SJ. Kunsthalle is an iconic place where culture and art figures meet and discuss hosting cultural events from trendy subculture to classic fine art. It has provided a wide variety of cultural platforms for exhibitions, performances, parties, fashion shows and workshops.Constructed out of 28 recycled shipping containers, it has become a special place that offers a unique variety of subcultures that a conventional white cube gallery cannot not deliver. The minimalistic interior and open-space design was employed to foster the inclusion of a wide variety of art and culture into one large space. Now it is becoming an epicenter of cultural and artistic innovation, drawing the passionate attention of trend setters from around Korea, and even internationally.
Situated in Yeongdong (Chungcheongbuk-do), Wine Korea is the only winery in Korea that maintains a vineyard and produces the wine brand, Chateau Mani.Beginning in November 2006, Wine Train run by Wine Korea offers a one-day train tour between Seoul and Yeongdong. Departing from Seoul Station, its passenger cars, themed Red/White Wine or Ginseng, boast an elegant café atmosphere. Above all, visitors can enjoy as much of the wine produced in Yeongdong as they want.Upon arriving at Yeongdong, visitors head to Wine Korea, enjoy foot massages in wine, participate in making natural cosmetics, and tour the wine production facilities. The tour goes on to visit Ginseng Exhibition Hall in Geumsan and Traditional Medicinal Herb Market. High quality wine, wellbeing grape juice, and Chateau Mani cosmetics are also available online for purchase.
The village of Cheongho-dong is now the hometown to many people of North Korean ancestry and is commonly referred to as ‘Abai village.’ The word ‘Abai’ comes from the Hamgyeong-do Province dialect meaning ‘an aged person.’ Many elderly people fled to Cheongho-dong from North Korea during the Korean War; the large number of older residents resulted in the town’s current nickname.The streets of Cheongho-dong are lined with small Korean houses reminding many of Seoul in the 1970s. The simple nature of the town and quietness of the sea make for a unique atmosphere in Cheongho-dong. This area became extremely popular after the Korean drama ‘Gaeul Donghwa’ (Autumn in My Heart) was filmed here. In the drama, the lead actress’s mother had a supermarket in Cheongho-dong. Nearby the supermarket the lead actress often took a boat, which has now become a popular attraction for tourists. Holding up to 35 people, this ‘Gaetbae’ boat operates on manpower (people pulling on ropes moving the boat across a waterway) and can be taken from downtown Sokcho to Cheongho-dong. When looking for a bite to eat, Abai sundae and hamheung naengmyeon are two of the most popular dishes.
Haenyeo refers to female divers who dive into the ocean water to gather various shellfish, seaweed, etc, without using any underwater diving equipment. When diving underwater, a haenyeo carries only a pair of goggles, a round ball-like tube to keep her balance, and a basket to put her collections in. Such women involved in the fishing industry are known to be scattered all around Jeju-do, Korea, Japan, and Russia.
Jeju-do has established the Jeju Haenyeo Museum to introduce to the world the unique activities and culture of Jejudo’s haenyeo female divers. Exhibition Hall 1 is entitled “Haenyeo Diver’s Life” and has a restoration of a traditional haenyeo’s home, and her meals. Also on display, to show a more realistic view into their daily lives, are the various utensils used by female divers.
Exhibition Hall 2 displays a pair of haenyeo divers’ goggles and the fishing spheres they often use underwater. Her traditional working outfit is also on display along with various historical records and haenyeo-related materials.
Exhibition Hall 3 has an underwater theme called “The Sea” and displays the fishing industry’s culture. Traditional fishnets and fishing equipment are on display including small ship models and salt farm models.
The Jeju Haenyeo Museum exhibits various photos of haenyeo female divers and their activities, to provide an accurate picture of their lives. The Jeju Haenyeo Museum also has an observatory from where visitors can see an excellent view of the Hado-ri area, which has a garden with various sculptures and a resting area. The first floor lobby has a souvenir shop where visitors can purchase a variety of souvenirs related to haenyeo female divers.
You can see Sokcho Beach (450m long, 45-80m wide, average depth 1m) after about a 500m walk from Sokcho Express Bus Terminal. The view of its clear water, white sand and the pine forest is beautiful, and the nearby bus terminal makes transportation very convenient. It is also close to Seorak Mountain, and many hikers come by here as they go through Daecheongbong to Seorak-dong from the inner Seorak area. The white sand beach is 2km long, extending through Cheongho-dong, Joyang-dong, and Daepo-dong. The area open to the public is 0.45 km long and 75m wide, making it about 9,000 pyeong. More and more visitors are flocking to the area because of the superb quality of the sand.Sokcho beach plays an important role in displaying Sokcho-si as a great tourist area along with Seorak Mountain, Cheoksan Hot Springs, Cheongchoho, and Yeongrangho etc. On the bulwark, to the left of the beach, there are many places where you can enjoy hwaleo hoe (fresh sashimi). You can also enjoy sea fishing by taking a boat to Jo Island in the open-sea area by the beach.
Daegu National Museum was built to preserve and exhibit the unique cultural heritage of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do province. It is a neat brick building with two basement floors. There are three exhibit halls, a special exhibit hall, experiment study room, audiovisual studio and library. At the Archeology Gallery you can see relics ranging from the Neolithic Era to the Three Kingdoms Period chronologically. At the Art History Gallery you can see and learn about the Buddhist culture of Gyeongsangbuk-do province. Here you can see Buddhist sculptures, Buddha statues and Buddhist crafts. The Goryeo celadon and Buncheong ware are also displayed here. At the Traditional Folk Life Gallery you can learn about the Seonbi culture and the beliefs and rituals of the Yeongnam area, and see traditional Korean houses. You can also enjoy the Outdoor Gallery where a five-storied stone pagoda stands. There are other facilities where visitors can participate in museum activities. You can try traditional dyeing, explore the traditional herbs and learn about agricultural plants. Do not miss going here because this is where you can learn about traditional herbs used for medicine, plants and grains. Resting in the natural surroundings at the wildflower and plant walkway or the Ecology Valley can be very relaxing.
