enter and leave the port. Also, at the situation room of the floodgate management office, an introductory video of Incheon Port is played to offer more information on the facility.There are two floodgates at Incheon Port. One floodgate is 36 meters wide by 363 meters long. The other is 22.5 meters wide by 202 meters long. The larger one can accommodate vessels up to 50,000DWT and the smaller one can dock ships up to 10,000DWT. Per day, up to 20 vessels can enter and leave the port.

Deokjinjin Fortress
 
Incheon(Ganghwa-gun)
Deokjinjin was the key strategic point of the outer castle wall used for defending the Ganghwa Straits during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). It was originally a military camp commanded by an official with the rank of Cheomsa under the command of the Korean naval base. In 1677, an official with the rank of Manho was assigned to this camp along with 26 military officials, 100 soldiers, 2 battle ships, and other military equipment. In 1679, the Namjangpodae and Deokjinpodae batteries were stationed here. Deokjinjin Camp was the scene of fierce battles that took place during Byeonginyangyo (the French invasion in 1866) and Shinmiyangyo (the American invasion in 1871). The battlements and gatehouse of Deokjinjin that had all been destroyed during Sinmiyangyo were restored in 1977. At the Namjangpodae Battery, cannons used by the Joseon military have been reproduced and installed for display.

Geumho Art Hall
 
Seoul(Jongno-gu)
Geumho Art Hall was built exclusively for classical music concerts. It is located on the cultural street by Gwanghwamun. With 315 seats, it has the perfect structure for chamber concerts. All seats are recital hall chairs and the wide spacing between rows of chairs helps the audience to have a pleasant time. Portable chairs are also provided for the handicapped. Once you enter the theater, your cell phones will turn off automatically. This will help you to enjoy the concert without being interrupted by ringing cell phones. The interior is cozy and luxurious, and the stage is made of maple. 150 concerts are held yearly. You can also view the art exhibits displayed at the reception hall. If you are lucky, you will be able to view the art exhibits after watching a concert. Near Geumho Art Hall there are other cultural facilities such as Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and Kyobo bookstore.

Incheon Int'l Airport Tourist Information Center
 
Incheon(Yeongjong-gu)
[1883 Incheon Global Stamp Tour – Important Notice] Hello, Stamp Tour explorers! We’d like to let you know about the Incheon International Airport Tourist Information Centers, which are only open during the specified time periods below. Please review this information before joining the Stamp Tour so that you can collect your stamps smoothly without any inconvenience. • Incheon International Airport Tourist Information Center (East Side): Operates only from January to April 2025 • Incheon International Airport Tourist Information Center (West Side): Operates only from May to August 2025 • Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 Tourist Information Center: Operates only from September to December 2025 Thank you for your cooperation. We hope you have a wonderful time exploring Incheon! Explore Incheon with Ease and Convenience: Visit the Incheon Tourist Information Centers! If you're planning a trip to Incheon, one of the best ways to make your visit smooth and enjoyable is by utilizing the Incheon Tourist Information Centers. Incheon city operates a total of 10 tourist information centers strategically located across the city to cater to the needs of travelers. These centers offer a wide range of services and materials to help you navigate the city and make the most of your visit. You can find travel guides and brochures in multiple languages, including English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese, ensuring that language barriers are minimized. The tourist information center at Incheon International Airport is particularly convenient for travelers, as it is open year-round, from 7 AM to 10 PM. This means you can get the help you need as soon as you land or just before you depart. The other tourist information centers in Incheon generally operate from 9 AM to 6 PM, except on major Korean holidays such as Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), ensuring that you have access to assistance during most of the year. At each of these centers, friendly and knowledgeable staff are ready to provide detailed explanations about the best attractions, dining options, and activities suited to your interests. They can help you plan your itinerary, find transportation, and even recommend hidden gems that you might not find in typical travel guides. Visiting the Incheon Tourist Information Centers can significantly enhance your travel experience by providing you with the latest updates on must-see spots and essential services. Whether you're looking for cultural experiences, historical sites, shopping destinations, or dining recommendations, these centers are your go-to resource. So, when you visit Incheon, don't forget to stop by one of the Incheon Tourist Information Centers. Not only will you get valuable information and services, but you'll also ensure a more convenient and enjoyable trip. With their help, navigating Incheon becomes a breeze, allowing you to focus on creating memorable experiences in this vibrant city. Make your Incheon adventure hassle-free by taking advantage of the resources and expertise offered at the Incheon Tourist Information Centers. Your journey to discovering all that Incheon has to offer starts here!