Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Located near Bongjeongsa Temple of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Jukheon Traditional House (146th Folk Heritage of North Gyeongsang Province) was constructed in 1886 by Kim Gajin, an independence activist. Meeting the sunrise from this historical heritage is sure to be the highlight of one’s trip. The house follows the square layout characteristic to the late Joseon period houses. The house itself is surrounded by old pine trees that add to the charm of the house. Jukheon Traditional House has four Korean traditional rooms, namely the 2-person Jukheon Gallery, Study, Elisabeth Room and the 4-person Jukheon Dongnong Room. The house demonstrates the traditional beauty of Korean houses like the wooden platform hall built upon the stone foundations, screens, and roofs with exposed beam. The screens open to the view of the stone fence and the mountains far away. Elizabeth Room was constructed to commemorate the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom to UNESCO World Heritage site Bongjeongsa Temple in 1999. ‘Queen Elizabeth Road’ stretches from the Jukheon Traditional House to the Bongjeongsa Temple, allowing the guests to trace Her Majesty’s visit with their own steps. A mill with a thatched roof, located to the side of the complex, allows the guests to experience the traditional stepping mill. The pillar of the mill building is adorned with flags from all over the world, testifying to the many international visitors who have stayed at the house. Guests can also enjoy a free breakfast of toast, coffee, and other simple fare on the open hall of the building.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Cheongsong-gun)

Changsil gotaek (The Old House of Changsil) was originally built by Sim Ho-taek, the owner of Songso Old House, for his brother’s couple. Built in March 1917, the house is a square shaped structure measuring 27-kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns) and consisting of the anchae (women’s quarters), sarangchae (men’s quarters), and busokchae (outbuilding). The name of the house ‘Changsil’ originated from the brother’s wife, who came from Changnyeong and was called ‘Changsil daek’ in Korean. The anchae and the sarangchae are arranged in parallel, with the chaekbang (study) and the gobang (storeroom) situated in between them, together forming the ㅁ-shaped structure of the house. The first building, or ‘sarangchae,’ consists of a sarangbang and a chaekbang between the daecheong (wooden floor). The sarangbang with 2-kan is relatively large. The haengrangchae (servants’ quarters) is a gable roofed building that used to be inhabited by domestic servants. This thatched hanok house also has a red clay room (hwangtobang) for guests.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Yecheon-gun)

Dojeongseowon Confucian Academy (142th Cultural Heritage Material of North Gyeongsang Province), located in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, has been reborn as a unique Hanok stay destination. Originally established to commemorate Yakpo Jeong Tak (1526-1605), a man who saved the life of Admiral Yi Sunsin during his imprisonment, Dojeongseowon is located on the middle of a mountain surrounded by Naeseongcheon Stream. There are 4 rooms in total, namely the Lecture Hall, Euphojeong Pavilion, and Dongjae and Seojae dormitories. The Lecture Hall building is built upon a stone pedestal and has an expansive hall with a great view over the Naeseongcheon Stream. Breathing in the clear air of Yecheon brings one back to the days when the lecture hall rang out with the discussions of the scholars. With a floor area of about 100㎡, there are three rooms in total, making the unit an optimal choice for workshops and other group trips. The most exclusive and beautiful room is the Euphojeong Pavilion, built upon a cliff overlooking the Naeseongcheon Stream. It was the place reserved for guests of the academy, and it is also the best place in the complex to hear the sounds of water rushing down the stream below the cliff. Dongjae and Seojae units include a bathroom, but guests staying in the Euphojeong Pavilion and the Lecture Hall must use a public bathroom outside the building. Ipdeokru Pavilion, which functioned as something akin to the gate to the entire complex, is a seminar room which can host up to 30 people. Standing on the 2nd floor of the pavilion brings one to the view of the Naeseongcheon Stream flowing in an arc around the mountain. Outdoor barbecue grills are located to the back of the Dongjae and Seojae units. Yecheon is a city brimming with scenic sights and historic heritages. Choganjeong Pavilion, the filming site of the K-drama Mr. Sunshine, is located 30 minutes away by car. Other sights like Hoeryongpo Meandering Stream, Geumdangsil Traditional Village, and Yongmunsa Temple are located 30 minutes by car.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Pohang-si)

