Travel/Culture List

Ihwa Mural Village is located in Ihwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul-si. The local Public Art Committee carried out the Naksan Project in 2006 to improve the local environment of Ihwa Village. Approximately 60 artists painted walls and installed artworks for the project. Visitors to the village can enjoy looking for and viewing the beautiful murals and sculptures in the village.

The Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum (경기도자박물관) in the Gonjiam special culture zone is the former site where ceramics were produced for the royal households of the Joseon Dynasty for 400 years. The museum specializes in the study of traditional Korean ceramics such as Joseon white porcelain or baekja. It also manages excavation projects, conducts research, and educates the public about the cultural aspects of traditional ceramics.The museum consists of two large exhibition rooms, a special exhibition room, a multi-purpose room, and other smaller rooms. Its auxiliary facilities include a large-scale outdoor sculpture park; kilns heated with firewood; a Korean-style garden; a tea ceremony performance room; and a shopping mall selling ceramics produced in Gwangju. The museum exhibits traditional ceramics from the Joseon Dynasty such as pure white porcelain, blue and white porcelain, white porcelain painted with under-glaze iron-brown, and punch'ong ware, that were all made throughout the Joseon Dynasty’s 500 years of history. The museum also displays works by modern artists, inheritors of Korea’s honorable ceramic tradition. And to fulfill its educational duties, the museum holds special exhibitions that focus on the culture and history of Korea’s traditional ceramics and offers visitors the opportunity to learn about and appreciate Korea’s traditional ceramics that are still being crafted, even today. 

Opened in July 2003, Aqua World within the Daemyung Resort Danyang is an indoor water park supplying clean heated water. With numerous hot springs and amusement facilities which are open year round, it is the perfect vacation spot for families, couples and friends.Aqua World has a unique Mediterranean-style interior design. The two main features of the Aqua World are the Aqua Health Pool Zone and Amusement Zone. The Aqua Health Pool Zone contains three main sections: the Neck Shower, where you can massage your neck, shoulders and legs by the pressure of running water and the Bench Zet where you can massage your waste and legs. In the Floating area you can massage all parts of your body by the pressure of water bubbles.Among the amusement facilities in the Amusement Zone, you can enjoy the Water Slide, a massage corner exclusively for women and even the Couple Bath for those wanting romance. Take advantage of the numerous therapeutic springs including sulfur spring, mineral water spring, pine-tree spring and fruit-extract spring.The Jade Sauna, Charcoal Sauna and Amethyst Sauna, each have its own health benefits. At the Open Air Bath, you will enjoy relaxing and admiring the scenic view of Danyang. Viitors may also stop by the nearby attractions surrounding the condo such as Chungjuho Lake, Woraksan National Park, Sobaeksan National Park and Mungyeongsaejae Provinicial Park.

The Okgwangsan Jade mine (also known as 'Chuncheon Yeonok Gwangsan') in Geumokdong valley in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, is the only jade mine in Korea and the only white jade mine in the world. Built in 1972, the original plan was solely for a jade mining facility. It now offers tours of the caves and even a steam sauna experience.On one side is a sauna room and on the left is a cave experience center. Along both sides of the cave are various jade formations leading to a long platform where visitors may stop for a break. At the end of the tunnel, visitors can sample Okjeongsu ground water gathered from inside the cave. The water’s unique taste brings people from all over who claim it is effective in treating hemorrhoids, constipation, and indigestion. A gift shop also offers a wide range of jade goods at discounted prices including rings, necklace, and even beds as well as a restaurant serving foods made with Okjeongsu water.

The Suncheon Bay Garden was established in order to turn 1.12 square kilometers of natural habitat into a conservation area, where it houses over 505 species of trees and 113 species of flowers. Especially, the numerous groups of tulips and royal azaleas are truly a sight to see. In addition, the nearby 30,000-square-meter field of canola flowers is in full bloom in May, which creates a beautiful yellow "wave" of color and trees make a great shades of canopy for the area. Getting there is fairly easy as buses and an unmanned shuttle train (PRT) opened along with the Suncheon Bay Garden and Suncheon Literature Center district (4.64 km) are available for service. Visitors can hop on the PRT and go to the literature center, then also ride the train along the 1.2-kilometer stretch of reeds to Mujingyo Bridge.

