Jeollanam-do(Damyang-gun)

Yeongsangang River (136 kilometers) is one of the four major rivers in Korea. It is the shortest of the four rivers (Hangang River 482 kilometers, Nakdonggang River 522 kilometers, Geumgang River 396 kilometers). The river starts from Yongchubong Peak (560m) located in Yong-myeon in Damyang Country, South Jeolla Province. It runs through Damyang, Gwangju, Naju, and Yeongam and eventually flows into the Yellow Sea at Mokpo through the estuary bank. The river also faces some environmental challenges and extreme weather events have caused flooding that lead to ecosystem loss and habitat degradation. In December 1981, a dam was built and the damage was significantly reduced. The government has also introduced the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project in 2009 with the objective of restoring the rivers while achieving regional development. Under this project, a significant amount of budget was allocated for resolving problems plaguing the Yeongsangang River.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Yeongju-si)

Punggi Hot Spring is located 3 km away from the town of Punggi-eup. It is regarded as the top hot spring in Korea, and the water is 100% natural, containing minerals like alkali fluorine. The area around the hot spring offers trekking at Sobaeksan National Park and chances to learn about Confucianism and Buddhism while exploring Buseoksa Temple, Sosuseowon Confucian Academy, and Seonbichon Village. The water of Punggi Hot Spring contains minerals like sulfur, fluorine, and bicarbonate, which have health benefits such as relieving chronic arthritis, neuralgia, metal intoxication, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, bronchitis, and other ailments. * H₂content S: 1.725 ppm


Jeollanam-do(Sinan-gun)

Designated as a biodiversity conservation area by the UNESCO, Jeungdo Island in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do has become popular. Taepyeong Yeomsaeng Botanical Garden is located next to one of the largest solar-evaporation salt fields, and spans over an area of 110,000㎡. Over 70 species of various salt plant colonies grow at the natural mud flat including glasswort, sea-blite, East Asian seepweed, and Herbaceous seepweed to create a splendid scene. Also, one can easily see Tti (a plant) which can not grow in polluted places. Walking along the 220m-long walking path, diverse mud flat creatures like mudskipper, chilge (crab), bangge (crab) and gastropods can be met with close sight.


Gangwon-do(Hongcheon-gun)

Located at the foot of Jongjasan Mountain in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, Healience Zen Village is considered the Korean first wellness center, surrounded by nature. It is also becoming known as a well-aging healing resort. Owned by Lee Sihyeong who is a noted psychiatrist and a best-seller author, the resort offers various scientific and well-planned programs such as their health experience, menu to strengthen immunity, and professional instructors. There is a digital-detox program which helps to relax one’s brain and body with the removal of the internet, cell-phones and other electronic devices. Ten man-made trekking courses and various eco-friendly facilities are also available on-site.


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

Guryong Falls (구룡폭포) refers to the group of nine waterfalls, varying in size, located over a three-kilometer stretch of Sogeumgang River (소금강), Cheonghak-dong (청학동), Odaesan National Park (오대산). ‘Guryong’ means nine dragons and legend has it that each of the waterfalls was occupied by a dragon. The 6th waterfall is particularly attractive. It is simultaneously the most magnificent and serene of the falls, which is why it is also known as the ‘Gentleman’s Waterfall.’ Two kilometers away from the 6th waterfall, is a curious-looking piece of rock called ‘Manmulsang.’ The name literally means ‘tens of thousands of different looks.’ Some of these looks have earned it to other names such as ‘Giant Rock,’ ‘Phantom-Face Rock,’ ‘Iworam,’ and ‘Candlestick Rock’.


Gyeonggi-do(Namyangju-si) , Namyangju

Sareung is the royal tomb of Queen Jeongsun (1440-1521), a consort to King Danjong. She was perhaps the most tragic royal woman of the Joseon Dynasty.In 1453, she was selected to be Queen out of many candidates and actually became the Queen a year later. However, when King Danjong was forced to abdicate from the throne by Prince Suyang, who later became King Sejo, and was exiled to Yeongwol in Gangwon-do province, Queen Jeongsun was deprived of her title as well.After King Danjong died, she built a thatched-roof house outside Seoul’s Dongdaemun Gate (East Main Gate) and lived there for the rest of her life continuing to mourn her husband.The tomb’s name, Sareung came from the fact that she had missed her dead husband so much.Unlike other royal tombs, Sareung looks very simple. Its size is relatively small, and it does not have the “Byeongpungseok” stone border. There is only a “Muninseok” statue of a civil officer and “Seokma”, a statue carved in the shape of a horse. 


Gyeongsangnam-do(Changwon-si)


Gyeonggi-do(Goyang-si) , Ilsan

The Latin American Cultural Center - Museum was established by former Ambassador Yi Bok-Hyeong, who served as a diplomat in Latin America for approximately 30 years, and his wife, Hong Gap-Pyo, in an effort to raise awareness and understanding of the Latin American region among Korean people. The center has a museum, an art gallery and a sculpture park: the museum showcases Latin American artifacts made of soil, stone and wood, masks and other folk art crafts of the Maya, Inca and Aztec; the art gallery features contemporary artwork pieces including paintings and sculptures by contemporary artists, and holds art exhibitions on a regular basis; and the sculpture park displays masterpieces of artists mostly from Latin America (Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Portugal), along with indigenas (artifacts from India) and promenades of Coyoacán (the historic borough in Mexico City).


Gyeonggi-do(Gapyeong-gun) , Namyangju


Gangwon-do(Hongcheon-gun)

Hongcheon Ginkgo Forest is only open to the public during the month of October. This private forest was planted and has been maintained by one man for 30 years. He settled down in the area in 1985 with his wife who suffered from chronic indigestion. He started planting the ginkgo tree seeding on his spacious field after he heard about the medicinal effects of the mineral waters from Sambong Yaksu at the foot of Odaesan Mountain. The forest remained private until 2010, when its popularity spread by word of mouth. Since then, the owner has graciously agreed to open his private land up to the public for free during the month of October, when the whole forest takes on a golden hue.