Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Apgujeong・Cheongdamdong

This restaurant specializes in boribap (steamed barley). Once a rather humble staple, boribap has been reintroduced as a popular health food. The meal consists of steamed barley and potato, as well as ten types of cooked greens, all mixed with red-pepper paste. Miso soup is also given as a side dish. Add some soup to the boribap for more flavor. Gamjajeon (a potato pancake) and dotorimuk (an acorn-starch jelly) are recommended as good appetizers. Deodeok jeyuk-bokkeum (stir-fried deodeok), godeungeo-gui (a grilled mackerel)and bassak bulgogi (completely baked bulgogi) are the restaurant’s specialties that you do not want to miss out on. *Best Korean Restaurant as designated by The Seoul Metropolitan Government  


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

In an effort to promote the majesty and grace of Korean royal culture and present a major traditional ceremony to the public, the Seoul Metropolitan Government hosts a reenactment of the royal wedding ceremony of King Gojong and Queen Min in the spring and fall every year. The reenactment will take place at Unhyeongung Palace, the original site of the royal wedding ceremony on March 21, 1866, for emperor Gojong and his empress Myeongseong. Based on thorough historical research and consultation by the palace’s counsel panel, the event is organized to commemorate the significance of Korean history and to shed some new light on a fading traditional culture. Event Programs: Garye in Korean refers to 1) a royal wedding or enthronement of the king; 2) a wedding or formal installation of a crown prince or his eldest son, or the prince imperial or his son. Because it is a major national ceremony, it is not uncommon for thousands of people to be mobilized during several months just for this event. Also, because of the strict and complex procedures and formalities of Joseon-Dynasty royal weddings, the procedures were established according to a set of regulations. In all traditional Korean weddings, the groom customarily visited the bride’s house and brings her to his home. The same applied to the king. However, because common houses were limited in space, royal weddings were held at Byeolgung, known as detached palaces. For King Gojong and Queen Min, Unhyeongung Palace was used as the Byeolgung. The reenactment of the wedding starts with Eoga Haengnyeol, a royal procession led by a banner emblazoned with the king’s coat of arms, the yellow dragon. Following the coat-of-arms banner was the five directions banner and other traditional royal trappings. Then followed the Bisuchaeg Uisik, or the formal installation of Min as the queen, and the Chinyeong, in which King Gojong takes her as the queen. The wedding reenactment lasts for two hours. Major Highlights: This ceremony is an exact reenactment of the royal wedding ceremony of Joseon's imperial family. It offers a great opportunity to see royal costumes and the lifestyle of Joseon dynasty. The traditional royal costumes are spectacular and elegant, and the wedding displays such regal and grandeur distinction. After the ceremony, there is a photo session, so don’t forget to bring a camera. * The wedding ceremony is held in Spring (April or May) and Fall (September or October).


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

               


Busan(Haeundae-gu) , Haeundae

Located on the 1st floor of Home Plus Haeundae Busan, the souvenir shop sells a range of souvenirs for visitors to the second-largest city in Korea. The shop also sells the winners of a tourist souvenir contest (2012 Korea Tourist Souvenir Contest and winners of the 2012 Busan Tourist Souvenir Contest as well as the souvenirs created by companies that are certified members of the Korea Tourist Souvenir Association. The store is open from 10:00-22:00.


Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

Woljeongsa Temple is located in the forest of the valley east of Mt. Odaesan, and it is composed of 60 temples and 8 monasteries made into one large temple. Woljeongsa Temple was established by Monk Ja Jang (590~658). At Woljeongsa Temple there is the Seongbo Museum where you can view the Buddhist culture of the Goryeo Dynasty (918∼1392), the nine-story octagonal pagoda, also called as the Sari-Pagoda (relic pagoda), and the Stone Seated Buddha figure. Also there is the Jeokmyeolbogung where Buddha's bones are said to be preserved, and the large sermon hall Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion. Usually in a Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion the Vairocana figure is enshrined, but it is interesting that the Sakyamuni figure is enshrined at Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion at Woljeong temple. Woljeongsa Temple of today was restored after the Korean war in 1950 when the Chilbulbojeon, Yeongsanjeon, Gwaneungjeon, Jinyeonggak and 17 other buildings were burned. Many cultural assets and historic data were lost at this time. The Silla Dongjong, which was excavated from the Seonrimwon site in Yangyang-gun, was also lost. The Budo site (relic site) and sagoji (historic document storage) is nearby Woljeongsa Temple. The Budo site is a 15-minute walk from the Woljeongsa Temple to its location at the Sangwonsa Temple, just before crossing the Banya Bridge. Here there are 22 pagodas that hold the remains of the monks who had lived here. Sagoji is an hour’s walk from Woljeongsa Temple towards Sangwonsa near Yeonggamsa Temple.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Samcheongdong・The Northern Part of the Seoul

