Gyeonggi-do(Hwaseong-si) , suwon

Yongjusa Temple is 5-minutes walk away from Yungneung (the joint tomb of King Jangjo and Queen Heongyeong) and Geolleung (the joint tomb of King Jeongjo, the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, and Queen Hyoui). The temple was built by King Jeongjo to protect Hyeollyungwon (현륭원), the tomb of his father, Crown Prince Sado.This site was originally the location of Garyangsa Temple, which was constructed in AD854, the 16th year of King Munseong of the Silla Kingdom. The temple was very famous as it was surrounded by beautiful mountains and crystal clear waters. However, the temple was destroyed by fire during the Byungjahoran (the second Manchu invasion of Korea). During the Joseon Dynasty, King Jeongjo moved the tomb of his father, Crown Prince Sado (or posthumously designated King Jangjo), to this spot, and built Yongjusa Temple here to pray for the repose of his father’s soul. It is said that one night before the temple was completed, King Jeongjo dreamed of a dragon ascending to the sky holding a magic ball in its mouth. He therefore named the temple “Yongjusa”, which means the temple of a dragon with a magic ball in Korean.The courtyard of the temple contains Beomjong (the Sacred Bell of Yongjusa Temple, National Treasure No. 120), a stupa (stone pagoda), Daeungbojeon (the main hall) and Cheonboru Pavilion. Visitors to Yongjusa Temple can also find the “Bumoeunjunggyeong (부모은중경)” books, which were written by King Jeongjo on the subject of filial affection and respect for one’s parents. These days Yongjusa temple and the Yungneung and Geolleung tombs are highly valued for their cultural heritage.


Jeollanam-do(Yeosu-si)

Nestled at the foot of Maraesan Mountain (alt. 385.2 m), Chungminsa Temple (Historic Site No. 381) was built by Lee Sieon (unknown - 1624), and was commissioned by Lee Hangbok (1556-1618) after the Imjinwaeran War (Japanese Invasion) upon King Seonjo's (1601) command. The shrine was forced to be demolished by Japan in 1919, and only two sections remained. In 1947, they were then rebuilt by local residents in the end. It was designated as Historical Site No. 381 on June 1, 1993. * Chungminsa Hamabi (stone statue) At the entrance of Chungminsa Temple, Hamabi (stone stuatue) is set up with a 1.4 m-x_height, 42 cm-x_width, and 10 cm-thickness, with the word "Hamabi" written on the stone, meaning "expressing one's respect", and in front of the palace is a Confucian shrine, the birthplace of the sages that symbolizes the temple's significance. This stone used to be 100 m away but was moved to its current site when a detour road was built.


Gangwon-do(Samcheok-si)

Samcheok Hot Spring Hotel is located in Samcheok-si, where it is famous for the mystery cave along the Donghae (East Sea). With alkaline hot spring available all year long, this is the perfect recreation area for anyone who wants to have a healthy and relaxing stay. Samcheok Hot Spring has various hot spring sites, featuring the largest hot spring facilities with hot spring water from Eastern and Southern areas of Gwangwon-do. Spacious parking facilities and a seaside driving course are available, and the newly extended expressway has granted easier access to this city. The hotel tries to fulfill their slogan “Kindness, Cleanliness, and Service” to help their guests to enjoy a more comfortable and exciting stay.


Gangwon-do(Sokcho-si)


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

On the bus from Gyeongju to Bonggil-ri, the sight of the vast blue sea spread before your eyes will leave you breathless. As you gaze at the glittering blue sea, a small but particularly beautiful islet catches your eye. This little rocky islet is the Underwater Tomb of King Munmu (661-681 A.D.), who unified the three kingdoms and became the 30th ruler of the Silla Kingdom. The king gave specific instructions to be buried in the East Sea after his death so that he would become a dragon and protect Silla from Japanese intruders. The rocky island, about 200m in circumference, is divided by a cross-shaped waterway, forming a pool at the center, at the bottom of which is a granite 3.6 meters long, 2.9 meters wide and 0.9 meters thick. Legend has it that the remains of King Munmu’s cremated body are buried under this rock. Historians still debate whether the ashes of the King Munmu were scattered or stored in an urn and placed under the granite. The beauty of the landscape of the underwater tomb reaches its peak in autumn.


