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.  


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Dodamsambong are three stone peaks rising out of the Namhangang River. The big rock is called Janggunbong (Husband Rock), the rock on the left side which appears to be showing coquetry is called Cheopbong (Mistress Rock), and the rock on the right side which is turning away from the big rock is called Cheobong (Wife Rock). The peaks are said to represent an angry wife turning away from her husband who has taken a concubine in order to secure a male heir. It is said that Jeong Do-jeon, a politician who made contributions to the establishment of the Joseon Dynasty, spent his young days here and used 'Sambong' as his pen name.Surrounding the three peaks is a musical fountain which was set up in 1998. The fountain becomes a place for tourists to relax, especially during the nighttime, when watching the water cascade and flow in time with the music is a thing of beauty.


Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

Interesting Facts about the Sheep Farm: Established in 1988, the Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm raises sheep on an area of 195 k㎡, and is privately owned. There are many small to large animal farms in Pyeongchang, but the Sheep Farm is the only farm that raises sheep.The farm features more than 200 sheep. The first thing that comes into view as you approach the farm are the herds of white sheep roaming on the green plains. The sheep grazing season varies depending on the weather, but it usually begins in early May and lasts until the end of October. During this season the sheep are allowed to graze 24 hours. In April, before the grazing season begins, the sheep are all shaved. However, it’s difficult to touch the sheep, because they are instinctively afraid of people and avoid close contact. If you want to get closer to the sheep, go on the ‘Sheep Hay Feeding Tour’ for 3,500 won if you are an adult and 3,000 won if you are a student.The walkway of 1.2m surrounds the sheep’s grazing field, so visitors can view the sheep at all times during their visit. It takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to walk along this path. You may also wish to drive, however walking is recommended. At the entrance of the walkway stands a wooden shack for the backdrop of the movie ‘The Man from Mars.’ The shack served as a backdrop along with a white snowy field where the two main characters finally fell in love in the movie. The wooden shack fits perfectly with the sheep farm, so it was kept after the filming of the movie. Past the shack uphill is the 950m peak of the sheep farm. The cool breeze, the wide green hill, and the blue sky with the roaming sheep offer the most peaceful experience. The path down from the hill is lined with oak trees and 30 types of wild flowers. This area is also famous for its groundsels, a type of wild vegetable. If you want to enjoy the sheep farm in a more romantic way, walk along the path during sunset. The blazing red skies and cool sea breeze will give the most natural romantic setting.The Sheep Farm is open all year round, and the most ideal time to visit is between June and August during the grazing season. You can see the sheep herds and various wild plants during this time. The Sheep Farm offers accommodations, toilets, and benches. If you decide to stay a night, you can try the outdoor lamb chops, or the sagolgomtang.


Jeju-do(Jeju-si) , Former Jeju

Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market was established after the liberation in 1945. Due to a big fire that broke out in March 1954, the whole market and the nearby area was reduced to ashes. The market then moved to its current location and kept the original name. As one of the most popular traditional markets in Jeju, Dongmun has served countless customers, selling diverse items at inexpensive prices. 


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Mr. Kebab is a chain of restaurants featuring authentic kebabs; the first store opened in Itaewon, an area frequented by internationals. The owner of Mr. Kebab has lived in Korea for more than 12 years, but is originally from Turkey. In order to achieve the same great taste as the original Turkish kebab, he hired a chef from Turkey to specially make everything used in the restaurant including the yogurt and bread. The restaurant uses fresh, locally produced vegetables and chicken and Australian beef and lamb. Vegetables are delivered fresh daily and homemade bread adds an extra bit of flavor to the already succulent kebabs.  