The Korea House was opened in 1981. It is a traditional Korean building that introduces the culture and lifestyle of Koreans, where you can experience traditional architecture and a classical atmosphere. The building was built in the style of the Joseon Dynasty's Jagyeong-jeon building at the Gyeongbok Palace. It is the only building built in the traditional architectural style. You will feel its antiquity as you enter the building. It is divided into the Haerin-gwan (a space for people to get acquainted with each other), the Traditional Theater, and three annex buildings (Munhyang-ru, Nokeum-jeong and Cheongwu-jeong). At Haerin-gwan, you can enjoy traditional music at Garak-dang and try traditional food at Sohwa-dang. In the square of Garak-dang you can view a traditional wedding (on the weekends) or people playing folk games. Also, at the Traditional Theater, about 156 seats are available, and in the afternoons Human Cultural Assets or members of the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and the National Corps members present traditional music and dances. Sinayui, Salpuri, Pansori, the Drum Dance and the Bongsan Mask Dance are the most popular programs for foreigners. The programs are all explained in English and Japanese. In the Cultural Gift Shop you can view various crafts made by traditional craftsmen. It is always open and the crafts are for sale as well. There are pottery, ceramics, golden crafts, knots and embroidery etc; approximately 500 pieces of artwork made by craftsmen from 20 different fields. Next to the House of Korea is the Namsan-gol Hanok Village where visitors can explore traditional houses.
Every facility and training program encourages visitors to actively participate, and so it enables a natural English learning experience in the context of daily life. In a setting resembling a village in an English-speaking country, participants experience various culture from around the world, increase their international social consciousness and realize the value of English as a means of communication. Coaching by kind, native English-speaking teachers helps increase participants’ interest in English and boosts participants’ confidence in speaking to foreigners. Upon completing the camp, students will be more motivated to study English with greater interest and enthusiasm.All facilities have been newly built to simulate a village in an English-speaking country. Students can learn English by enjoying a cultural experience in an exotic environment. Paju Camp is a model English village created by Gyeonggi Province. The more than 700 trainees and teachers residing in the village, and the hands-on training programs and facilities merge naturally in daily life through the 3Es (Education, Experience and Entertainment).Though it is located near urban areas for easy access, it is a suburban English village in harmony with its surrounding natural environment. Through diverse performances and events that occur all year round, the village is more than simply a place for hands-on English learning, it is an English cultural space.
Baekje Cultural Land, built over a period of 17 years, is nestled in Gyuam-myeon, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, providing a home to Baekje’s Cultural Heritages. The complex was used as a filming site for “Running Man”, in the episode starring Jeong Wooseong and Han Hyoju.The site is spread out over 3,276,000 square meters, filled with the trace of Baekje Culture. Sabigung Palace reproduces the scenery of a royal palace during the Three Kingdoms period, and Neungsa Temple, a royal temple representative of Baekje, has been recreated according to the real size at the historic site in Neungsan-ri, Buyeo-eup. The Five-story Stone Pagoda, prominently seen after passing through Daetongmun Gate and Wiryeseong Fortress during Hanseong Baekje Era, gives a different aspect of Sabigung Palace. To enjoy the entire view of the complex at once, get on the Jehyangnu ferry.
Youngpoong Bookstore has six branches as well as an on-line bookstore. Of those, the most famous branches are the Jongno and the Gangnam stores. Since both places are connected to the subway station, the location is very convenient. The Youngpoong Bookstores are not ordinary bookstores. They are exclusive cultural centers that carry all kinds of cultural products. The Jongno branch, located in the Youngpoong Building is spread out over two floors. There are roughly one million books to choose from here. Various kinds of stationary are also available and you can also enjoy fast food at several adjoining restaurants. At the record shop you can listen to the latest Korean hit songs. Since you can reserve tickets there for events and performances, if you see something on the posters that interest you, you can purchase them on the spot. At the large bookstore you will find quite a number of people reading books. Facilities for visitors such as photocopy machines, a gift-wrap center and photography studios are on hand. Outside the bookstore, the streets are directly connected to the areas of Jongno and Euljiro. As one of the most intricate places in Seoul, Jongno offers many places to eat and enjoy oneself. Euljiro has so many buildings that it actually seems like a forest of buildings. If you follow these buildings you will soon find yourself in the area of Myeongdong, another Mecca for shoppers.The Youngpoong Book store in Gangnam is located in the basement of Central City's Young Plaza, the area's giant shopping mall. It is 3600 pyong (pyong = 2.2 m2), roughly 600 pyong larger than the Jongno store. It provides all the latest cultural information and features a book café, event hall, magazine plaza, and information center. Even those not wishing to purchase any books can still spend time enjoying the atmosphere. Central City Plaza also has a lot to offer visitors seeking enjoyment: a department store, movie theater, hotel, car exhibition, game room, record shop, sauna, international conference rooms, bank, post office, medical center, and food courts. Therefore if you feel bored staying inside the bookstore, you can always get out and enjoy the many other activities on hand. The Express Bus Terminal is also connected to the bookstore. You may want to buy a book for your bus ride to the countryside.