Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Located inside Changdeokgung Palace, Nakseonjae Hall is a one-storey structure built in ikgong style (bird wing-shaped eaves placed on top of the pillars) with a hip tiled and gable roof. It has 6 kans in the front and 2 kans to the sides (kan: a traditional unit of measurement referring to the space between two columns; roughly 2-4 meters). It originally belonged to the nearby Changgyeonggung Palace, but came to be considered a part of Changdeokgung Palace in more recent years. The hall was constructed in 1846 (12th year of King Heonjong’s reign) and it is collectively called Nakseonjae together with the adjacent Seokbokheon Hall and Sugangjae Hall. The main gate of these three buildings is known as Jangnakdang, which consists of 12 kans of namhaenggak (south corridor building) at Nakseonjae. Upon entering the gate is an extensive yard leading to Nakseonjae. Of the 6 front kans, a single kan on the far right side protrudes out to the front to create a balcony-like loft. Meanwhile, the main building features an ordinary housing style with square foundation stones and pillars placed on top of a rectangular stone base. The furnace and the surrounding areas beneath the loft are marked by unique mosaic decorations of irregular lines and the kitchen doors feature diverse design patterns. At the back of the building is a flower garden made by stacking large stones. The chimney, the flowers, and the oddly shaped stones harmoniously blend into one another to create an outstanding landscape gardening. The interconnected Seokbokheon Hall also has 6 kans in the front and 2 kans to the sides and it is a part of ansarang (inner reception room). The outer corridors skirting the building lead to Sugangjae Hall, which is 15 kans in size.


Gyeongsangnam-do(Geochang-gun)


Seoul(Jongno-gu)

Located on the first floor of the National Palace Museum of Korea, Gogung Tteurak consists of a museum shop and a café. It is open from 9am to 10pm everyday except Mondays. The museum shop has on sale a variety of items with a traditional Korean flavor. You will find postcards, small pocket books, umbrellas, cushions, and T-shirts. Right next door, there is a café selling coffee, ginger tea, gukwacha (tea of a chrysanthemum), mogwacha (tea of a quince), as well as wild vegetable salad, royal tteokbokki, and royal noodles. Foreign visitors can choose the royal tteokbokki and other simple meals that are not too spicy. For information, call the museum shop (+82-2-720-0381, Korean, English, Japanese) or the café (+82-2-720-0486, Korean, English, Japanese).


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

Located in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Jeongdongjin is a picturesque area with a quaint, little railway station standing alongside the sandy beach. Although long since a favorite spot among the locals, the area gained widespread popularity after being chosen as the filming location for the popular soap opera Moraeshigae (Hourglass) and has since become a favorite haunt for drama lovers on the weekends.The combination of the area’s railroad station, beach, and groves of pine trees, makes Jeongdongjin a very peaceful and romantic mini getaway. The highlight of the Jeongdongjin tour, however, is the sunrise. The early morning sun reaching out over the ocean and outlining the dewy silhouettes of the station and surrounding pines is a sight that is straight out of a fairy tale. During the New Year, Jeongdongjin Sunrise Park is the location of the Sunrise Festival and the ceremonial ‘turning of the hourglass,’ signifying the changing year. 


Gyeonggi-do(Anyang-si)

The Anyang Art Park (안양예술공원), located near Anyang station, used to be the Anyang Amusement Park (안양유원지). Built around a swimming pool that uses clean water sourced from the valleys of Gwanaksan and Samseongsan Mountains. The Park is fully equipped with a variety of recreational facilities such as an artificial waterfall; open-air stage; exhibition hall; square; walking path; and a lighting facility. With limpid waters flowing through the nearby valley and lush forested surroundings, the park is an easily accessible resting place near the Seoul metro area.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

