Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Silla Arts and Science Museum is located in Gyeongju Folk Craft Village, and displays miniature models of cultural assets in the region in order to promote the scientific principles of the cultural properties. On the first floor of the museum are cultural items including Sillawanggyeongdo, unearthed relics from Hwangnamdaechong Tomb and a reconstruction of relics from Namsan Mountain. The second floor houses a golden crown of Silla and Baekje, and Tripitaka Koreana of Haeinsa Temple. The basement has miniatures of Seokguram Grotto and Gunwisamjonseokbul in Palgongsan Mountain. Outside the museum, Gameunsaji and Cheomseongdae observatory are on display. The museum is unique for promoting scientific preservation methods of cultural relics based on a thorough analysis of their structure and genuine beauty.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok (성덕대왕신종), the largest Korean bell preserved, stands 3.75m tall, has a lip diameter of 2.27m, and is 11-25cm wide. In 1997, Gyeongju National Museum weighed it at 18.9 tons. The bell was cast to pay tribute to the memory of King Seongdeok. It was completed in 771 and named ‘The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok.’ However, because the bell was installed at Bongdeoksa Temple, it has also been called the Bell of Bongdeoksa. The bell is also known as the Emile Bell (에밀레종), a name derived from an ancient legend in which a child was sacrificed in order to give sound to the bell, whose echoes of ‘em-ee-leh’ resemble the traditional Korean word for "mommy." The tubular sound pipe at the top of the bell that helps the sound reverberate is a unique feature that can be found only in Korean bells. The yongnyu, which servers as a loop to hang the bell, has been decorated to resemble a dragon’s head. A band of arabesque patterns can be found at the shoulder, and the striking point of the bell is in the shape of a lotus flower. The magnificent design and inscription methods used in this bell exemplify the craftsmanship of artisan’s from the Unified Silla period. The bell is also inscribed with over one thousand Chinese characters, and its beauty and integrity have been meticulously preserved despite the passage of over 1,300 years.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Sangju-si)

Sangju-si in Gyeongsangbuk-do is known as Gamgoeul (literally "persimmon village") since it exports a large quantity of persimmons annually. Naturally, there are many local stories related to the fruit. Every autumn as persimmons ripen, the city holds a festival to celebrate its specialty and to continue the tradition of telling its Gamgoeul stories. The Sanju Gamgoeul Story Festival puts on major programs, including an opening ceremony, performances, and various hands-on experience programs.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Samneung means "three royal tombs," and has strong ties to history. The three royal tombs house three kings of the Silla Kingdom: King Adala (8th King of the Dynasty), King Sindeok (53rd) and King Gyeongmyeong (54th). King Adala, who cared deeply for his people, mobilized his soldiers to rescue his subjects that were abducted by the invaders of Baekje. After a while, Baekje asked for peace treaty and King Adala released the prisoners he took during the engagement. A kingdom in Japan sent an envoy to ask for friendly relations with the Silla. King Adala’s tomb is 58m in circumference at the base, 5.4m in x_height and 18m in diameter. As King Hyogong died without any heirs, the people of the kingdom crowned his son-in-law as their next king – King Sindeok. During his reign, King Sindeok devoted himself to protecting his kingdom from invasions by Gyeonhwon and Gungye. The royal tomb is 61m in circumference at the base, 5.8m in x_height and 18m in diameter. It was robbed twice, inviting investigations in 1953 and 1963. The investigations revealed the tomb to be a chamber made of stone. King Gyeongmyeong, the son of King Sindeok, together with Wanggeon, the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, successfully thwarted Gyeonhwon’s attack against Daeyaseong Fortress. During his reign, he attempted to establish diplomatic relations with the Hudang Dynasty of China, but was unsuccessful. The tomb is 50m in circumference at the base, 4.5m in x_height and 16m in diameter.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Cheongdo-gun)

Yongam Spa & Tourist Hotel offers a multitude of facilities for the comfort of guests. In addition to the standard public bathing, the hotel offers aqua therapy for healing and health. The 43-degree waters are pumped from 1008m underground for use in the body pool, aqua therapy, themed pools, well-being rooms, health room and more.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

King Naemul was the 17th monarch of the Silla Kingdom (in power from 356 to 402) and became the second king of the Kim family name. King Naemul was known as the first king to initiate the king title of ‘Maripgan’ and was known for spreading cultural advancements from China to the Korean people. When the allied forces of Baekje and Japan attacked, he asked Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo for help and led the people to victory, contributing to the increased strength of the Silla Kingdom. After his rule, the throne was exclusively ceded to members of the Kim family clan. The royal tomb of King Naemul is a large mound (2.2m in diameter and 5.3m in x_height) that sits on the northern hill of the Confucian school of Gyeongju. The edge of a natural stone is exposed around the bottom of the mound, pointing to the fact that the inner chamber tomb was made of stone. In the historical document Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), no records are found about the tomb, but the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) describes the king’s tomb as being located in the southwest of Cheomseongdae, which is consistent with the tomb’s location.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Opened in 1983 as an official market, Gyeongju Jungang Market has almost a hundred years of history. Nearly 700 stores selling clothing, oils, rice cakes, vegetables, general goods, and meat operate with nerly 2,000 workers. The market is held every fifth day, on 2nd and 7th day of each month.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

This is the Royal Tomb of King Muyeol (무열왕릉) the 29th of the Silla Kingdom (654-661). He allied his forces with those of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and unified the Korean peninsula. This large tomb is 114 meters in circumference and 8.7 meters in x_height. Natural stones were piled on the bottom of the tomb, and they remain buried underground. The monument stone is gone, leaving only the turtle-shaped base stone and the dragon-carved head stone. Carved in relief is the inscription “Taejongmuyeolwangneungbi” (태종무열왕릉비), which indicates the owner of this monument.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Seongju-gun)

Gaya hotel is located 560m above the sea level, in Gayasan National Park, which is one of the cleanest area in Korea. The popular temple Haeinsa, which is holding mystaries from the ancient times and many cultural heritage sites of Gaya are closely located. Surrouned by great natural sceneries of rocky Gaya mountain, Gaya hotel provides relaxing atmosphere, serving as a 'well-being hotel'. Especially, Gayasan, which has the only Korean wild flower botanical garden, has the most well-preserved ecosystem in Korea, allowing the wild flowers and natural grass to spring up around. The large colony of them formed around the hotel gives guests special impressions.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Maaeyeoraejwasang consists of a Maebul (a Buddha carved in a cliff) at the very top of 12 Buddha images carved in natural rock caves located in a steep cliff of Golgulam Rock of Girimsa Valley. A painting of the Maaeyeoraejwasang titled "Golgulseokgul" by Gyeomjae Jeongseon, a famous painter of the era, revealed that there was once a wooden room located in front of the Maebul, but today only a hint of the room remains on the rock. The head of the Buddha (Yukgye) is perched solid and high on the body with a clear profile of the face – sharp eyes, small lips and a long and narrow nose. In contrast to the three-dimensional face, the body is broader and flatter. The neck and upper chest sections have eroded over time. The folds in the clothing are nearly parallel, and the arm area has a v-pattern wrinkle, giving it a more realistic and three-dimensional quality. Around the head of the Buddha is a lotus-shaped halo, while the body is surrounded by a rhythmic flame-like halo. The Maebul is believed to have been created during the late Unified Silla Kingdom, as it shows similar craftsmanship to Birojanabuljwasang (National Treasure No. 995), which was created in the year 876 and is located in Chukseosa Temple.