Chungcheongbuk-do(Boeun-gun)

This 600-year-old pine tree stands at the entrance to Mt. Songnisan (속리산) in Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. This old tree, designated as Natural Monument No. 103, is 15 meters in x_height and 4.5 meters in girth. Its branches stretch 10.3 meters to the east, 9.6 meters to the west and 10 meters to the north. Shaped like an open umbrella, this pine tree has long been the symbol of Mt. Songnisan, and has even been awarded the title of a Jeongipum grade official of the Joseon Court. * Legend King Sejo visited Onyang Hot Spring and Mt. Songnisan in 1464 to cure an illness. While passing under this tree, he looked up and saw that his royal sedan chair was about to be ensnared in the tree’s branches. As he called for his bearers to look out, the branches suddenly lifted for the royal procession to proceed. On his way to Seoul, King Sejo was also able to take shelter from a rain shower under this tree. Therefore, he bestowed upon the tree the ministerial rank of Jeongipum.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Chungju-si)

The Jungwon Tappyeongni 7-story stone tower (National Treasure No. 6) is often referred to simply as “Jungangtap” (“Central Tower”) because of its location at the center of Korea. Standing at a x_height of 14.5 meters, the tower is presumed to have been built during the Unified Silla Period. An outdoor sculpture park (the first of its kind in Chungcheongbuk-do Province) has been established in the grassy area around the tower and contains 26 sculptures created by Korean sculptors. The larger Jungangtapsajeok Park is accented by gazebos, small fountains, a hiking path, and is home to the Chungju Museum, an outdoor museum, a musical fountain, 10 sculptures and etc. The park’s convenient facilities have made it a popular leisure retreat for the citizens of Chungju as well as an educational site for children. Chungjujojeongji Dam, located north of Jungangtapsajeok Park, is another popular retreat for the locals.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Okcheon-gun)

Hagye-ri in Okcheon-eup, Okcheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, is the hometown of Jeong Jiyong, the poet who wrote the poem "Hyangsu" (Nostalgia). The Jeong Jiyong Literature Gallery is located next to Jeong Jiyong's birthplace. The gallery has a Literature Exhibition Hall, which is divided  of four parts: Jeong Jiyong's Chronological History, Jiyeong's Life and Literature, Jiyong Literature Map, and Exhibition of his Original Copy of Prose and Poem. At the Literature Experience Center, visitors can learn more about literature through various multimedia platforms. The Video Room shows a documentary about Jiyong's life and literature while the Literature Class is the venue for lectures, poem discussions, seminars, and other literature club activities.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Okcheon-gun)

The birthplace of Yuk Young-soo is the last house on Hyangsu 100-ri gil in Okcheon-eup, Okcheon-gun of Chungcheongbuk-do. Mrs. Yuk Young-soo was born from the house and raised, until to later stage the establishment to fall in disrepair. Luckily, the building was restored in May of 2011, and it became open to the public. The house was originally built in the 1600s by Kim Jeongseung, and subsequently lived in by Song Jeongseung, and then Min Jeongseung, gaining the house the nickname of "Samjeongseong House," meaning the house of three Jeongseong's. (The Jeongseong's rank is similiar to that of prime minister's today.) Before Mrs. Yuk Young-soo was born, the house was bought in 1918 from the sons of Min Jeongseung by Yuk Jong-gwan, and then repaired in the likeness of a typical Chungcheong yangban (noble class) house from the late Joseon period. After entering through the main gate, the large site features a meeting room, outer room, inner room, backroom, servants quarters, annex, back garden, arbor, and lotus pond.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Chungju-si)