The Ojukheon House (오죽헌) gets its name from the many black bamboo trees that surround it. It was here where Sinsaimdang (1504~1551) lived and where his son Yulgok (scholar and politician of the Joseon Period) was born. It was built during the time of the 11th King of Joseon, King Jungjong (1506~1544), and remains one of the oldest wooden residential buildings in Korea. It was designated as Treasure No. 165 in 1963 and has been maintained by the descendants throughout the generations.Inside Ojukheon there's the Yulgok Memorial Hall, Mongryongsil, where Yulgok was born, the household shrine called Munseongsa, and the entrances called Jagyeongmun, Sajumun etc. There is also Eojaegak, which was built to preserve the inkstone and Gyeokmongyogyeol (a book written by Lee-Lee in 1577 for those beginning their studies), mementos of Lee-Lee.Beside Ojukheon, there is the Gangneung Municipal Museum where you can see relics from the prehistoric age and other various historical materials from different time periods.

Everyone needs a break and Paradise Spa Dogo is the ideal recuperation hot spring. Opened by Paradise Group, the spa is a large-scale leisure facility in the heart of the hot spring center of Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. Boasting a relaxing environment of 24,622㎡, the spa can comfortably accommodate up to 5,000 people at one time. The facility includes a Bade Pool for water massage treatments, a large pool with year-round warm sulfur hot spring water, and a variety of water recreation options. Particularly popular is the outdoor event spa, which is run with seasonal themes: in winter, special spas of Acanthopanax, ginger, and mandarin orange peel are open for enjoyment. Those visiting over the weekend can also participate in kimchi-making, persimmon-picking, and farm life programs. A spa visit can also be combined with a trip to one of the many nearby tourist attractions such as Hyeonchungam Temple, Oeamni Folk Village, Onyang Folk Museum, Sinjeongho Lake, and the Maeng Sa-seong House.

Gwangmyeong Station is a KTX train station in Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do. It was originally built solely as a departure and arrival station for KTX but now additionally serves as a departure and arrival station for the KTX Gyeongbu Line. Gwangmyeong Station is some distance from the center of the city but the number of visitors using the station is steadily increasing as the station began to serve as a stop for trains bound to Pohang Station and trains on the Honam Express Line.

If you are an owl lover or enjoy seeing handcrafted pieces of art, the Owl Museum is the place for you. This owl themed museum is filled with pieces of art, crafts, useful household items and accessories. The items here come from over 70 countries including China, the United States, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Over 2000 pieces can be found right under one roof.Owl themed folding screens, dishes, vases, sculptures, and even owl stamps are among the diverse selection on display here. When people think of an owl museum, an image of a stuffed owl usually pops into their heads. No stuffed owls can be found at this museum. It is full of many unique items.The Owl Museum was originally a private residence. The structure was remodeled and made into a museum, but managed to keep its original charm. The owner’s second son, who majored in design, chose owl wallpaper to add to the unique atmosphere. Visitors to the museum are treated to a free, tasty cup of tea.

Designated as Historic Site No.134, Samseonghyeol is located in the pine forest between Kal Hotel and Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum. The word “Samseonghyeol” means “three clans' holes”, referring to the three '品' shaped holes in the middle of the forest. Each hole is separated from the other holes by a few meters.Legend has it that Samseonghyeol is the place where three demigods, the founding fathers of Tamna (the former name of Jeju), first appeared. They lived by hunting and gathering for a while and got married to three princesses from Byeokrangguk who came to shore in a wooden box. The three princesses brought with them a calf, pony, and five different seeds that eventually helped to establish agriculture in Jeju.Curiously, the three holes are not percolated by rain or snow. The ancient trees surrounding the holes look as if they are bowing to them, often surprising visitors. It takes just about 30 minutes to look around Samseonghyeol and its vicinity.* Admission Fees: KRW 2,500