Chungcheongbuk-do(Cheongju-si)

The Cheongnamdae (청남대) is a presidential vacation villa located near Daecheong Dam (대청댐) in Cheongwon-gu, Chungcheongbuk-do. The former president Chun Doo-hwan was greatly impressed by the scenic surroundings while attending the ceremony for the completion of Daecheong Dam in 1980. The construction of Cheongnamdae started in June, 1983 and was completed in six months (December). Cheongnamdae, built on a 560,000 pyeong-wide area, means ‘Cheongwadae in a warm southern land’ in Korean. South Korean presidents would stay in this remote vacation villa 4-5 times (or sometimes 7-8 times) a year during summer vacation or national holidays. In total, Korean presidents have stayed here nearly 400 days over 88 visits in two decades.There were four presidential villas including the one in Gimhae in the past. During Kim Young-sam’s administration, however, all but Cheongnamdae were closed. Cheongnamdae, which had been closed to the public for twenty years, was finally opened to the public on April 18, 2003 by former president Roh Moo-hyun. Visitors can view a music fountain inside the ecological wetland garden (990㎡), hike a 3.3km mountain trail and visit the Hoban Promenade (8km), or simply take a pleasant walk along a beautiful trail, and enjoy the scenic landscape of Daecheongho Lake.* Geographical Location Cheongnamdae is located in Munui-myeon, Cheongwon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. Encircled by mountain peaks including Oksaebong Peak, Wolchulbong Peak, Mt. Jakdusan and Sowibong Peak, it is completely hidden. The beautiful Daecheongho Lake surrounds the presidential vacation villa as well and many feng-shui masters have declared this spot to be the finest in Korea. * Size1) Site area: 330 land parcel area, 558,000 pyeong (1,844,628.1 ㎡)2) Buildings: 46 houses / 3,377 pyeong (11,163.64 ㎡)


Gyeonggi-do(Bucheon-si) , Bucheon

Housed in a 27,124 m2 building with two ground floors and two underground floors, the Bucheon Botanical Garden houses many rare plants for visitors to see. The building was built in the shape of a peach flower, the symbol of Bucheon City, and has five thematic gardens: the general plant garden, aquatic plant garden, tropical plant garden, succulent plant garden, and indigenous plant garden. At the central garden, 9,975 trees representing some 310 species are planted. With a forest nearby, the botanical garden offers a great nature learning experience for visitors. Together with the Natural Ecology Museum and Children Zoo nearby, it is also a great cultural and recreational destination.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Mungyeong-si)

Mungyeong Confucian Museum is located right next to Mungyeong Ceramics Center at the entrance of Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park. It's a great place to learn all about Confucian culture. The hall consists of two floors with four exhibition halls, as well as a Confucian Culture Experience Room and Archive Library. Exhibition Hall No.1 represents the main space called Sarangbang (a room for male guests in the past) where Confucian scholars worked on poems, paintings, and writings; Exhibition Hall No.2 displays exquisite embroidery pieces that symbolized the culture of women in the past; Exhibition Hall No.3 showcases local Confucian scholars and their works in Mungyeong along with a formative art piece reproducing a Confucian school. Focusing on the culture and art of Confucian scholars, Exhibition Hall No.4 displays the Confucian Culture of Mungyeong and its history; this hall also shows two replicas of Juamjeong (Juam Pavillion) and a local-drinking ritual (called Hyangeumjurye). Visitors can also try their hand at wooden blook printmaking and rubbed copy at Confucian Culture Experience Room. Overall, visitors can really get a feeling for the essence of Confucian culture at Mungyeong Confucian Museum. The area around the center offers outstanding tourist attractions: Mungyeong Campground, Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park (film set for the show King Sejong the Great), Mungyeong Coal Museum, Mungyeong Ceramics Center, and Mungyeong Hot Spring. As a transport hub linking the Yeongnam in Korea’s southeast with Seoul, Mungyeong was a renowned Confucian town with dedicated Confucian scholars. During the reign of King Taejong in the early Joseon Period, Mungyeong Confucian School was established to educate students in Mungyeong-eup, and Geunam Seowon (a Confucian academy) was also built in 1655 during the 6th year of King Hyojong's reign.  


Jeollabuk-do(Buan-gun)

Gyeokpo Beach, located in Gyeokpo-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun in Jeollabuk-do Province, is part of Byeonsanbando National Park. From the beach, visitors can get a close-up look at the rock formations of Chaeseokgang Cliffs. Known for its clear waters, the beach offers a panoramic view of the west coast from the top of the cliffs and is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the west coast along with Daecheon and Mallipo beaches.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Located at the foot of Mt. Hamwol, Gulgulsa is the only temple cave in Korea. The temple was built out of solid rock during the 6th century by Saint Gwang Yoo and some accompanying monks, and was designed according to the architectural structure of India.On the top of the temple stands a sculpture of the Maya Tathagata Buddha and surrounding the sculpture are twelve rock caves used as a prayer sanctuary. Seven of the twelve rock cave sanctuaries are still standing today. Golgulsa’s main attractions are the sculpture of the Maya Tathagata Buddha and the Gwaneum Cave.The Buddha sculpture displays the characteristics of the Shilla Buddha, and is 4 meters high. The Buddha has his hair in a topknot, has a calm smile, narrow eyes, small lips, and a long narrow nose. To protect the sculpture of any damage from the wind or rain, a glass ceiling has been installed in the Gwaneum Cave, which is the largest sanctuary of the seven still existing caves.The main Buddha of this cave is the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, and the cave walls are dedicated to the 108 meditations of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. The Gwaneum Cave has a wall with tiles in front of it, which makes it look like an ordinary sanctuary. But once inside, the entire interior from ceiling to walls is carved all from stone. Golgulsa is unlike any other temple. The road to the temple offers an exciting thrill similar to that of rock climbing. Safety ropes and railings surround Golgulsa. A risky climb up a long set of stairs finally leads up to the caves, including Gwaneum Cave, Jijang Cave, and Yaksa Cave.The Maya Tathagata Buddha can only be seen after climbing the rock walls and holding on tightly to the safety ropes, but only past the cave-like rock that juts out.


