Jeollabuk-do(Jinan-gun)

Maisan Mountain has two major peaks made of sedimentary rocks; these peaks are said to be ‘couple peaks’ and cannot be found anywhere else. Sut Maibong (alt. 667m) is said to be the male peak while the slightly larger Am Maibong (alt. 673m) is deemed the female peak. In the early Joseon Period the mountain was named ‘Sokgeumsan,’ but began to be called ‘Maisan’ after the 12th year of King Taejong, who commented that the two peaks resembled a horse’s ears (‘maisan’ meaning ‘horse ears’). All along Maisan Mountain, you will find small crater-like rock cavities that are formed by prolonged weathering. These unique geological features, called ‘tafoni,’ are of great academic value. Inside Hwaeomgul Cave, you’ll find medicinal water that flows up from underground all throughout the year. It is widely believed that once you drink the water, especially on the days of the Spring and Autumn Equinox, you will soon have a son and be blessed by the mountain spirit. Even today, many women who have difficulty conceiving visit the mountain to pray to the mountain spirits for their heart’s desire—the gift of a child. The region in which Maisan is located is the birthplace of many talented people and national heroes, which some say is proof of the blessings of the mountain and its extremely powerful spirit.


Jeollabuk-do(Sunchang-gun)

Located approximately 1.8 kilometers from the entrance of Gangcheonsan County Park, Gangcheonsa Temple was built by Monk Doseon in the first year of Queen Jinseong of Silla (887 AD). In the third year of King Chungsuk of Goryeo (1316 AD), the temple saw the addition of a five-story stone pagoda, built by Monk Deokhyeon. At its peak, the temple was said to have had 12 hermitages and housed 1,000 monks. It was burned down during the Imjin War (1592-1598 AD), leaving only the pagoda, but was rebuilt a few years later by Monk Soyo during the 37th year of King Seonjo (1604 AD). Unfortunately, the temple was burned down again in the Korean War, but was once again restored to its original state in 1959. Cultural assets found at the temple include Chungsinri & Namgyeri Seokjangseung (stone totem pole), the Sunchanggaeksa building, and the Sunhwari three-story pagoda. Nearby tourist attractions include Geumseongsanseong Fortress, Yongso Waterfall, Gangcheonho Lake, Damyangho Lake, Chuwolsan Mountain, Huimunsan Mountain, and Naejangsan National Park.


Jeollabuk-do(Gunsan-si)

The House of Lee Young-choon was constructed by a Japanese landlord named Kumamoto during the Japanese colonial era. The house combines Western, Korean, and Japanese combined into one structure. After Korean liberation, Dr. Lee Young-choon, the first medical doctor, lived in the house. From that time, the house was referred as the House of Lee Young-choon. Thanks to its beautiful exterior, the house was used as a backdrop for films such as Bingjeom, Sandglass, and Yain Shidae, etc. The doctor was considered the Korean "Albert Schweitzer", and his pen name of "Ho", referring to ssangcheon, means "two branches of spring water, represents one for healing physical disease and the other for healing the spirit. He was born in Yonggang-gun, Pyeongannam-do in October 1903. In 1935, through a connection by his professor at Pyeongyanggobo Schoo, he took a position as the head of Jahye Hospital to take care of 20,000 people. In addition, he was the first person in Korea to implement the policy of school nurses as well as the medical insurance union.


Jeollabuk-do(Jangsu-gun)

Seonggwansa Temple is located in the rural village of Geumdeok-ri, Janggye-myeon, Jangsu-gun in Jeollabuk-do province, yet the size of this temple is quite big with around ten buildings. It is said that the temple was established during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), but the history of the temple is not very clear as there are no remains or written documents of the temple from the Goryeo period that remain today. The name of the temple was changed to Geumdeoksa in 1943, but it recovered its original name of Seonggwangsa in 1994. Seonggwansa means that its disciplines are to practice Buddhist teachings and spread the teachings of Buddha. The present temple site includes Daeungjeon (main hall), Seolbeopjeon (preaching hall), Samseonggak Pavilion, Junghwadang, Daegakseonwon, Iljumun Gate, Jonggak Belfry, and a nine-story pagoda.


