Jeollanam-do(Suncheon-si)

Heungryunsa Temple is a Buddhist center of the Jogyejong Order. Located in Jukdobong Park (downtown Suncheon), Heungryunsa Temple is a shrine of the god Sakyamuni (the main statue of Buddha). The site was previously used as an archery range. * History Heungryunsa Temple is a branch of Hwaeonsa Temple, which is the 19th local temple of the Jogyejong Order. It is said that Heungryunsa Temple was constructed during the reign of King Seonjo of the Joseon Dynasty and that the site was used as a place where naval forces practiced archery during the Japanese invasion in 1592. At the same time, the temple was the first military base of monk-turned-military officers from Hwaeomsa, Songgwangsa, and Seonamsa Temples. The current building was re-constructed in 1986 by Monk Jongwon, who is still the chief abbot of the temple.  


Jeollanam-do(Yeongam-gun)

Situated at the foot of Wolchulsan Mountain in Yeongam (Jeollanam-do), Gurim Village is the center of ceramic culture in Korea. Legend has it that Wangin and Monk Doseon of the Baekje Dynasty were born in this village. Boasting 2,200 years of history, the village is home to the Yeongam Pottery Museum, which opened in April 2008 after renovating the previous Pottery Culture Center. The Regular Exhibition Hall displays the history of pottery in Yeongam, from Gurim Pottery of the Unified Silla Period to works excavated from kilns of the Chosun Dynasty. Visitors can also participate in a hands-on program crafting pottery and can purchase local products and tea sets at the museum gift shop. At the entrance of the museum is Siyu Dogi (pottery) Kiln (Historic Site No. 338) that produced the first slipware pottery in Korea; it was excavated by the Ewha Woman’s University Museum. The courtyard next to the kiln is decorated with ceramic chairs, tables, and pots. The museum hosts diverse exhibitions focusing on pottery every year. Moreover, the museum is close to popular tourist attractions including the Wangin Historic Site, Dogapsa Temple, and Wolchulsan National Park. Gurim Village also hosts the Wangin Culture Festival every spring when cherries are in blossom.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Yeongju-si)


Gangwon-do(Yangyang-gun)

Osan-ri Prehistory Museum houses the oldest remains of the Prehistoric age to be found in Korea. The site is not only important for understand the long history of Korea and its culture, but is also invaluable in understanding the general historical relation to the rest of East Asia. As a result, it was designation Historic Site no. 394. Inside the museum is a life-sized diorama, the first of its kind, displaying the lifestyles of prehistoric times and prehistoric relics of the Yeongdong region. The Relics Exhibition Room is divided into six sections, the Introduction, Overview, the Osan-ri Prehistoric Story, the Story of Relics Unearthed, the Mandaecheon Story, and a conclusion. There are also hands-on programs to help visitors experience prehistoric life and culture.


Gyeonggi-do(Gwangmyeong-si)

The Chunghyeon Museum (충현박물관) is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the seonbi (male Confucian scholars of the Joseon Dynasty) culture and is the only museum located in the house of a leading family – that of Lee Wonik who served as a prime minister during the Joseon Dynasty, and was noted for upholding the spirit of integrity that was synonymous with the seonbi. Many relics and remains of classical scholars are on display here.


Jeollabuk-do(Gimje-si)

Located near the entrance of the Moaksan Provincial Park, Geumsansa Temple (금산사) was established by King Beop, or Beopwang, of the Baekje period (599AD). The Buddhist temple features over ten designated cultural properties including Mireukjeon, a national treasure, as well as other attached buildings. The country’s only three-story building containing a Buddha statue, Mireukjeon was built with wood and has a single-open floor inside. In spring, cherry blossom trees come into full bloom from the mountain entrance all the way to Geumsansa; and in winter Buddhist adherents come to bow before the statue of Mireuk bodhisattva inside Mireukjeon or walk in circles around the pagoda. The statue is the largest indoor standing Buddha in the world reaching 11.82 meters of x_height. The two other Buddha statues standing on right and left of the Mireuk bodhisattva are 8.8 meters tall each.* Important Cultural PropertiesMireukjeon (National Treasure No. 62)Noju (Treasure No. 22)Seogyeondae (Treasure No. 23)Hyedeogwangsa Jineungtapbi (Treasure No. 24)Geumsansa Ocheungseoktap (Treasure No. 25)Geumsansa Bangdeunggyedan (Treasure No. 26)Geumsansa Yukgak Dacheungseoktap (Treasure No. 27)Geumsansa Dangganjiju (Treasure No. 28)Simwonam Bukgang Samcheungseoktap (Treasure No. 29)Geumsansa Daejangjeon (Treausre No. 827)Geumsansa Seokdeung (Treasure No. 828)


