Chungcheongnam-do(Boryeong-si)

Daecheon Beach is located on Korea's west coast in Chungcheongnam-do Province.Clamshells blend into the white sands of this beach that stretches 3.5 km. No matter if it's high or low the tide, visitors can enjoy the waters anytime. A cruise boat sails in the waters off Daecheon Beach, offering visitors a view of white pebbles that line the ocean floor. This spot has been a popular tourist destination for quite some time and the facilities are well made. Cultural points of interest include Jogak (sculpture) Park and Dol (stone) Park. Most people come to this beach to cover their bodies in the thick, mineral-rich mud. The therapeutic treatment is known to improve the look of skin and is even said to help those suffering from skin disorders.


Chungcheongnam-do(Gongju-si)

Gyeryongsan National Park stretches across Daejeon, Gongju, and Nonsan. This spectacular mountain is 845.1m above sea level and was made a national park in 1968. The origin of the word Gyeryong ('Gye' meaning 'chicken,' and 'Yong' meaning 'dragon') comes from the fact that the ridgeline looks like a dragon wearing a chicken's crest on its head. The topographical features are what make this mountain stand out and its mysterious folklore is what makes it so interesting. There are 15 summits on this mountain, of which Cheonhwangbong (845.1m) is the main. Several others include the peaks of Sambulbong, Sinseongbong, and Gwaneumbong. This mountain is famous for its many interesting sites, with its fantastic rock structures, on the west side the Yongmun Waterfall, to the east Eunseon Waterfall, and to the south Amyongchu and Sutyongchu Waterfalls.In the spring, cherry blossoms bloom on Donghaksa Mountain trail, and during the summer the lush green of the Donghaksa Valley is very beautiful. During the fall, the maple trees reveal their crimson colored leaves around Gapsa Temple and Yongmun Waterfall. And the snowcapped peaks of Sambulbong in the winter are simply breathtaking.Gyeryongsan is full of rare animals and plants, beautiful waterfalls and a rich history with mysterious legends and cultural treasures. To the east is Donghaksa Temple; northwest, Gapsa Temple; southwest, Sinwonsa Temple; and southeast, Yonghwasa Temple. Its valleys are full of ponds and falls that blend together perfectly with the surroundings.


Chungcheongnam-do(Buyeo-gun)

Seodong Park (서동공원) is a sculpture park displaying 68 sculptures created by famous Korean sculptors. Mahan Hall showcases the lifestyle and culture of Mahan, a tribal confederation during the Samhan period. The park also features various facilities such as an observatory, fishing spot and a promenade.Gungnamji Pond (Historic Site No.135, 궁남지), located in Seodong Park, is Korea’s first artificial pond and was created by King Mu (from the Baekje Dynasty) who was in love with and eventually married Princess Seonhwa. ‘Gungnamji’ (literally means ‘a pond in the south of the royal palace’ in Korean) was named according to the Samguksagi record.According to a record in the Samguksagi, the History of the Three Kingdoms, King Mu dug this lake south of his palace in the 35th year of his reign (634) and connected it by a 7800-meter long waterway to the water source. The king then had willow trees planted around the bank and had an artificial mound constructed in the middle of the lake.


Chungcheongnam-do(Buyeo-gun)

This granite pagoda from the late Baekje period in Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do has been designated as National Treasures No. 9. It is generally known as the ‘Baekje 5-story Pagoda.’In the past, it would have been called ‘Pyeongjetap.’ As one of two extant Baekje pagodas, this stone pagoda itself is a precious artifact and very important in establishing the lineage of Korean stone pagoda patterns. With refined and creative features, this pagoda exemplifies the beauty and elegance that were imitated in pagodas built in later periods.


Chungcheongnam-do(Gongju-si)

The Songsan-ri Tombs and Royal Tomb of King Muryeong (reign 462-523) contains representative relics of the Baekje period (234~678). The Songsan-ri Tombs contain the graves of kings from the period when Baekje's capital was Gongju, and it is believed to contain 10 such graves. Only seven graves have been discovered so far.The main attraction of Songsan-ri Tombs is the wall painting drawn on the number six tomb – it is the only art of its kind in the world, created from the way the bricks were laid to create the wall. The tomb is shaped like a long tunnel, the top rounded like a dome. There are pictures of fire-breathing dragons on the tomb. Only the parts of the wall where the pictures were to be drawn had earth coated on, and on that earth was drawn Sasindo, the Four Symbols – blue dragon, white tiger, red peacock, and black turtle.The popular Tomb of King Muryeong is the 7th tomb, and it is the resting place for Baekje's 25th King Mu-Ryeong and his queen. This tomb was discovered accidentally when installing pipes to prevent tombs number 5 and 6 from being flooded. Tomb of King Muryeong was found to be unusual in the way it was built and what it contained. It was built with bricks like the 6th Tomb, and many national treasures were found inside, supplying scholars studying Baekje culture with precious research material. There were 108 kinds of artifacts found inside, totaling 2,906 items altogether. Twelve of these artifacts were designated National Treasures. They are all on display at Gongju National Museum. Some of the representative treasures are the crowns worn by the king and the queen, gold decorations for the crowns, gold earrings, necklaces, bronze mirrors, pillows, and foot rests. Recently the tomb was permanently sealed off to protect the treasures. However, you can look at the miniature of the tomb, an exact duplicate of the original, in the basement of the Gobungun Building.