Jeollabuk-do(Sunchang-gun)

Sunchang Traditional Paste Museum is located across from the Sunchang Gochujang Village. The 2-story building (1,513㎡ in size) consists of a permanent exhibition hall exhibiting Jangnyu (Fermented Sauces) such as red pepper pastes and soybean pastes, a planned exhibition hall displaying cultural treasures of Sunchang, and an outdoor square.At the permanent exhibition hall, recipes for fermented sauces and their histories are introduced, and containers for fermented sauces are displayed. An observation room for the fermentation process and spaces for hands-on experience activities are at the corners. The outdoor square attracts people with a terrace displaying earthen wares that are used to contain the fermented sauces, as well as a millstone worked by horse or ox, and an old tomb from the Baekje dynasty.


Jeollabuk-do(Jangsu-gun)

Waryong Recreational Forest is a clean natural resort created by clearing a portion of a lush forest near the source of Geumgang River at an elevation of 650-1,200m. The trees and valleys with clear water make the place an excellent home for animals and wild flowers. The place also has a swimming pool, a water sled park for children, hiking trails and forest paths.


Jeollabuk-do(Gunsan-si)

The Jinpo Maritime Theme Park was opened in 2008 to commemorate Jinpodaecheop, the sweeping victory of Jinpo in the naval combat against the Japanese forces led by General Choi Mu-seon in 1380. Constructed against a scenic backdrop of the local port and the vast sea, the park houses 16 retired military crafts of 13 models. On display at the park are vintage tanks, historical artillery, combat planes, and warships including the Wibongham Ship, which was a vessel of combat during the Vietnam War. Visitors can even explore the insides of decommissioned warships. The exhibition hall inside the Wibongham Ship showcases the weapons used during the Jinpodaecheop War, artillery made by General Choi Mu-seon, and the typical life inside the warship.


Jeollabuk-do(Gochang-gun)

Along with Geumsansa in Gimje-si, Seonunsa is one of the two major temples of Jeollabuk-do region. Every year, many tourists come to visit the temple to enjoy the valued cultural heritage and the beautiful natural surroundings of the temple. Seonunsa has a temple stay program where you may appreciate the Buddhist culture as well as the quality time of your own. The temple stay consists of such sub-sessions as having a conversation with a monk over a cup of tea, Barugongyang (formal monastic meal), striking a bell, 108 prostrations, Chamseon (Zen meditation), hiking to Dosolam and other programs to experience Buddhist culture while enjoying the camellia flower habitat and other genuine natural beauty of the surroundings.


Jeollabuk-do(Iksan-si)

Nabawi Catholic Church is located in Hwasan-ri, Mangseong-myeon in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do Province and is known as the oldest surviving catholic church in the Jeolla-do region. The church was built in 1906 to commemorate the return of priest Kim Dae-geon in 1845 (Joseon Dynasty) after he was ordained in Shanghai, China. Inside the church stand two monuments: one built in 1954 to honor Joseph Vermorel (French missionary, 1860-1937) and one built in 1955 to honor priest and martyr Kim Dae-geon. Considered the most significant catholic relic of the Jeolla-do region, the church is sought out by large numbers of Catholic visitors each year.


Jeollabuk-do(Wanju-gun)

Daea Arboretum is located on the foothills of Mount Unjangsan in the Sobaek Mountain Range and boasts a relatively moderate temperate due to its inland location on the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. Since the Daea Arboretum is part of one of the eight back regions of Korea with limited access by general tourists the plants in the area have been allowed to flourish with little human interference. The area is also home to about 96 species of animals including birds (the cuckoo, yellow-headed bunting, etc.), wild boar, elk, and raccoons. The arboretum is divided into several areas: a tropical arboretum, a ‘natural monument tree hill,’ an observation center for visitors to compare tree species, a rose garden, and a landscaped garden.