Jeju-do(Jeju-si) , Former Jeju

‘Dombe Meat,’ whose name stems from Jeju dialect and means ‘steamed and sliced pork served on chopping board,’ is a widely popular traditional Jeju Island dish.Dombedon restaurant, introduced in a MBC program, only uses meat from black pigs raised on Jeju Island. The meat is not only tasty, but is also low in fat, high in nutrition, and is said to be beneficial for health and beauty purposes—making it especially popular among women.To preserve local flavor and taste, the restaurant prepares its meat using traditional cooking methods, as opposed to simply grilling the meat like many restaurants in the downtown area do. Thanks to these traditional cooking methods and the power of word-of-mouth, Dombedon has become a must-visit attraction of the region. In addition to the famous dombe meat, the restaurant offers an array of dishes including grilled black-skinned pork, dolsot bibimbap, and chef’s cold noodle.


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

Founded in 1395 by the first king of the Joseon Dynasty, Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeongbukgung Palace. Roughly meaning “may the light of enlightenment blanket the world,” the name symbolizes the resounding dedication that the people of the Joseon Dynasty had in creating a new dynasty. Constructed solely out of granite, its center is an entrance that resembles a rainbow, called Hongyemun. Above that is a gate tower. Gwanghwamun holds a painful memory in Korean history. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, in order to dampen the spirits of the Korean citizens, the Japanese governing general destroyed the gate and built his own government building. The present appearance of the gate is that of 1968 when it was rebuilt using concrete, and it’s location is about 10m behind the original spot. Though Gwanghwamun is the most beautiful of the five palace gates, it was not designated by the Korean government as a national treasure because it is made purely of concrete. The government is now in the process of removing the Japanese building and restoring the palace. Gwanghwamun has its name written on a sign on the gate, and it was personally written by then-president Park Jeong-Hui. On either side of the gate you can see the word “Haetae” facing south. Haetae is a mythical unicorn-lion that is said to protect palaces from fire. According to Pungsujirisang, there was a fire around Gwanaksan Mountain, so in order to protect the palace from fire from the mountain, these fire-eating Haetaes were put beside the gate.  


Seoul(Seocho-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

Mt. Daemosan behind Heonilleung Royal Tomb was originally called Halmisan (meaning grandmother in Korean) because it resembles the shape of an old lady. Daemosan Mountain embraces Heonilleung Royal Tomb, guarding the royal tomb.Heonilleung Royal Tomb houses the mounds for two kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910): King Taejong (1401-1418) and King Sunjo (1800-1834). Heonilleung Royal Tomb possesses numerous stone statues and vestiges, and is a good place to experience the culture of the Joseon Dynasty. Upon entering the grounds, the striking red gate with the taegeuk (yin-yang) symbol appears to draw the line between this world and the one beyond. Passing the red gate leads to a sacrificial building where ancestral memorial services were performed. Behind the sacrificial building is the royal tomb. On the eaves of the sacrificial building are animal sculptures called japsang, which are believed to exorcise evil spirits. There is a pavilion next to the sacrificial building where the tombstone is situated. The royal tomb is surrounded by statues carved in the shape of animals such as tigers and sheep. There is also a statue of a solemn military officer bearing a sword with his horse behind him. The stone sculptures are guardians of the dead king.


Incheon(Ganghwa-gun) , Ganghwado Island

Yeonmijeong Pavilion, located in Wolgot-ri in the county of Ganghwa-gun, is the designated Incheon Tangible Cultural Asset No. 24 (designated on March 1, 1995). While the exact date of construction is unknown, the pavilion was greatly damaged and then rebuilt afterwards due to the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, the Byeongja Chinese Invasion in 1636, and the Korean War on June 25, 1950. The name Yeonmi comes from the swallow tail-shape of Imjingang River and Yeomhagang River ('yeon' means swallow and ‘mi’ means a tail). As the pavilion stands on top of Wolgotdondae, visitors can see Paju-si, Gimpo-si, Gaepung-gun in Hwanghae-do (North Korea) at a glance.  


Jeollanam-do(Jindo-gun)

Jindo Island is the third largest island in Korea, next to Jejudo and Geojedo Island. It is made up of 250 smaller islands, and it is famous for the appearance of a dry road in the middle of the sea, near the end of February and mid June of the lunar calendar. As it resembles a passage in the Old Testament in the Book of Exodus, the event is called “The Miracle of Moses”. When the water recedes, a road about 30-40 meter wide and 2.8 km long appears, which stays for about an hour before being submerged again.Jindo Island has some legends which are still popular today, especially that of “Old Woman Bbyong of Hoedongri”. A long time ago, there were many tigers on Jindo Island. When tigers began appearing frequently in the village, the people fled to Modo Island. In the process, only the old woman Bbyong ended up remaining on the island, so the lady prayed everyday to Yongwang, the god of the ocean, to let her see her family again. Around February, Yongwang appeared to her in her dream and said, “I will send a rainbow to the sea tomorrow; ride it and cross the ocean”. The next day old woman Bbyong went out to the sea and prayed again, and the seawater parted as the rainbow road appeared. Through this road, her family and the other villagers came back to the island. Therefore when the sea parts, the people celebrate this phenomenon by holding the Yeongdeung Festival to remember the Old Woman Bbyong. During the Festival, original folk plays of Jindo Island are performed and draws many tourists into Jindo Island. 


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Myeongdong

Landrover is a casual sub-brand of Kumkang Shoes.The Landrover branch in Myeongdong is located in a major tourist area and is comprised of three floors. The branch is frequented by Japanese and Chinese tourists and boasts casual shoes, sandals, and boots as its best-selling items.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Ojangdong Hamheung Naengmyeon’s feature menu item is Hamheung-naengmyeon (Pyeongyang-style chilled buckwheat noodles), a delicacy of North Korea’s Hamgyeongdo region, and has continued to receive wide popularity since 1953. Their diverse menu consists of Hamheung-naengmyeon, mul-naengmyeon (buckwheat noodles in a chilled broth), wangmandu (large steamed dumplings), and more.Hamheung-naengmyeon is a specialty dish that was passed down from Hamgyeongdo long ago, where the cold noodles are made with starch, then mixed with red pepper paste and raw skate. If the dish is too spicy for your taste, try eating it with muchojeorim (shredded radish in vinegar) to cool your tongue. The muchojeorim is a side dish that can be refilled, free of charge.Other popular menu items include mul-naengmyeon, bibim-naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles mixed with red pepper paste), and the enormously large wangmandu stuffed with meat and vegetables.


Daejeon(Jung-gu)

Located in Daejeon, Rainbow Korean Restaurant (무지개한정식) offers a traditional fine dining experience of royal court cuisine. The restaurant is committed to producing authentic dishes made with locally produced fresh ingredients without any MSG.The restaurant serves over 20 different menu items and goes way beyond standard dishes by offering delicacies such as sliced flatfish, ear shell mixed with vinegar pepper sauce, stirred turban shell, smoked duck, and steamed beef ribs. Separate rooms are available for private parties and a wide dining hall may be booked for rehearsal dinners, 60-year birthday parties, and other special events.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

It revives the traditional Korean Bulgogi recipe that has been passed down for three generations. Using good-quality Korean beef fillet, the dishes make you experience the true taste of Gwangyang bulgogi roasted on a charcoal burner. Scorched rice and cold noodles are also delicious, as well as other side dishes.*Best Korean Restaurant as designated by The Seoul Metropolitan Government.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

Located in Shinsadong's Garosu-gil, Sona offers pleasure to both eyes and taste buds. With a hint of traditional French collaborated into American-style desserts, an expert patisserie prepares a dessert course on the spot.