The Bukchon Museum Old Fragrance displays items that have been collected from Bukchon, a historical village that was once home to the nation’s nobility. For hundreds of years, treasured items in each household were passed down from generation to generation, but since Korea’s rapid development in the second half of the 20th century many of these became obsolete. Opened in 2003, the Bukchon Museum Old Fragrance seeks to preserve artifacts and present them in a cozy, homey environment where visitors can get a sense of how each object was used in daily life. The museum is full of household articles that were absolutely essential parts of life in the past, such as ‘maetdol’ (millstones used for grinding beans or mung beans), ‘jangdok’ (crocks for soy sauce or red pepper paste), and ‘yogang’ (Korean chamber pots that were kept in rooms and used as urinals at night). Visitors are even allowed to touch items on display to better be able to imagine life in Korea before industrialization.From Samcheong-dong (near Gyeongbokgung Palace) to Wonseo-dong (near Biwon, a royal garden in Changdeokgung Palace), Bukchon is an area well-known for its hanok houses (traditional Korean houses). Thanks to the complex structure of hanok, collectors were able to unearth a wide range of articles hidden in storage rooms, under floorboards, and in attics.Visitors to the museum with 10-15 people in their party may participate in programs that allow them to make old-fashioned toys or take part in making ssukgaetteok (rice cake made using mugwort).Near the Bukchon Museum Old Fragrance there are many colorful attractions worth visiting: the Bukchon Hanok Village, Samcheong Park, The Owl Museum, ToyKino Museum, the World Jewelry Museum, and the National Palace Museum of Korea, as well as royal palaces such as Gyeongbokgung Palace. 


Seoul(Mapo-gu) , Hongik-University-Area

Anthracite Coffee Roasters is well-known cafe in Hapjeong-dong that brings new meaning to the term industrial chic. Anthracite's building was once a shoe factory and the cafe has maintained any of the factory's industrial elements and added modern decor.  Beer and coffee are among the menu selections offered at Anthracite and one of the most popular coffees is the Butter Fat Trio. The coffee roasts are named after famed authors, so visitors can order a "Natsume Sōseki" or a "Pablo Neruda." Anthracite's pastry chef bakes the cafe's desserts on the premises. Patrons can choose from cakes, financiers, madeleines, and cookies.  


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is the first national modern contemporary museum ever opened in Korea and it showcases the nation’s history in a comprehensive and structured way. The museum first opened its door to the public on December 26, 2012. Located in Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, the building where the museum is currently housed was formerly that of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Its current renovated state has 4 open-run exhibition chambers and 2 themed, rotating exhibit halls. Also inside the building is a seminar room, lecture hall, café, souvenir shop and a rooftop garden.


Jeju-do(Seogwipo-si) , Seogwipo

Jungmun Resort is a multi tourism area of Jejudo Island and the largest resort in Korea. It is located on the seashore of Jungmun area in Seogwipo. Its facilities blend in beautifully with its surrounding nature, and in 1971, it was designated an International Tour Site. In the Resort, there are many interesting sites to visit, such as Pacific Land, Yeomiji Arboretum, fishing village for tourists, Seonimgyo Bridge, Cheonjeyeon waterfall, and Jungmun Beach. Also there are great hotels such as Shilla Hotel, Lotte Hotel, and the Hyatt Hotel that are internationally well known because celebrities often visit from abroad. This is the biggest Tourist complex in Korea.The seashore of the Jungmun Tourist Complex (Jungmun Resort) is especially beautiful, and it is often used as a shooting location for movies, dramas, and commercials. A bench in the garden of Shilla Hotel was used in the movie 'Swiri'and the area has become known as 'Swiri Hill.' Yeomiji Arboretum is also a must-see travel spot. This arboretum has 2,000 kinds of rare plants in the greenhouse, and 1,700 kinds of flowers and trees outside. A tour train can be used between the arboretum and the garden, and if you go up to the sky lounge in the middle of the garden, you can see the whole arboretum. On a clear day, you can even see Marado Island in the distance.


Busan(Yeonje-gu)

Established in 1986, the Busan Sports Complex features the main stadium, Sajik indoor swimming pool, an indoor gymnasium, Sajik Baseball Ground, and an athletes' training center. The main stadium was the venue for the 2002 Asian Games and several matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The Sajik Baseball Ground is home of the Lotte Giants, and seats up to 28,500 people. The Busan Sports Complex regularly hosts international sporting and cultural events, while providing excellent facilities for personal as well as group training.