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Euljiro・Chungmuro・Namsan

CJ Foodworld at CJ Cheil Jedang Center in downtown Seoul is the food industry's first flagship store to be established. It is designed to reflect the history of industry giant CJ Group, as well as to present opportunities for future generations. As such, it features the CJ The Farm, where rice crops and beans are grown and treated, and 17 food and dining businesses, owned by CJ Group, on the first and basement floors. In addition to dining, there are plenty of opportunities for shopping, cooking and sightseeing at CJ Foodworld.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Euljiro・Chungmuro・Namsan

The Chojun Textile & Quilt Art Museum opened on October 27, 1998 with the goals of preserving Korean traditional patchwork quilting techniques, which are gradually being forgotten, and of exhibiting other countries’ textile crafts. The Chojun Textile & Quilt Museum in Namsan-dong, central Seoul, is the only museum in Korea that displays local and foreign textile art.The museum brings together a number of beautiful quilts and other textiles from around the world that embody the love and spirit of the women who created them. These works include Korean traditional personal ornaments, ceremonial dresses, everyday objects, and traditional costumes of the Chinese Miao tribe. The displays of rare foreign quilts and Korean traditional patchwork quilts dating back as far as 100 years have been attracting a continuous flow of quilt aficionados and international tourists.As you may already know, the term ‘quilt’ refers to a coverlet made of two layers of fabric decoratively stitched together with a layer of cotton in between. A long time ago, Koreans wore quilted clothes and held quilting parties similar to the Western quilting bee. Koreans have long since used various cloth remnants to make quilts.Though the actual type of cloth, pattern, and stitching may vary from country to country and person to person, quilts the worldover represent the resourcefulness and care of the people who made them. At the museum, visitors can compare the styles of a variety of beautiful Asian and Western textile works, which is perhaps one of the main draws of the museum.The museum’s first exhibition presented the winning works of the Japan International Quilt Contest. It then hosted the first Korean Quilt Contest and presented the winning works of the contest at the museum. It has since held several shows featuring quilts and other textile works including “The Manhole Quilt Exhibition for a Beautiful Environment” and the World Traditional Textile Exhibition.In addition to exhibits and various programs, the museum has served as an educational center for textile artists by organizing a number of workshops and seminars. Fast emerging as a favorite destination for foreign tourists thanks to its unique items and exhibitions, the Chojun Textile & Quilt Art Museum plans to hold more diverse exhibitions and contests in the future while continuing to exhibit its permanent collection of Korean textile art.The programs at the museum are aimed at providing the general public with opportunities to get closer to the textile arts, which remain unfamiliar to many, and to help preserve Korea’s textile traditions and promote them worldwide. In addition, by introducing unique textile artwork from overseas, the museum seeks to offer opportunities for local textile artists to obtain new ideas and techniques and gain a wider, global perspective.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Myeongdong

The K-POP RESIDENCE Myeongdong 1 is located in Jung-gu, the center of Korea’s landmark Myeong-dong area. The residence aims to provide the best services and facilities at reasonable prices for domestic and foreign tourists. As Myeong-dong is surrounded by large department stores, duty free shops and various shopping streets, it is known as a ‘paradise of shopping’. The surrounding tourist attractions include Namsan Mountain, Namdaemun Market, Gyeongbokgung Palace and so on. In addition, guests are recommended to sample a few of the delicious Korean dishes served in the nearby restaurants.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu)


Jeollabuk-do(Gochang-gun)

Dolmens are stone graves that were built during the prehistoric era. These stone landmarks are often compared to the pyramids of Egypt and England's Stonehenge. They are mostly found in Northeast Asia and are particularly abundant in Korea where the total number of known dolmen is estimated to be around 30,000.One of the areas with the largest concentration of dolmen (over 447 dolmen) is the Gochang Dolmen site in Jeollabuk-do, Gochang-gun, Jungnim-ri. Gochang Dolmen Site holds more dolmen than Hwasun and Ganghwa and boasts dolmen of a variety of shapes sizes, ranging from those under 10 tons to those over 300 tons.Dolmen at Gochang, Ganghwa, and Hwasun serve as proof that the area was inhabited since the Bronze Age. The Gochang Dolmen Site was officially registered with UNESCO on November 29, 2000.