Jeollabuk-do(Gimje-si)

The Byeokgolje Reservoir in Gimje is the oldest irrigation facility in Korea. According to the Samguk Sagi (history of the three kingdoms), Byeokgolje was first built in the 21st year of the reign of King Heulhae (330 AD) of the Silla Kingdom. However, this region belonged to the Baekje Kingdom at that time, so some counter that the embankment was actually built in the 27th year of King Biryou (330 AD) of the Baekje Kingdom. Historians agree however that the reservoir was mended by King Wonseong of Silla in 790 AD and by King Hyeonjong and King Injong of the Goryeo Dynasty in 1143 AD. In 1415, King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty rebuilt the whole facility, but it was washed away in heavy rains five years later in the 2nd year of King Sejong. Only about three kilometers of the reservoir embankment remain intact today. Moreover, the original embankment underwent major transformations in 1925 when the Dongjin Land Improvement Association remolded it into a channel for carrying water to nearby fields. In 1975, an archeological study of the sites where the two floodgates once stood revealed that highly refined measuring techniques had been used in the original construction of the reservoir. Thus, despite its many changes, Byeokgolje not only holds significance as Korea’s oldest manmade reservoir, but also as a historical relic that points to the highly developed engineering technology of the past.


Ulsan(Nam-gu)

Ulsan Grand Park is a high-quality green space that was created to improve the quality of life of Ulsan's residents. Since Ulsan City rapidly developed as a center of national economic development in 1960, its residents have been confronted with the problem of the deteriorating environment quality. Despite Ulsan City's positive "growth" image as an industrial city, especially for heavy industries, the negative image it eventually acquired as that of a "contaminated city" and "a city with a poor-quality life" became more pronounced over the years. Thus, the construction of a park became necessary. For this reason, Ulsan City, which has wanted to construct a park since 1986, finally began the construction of Ulsan Grand Park in 1995, together with SK, which plans to return its profits to the local community. The city invested US$59 million to purchase approximately 36 million㎡ of land in Shinjung-dong and Ok-dong, near the industrial tower rotary in Nam-ku, Ulsan Metropolitan City. SK invested a total of US$102 million for the construction of the park facilities for 10 years, from 1996 to 2005, and donated the park facilities to the city of Ulsan. Ulsan Grand Park is expected to help improve the quality of the residents' lives, to serve as a starting point of balanced growth for the city, and to facilitate the conversion of Ulsan from an industrial city to a city where industry and nature harmoniously co-exist.


Jeollabuk-do(Jeongeup-si)


Gyeonggi-do(Yongin-si) , Yongin

Deungjan (등잔, Korean lamps) that used to light up the nights in Korea, and have all but disappeared into the ‘back streets’ of history, have now been gathered together in one place – the Korean Deung-Jan Museum (한국등잔박물관) – where their enchanting flames are once again illuminating Korea. Based on materials that were collected for roughly 40 years by the now octogenarian Dr. Kim Dong-hwi, the Korean Deung-Jan Museum was established in September 1997 as a theme museum of Gyeonggi Province in Neungwon-ri, Mohyeon-myeon, Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province. The museum was built to mimic the image of the fortress walls in Hwaseong, Suwon, and as a result the building bears a resemblance to a lighthouse. The first and second floors of the building, which has one underground floor and three floors above ground, are exhibition halls. The basement floor is a rest area for seminars and a wide range of performances. There is also an outdoor exhibition space that measures around 2,644 m2 and includes native rocks, various types of trees, and a pond.


Gyeonggi-do(Paju-si) , Paju(Heyri Art valley)

Bogwangsa Temple is a traditional temple located on Goryeongsan Mountain in Paju-si. It was built by the great monk Doseonguksa during the Silla Kingdom under the order of Queen Jinseong in the eight year of her reign (AD 894). Bogwangsa Temple offers a temple stay program through which participants can learn about temple etiquette and experience temple life. Activities include attending Buddhist services, participating in prayers of repentance, engaging in Zen meditation, and eating temple meals and learning about the temple tea ceremony. The temple is set against a naturally scenic site and the sounds of the water flowing in the valley mixed with the Buddhist chants result in a calmness difficult to find anywhere else!