Gyeongsangbuk-do(Yeongju-si)

Buseoksa Temple is considered a 'masculine' temple. It differentiates itself from other temples by its huge size and the scenery is refreshing and beautiful. Buseoksa Temple was built in 676, when King Munmu (661~681) ruled the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. ~ A.D. 935), by the founder Uisang (625~702) after he received orders from the King. Later in the 7th year (1016) of the Goryeo Dynasty (918~1392) was in the reign of King Hyeonjong (reign 1010 to 1031) Great Buddhist Monk Wonyung (964~1053) renovated Muryangsujeon (National Treasure No.18). It was renovated several times afterwards.The legend of lady Seonmyo and Uisang is famous. The two met when Priest Uisang went to Dang (Dynasty of China) to study. When Uisang told Seonmyo he would go back to his country, Seonmyo jumped into the sea and drowned. After death, she became a dragon. Seonmyo followed Uisang to Silla to protect and be with him. When Uisang ran against a crowd that had gathered to stop him from building Buseoksa Temple, Seonmyo brought up stones in the air three times. The stone that floated stands on the left side of Muryangsujeon. Because a wide, flat stone had floated above the ground, the temple was named Buseoksa Temple.At the entrance of Buseoksa you will see 108 steps between Cheonwangmun gate and Anyangmun gate. The number of steps represents redemption from agony and evil passions through 108 cycles. You will find Buseoksa Temple's Three Story Tower when you pass the Iljumun and Cheonwangmun gates. Above the tower you will see Beomjongru. When you pass Beomjongru, you can see a pavilion called Anyang, which means 'entrance to Heaven'. Go past Anyang Pavillion and you will reach the main building of Buseoksa Temple, Muryangsujeon, which boasts beautiful curved lines of the building structure.Muryangsujeon is a wooden building made in the Goryeo Dynasty. Inside you will find National Treasure No.45, Sojo Yeorae Seated Figure. There are more National Treasures and relics inside such as the Josadang (National Treasure No.19), Josadang Wall Painting (National Treasure No.46) and the Stone Lantern (National Treasure No.17) in front of Muryangsujeon.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Designated National Treasure No.16, this is Korea’s oldest and largest stone pagoda.The pagoda measures 16.8 meters high with a x_width of 7.75 meters. The pagoda was originally built at Beopeungsa Temple during the eighth century of the United Silla Kingdom [654~935] and is the only remaining relic from the temple.The pagoda is presently located on the estate of the head house of the Goseong Lee family. The sangryunbu, the ornamental top portion of the pagoda, has been totally lost, but the lower tiered portions are intact with beautiful carvings of Buddhist tutelary deity. Traces of tiled roof were found on each story of the tower. Historical records show that the tower was rebuilt in 1487 and that around the same period, three parts of the temple remained. 


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

In Dongbu-dong, there is a 8.35 m (27 4/10 feet) high brick pagoda from the Unified Silla Kingdom Period (AD 654-935). Each brick is 27.5 cm (10 4/5 inches) long, 6 cm (2 1/3 inches) thick and 12.5 cm wide (4 9/10 inches). In the past, it was 7 stories high. In 1598, during the Japanese Invasion of Korea, the top motif was destroyed and the structure was further damaged during the Korean War. The pagoda was repaired in 1962. Rumour has it that the pagoda was once located inside the old Beomnimsa Temple. The Dangganjiju, which is located 5 m west from the pagoda, supports this story. One can see the small place to keep sculptures of the god on each floor. By looking at these with the tiled roof, it is possible to see what style was fashionable. On the second story from the southern viewpoint, one can see the beautiful remnants of the In Wang-sang statue. It is conveniently located on the left side of an open space at the end of the parking lot at Andong Train Station. * Designated National Treasure 56 on January 21, 1963.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Basilla, a 2017 Performance Presented in Collaboration between Jeongdong Theater & Gyeongju World Culture Expo  The Show Has Become Even More Powerful Than Ever!  - SILLA: Basilla, an upgrade repertoire of the Gyeongju Brand Performance Presented by Jeongdong Theater A hidden story from the Silla Kingdom with a thousand years of history  The breathtaking performance you can find only in Gyeongju -      SILLA: Basilla has become an even more powerful and spectacular show, presented by Jeongdong Theater in 2016 as a part of its performance series in Gyeongju The breathtaking performance you can find only in Gyeongju   Jeongdong Theater Foundation (CEO: Son Sangwon) showcased an upgraded version of Basilla, a major repertoire of the Gyeongju Brand Performance SILLA on March 27 at Cultural Center Theater, Gyeongju World Culture Expo. Premiering in 2015, Basill are interprets a Persian epic poem called Kush-Nama in an attempt to incorporate historical content and performance art, and uses storytelling as an important tool that can appeal to the audience. Audiences have highly praised the show for depicting the incredible cultural encounter between the Persian Empire and Silla Kingdom through a new kind of stage performance and stage directing. In 2016, Basilla has returned as an even more intense and spectacular show, with several new features that add more depth to choreography, more sophistication to video design, and a stronger sense of narrative to music. As a part of the "Project for Revitalizing Local Culture" that began in 2011, Jeongdong Theater launched the Gyeongju Performance Brand called SILLA and showcased high-quality creative traditional performances in the local area so as to take a big step towards establishing a theater that produces only traditional performance art. Jeongdong Theater has successfully introduced to the field of cultural tourism a futuristic performance art which can still reflect the history and culture of Gyeongju. Basilla attracted a total of 2.000.000 audience members by the end of 2015 and greatly enhanced its reputation as a Gyeongju Brand Performance.     This year's upgraded version of Basilla ains to differentiate itself from any other local open-run show as a "must-see performance with a high level of performance" by creating more sophisticated and artistic scenes on stage. The audiences will be able to enjoy a more intense, spectacular, and harmonious show filled with artistic choreography with a strong sense of narrative, beautiful costumes and props that reenact the grand culture of the Silla Kingdom and the Persian Empire, video and lighting designs that blur the distinction between reality and fantasy, and great music that successfully delivers the story. Basilla, a repertoire of the Gyeongju Brand Performance presented by Jeongdong Theater, tells a hidden story from the Silla Kingdom 1,500 years ago, and it will soon become the most recognized Open-Run Show in Gyeongju once again.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Goseongissi Tapdongpa Jongtaek (Gosoeng Lee head family estate, 고성이씨 탑동파 종택) is the head house in the family line of Goseong Lee noble family. The eldest grandson of the family is still living today. Constructed in 1685, this house has all of the beautiful features that are representative of Joseon architecture. After this period, additions to structures were added periodically. The pavilion was constructed in 1775. This site was the original spot of the Silla Kingdom's Beopeungsa Temple. National Treasure No. 16, Sinse-dong Chilcheung Jeontap (seven-story pagoda), is located in front of the house.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Ulleung-gun)