At Samjeon Hoejeon Chobap, you can sit back and relax as fresh sushi dishes such as eel sushi, tuna sushi, salmon sushi, and shrimp sushi come by you on the conveyor belt. The system allows you to avoid waiting for food and pick and choose your favorite dishes. Sushi dishes are made of fresh fish delivered daily so you can rest assured that you’re eating only top quality sushi.The restaurant is conveniently located in central Seoul in the Gwanghwamun area near major landmarks such as City Hall, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, and Cheonggyecheon, making the restaurant a convenient stopover during a busy day of touring.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Situated in the heart of Itaewon (a popular shopping town in Seoul), this stylish hotel was opened in March 2010 after remodeling the former Itaewon Hotel. It offers unique designs and chic spaces full of urban sensibilities.Consisting of 17 floors, the hotel offers over 133 exquisite rooms, each of which showcases artistic interior designs with unique concepts. It is also full of excellent amenities: the graceful café Amiga, a members-only Private Club, and beautiful banquet rooms. Itaewon itself is a wildly popular tourist destination among international tourists in Seoul, rendering the hotel an even more attractive place to stay.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Hahoe Mask Museum is located in Andong Hahoe Village, which is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Important Folklore Material No. 122. Hahoe Village is a representative traditional Korean folk town and is the home of the Hahoe Mask (National Treasure No. 121) and the Byeolsin Gut Mask Dance (Important Intangible Cultural Properties No. 69). The museum not only displays Hahoe masks, but also other traditional masks from all over the world. The museum consists of a 1-story main building, a two-story annex building, an outdoor event garden, and a research room. The research room houses a wide range of books, documents, and video-audio materials related to masks. At the museum, you’ll encounter time-honored Korean masks that have long since been used in a variety of traditional mask dances. Masks include Bongsan, Gangnyeong, and Eunnyul masks from Hwanghae-do province; Sandaenori masks (Yeongju Byeolsandae and Songpa Sandaenori) from Seoul; Yaryu (Dongrae Yaryu, and Suyeong Yaryu masks) and Ogwangdae (Goseong Ogwangdae, Gasan Ogwangdae, Tongyeong Ogwangdae masks) from the Yeongnam region; Hahoe masks from Andong; Yeonghae Byeolsin Gut masks; Yeonggwang Nongakjapsaek masks; Yecheon Cheongdan Noreum masks; the Gangneung Gwanno Mask of the Gangneung Dano Festival; the Deotboegi mask of Namsadang nori; and Cheoyong, Bangsangssi ceremonial masks.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Sinsadong・Garosu-gil

Soon after its opening in 1983, the Park Ryu Sook Gallery moved to Cheongdam-dong, an uncharted territory back in 1988. Ever since, the gallery has played a significant role in turning the region into one of the most representative art places in Korea. The Park Ryu Sook Gallery mainly deals with modern art, and contributes to the development of Korea's modern art scene by recruiting and supporting talented rookies in the field, and by introducing artwork of major modern artists from abroad. Moreover, the gallery works to promote Korean art worldwide by joining major art fairs such as the Chicago, Koln, and Basel art fairs. Through these and similar activities, the Park Ryu Sook Gallery works to provide the public the invaluable opportunity to enjoy quality artwork, maximize their own creativity, and take a moment out of their hectic lives to indulge in a little self-reflection.  


Jeju-do(Seogwipo-si) , Seogwipo

If you follow the farm road about 600m to the southwest from Daepo-dong, at the end of the pine tree forest is a cliff. At the base of this cliff is the Jisatgae Coast along with the imposing stone pillars. The Jusangjeolli are stone pillars piled up along the coast and is a designated cultural monument of Jejudo Island. The Jusangjeolli was formed when the lava from Hallasan Mountain erupted into the sea of Jungmun. They are rock pillars shaped like cubes or hexagons of various sizes and almost seem as if stonemasons had carved them out. The administration of the district named them 'Jisatgae Rocks' from their old name 'Jisatgae'. Its 20m cliff makes it a popular spot for high tide and sea angling. The waves of the high tides crashing into the side of the cliff provide a breathtaking view of the ocean surrounding the pillars.