Chungcheongnam-do(Buyeo-gun)

Baekje Cultural Land, built over a period of 17 years, is nestled in Gyuam-myeon, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, providing a home to Baekje’s Cultural Heritages. The complex was used as a filming site for “Running Man”, in the episode starring Jeong Wooseong and Han Hyoju.The site is spread out over 3,276,000 square meters, filled with the trace of Baekje Culture. Sabigung Palace reproduces the scenery of a royal palace during the Three Kingdoms period, and Neungsa Temple, a royal temple representative of Baekje, has been recreated according to the real size at the historic site in Neungsan-ri, Buyeo-eup. The Five-story Stone Pagoda, prominently seen after passing through Daetongmun Gate and Wiryeseong Fortress during Hanseong Baekje Era, gives a different aspect of Sabigung Palace. To enjoy the entire view of the complex at once, get on the Jehyangnu ferry.


Chungcheongnam-do(Asan-si)

Oeam-ri Folk Village is occupied by the families of its founder Ye-an Lee who settled here about 500 years ago. There are about 86 Giwa houses and straw houses with narrow stone fence alleyways between them. When you walk along the stone fences you can experience the deep tradition roots of the historic village. You can see all kinds of trees in the front yard of the houses, such as persimmon trees, apricot trees, chestnut trees, and gingko trees. At the front entrance to the village you can see the totem pole guardian, and daily artifacts of the Joseon Period (1392-1910) such as treadmills, millstones, water mills, and thatched roof houses. The stone fence roads and Yusil wine add to the traditional atmosphere of the place. The most famous houses in the Oeam-ri Folk Village are the 'Yeongam Gunsu' House and 'Ichampan' House. Yeongam Gunsu House has a beautiful garden with thick trees blending with pond and stones. No one lives at the house anymore. Its entrance has a sign which is said to be written by Chusa Kim Jeong-Hee. Ichampan House is designated as Important Folk Monument, and people who live here have been making a folk wine called Yeonyeopju for generations. This wine has also been designated as an Intangible Cultural Asset. It was a wine offered to the king every spring and is made with Nuruk (glutinous rice) and Yeongeun, mixed with fermented evergreen leaves. The entire village of the Oeam-ri Folk Village is called a living museum, because the old ways are so well preserved everywhere. It takes about an hour and a half to go through the entire village.


Chungcheongnam-do(Asan-si)

Onyang Hot Springs is the oldest hot spring in Korea, founded about 1,300 years old and has been operating as a hot spring for about 600 years. During the Joseon Period, it is recorded that King Sejong (reign 1418~1450) and many other kings came here to rest or treat their illnesses.Onyang Hot Springs, with its water temperature at around 57℃, is considered hot even among hot springs. It has a high concentration of radium and its alkaline water is both high in quality and quantity. It is known to be effective in treating neuralgia, arthritis, skin problems, liver disease, high blood pressure, and various geriatric diseases. The combination of the quality of water and famous accommodations nearby has made this hot spring a hot item for many tourists. As there are 120 hotels and motels in this area, the whole city is sometimes known as a hot spring city. They also have swimming pools using the hot spring water, and they are very popular. Every year over five million tourists are welcome here.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Okcheon-gun)

Yongamsa Temple is a branch of the Beopjusa temple. It was built during the Silla period. Unlike the more common temple arrangements, the stone pagoda in Yongamsa is uniquely situated on a low peak in the north with a view on all sides. The twin three-story stone pagodas, which are designated Treasure no. 1338, can be found here, as well as the Baaebulsang Buddha statue, and the Mokjoamitayeoraejwasang seated Buddha in Daeseongjeon Hall.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Cheongju-si)

Opened on May 4, 2001, Midongsan Arboretum in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do is a provincial arboretum, built to develop and propagate forestry techniques and found ecological education environments. Covering an area of 3,114,049.60㎡ (942,000 pyeong), the arboretum houses almost 873 species of plants and 652,000 plants in 11 exhibition halls including an Oak tree hall, a Maple tree hall, and a genetics hall, which presents plant genetic resources like Jeongipumsong hugyemok (succession of pine tree). In addition to the 11 themed arboretum halls, Midongsan Arboretum also has a forestry educational hall, plant seed bank, research center for wild plants, nature experience camp, and more.