Gyeonggi-do(Osan-si) , suwon

The Mulhyanggi Arboretum (물향기 수목원), situated in Osan City, Gyeonggi Province, is a peaceful area where you can come to relax, but is surprisingly located amidst high-rise apartment buildings in the city center. There are many things to see at the beautifully named 330,580m2 arboretum (mulhyanggi meaning water fragrance). There are 16 themed centers, various auxiliary facilities, and 1,601 different species of plants. The Mulhyanggi Arboretum, is a great place for a leisurely walk, and takes around two hours to see in its entirety. It is not so sublime as the Gwangneung Arboretum, but is charming, and offers many things to see as it features variously themed centers. Children will have an exciting time at the Topiary Center, which can be seen from the parking lot, and the Maze Center. Other themed centers include the Pine Tree Center, the Maple Tree Center, the Fruit Tree Center, the Tendril Plant Center, the Center of Native Plants of Central Korea, the Dwarf Tree Center, the Local Crafts Tree Center, the Wet Land Ecology Center, the Center for Plants that Live in Humid Areas, the Warm Temperature Zone and Pteridophyte Center, the Functional Plant Center, the Althea Center, and the Insect Ecology Center. There is also an observatory made from a tree. As indicated in its name, the waters of this arboretum are clear and clean. Tadpoles swim in the wetland and Korean squirrels scurry up and down the trees. The arboretum, only an hour away from Seoul, affords city dwellers a place to relax in peace where they can experience different forms of natural beauty according to the season.※ There are no shops, restaurants, or trash bins. Visitors to the site are recommended to take waste back homes and to be considerate of the environment. You can bring a lunch box and enjoy your meal at the ‘Rest Area inside the Forest’, which is a designated site for eating.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Samneung means "three royal tombs," and has strong ties to history. The three royal tombs house three kings of the Silla Kingdom: King Adala (8th King of the Dynasty), King Sindeok (53rd) and King Gyeongmyeong (54th). King Adala, who cared deeply for his people, mobilized his soldiers to rescue his subjects that were abducted by the invaders of Baekje. After a while, Baekje asked for peace treaty and King Adala released the prisoners he took during the engagement. A kingdom in Japan sent an envoy to ask for friendly relations with the Silla. King Adala’s tomb is 58m in circumference at the base, 5.4m in x_height and 18m in diameter. As King Hyogong died without any heirs, the people of the kingdom crowned his son-in-law as their next king – King Sindeok. During his reign, King Sindeok devoted himself to protecting his kingdom from invasions by Gyeonhwon and Gungye. The royal tomb is 61m in circumference at the base, 5.8m in x_height and 18m in diameter. It was robbed twice, inviting investigations in 1953 and 1963. The investigations revealed the tomb to be a chamber made of stone. King Gyeongmyeong, the son of King Sindeok, together with Wanggeon, the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, successfully thwarted Gyeonhwon’s attack against Daeyaseong Fortress. During his reign, he attempted to establish diplomatic relations with the Hudang Dynasty of China, but was unsuccessful. The tomb is 50m in circumference at the base, 4.5m in x_height and 16m in diameter.


Busan(Dongnae-gu)

Dongnaeeupsong Fortress Site is a representative fortress that combined the mountain and flatland. Built around late Goryo and early Joseon period, the fortress was a fierce battleground during Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. After the battle the fortress was abandoned until being renovated in 1731, making the fortress bigger than before. The fortress had many gates with additional half circle rock wall to protect the gate. During the Japanese occupation, most of the wall was damage with only the walls along Naansan Mountain remaining. After year 2000, Busan-si has attempted to excavate the remains and conserve and restore the fortress site.


Gyeongsangnam-do(Geoje-si)

Sinseondae Observatory, located between Dojangpo Maeul and Haegeumgang, offers picturesque views of the fantastically shaped rocks against the deep-blue ocean hues. "Sinseon" in Korean mean supernatural beings; the beauty of this spot is said to attract such beings to come frolic. The blue and yellow colors layered in the rocks tell a unique history of the terrain. A stairway from the road leads directly to the lookout point.Just past a gas station along the coastal highway, Sinseondae Observatory reveals itself. Walking out onto the rocks of Sinseondae, views of the surrounding islands and incredible landscape open up to viewers. Many commercials and TV shows have been filmed here taking advantage of this amazing setting. April and May are the perfect times to see the bright-yellow rapeseed flowers across the island.


Chungcheongnam-do(Boryeong-si)

Daecheon is located along the westcoast of Chungcheongnam-do. Daecheon ("dae" means big and "cheon" means stream) was so called because of the large amount of water from the region that flows into the nearby sea. Daecheon is home to Daecheon Beach, the only shell-powder sand beach in Asia. It is also known for cosmetics made from the beach mud, fresh seafood, and tourist attractions such as Wonsando Island Beach, the Coal Museum, and Seongjusaji Temple Site. The station moved to its current location on December 21, 2007. The building's sailboat-shaped structure is symbolic of the region's history and reputation.