Held every August, Ulleungdo Cuttlefish Festival is a fun event promoting its outstanding local produce, cuttlefish. The festival on the beautiful island attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Symbolizing the island, fish gathering lamps from cuttlefish boats shed an elegant glow on the sea at night. The main events of the festival include catching cuttlefish in the sea against the scenic backdrop of the island, riding on a cuttlefish boat, and eating delicious cuttlefish dishes. The festival also offers a fun array of events for visitors: Fishing Contest, Catching Mudfish, Walking on Traditional Roads, and Playing Pumpkin Taffy. In addition, visitors can purchase local produce at Local Produce Market, eat delicious food at Restaurant Market, and enjoy Ulleungdo Island/Dokdo Island Exhibition.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Ulleung-gun)

Dokdo Museum was built in 1995 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Korea. It exhibits the collection of Lee Jong-hak, the first director of the museum, as well as donations by groups associated with Dokdo.The exhibit provides a historical overview of Dokdo, from the Three Kingdoms Era to the present. It also focuses on disproving Japan’s claim to Dokdo and its use of the name “Sea of Japan” to describe Korea’s East Sea. Gallery 1 features materials and maps showing Dokdo as being part of Korean territory before the Sino-Japanese War; Gallery 2 displays Japanese maps showing Dokdo as being a Korean territory, and Gallery 3 displays materials on activities of Ulleungdo Island residents to defend Dokdo during the Korean War. In the outdoor Dokdo Museum, which is currently under construction, natural stones and plants indigenous of Ulleungdo Island can be enjoyed. 


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Andong Traditional Culture Contents Museum is Korea’s first digital culture museum, exhibiting digital contents only, called 'digital relics’ (not the real contents). The state-of-the-art digital museum provides information as well as hands-on experiences with traditional Korean culture. The Traditional Culture Contents Museum suggests a new standard for a museum. This museum is a counterpart to NEWSEUM (News+Museum) in the US and ‘Sigureden’ (a digital museum/exhibition center) in Japan. The museum uses interactive computer technology to reenact traditions and give visitors the chances to learn the values and fundamental principles of Korean traditions. Visitors can experience traditional culture and the spirit of Korea not only from the still exhibits but also through the live stories the museum creates. In this way, the museum suggests a new paradigm of museum exhibition. The Museum features interactive digital contents with which visitors can experience cultural assets. An array of activities includes ‘Click Traditional Sound’, where visitors can listen to traditional folk songs, a song for bier carrying, or dialects; ‘Virtual Relic Experience’; ‘Junior Old Story Talk Talk’, which tells theologies, traditional tales, and myths; ‘Hahoe Mask Dance UCC’, in which visitors can learn how to dance the Hahoe mask dance and make their own user-created content; and a ‘4D Digital Image of Gochang Battle,’ which provides a hands-on experience of a historic battlefield. Furthermore, the museum offers the digital contents to cultural product development and the edu-entertainment, game, and animation industry as a resource to contribute to the cultural contents industry. The museum introduced a new visitor-tailored RFID card system to provide visitor-tailored guide programs. A RFID card containing each visitor’s gender and nationality provides each guest with a customized guide to the museum.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Buyongdae is a cliff about 64 meters high situated where the Taebaek Mountain Range ends. From the summit, one can get a bird’s eye view of the Hahoe Village in Andong. The name was taken from an ancient history of China. Meaning lotus, the name Buyongdae is said to be given for Hahoe Village’s configuration like a lotus flower. Thus, one can get the best view of the village from the cliff. Located near Buyongdae are Ogyeonjeongsa House, Gyeomamjeongsa House, and Hwacheon Seowon Academy.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Ulleung-gun)

Located in Ulleung-eup, Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Dodonghang Port is the port for ferries leaving or arriving in Ulleung-do Island. Ferries arrive here from Pohang or Muhko terminals or leave for Dokdo Island. To the left of the port is the Manghyangbong Peak; to the right, there is Haengnam Lighthouse with its 2,500-year old juniper tree.   Ulleung-do Island is 161 kilometers and 217 kilometers away from Mukho Ferry Terminal and Pohang Ferry Terminal respectively. The journey takes around two to three hours, depending on weather conditions. To the southeast of Ulleung-do is Dokdo Island, which is approximately 87.4 kilometers away. It takes about three hours round-trip from Dodonghang Port. Ferries leaving for Dokdo Island depart once or twice daily and are usually subject to frequent schedule changes due to wind, waves, and other unforeseen weather conditions. Therefore, visitors must confirm the schedule prior to departure. As there are no foreign language services on board, international visitors are advised to have a local guide or someone who can speak Korean.