BENIKEA Hotel Pohang (Formerly Ramada Encore Pohang Hotel) is independently owned by AT Holdings Ltd. and operated by AT Hotels Management Ltd. under license from Ramada International. BENIKEA Hotel Pohang has 90 simple but stylish guestrooms each outfitted with a shower, AC, wireless high-speed internet, high-quality linens, an LCD TV, and a phone. Coffee and traditional tea are provided and each room is soundproof, ensuring guests a pleasant night’s sleep. The business center has a state-of-the-art meeting room and guests can enjoy hotel services such as a simple breakfast meal or drinks. From the HUB, a multi-purpose complex area located at the first floor, guests can engage in all kinds of activities ranging from having breakfast or a cup of coffee to conducting business transactions.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

'Andong City in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province is a town of culture and folk traditions where one can trace the long history of eminent families. It is also a symbol of time-honored tradition to the extent that the name Andong reminds people of traditional Korean hanok houses. Isangru, an ancient hanok house with a history of 2,590 years, located in the foothills of Mt. Cheondeungsan, served as a venue for the memorial rite for Kim Seon-pyeong, the progenitor of the Andong Kim clan and a meritorious government official during the reign of King Taejo of the Goryeo Dynasty. Isangru, meaning ‘a tall majestic building built on frosty ground’, is a two-story wooden building with a tiled roof characterized by elegant curves that form a half-hipped shape when viewed from the side. The house consists of two accommodations, Taejangtaesa and Isangru, arranged in a ‘ㅁ’ shape. The large door located in the middle of the ground floor offers an open view of the beautiful natural environment including a pine grove, a pond, and wild flowers. Built in 1750, this hanok house shows its age in its wooden pillars, stone walls, and interiors decorated with wooden engraving on the handrail. Guests can stay in a room heated with wood in winter, or in a tent for a different experience in summer. The house has been well maintained with various repair works, and underwent extensive renovations, including the wallpaper and floors, in 2013. Although it is close to a road, the house is surrounded by old trees, creating the impression that it is situated in the middle of a dense forest. A path runs between ancient pine trees on the road leading to the house. There is a pond with water lilies and white lotus flowers in front of the house, while various species of wild flowers including big blue lily turf, plantain lily, montane aster, and asters come into full bloom around the house in their respective seasons. Fully maintained by the Andong Kim clan, Isangru is a large structure that can accommodate many people and is used to hold clan assemblies. This tall building is also used as a venue for concerts, seminars and traditional hands-on experience programs for students, including tea ceremony, masked dance, natural dyeing, hanji (Korean paper) crafts, and filial duty education programs. The house also offers guests a traditional nobleman’s dining table including various wild vegetable dishes for breakfast. Isangru is popular among Korean and foreign guests who want to experience traditional Korean culture or enjoy a relaxing stay with their parents amid beautiful nature. In addition, it is located between Hahoe Folk Village and Dosanseowon Confucian Academy in Andong, and offers easy access to other nearby tourist attractions including Bongjeongsa Temple, which is the oldest wooden building in Korea and is just three minutes’ drive away, and the two-hour-long Dulegil Trail.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Cheongsong-gun)

Built in 1920, Chalbanggong Head House is the head house of Sim Dang (pen-name: Chalbanggong), a ninth-generation descendant of the Cheongsong Sim clan. The name Chalbang originates from a local government post (superintendent of the postal station in each province) during the Joseon Dynasty. The house is a historic building that was also used as the local schoolhouse. Its buildings were originally configured in a ‘ㅁ’ shape with an inner courtyard. However, the old thatched mill building was demolished, leaving the current layout of the house as a ‘ㄷ’ shape. It also shares a wall with the Songso Old House. The house consists of rooms with under-the floor heating (ondol), a large courtyard, and a vegetable garden. The rooms are decorated with hanji, or traditional Korean paper, and equipped with traditional Korean bedding. As it is located in the quietest part of the village, the house offers guests an opportunity to enjoy all the warmth and coziness of a hanok coupled with the warm-hearted atmosphere of the countryside.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Pohang-si)

The Pohang Steel Art Festival blends steel, art and cultural activities throughout Pohang's history, including the sun & the moon myth of Yeonorang and Seonyeo (연오랑과 세오녀). It also tells of POSCO's successful rewriting of history in the steel industry through its FINEX method. The festival is the country's only steel festival, and encompasses the local culture and philosophy of the Pohang area, while aiming to create an urban landscape through art.