Located in Chilgeum-dong, Chungju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Tangeumdae Terrace is a historically significant place that was designated as Scenic Spot No. 42. The place was named Tangeumdae because it was where Ureuk, the celebrated musician of the Silla Dynasty (BC 57-AD 935), used to played the gayageum (traditional stringed instrument). During the Imjin War (Japanese invasion, 1592-1598), Tangeumdae Terrace was also the battlefield where General Shin Rip and his troops fought fierce battles against the invading forces. This is why a monument for the fallen heroes was built at this site. The area is widely known as Tangeum Pak as there are various other attractions around the area such as a monument honoring the patriotic spirit of General Shin Rip, an outdoor music hall, sculptures, grass fields, etc.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Suyanggae Prehistory Museum boasts itself as the largest prehistoric site in Korea. The museum contains a multitude of remains, especially stone toolkits, of the late Stone Age and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The stone toolkits were discovered by a museum of Chungbuk National University while the team was on the project to excavate historical remains around the site that were submerged due to the construction of Chungju Dam. The museum provides detailed explanations and maps marked for the prehistorical sites in Danyang. Visitors can learn the life and wisdom of Paleolithic man in the museum.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Cheongju-si)

Gee Hotel is located in the center of a high-tech industrial complex, which was built to advance Korea into the new millennium, in Ochang, Cheongwon-gu, Chungcheongbuk-do. The hotel provides optimal comfort and relaxation for tourists and business travelers in its spacious guest rooms. It is ten minutes’ drive from Cheongju International Airport and twenty minutes from KTX Osong Station. Cheongwon is well-known for Chojeong Mineral Spring, which is regarded as one of the world’s three best mineral waters, and such tourist destinations as Daecheongho Lake with its attractive scenery reminiscent of a watercolor painting, and the Cheongnamdae Presidential Villa with its splendid views and pure air.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Two hundred meters upstream from Dodamsambong Peaks is a large rainbow-shaped stone gate on the left side of the river. This oddly-shaped stone arch is called Seongmun. With its fascinating scenery, Seongmun is the second of Danyang’s Eight Scenic Wonders. To the left of the stone gate is a small cave. Inside the cave is Okdap (Stone Field), which is believed to have been cultivated by an old enchantress. The legend of Okdap says that an old enchantress who lived in heaven once came to the earth to get water and then dropped her hairpin, just near the stone gate. She looked for the hairpin but was extremely impressed by the beautiful views. She gave up heaven and lived near the Stone Gate as an ordinary peasant for the rest of her life.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Sainam Rock, located in Sainam-ri, Daegang-myeon, is one of eight scenic areas in Danyang, and is located in the southeast side of Danyang-gun, along with Sangseonam Rock, Jungseonam Rock, and Haseonam Rock of Seonam Valley. The Sainam Rock is a rugged outcropping with an inspiring x_height of 70 meters, and the deep blue Namjocheon Stream passes in front of it, located in the southern part of Danyang-gun. Most visitors to Danyang Eight Scenic Views tend to come to the rock as their first destination due to the good condition of the road. Also, Unseongugok Valley flows in front of Sainam Rock. The rock was picked as the most picturesque place among the Eight Scenic Views. On the cliff, there is a phrase carved by Utak’s own handwriting, as well as old pine trees on a rock floor that is reminiscent of the Haegeumgang River. Sainam was named after the great scholar Yeokdong Utak during Goryeo Period. He had taken up a public service to assist a king in a position called sain (사인), and then he retired to his hometown of Danyang, starting out teaching young students. For this story, a governor of Danyang named the rock Sainam to commemorate his achievement during King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Danyang Jeokseong Fortress is a fortress made of stone from Seongjaesan Mountain in Danyang. About 900 square meters of the surrounding area was mostly destroyed, but in the northeast section, the inner wall of the part that was heaped across the wall still remains. The castle was built surrounding the mountain's southern slope and around the summit. It was designated as Historical Site No. 265 in August 1979. Also, the circumference of the fortress is 923 meters, but most of the fortress walls have collapsed. A 3-meter section of wall remains at the end of the northeast part. Three gates were found in the southwest, east, and southeast areas. Inside of the fortress is the Jeokseongbi stone stele. Jeokseong Fortress is also called Jeoksanseong, as the place was an outpost for the Silla army's invasion of the north, where they stole Goguryeo army’s compound. * Historical symbol of Jeokseongsanseong Fortress Jeokseongbi Stone Stele was found in 1978 inside of the fortress. This artifact relates the power struggle between the Silla and Goguryeo. Besides the stone stele, the fortress also houses relics from the Three Kingdoms Period, such as earthenware and tiles from the Goryeo period. Also, the method employed to construct the structure resulted in its sturdiness, and thus the fortress has important value for studying fortification.