Travel/Culture List

Artist Lee Jung Seop is known for his paintings, reminicent of Fauvism, including one called “Bull.” During the Korean War, he spent a year in as a war refugee Seogwipo with his Japanese wife and two sons in a small leased house, wherre he produced his masterpieces.Although the stay was temporary it was one of the happiest times for him and certainly, the most productive. Recognizing his importance, Seogwipo City purchased the house, restored it to its original form and also created the Lee Joong Seop Memorial Hall. The street in front of his house, which he walked day and night, was renamed Lee Joong Seop Street. Lee Joong Seop Gallery is just behind the restored house. The gallery houses over 8 masterpieces by Lee Joong Seop and 52 works by modern Korean painters that were donated to Seogwipo City by Lee Ho-jae (CEO of Gana Art). Lee Joong Seop Art Festival is held every September along with seminars on him. Special Exhibition Hall is available for leasing. 

Located within Jungmun Resort, Yeomiji Botanical Garden (여미지식물원) is the best botanical garden in Asia with a unique southern atmosphere. The indoor garden contains approximately 2,000 rare tropical and subtropical plants throughout the Flower Garden, Water Lily Garden, Jungle Garden, Subtropical Fruits Garden, Cactus and Succulent Garden, and Observation Platform. The outdoor garden offers Jeju Native Garden, as well as Korean, Japanese, Italian and French folk gardens. The tour train accommodating 60 persons travels between Indoor and Outdoor Garden. The Jungmun Tourist Complex, Cheonjeyeon Falls, as well as a clear view of Mt. Hallasan, and the nearby coast and Marado Island can all be observed from the thirty-eight meter high observation platform.

Gyeonggi Children’s Museum was Korea's first experiential museum built specifically for children. It offers interactive exhibits and educational programs, attracting children to participate in person and making them feel the joy of learning. Children can choose what they'd like to study based on their individual interests, as well as they can learn various themes and concepts that help improve their imagination and creativity. * Opening Date: September 26, 2011

Located in Gangwon-do's coastal city of Gangneung, Gangmun Beach is separated from Gyeongpo Beach to the north by the stream flowing out of Gyeongpoho Lake. This beach holds the Gyeongpo Summer Beach festival during the summer.  

The house of entrepreneur and activist Seo Sang-don is located in the heart of Daegu. Seo ran a business manufacturing paper, linen, and cotton products, and briefly managed text crops for the government. In 1907, in an effort to repay national debt and to gain independence from Japan, Seo launched the National Debt Repayment Movement as well as a nationwide campaign calling for people to quit smoking.In celebration of Seo's leadership, the City of Daegu restored Seo's old house and opened it to the public. The City also built the National Debt Repayment Park and erected a statue of Seo in his honor.

Sejong Museum exhibits folk art, wooden crafts, clothing, accessories, pottery, paintings and calligraphy collected for over 40 years by the couple who founded the present day Sejong University, Dr. Choo Young-ha and Dr. Choi Ok-ja. This museum has its origins in the ‘Soodo Gallery’, which was built in Chungmuro, the campus’ original location, in 1959. Needing more space to house additional artifacts the museum moved to its current location, which first opened on May 5th, 1973. The four-story concrete was built in the style of a Baekje-era tower was later extended on May 20th, 1977. After the university’s name was changed to Sejong University in 1979, the museum was also renamed the ‘Sejong Museum’. It showcases unique artifacts to both scholars and students from home and abroad to contribute to the research on Korea’s culture, arts, and archeology.

Suanbo Hotspring is the first naturally yielded spring which originally started to flow 30,000 years ago. The sulphur spring is officially mentioned on the record during the 9th year of King Hyeonjong's reign (1018). It is also stated in the Joseon Dynasty’s authentic records, Donggukyeojiseungnam, Yeojido Map, Cheonggudo Map, Daedongyeojido Map and up to 30 historical books.The spring water was brought up deep beneath the ground (250m) with a temperature of 53°C and acidity level of 8.3. The alkaline water contains minerals such as lithium, calcium, natrium, fluorine, and magnesium that are healthful and refreshing.

Located in the center of Gyeongsang-do, Daegu International Airport is a convenient local transportation hub that provides access to most parts of the country. It is the only international exchange center in Gyeongsangbuk-do (Gyeongbuk). The cities of Gyeongsan and Yeongcheon are about 30 minutes from the airport, which serves as a major hub in Yeongnam region. Popular Gyeongbuk-area attractions including Gyeongju, Andong, and Pohang, are 90 minutes away. The airport’s main building is shaped like a soaring crane, with an interior theme based on a poem by Joseon-era scholar Yun Seon-do called “Owooga” (a song for five friends: water, rock, pine tree, bamboo, and moon).  

Established and run by the Goeun Foundation, the Goeun Museum of Photography and the Goeun Contemporary Photo Museum are located in Haeundae, Busan and are the first photography museums founded outside of the capital city of Seoul. The museums aim to offer more cultural opportunities to visitors by collecting real and valuable works representing both Korean and international artists. The venue also acts in the discovery and support of new and up-and-coming artists. Goeun Museum of Photography has an exhibit room on the 2nd floor, as well as a seminar room and a photo library on the 1st floor. Goeun Contemporary Photo Museum has 3 different spaces for exhibitions, mainly concentrated on contemporary photo works.

Andong Soju Museum was established in 1995 to promote and hand down the history and cultural characteristics of Andong Soju. The museum mainly displays the origin of Andong soju, the making process, Korean folk alcoholic drinks, the lineage of alcohol, and bottles and cups throughout history. The museum also offers a hands-on program and sampling area. The Traditional Food Museum is connected to Andong Soju Museum, so visitors can learn about traditional food and Andong’s folk dish, as well as traditional patterns of rites of passage.