Gyeongsangbuk-do(Ulleung-gun)

The Dokdo Island Observatory Cable Car, from which one can get a bird's eye view of Ulleung-do Island, is a must-see tourist attraction. Located inside the Dodong Yaksu Park, the cable car takes visitors up to Manghyangbong Peak. When the sky is really clear (about 50 days a year), you can see as far as Dokdo Island that is located 92 kilometers away. This is also the first place to view the rising sun in Ulleung-do Island.The cable car usually begin operations early in the morning, just in time for visitors to bask in the views of the beautiful sunrise, and operates until 7 pm. or 8 pm.Tickets can be purchased on-site without any reservation.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Pohang-si)

If the Korean peninsula is seen as a tiger shape, Homigot in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do forms the tail. As the venue for Homigot Sunrise Festival, the Sunrise Square in Homigot features various facilities including monuments, a flame holder, and a performance stage. The brilliant yellow and golden garden at the entrance blooms in April and May. Hand-shaped bronze sculptures have been installed at the waterfront and the beachfront. The palms of the hands face each other, symbolizing harmony and coexistence. The flame originating from the sunlight at Byeonsan Peninsula was used in various international sporting events. Homigot Lighthouse and Lighthouse Museum are located near Homigot Sunrise Square.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

The tomb of the King Wonseong, 38th king of the Silla Kingdom (785-798) in Oedong-eup, Wolseong-gun, Gyeongju is Historic Site No. 26. The tomb is 21.9m in diameter and 7.7m high and is encircled by a stone fence decorated with twelve oriental zodiac images. The area is also home to a number of stone monuments that stand facing each other: Hwapyoseok (marking the border of the tomb), Muninseok (civil servant statue), Muinseok (military officer image statue) and Dolsaja (a stone lion that protects the tomb). Muinseok in particular is a favorite among visitors because of its exotic appearance. The statue is sometimes compared to a strong and charismatic person of Arabic or Persian descendant, much like the merchants who came to Silla in ancient times. Gwaereung is styled after tombs of the Tang dynasty, but still retains all the characteristics typical of Silla tombs; namely, the stones around the tomb, the 12 oriental zodiac figures, the protective walls, and the decorative stonework.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

The arts center opened its doors to the public on November 6th, 2010 after two years and four months of construction, which started on April 14th, 2008. Standing on a lot measuring 27,925㎡, the five-storey building has two basement floors (equivalent to a 13-story apartment in x_height), is 21,232㎡ in area, and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities (such as a revolving stage). Major facilities include a grand performance hall, small performance hall, exhibition chamber, outdoor performance stage, conference room, seminar room, and toy library where a wide range of educational and participatory programs are held.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Goryeong-gun)

The town of Goryeong is four hours outside of Seoul, and features many relic sites of Daegaya around the whole district of Goryeong-gun. Around the first century, Daegaya was formed in the Nakdonggang River’s downstream area in the lower Korean peninsula, flourished independently for 520 years (AD 42~562), and declined after the 6th century. After its decline, part of it was annexed by Silla (57 BC ~ AD 935), and the rest annexed by Baekjae (18 BC~AD 60), and became a forgotten tribal kingdom.On King Jinheung’s (reign 540~576) 23rd year of reign it became the district of Daegaya, and the name was changed to the district of Goryeong on King Gyeongdeok’s (reign 742~765) 16th year of reign.This is the place where you can view the country’s first Sunjangmyo (tomb where many dead people were buried together), called Jisandong Gobungun, Daegaya Royal Tomb Exhibit Hall, and Treasure No. 605, the pre-eminent relics site of the Prehistoric Period called Yangjeondong Amgakhwa, and other various cultural assets.There is a large, ancient tomb with a diameter of 20m, built on the ridgeline of the mountain, and as you go down the mountain, there are 159 other tombs of smaller scale. The largest tomb in the south side is called the Geumrim Royal Tomb, and the other large tombs near it are presumed to be tombs of royalty or aristocrats.At the Daegaya Royal Tomb Exhibit Hall, site of the restored No. 44 tomb, you can see the ancient custom of burying the living with the dead (Royalty buried with their retainers). The dome-style exhibit hall displays Sunjangseokgwak, ironware, pottery and other various excavated relics.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Bonghwangdae is an ancient tomb of Silla located in the tomb cluster of Nodong-dong. The tomb is an impressive 82 meters in diameter and 22 meters in x_height, making it look more like a hill than a tomb due to its humongous size. Though said to be the tomb of a king, this has not been verified since the tomb has never been excavated. The name “Bonghwang” (meaning “phoenix”) comes from the legend of Wanggeon and the geomancer. Wanggeon was waiting for the fall of the Silla Kingdom and decided to seek the help of a geomancer. The geomancer said that the kingdom of Silla was shaped like a ship and that this “ship” must sink in order for the kingdom to fall. After promising Wanggeon that he could sink the ship of Silla, the geomancer sought an audience with the king of Silla. The geomancer told the king that the land of Silla resembled the shape of the Bonghwang (phoenix) and that the bird was about to fly away, which would bring about the ruin of the kingdom. The king, who had been worrying about domestic affairs, believed the geomancer and asked him for a solution. The geomancer told the king that if he made a hill that looked like an egg at the capital city, the “bird” wouldn’t fly away, but would stay to protect her egg and the kingdom. As a result, the king made of lot of ancient tombs, one of which was the sizable Bonghwangdae Tomb. Legend has it that Silla truly was shaped like a ship, not a phoenix, and all these tombs symbolized the “overloading” of the ship, leading to the eventual ruin of the kingdom. After the fall of Silla, Wanggeon rose to power and later became the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Ulleung-gun)

