Travel/Culture List

Dapsimni Antique Art Street is where the travelers can stumble upon good old paintings, antique furniture and pottery, as well as, a variety of household items. These antique shops used to scatter all around the area of Cheonggyecheon Stream 8(pal)-ga, Itaewon, and Ahyeon-dong, wand has now gathered up around dapsimni areas since the mid-1980s. There are about 140 shops lined up along the streets.It is quite fun to browse through antiquities including wooden candlesticks, grandfather clocks, old picture frames, which are usually hard to find in usual stores. This is also the reason to that explains why it not only attracts Koreans but also international visitors to this street. Shops in Insa-dong, also known for the sale of antiqes, typically and mainly sell good quality and expensive antiques, while dapsimni is known for a wide assortment of small items with reasonable prices, starting from a few one thousand won.

인정문은 인정전의 정문으로 태종5년(1405) 창건한 것이나 임진왜란때 소실되어 광해군 원년(1608)겨 재건하였다. 영조20년(1744) 10월 승정원 화재때 좌우 행각과 함께 소실되어 이듬해 3월에 재건하였다. 순조3년(1803) 12월에 선정전 서행각에서 화재가 나 인정전 등이 소실되매 이듬해 12월에 개건하였는데 이문도 그때 재건된 것으로 여겨진다. 다포계양식, 팔작지붕의 평삼문형으로 가구수범에서 조선후기의 특징이 나타나 있다. 1910년에 일제에 의해 주위건물과 함께 일부변형 되었다. 현재 외벽을 만들고 앞뒤에 문을 달았으나 원래는 중앙 고주사이에 문을 달았던 것으로 추정된다. 3급으로 쌓은 석조기단 위에 초석을 놓고 원주(圓柱)를 세웠으며 기둥 윗몸에 창방(昌枋)과 평방(平枋)을 짜 돌려 공포(慊包)를 받았다. 공포는 외2출목, 내2출목, 짜임은 삼제공이 중첩하는 형상이고 도리받침부재는 운형(雲形)으로 깎았다. 외부의 평방과 창방은 중앙 평주(平柱) 위에서만 초각물(草刻物)을 삽입하여 놓았으며 내부는 이제공(二提慊)까지는 직절(直絶)한 첨차 끝이 되었으며 그 위는 운궁(雲宮)처럼 되어 도리까지 나가 보 아래에서 보아지가 되었다. 천장은 연등천장이고 처마는겹처마이며 단청은 반초머리의 모루단청이다. 인정문 좌우 행각과 인정전의 문비(門扉)는 일제 때에 왜식(倭式)이 가미되어 변형된 부분이 많다. 인정문에서는 역대의 많은 왕들의 즉위가 있었는데 효종 · 현종 · 숙종 · 영조 등이 이 곳에서 즉위하였다.

Nakhwaam is a rock cliff towering over Baengmagang River in the northern end of Busosan Mountain. According to the legend, this is where the royal court women of Baekje jumped off to kill themselves when the kingdom of Baekje was defeated during the invasion of Sabiseong Fortress (now Busosanseong Fortress in Buyeo) by the Shilla-Tang Alliance. The name of this rock, Nakhwaam, literally means "the cliff of falling flowers" and symbolizes the fidelity and loyalty of Baekje women. 

Ganghwa History Museum opened in 2010, and is located inside Ganghwa Dolmen Park, which was designated as UNESCO World Heritage Historic Site No. 137.The museum aims to exhibit, preserve and educate about the history and culture of Ganghwa from prehistoric ages to modern times based on artifacts from the area.

