Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Samcheongdong・The Northern Part of the Seoul

Boasting over 600 years of history, The Bukchon Cultural Center is situated inside the traditional Bukchon Hanok Village, a narrow series of roads between Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo.The Bukchon Cultural Center immerses visitors in a traditional Korean atmosphere as it is centered between two of Seoul’s main royal palaces. A traditional experience hall and hanok-style restaurant were recently built inside the complex, presenting a more enjoyable experience for all visitors.The Bukchon Cultural Center is a traditional Korean-style building called Hanok Gaok and not only provides a genuine traditional Korean atmosphere, but also offers cultural programs that educate visitors on Korea’s history and traditions. Classes are also available with lectures lead by specialists covering a host of topics, and special extended lecture programs that last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Registration can be made over the phone after selecting the lecture of your choice. However, be aware that all classes are conducted in Korean only, so you may need to bring a guide or someone who will be able to translate for you. 


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Located in Gahoe-dong (Jongno-gu), Myeongin Museum is the only museum in Seoul that specializes in masks, including traditional Korean masks and masks from around the world. Visitors can find the "Myeongin Collection" on the first floor and a large exhibition hall on the first basement level. The museum is home to over 500 rare masks collected by its director over the course of 30 years from Korea and countries around the world. Masks at the museum reflect the unique cultures of countries from all over Africa, Oceania, Latin America, India, Tibet, Nepal, China, Japan, and East Asia. In addition to these fascinating masks, the Myeongin Collection further offers visitors a look into culture with a number of Buddhist sculptures, Buddhist paintings, Buddhist crafts, ceramics, modern art, and western paintings. 


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

The Seoul Color Park spans over 9,000㎡ of land next to Hangang River under the Mapo Bridge. It features a large wave-shaped sculpture, as well as bar code graphics and benches painted with 10 different colors that have been designed as the Colors of Seoul. In the 'Seoul Color' scheme, dark gray represents the traditional 'giwa' roof tiles, red represents the 'dancheong' pattern used in traditional wooden buildings, green represents Namsan Mountain, and orange represents flowers. Other colors include light gray, beige, blue, yellow, brown and white.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

The Plateau (formerly Rodin Gallery) is a cultural relaxation site where you can appreciate the works of Rodin, including ‘The Gates of Hell’ and ‘The Burghers of Calais.’ The Glass Pavilion, a permanent exhibition hall, is entirely decorated in semi-transparent glass to allow viewers to appreciate Rodin’s famous pieces under natural light. These glass walls and the ceiling slanted in the direction of ‘The Gates of Hell’ were inspired by Rodin’s masterpiece 'Cathedral.' The building itself aspires to vitalize the artistic spirit of Rodin.At the planning gallery halls you can see other art pieces aside from Rodin’s. These are pieces by contemporary artists both foreign and domestic, who left great works in art history.


Gyeonggi-do(Goyang-si) , Ilsan

Ilsan Lake Park spans over 300,000 pyeong (991,800 square meters), making it one of the largest man-made parks in Asia. Around 90,000 pyeong of fresh water lakes are kept consistently clean. The park offers visitors a lot to see and do including the Riverside Square, artificial islands, a 4.7km bike path, children’s play ground, natural experience site, musical fountain, 100 species of wild flowers and a dense forest with 200,000 trees. Also, the park is known for its Goyang International Flower Foundation.


Seoul(Songpa-gu)

Established in December 1984, Seoul Nori Madang (서울놀이마당) offers diverse traditional performances on an outdoor stage to promote Korean folk plays and culture among the public. Performances are regularly held every weekend; it hosts over 120 performances every year and each performance attracts over 1,300 visitors. Within Seoul Nori Madang is Songpa Folk Preservation Association (+82-2-412-8665), which offers seminars on folk plays—Songpa Sandae Nori (a mask play) and Songpa Baekjung Nori (a play performed on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month)—for students at no charge.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Samcheongdong・The Northern Part of the Seoul

Opened in 2002, Gahoe Museum has on exhibit, folk paintings and amulets reflecting the lifestyle and wishes of the Korean people from ancient times. Inside the Hanok gallery, visitors can immerse themselves in the traditions of Korea. You will find old paintings of the common people, paintings of religious beliefs, and roof tiles in the shape of human beings or goblins. You will also find folding screens made of amulets and see the wisdom of people in the old days to overcome difficult times through a variety of amulets. Guided tours of exhibits are available from Tuesday through Friday in English and Japanese.After viewing, you can participate in regular hands-on programs inside the gallery. For a small fee, you can choose a program of your liking that runs from 10am to 5pm. The programs can accommodate up to 20 to 25 people. There are many participants on weekends so before visiting, call in advance for availability (+82-2-741-0466, Korean and Japanese). Instructions are given only in Korean, so foreigners are advised to come with a local guide.


Gyeonggi-do(Gwangju-si)

Hwadam Botanic Garden is an eco-friendly arboretum located within Konjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, a 40 min drive away from Seoul. In effort to revive the country's forest ecosystem, LG Evergreen Foundation brought in approximately 4,300 types of exquisite and domestic plants to form a forest park divided into 17 themes. "Hwadam" can be translated into "a friendly communication," a name given to the forest in hopes that the area serves as a mean for people to communicate with nature. While the forest is designed to offer an environmentally friendly atmosphere, the ecosystem and habitats of the forest are well-preserved, serving as a home to many living species.


Gangwon-do(Sokcho-si)

The Cheoksan Spa region’s hot springs water features a slightly blue radiance.The Cheoksan hot springs water is known to be beneficial for people with skin diseases, eye diseases, gastroenteric disorders, and neuralgia. Not only are the waters soft and great for your skin, but drinking the water is said to beautify the skin and improve blood circulation.The Cheoksan hot springs region is located a mere 10 minutes away from one of Korea’s most beautiful mountain ranges, the Seoraksan Mountains, and so the resort is the perfect place to relax and relieve your fatigue after an invigorating hike.


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

Mapo Art Center is an innovative cultural art space near college campuses including Hongik and Seogang universities. Art Hall Mac, operated by Mapo Art Center is a fascinating performance hall for a wide range of cultural events. The art hall boasts a stunning exterior as well as finely-appointed facilities that allow the audience to enjoy a diverse genre of performances. The art hall consists of two sections of Play Mac (for smaller performances like puppet shows, solo concerts and children’s performances) and Gallery Mac (where visitors engage in interactive programs). The center also has diverse leisure facilities such as a swimming pool, gym, fitness center, golf club as well as a training center. Other amenities available include a powder room, multi-purpose hall, training room, playpen, and Sky Park.