Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

The site of Hwangnyongsa Temple is located in front of the Bunhwangsa Temple in Guhang-dong, Gyeongju. During the Silla Era, the Hwangnyongsa Temple was the nation’s largest temple and housed the bulk of the country’s major Buddhist treasures.Construction of the temple began in 553 on a field near the royal compound of Banwolseong under the commission of King Jinheung. The king originally planned to build a palace, but decided to build a temple instead, after receiving reports that a yellow dragon had been spotted on the building site. The temple was thus named Hwangnyongsa (Temple of Yellow Dragon) and was completed in 569, seventeen years after construction began. The temple murals feature an old pine tree drawn by Artist Solgeo. During the Silla Era, the temple was the center of state-sanctioned Buddhism.Later, when monk Jajang was studying in Tang, he came across a god as he was passing by the Taihe Pond. The god said to him, “the yellow dragon, which is my eldest son, is guarding Hwangnyongsa Temple upon orders of Brahma, the Creator. If you build a nine-story pagoda upon your return to Silla, the neighboring states will surrender and pay tribute, and the royal cause will be stronger. Once the construction of the pagoda is complete, prepare a memorial service for the local gods and pardon any of the country's criminals. If you follow all I have told you, no other state will dare invade Silla.”After this encounter, Jajang returned to Silla and convinced Queen Seondeok to build the nine-story pagoda. Master architect Abiji of the neighboring state Baekje designed the pagoda and the project was built by Yongchun and his 200 men using wood and stone. The night before the columns were to be erected, Architect Abiji of Baekje dreamed of the fall of Baekje and refused to complete the project. With a peal of thunder, an old monk and a man of great strength suddenly appeared from the temple's main hall, erected the columns, and magically disappeared. Abiji was so shocked at the sight that he accepted his country’s future demise as the fate of the gods and once again restarted work on the temple. (From Samgungnyusa, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)In the twenty-three years following the completion of the pagoda, Queen Seondeok unified the Three Kingdoms; later, numerous scholars pointed to the pagoda as a contributing factor in the unification. Of the three treasures of Silla (the Jangyukjonsang statue, the nine-story pagoda of Hwangnyongsa Temple, and the Heavenly Belt of King Jinpyeong) two were located at the Hwangnyongsa Temple. The largest bell of Silla was also in Hwangnyongsa, but was taken away during the Mongol invasion. The highest monks of Silla preached at the temple, and many kings came to listen to the Buddhist teachings.During excavation work in July 1969, the massive foundation stones of the sermon hall, auditorium, and pagoda were found. Eight years of archaeological excavations and studies revealed the unique layout of the temple grounds, which consisted of one pagoda and three halls; also found were 40,000 or so ancient artifacts. Though foundation stones and other structures from the bottom of the temple were identified through excavation, there are no historical clues about the temple’s upper design, making the restoration of the temple in its entirety practically impossible. The size of the temple, based on archeological findings, was about 70 acres, roughly 8 times that of the Bulguksa Temple. 


Seoul(Gwanak-gu)

Seoul Science Park opened in July 2004 to function as a science education and training facility for students and teachers, as well as a cultural place for Seoul citizens. Admission to the park is free for all.


Seoul(Mapo-gu) , Yeouido・Yeongdeungpo・Mapo

Hangang Park has opened six outdoor swimming pools (including one at Yeouido Hangang Park). Each pool has excellent amenities, including equipment rentals and food and drink services. 


Incheon(Jung-gu)

Incheon International Airport offers tour package for those who are interested in airport facilities and responsibilities. Visitors can see for themselves the daily rountine that takes place inside the airport, making the package popular among children and those who are interested in pursuing a career in the airport and airline industry.


Jeollabuk-do(Gochang-gun)

Dosol valley is located in Mt. Seonunsan, Gochang-gun district. Seonunsan Mountain, which is also called Dosolsan Mountain, is known for its thick forests and intriguing rock formations. Traveling along the valley, one can come across many interesting sites such as Jinheung cave, Yongmun cave, Nakjodae, and Cheonma peak. Dosol valley is also famous for being very deep, where the mountain and water fight each other and whirl around in a yin-yang shape. The green forests in the summer cover the valley beautifully, and the red leaves and white snow decorate the area in the fall and winter.


Gangwon-do(Sokcho-si)

Hollowed into the rocks of Mt Seoraksan, about 600 meters above sea level, you will find Geumganggul Cave. This 23 square meters cave was once used as a place of worship, and contains a stone sitting Buddha and some earthenware. The route up the cave is quite steep, and visitors must walk across a few bridges and up concrete stairways. However, you will be rewarded with a captivating view of Cheonbuldong Valley.The hiking trail from Seorakdong to Geumganggul Cave, which also passes by Biseondae, is 3.6 kilometers long and takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.


Jeju-do(Jeju-si) , The Eastern Part of the Jeju Island

Taking over 5 years to complete, Jeju Mini Mini Land is a spacious park featuring miniature versions of famous attractions from around the world. Over 116 architectural wonders and UNESCO World Heritage sites from 50 different countries are represented in the park. To name a few, the park offers miniature Bulguksa Temple, the Statue of Liberty, the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and so on. The original works are reproduced at 1/15 or 1/30 of their original size. As the first miniature park in Korea, it has become one of the most popular attractions on Jeju Island.Some great attractions are located nearby the park, such as Manjanggul Cave, Bijarim Forest, Jeju Stone Museum, Sangumburi Crater, Myeongdoam Tourist Ranch, Brazil Folk Performance Hall, Jeolmul Natural Recreation Forest, and the Seongeup Folk Village. 


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

The Ondal Open Film Set has been the scene of many popular Korean dramas, including Cheonchutaehu (천추태후), Taewangsasingi (태왕사신기), Kingdom of the Wind (바람의나라), Iljimae (일지매), and Yeongaesomun (연개소문). The set is located within the Ondal tourist site in Yeongchun-myeon, Danyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. In addition to the famous sets themselves, clothes and props used during filming are on exhibit, and models of the drama’s protagonists are available for photos. Visitors are also pleased to experience the many other attractions in the area, including Ondal Cave, a theme park, Ondalsanseong Fortress, Ondalgwan museum, and well-known regional cuisine.


Jeollabuk-do(Jeonju-si)

The Jeonju World Cup Stadium was built just before the 2002 FIFA World Cup games. Its unique design comes from the Korean traditional fan, known as Hapjukseon in Korean. This fan (as seen in the picture below) represents the beauty of traditional Korean design. The stadium grounds cover an area of 562,929 m2, with 1 above ground level and 6 underground levels. This structure seats up to 42,477 people. The design of the stadium gives visitors a dramatic feeling as the rows of the stadium seems to blend effortlessly into the field.


Daejeon(Seo-gu)

Daejeon-si Seo-gu Jangan-dong is located at the base of Jangtaesan Mountain Natural Recreation Forest and consists of a dense forest of ginkgo trees. The beautiful lush valley makes for a great getaway during the summer months. The recreation area features a promenade, a therapeutic forest walk, sporting equipment, and a botanical garden. Lodging facilities include Forest Cabin, a recreation center, and a training center. Reservation can be made through the homepage. Homepage) www.jangtaesan.or.kr (Korean only) * Lodging Fee (day of the check in 15:00 / check out the next day 12:00) - Forest Cabin Party of 6 high season (7.1~8.31) 80,000won / low season 60,000won - Forest Lodge Party of 10 high season (7.1~8.31) 180,000won / low season 150,000won - Training Camping Site Party of 4 high season (7.1~8.31) 60,000won / low season 40,000won Party of 5 high season (7.1~8.31) 80,000won / low season 60,000won