Opened in March 2003, the Fine Art Gallery Art Link is a gallery that displays art pieces while creating an opportunity for patrons to meet the art and artists. The gallery also contributes to communication between modern art and people through online and offline channels. アートリンクは作品の作り手と芸術品コレクター、大衆を繋げるための空間で、2003年3月にオープンしました。ここでは、on/off lineの全てのツールを通じて、現代美術と大衆との円満な疎通を試みています。    

Located in Jeju City’s Samdo 2-dong, Jeju Mokgwana is the former central government office where the Joseon Period Magistrate of Jeju presided over political and administrative affairs from 1392 to 1910. Designated as Historic Site No. 380, it consists of multiple buildings, including the Dongheon, meaning a main administrative building and Naea, which means a building deep inside the government office. It is also home to Gwandeokjeong, National Treasure No.322. As the oldest remaining building in Jeju, built in 1448 (30th year of King Sejong's reign), Gwandeokjeong was intended to be a training ground for military personnel.Jeju Mokgwana was burned to the ground in 1434 and rebuilt shortly afterward. But it was systemically destroyed during the Japanese Colonial Period (August 1910 to August 15, 1945) with the exception of Gwandeokjeong, which remained intact. The current Jeju Mokgwana was restored in December 2002 following four extensive excavation projects from 1991 to 1998 (in order to find its structures as well as locations of buildings) and based upon expert opinions as well as old documents. 

The Yejiwon is located in Seoul Jung-gu Jangchung-dong and has been offering traditional Korean etiquette education programs since its inception on September 16th, 1974. Furthermore, the Yejiwon also serves to introduce the traditional cultures and living cultures of Korean etiquettes to foreigners. Most programs offered are short-term classes, and reservations can be made on the homepage up to 15 days in advance. Reservations are only available for groups of 10 or more and classes are instructed in Korean only, so it may be a good idea to be accompanied by a guide.

Designated as one of reknowned histroric sites in capital of Seoul (Historic Site No. 297), the museum is located within Mongchontoseong Station (Seoul Subway Line 8), and it houses the best-known relics and remains from ancient Baekje culture. The highlight of its exhibition includes the discoveries from Hangang River as well as more of early kingdom's great heritages. The Mongchon Museum of History displays artifacts from the excavations of the earthen fortifications as well as other artifacts of the Baekje Kingdom period, offering a glimpse into Baekje culture. A model of a Baekje dugout hut site reveals ancient dwelling patterns. Also, the facility displays perfectly preserved model of ancient houses, tombs, giving you the feel of traveling back to prehistoric ages. The museum serves as an educational institution for children and families, providing a wide assortment of cultural programs. However, visitors should note that some programs are limited as reservations are required for participation.

The Ttukdo Water Purification Plant (Waterworks Museum and Slow Sand Filtration Basin) was completed in August 1908. Construction first commenced in August 1906 as Americans C.H. Collbran and H.R. Bostwick were granted the rights by the Korean Empire to construct the waterworks facility. This was highly significant in that it was the first water purification plant ever built in Korea. At the time of the plants completion, it produced 12,500 tons of purified water to approximately 165,000 Seoul citizens. The Western-style brick mason building had a traditional clay tile roof and was 312.4㎡ in size. The water supply facility (currently renamed Waterworks Museum) and Slow Sand Filtration Basin are designated No.72 Tangible Cultural Asset of Seoul.

The Choi Sunu House is the old residence of Hyegok Choi Sunu (1916-1984), who lived in this house from 1976 until the day he passed away. The house is designated as Korea’s Registered Cultural Property No. 268. Choi Sunu was a leading art historian who served as the director of the National Museum of Korea. He devoted his life to rediscovering the beauty of Korean art and made many academic accomplishments in the areas of Korean ceramics, traditional woodcraft, and the history of painting.The Choi Sunu House is an open-rectangular planned hanok (Korean traditional house) composed of an L-shaped outbuilding and an upside down L-shaped main building that face each other. It shows the typical urban traditional style house that was prevalent in the Seoul area in the 1930s. The house has been open to the public as the Hyegok Choi Sunu Memorial Hall since 2004. The memorial hall displays Choi Sunu’s relics as a permanent exhibition and holds special exhibitions in the fall as well as cultural programs every spring and fall.