The mountain in the center of Ulleungdo Island is Seonginbong Peak. It is 983.6m high and other peaks of over 900m stretch out to its right and left. As the steep Seonginbong Mountain Range ends at the coastal precipice, the whole island seems like a single huge mountain. The foot of Seonginbong Peak is covered with thick primeval forests designated as Natural Monument No. 189, and the rare plants found only in Ulleungdo Island make this place of unique scenic beauty. The Nari Basin, the north of the mountain, is a caldera formed by volcanic activities and the only flat ground on Ulleungdo Island. 


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Maaekseobulsang (Rock-carved Standing Buddha in Icheon-dong, Andong) is a huge statue. This Buddhist image’s head stands 2.43 meters tall, while the entire statue stretches 12.38 meters high. These days, Jebiwan Temple has been built near the statue, so it has been dubbed “Jebiwan Seokbul.”The body of the large stone Buddha face has been carved into the rock. The statue is in the style of Koryeo (AD 918-1392) Dynasty, with distinctive contouring. This unique style is indicative of those prevalent during the 11th Century. 


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Ulleung-gun)

There are no sand beaches on Ulleungdo Island. Because the coastline is made up of steep rock walls, all beaches are formed by small pebbles. But the water is very clean and the scenery, strikingly beautiful. In particular, Jugam Mongdol Beach is considered extremely beautiful because of such attractions as Samseonam Rocks (Three Fairy Rocks) and Gwaneumdo Island are nearby. Toilets are available, but to preserve its pristine natural beauty, there are no other facilities for your convenience.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Bonghwa-gun)

Located in Mt. Cheongnyangsan Provincial Park, Cheongnyangsa Temple was built by the great monk Wonhyo in 663, the 3rd year of King Munmu of the Silla Kingdom. According to the principles of feng shui, the area is an ideal place for a temple – with the 12 mountain peaks surrounding the temple like the petals of a lotus flower.The temple is home to two precious historical remains; one is the board of Yuribojeon that King Gongmin of Goryeo wrote upon and the other is Jibul. Yuribojeon is the building where Yaksa-yorae-bul (the Medicine Buddha Statute) is housed and Jibul is a Buddha statute made of paper that was painted with gold.At the back of the temple is Bosalbong Peak looking out towards Mt. Cheongnyangsan. A 30-minute walk along the hiking trail will lead you to Eungjinjeon, a hermitage with a beautiful view where the great monk Wonhyo once stayed. Behind Eungjinjeon stands Geumtapbong Peak and the sheer cliffs below. The peak was named Geumtapbong (meaning ‘golden pagoda’ in Korean) since it looks like a nine-story pagoda with pine trees growing around the base. In the autumn, the beautiful red, gold and orange hues of the maple trees are a true sight to behold.