Jeollabuk-do(Muju-gun)

Deogyusan Mountain Natural Recreation Forest (덕유산자연휴양림) is located south of Muju district. Within this recreation forest, there is small valley full of pine trees that extend toward the sky, creating a cool ambiance.Within recreation forest there are wildflowers, promenades, summerhouses, an observatory, a therapeutic forest walk, and various other facilities. Lodging facilities include a forest cabin, a forest lodge, row houses, and camping grounds. Reservations can be made through the homepage.


Jeollanam-do(Yeongam-gun)

Wolchulsan National Park is located in the southern part of Korea. The name Wolchulsan appropriately denotes "mountain where the moon rises." Starting with the Cheonhwangbong Peak (809m) at the center, the whole area is filled with rocky mountain peaks which all look special and unique. Walk for about 20 minutes past the National Park's parking lot and Dogapsa Temple, and the entrance to Weolchulsan comes in to view. About 5km beyond the gate, you can see Gujeolbong Peak, shaped like nine large pots. Because this place always has water, it is said that a dragon used to live here. Another 500m further along you can see Maaeyeoraejwasang, a sitting Buddha statue, which is designated as National Treasure No. 144. Just beyond the statue a path leading to the top passes through a lush green forest. When you reach the top of Wolchulsan Mountain, there is a large flat granite rock that can fit up to 300 people. Staring down from here gives you a great view of Wolchulsan Mountain. Climbing down from the top, you can cross the arched bridge, 120m from the ground, 52m long, and 6m wide. It takes a bit of courage to walk across this bridge. To the left of Sajabong Peak, around the middle of the mountain, there is a waterfall pouring down into the valley as seven separate falls on top of each other, called Chilchi Waterfall. On the way down to Dogapsa and Muwisa Temples, there is a field of reeds by the road that becomes spectacularly beautiful during fall. The sunset in the west is also beautiful beyond description. In the spring, the azaleas, in the summer the cool waterfalls, in the fall, all kinds of lovely colors, and in the winter, the snow covered mountains and valleys – Wolchulsan National Park is truly a wonderful site to visit all year around.


Gyeongsangnam-do(Hapcheon-gun)

Featuring the highest peak, Sanghwangbong, Mt. Gayasan is composed of many summits each over 1,000m in x_height. From the Taebaek Mountains, the Gayasan stretches from east to west. In 1972, it was designated as National Park No.9 due to its breathtaking scenery. Gayasan is know for its many tourist highlights, namely Haeinsa Temple, which is in the southwestern part of Gayasan. It is one of the three most famous temples in Korea. The Tripitaka Koreana (National Treasures No.32), consisting of over eighty thousand blocks, are found here. The place makes for fantastic scenery with the old temple and the beautiful landscape. In addition, there are other cultural properties such as Jangkyunggak (National Treasure No.52), Stone Buddha Figure (Treasures No. 518) Banya Temple Gyeongwangsa Monument (Treasures No.128) which was designated as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Moreover, Gayasan is noted for its graceful mountain landscape. The water flowing from Gayasan valley meets in front of Haeinsa Temple and flows to the southeast where it forms Gayacheon stream. Among the many valleys, Hongryudong valley (its water seems to turn red because of the leaves' autumnal tints) finishes the grandeur scenery with the several thousand year-old pine tree. Namsanjeil-bong, a peak located in southern part of Hongryudong, is called Mt. Cheonbulsan among Buddhists because it seems like thousands of Buddhist statues cover the mountain ridge. Mt. Cheonbulsan is a favorite one-day mountain climbing course for many. Gayasan shows magnificent landscapes every season with the cherry blossoms, azaleas and royal azaleas lined up on the road to Haeinsa Temple in Spring, the clean water and green trees in Summer, the glorious tints of its autumn foliage along the rock ridges in Autumn and a snowy landscape in Winter.  


Incheon(Namdong-gu) , Incheon Center

The Sorae Ecology Park was once a facility used to produce salt until 1996. It wasn’t until 2009 that it became a park, restoring the mud flat, tidal channel, and making the closed salt field a ecological habitat for various marine life and migratory birds. The Sorae Ecology Park also provides a history to the facility and houses a Nature Learning Center, where visitors can experience sea salt production and learn more about the various wildlife and plants living in the marsh.