Gwangju(Buk-gu)

Gwangju Biennale is an international contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years. Taking place in 2014, the event marks 10th anniversay and will celebrate the importance of being together though the theme of “Burning Down the House (터전을 불태우라).” It will bring together many different people, different times, various roles in arts production, and numerous different positions toward power such as exist  in various social, political, and cultural situations. The biennale consists of an exhibition, several workshops, e-journals, books, and various programs such as residency programs and new commissions. [About the 2014's theme] Burning Down the Houseexplores the process of burning and transformation, a cycle of obliteration and renewal witnessed throughout history. Evident in aesthetics, historical events, and an increasingly rapid course of redundancy and renewal in commercial culture, the Biennale reflects on this process of, often violent, events of destruction or self-destruction―burning the home one occupies―followed by the promise of the new and the hope for change. In the 1930s the critic Walter Benjamin coined the term ‘Tigersprung’ (the tiger’s leap) for a new model of history where the past is activated in and through the present within a culture industry that demands constant renewal. What can the ‘Tigerspung’ mean for today’s ‘tiger economies’ like South Korea in a context where economic and political powers deliver the eternally new of fashionable commodities and industrial progress at the apparent expense of a cultural past? Burning Down the House looks at the spiral of rejection and revitalization that this process implies. The theme highlights the capacity of art to critique the establishment through an exploration that includes the visual, sound, movement and dramatic performance. At the same time, it recognises the possibility and impossibility within art to deal directly and concretely with politics. The energy, the materiality and processes of burning ― the manner in which material is changed and destroyed by flames into the residue of dramatic interventions or remnants of celebrations ― have long informed artistic practice. The transformative powers of fire are central to the way in which this exhibition has been imagined. -Courtesy of Gwangju Biennale Foundation  


Jeollanam-do(Jindo-gun)

Located at the top of Mt. Dorisan in Yeomi-ri of Sangjodo Island, Dorisan Observatory is the highlight of the area, and offers panoramic views of Dadohae and its many islands including Gwanmae, Byeongpung, Nabae, Daema and Soma Islands. The eco-friendly structure provides panoramic views of nearby islands that locals like to say, “appear scattered over the sea like a flock of birds over water.” Visitors can enjoy majestic sunrise and sunset views, and on days with clear visibility, can see Bogildo Island in Haenam and even as far as Hallasan Mountain and Chujado Island in Jeju. Another of Jodo’s attractions is the nature lover spots on Hajodo Island. Jodo is comprised of the Sangjodo and Hajodo Islands connected by a bridge. The entire area is filled with pine trees and has plenty of beach access. The nearby Dondaebong Peak (230m) and the Hajodo Lighthouse offer comparable views and scenic landscapes for visitors in the area to enjoy.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Gyeongju Suhojeong, located in front of the Gyeongju Daereungwon, is a Hanok guesthouse in a ㄱ shape. The traditional house was built in 2015 in accordance with traditional architecture using natural materials such as pine tree, red clay, straw, and others; thus, it is cool in summer and warm in winter. Planted along the wall next to the door are Korean hornbeams, top trees, maple trees, and elm trees. The climbing roses on the wall bloom in May and offer a great sight. The spacious yard with a stone table is a great place to chat with fellow guests. There are seven rooms in total and a cafeteria which doubles as a lounge. Each room with a bathroom has modern facilities that suit traditional beauty. Gyeongju Station and Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal are only five minutes away on foot, making the trip to the guesthouse by public transport easy. Sitting right next to the Hwangridangil Street, the accommodation offers great access to popular restaurants and fashion places of Gyeongju, and to major tourist attractions such as Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae, Balwolseong, Anjapji, and Gyochon Village.


Gangwon-do(Cheorwon-gun)

Located in Galmal-eup in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do Province, Sambuyeon is a 20-meter high waterfall. The waterfall has a mystic impression with water cascading all year round without ever drying and surrounded by strangely shaped rocks. The waterfalls in three different areas, creating a shape that resembles a Gamasot, a traditional Korean metal cauldron used for making rice since the old days. There is also a local legend that a dragon flew into the air from this waterfall, hence the name Yonghwa-dong (yong meaning dragon) for the village. The area is very clean as there are no restaurants and convenience facilities. About a kilometer away is Yeougol Village, which is the site of the legend where a father who once killed a fox almost had a fox marry his son.


Jeollanam-do(Jindo-gun)

Directly facing the South Sea in Jindo County, the Jindo Hanok Pension offers guests a relaxing break from their hectic routine amid the beauty of a traditional hanok (Korean house) built with wood, red clay, and blue tiles. Guests can also enjoy an open view of the blue South Sea and the pleasant and relaxing sound of the waves from the large front garden and wooden terrace floor (maru). The Jindo Hanok Pension offers cozy relaxation and diverse seasonal views while striving to maintain and share the beauty of Korea’s beautiful traditional hanok.


Jeollabuk-do(Muju-gun)

Deogyusan Mountain was designated as Korea's 10th National Park in 1975, along with Odaesan Mountain.  To the east is Gayasan Mountain, the west Naejangsan Mountain, the south Jirisan Mountain, and to the north Gyeryongsan and Songninsan Mountains. The auto campsite, located inside Deogyusan National Park, has a clean and organized surroundings due to the divided grass-covered sections.


Gwangju(Buk-gu)

Gwangju Culture & Art Center is located in the northeast of Gwangju-si and includes a range of representative cultural pieces from ancient times to the modern era. The Art Center is affiliated with several museums nearby including the Gwangju National Museum, Jungoe Park, the Municipal Folk Museum, and the Gwangju Museum of Art. The 4,145-pyeong / 13,700 square-meter center consists of a main stage for performance art, 10 practice rooms, 8 electrical rooms, an auditorium with 1,792 seats and over 600 pyeongs / 1,983 square meters of lobby space. The center, as a performance art hall complex, supports all types of art including opera, ballet, modern dance, theater, and Korean traditional opera. It is set amidst the beautiful Unamsan Mountain area and serves as a soothing getaway for urbanites.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Sangju-si)

The Jeong Jae-su Memorial for Filial Piety was constructed to honor the bravery of Jeong Jae-su who died at the age of 10 trying to rescue his father. It was opened on June 12, 2001 at the former Sasan Elementary School where Jeong was a student. In the Jeong Jae-su Exhibition Room on the first floor, materials relating to Jeong’s filial piety are on display. In the Filial Piety Exhibition Room on the second floor, various materials on general filial piety and works created by students are on display. The theater shows movies on filial piety, including one about Jeong’s virtuous deeds. The theater is also used for seminars and conferences on filial piety. There is also an outdoor performance stage, a facility for traditional folk games, and a rest area.


Busan(Busanjin-gu)

Angel Hotel located near Seomyeon Station, Busanjin-gu has been in business since 1982. The interior of the lobby on the first floor shows very well how things were back in those days. The nine-story building has a total of 61 guestrooms, and the bathrooms have a whirlpool bathtub. It's within 10 minutes away from Seomyeon Station, which is at the center of the Busan Metro System, on foot, making it more convenient for the guests to take a subway to go to many of the tourist destinations in the city. In particular, Jeonpo Station on Busan Metro Line 2 is only 5 minutes away. It’s where you want to get off if you want to visit the famous Jeonpo Café, which is listed as one of the "Top Tourist Destinations of 2017." The hotel is a great place to stay if you’re planning to visit the Seomyeon Youth Streets, Lotte Department Store, and NC Department Store, where there are lots to see, eat, and buy.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gimcheon-si)

Soo Motel, located in Gimcheon city, is ideal for guests wishing to take a break from their hectic routine and alleviate their stress and fatigue in a beautiful natural environment. Its guest rooms are designed according to different themes on each floor. The motel is within easy reach of public transportation including the bus terminal and train station. In addition, Soo Motel is only 15 minutes’ walk from Jikjisa Temple and Buhwang Dam, and 3 minutes’ walk from Yeonhwaji Pond, which jogging course (Yeonkkot Jogging Course) traverses a beautiful environment filled with lotus flowers. Tourists can also experience Gimcheon city’s famous festivals such as the Plum Flower Festival in April and the Grape Festival in summer.