Gyeonggi-do(Seongnam-si)

Manggyeongam’s name derives from the hermitage's view of Bokjeong-dong in Seoul, and is located in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Manggyeongam Temple is said to be the place where the kings of the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods prayed for peace for their subjects. In addition, Prince Pyeongwon, the 7th son of King Sejong, and Grand Prince Jean built a dais at Mangyeongam Temple and Chilseongdae and pledged filial piety. The temple is more widely known for its connection to the Chilseong faith, in which believers worship Chilseong (the Seven Stars). It is easily recognized by the written records inscribed into the rock wall. Located at the temple is Maaeyeoraejwasang (Seated Maitreya Buddha), an original work of the temple that is also designated Gyeonggi-do’s Tangible Cultural Asset No. 102. The Buddha is embossed inside a deep hole in the rock. In the words inscribed near the statue, there is also a legend that says Lee Gu-seung carved Gwaneum Statue near the Maaeyeoraejwasang and built the temple in 1897. Next to the temple is a pond called “Bokumul,” which means “blessed sugared water.” The neighborhood of Bojeong-dong takes its name from this pond. At the temple, Daeungjeon Hall (the main temple) and Samseonggak Shrine (shrine for three spirits), Mireukjeon Hall were all established fairly recently. The temple site also includes a huge Mireuk Daebul statue (Great State of Maitreya Buddha) and a five-storied pagoda.  


Gyeongsangnam-do(Tongyeong-si)

This hotel is located by the shores of Tongyeong, the “Naples of the East,” and lives up to its name with its view of the sea. It faces a small island called Ido Island, which blends in with the scenery to offer a spectacular view. It can be reached by foot in 8 min from Tongyeong Bus Terminal, but guests also have access to the pickup service offered by the hotel. The other strength of the hotel is that the building also contains a restaurant specializing in sliced raw fish. There are 30 rooms in total, all non-smoking, with three types of Standard, Special (Ocean View), VIP (Ocean View). Special rooms come with a balcony and a view of the sea, while the VIP room has a whirlpool bathtub. There are supermarkets, parks, and a police station located nearby the hotel. Tongyeong’s sights such as Dongpirang Mural Village, Seopirang Village, Tongyeong Jungang Market, and Chungmu Gimbap Street are reachable in 15 min by car.


Jeju-do(Seogwipo-si)

Hallasan Gosari Festival takes place each year in April at Meochewat. This year, the festival will hold various tour-themed programs, including an overnight visit and tour courses. Visitors can pick gosari (bracken) of their own, and local senior citizens will serve as tour guides and give an explanation about the plant, culture, and the area. Gosari (braken) is a perennial plant. In Korea, gosaris are gathered, dried in the sun, and used for various everday dishes and ancestral ceremonies.


Gangwon-do(Hwacheon-gun)

Peace Dam was built over the period of 15 months from February 1988 to May 1988 with funds donated by the general public in response to North Korea’s construction of Geumgangsan Dam and a potential flooding attack. The flood control dam has proved its worth during the floods of 1995, 1996, and 1999 and it has become a major tourist destination over the years. Located In the vicinity of Peace Dam is Bimok Park, which is the origin of the famous national song “Bimok.” In addition to the war monuments inside the park, there are around a dozen wooden crosses with rusty iron helmets placed on top within the barbed wire entanglements around the hill, thereby reminding visitors of the national tragedy of the Korean War. The county of Hwancheon hosts the Bimok Cultural Festival from June 3 to June 6 every year at Bimok Park, Bungeoseom Island by the town’s riverside, and the surrounding areas. The four-day festival offers a variety of events such as song contest, memorial ceremony of poetry reading, bimok tree cutting contest, rice ball eating contest, army life experience, military music parade, and more. Crossing over to Yanggu County from Peace Dam, there is a national security education place comprised of attractions like the 4th Underground Tunnel and Eulji Observatory. Paroho Lake Battlefield Tourist Park is also worth a visit after looking around Peace Dam. Also known as the “ocean within mountains,” Paroho is a manmade lake created as a result of Hwacheon Dam constructed in 1944. The lake is home to over 70 different species of freshwater fish such as mandarin fish and carp. It also holds a sorrowful history of burying at sea a whole three divisions of the Chinese Forces in defending the lake during the Korean War. The name Paroho, meaning “enemy breaking lake,” was given after the late president of Korea Rhee Syngman visited the place and designated a plaque in his own handwriting in memory of obtaining victory in fierce battle. There is an observatory, a security hall, and a stone monument engraved with the poetry of Wolha Rhee Taegeuk (1913-2003).


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

This is a place that provides thick broth with rice. The best menu at this restaurant is ox bone soup. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do.


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

This is a place where you can enjoy Korean pork ribs personally cooked by the owner. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do. The representative menu is grilled spareribs.


Ulsan(Ulju-gun)

The residual mountains of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range form ten tall peaks in the Yeongnam region. Dubbed the ‘Yeongnam Alps,’ these peaks include Chwiseosan (1,092 meters, also called Yeongchwisan), Sinbulsan (1,209 meters), Cheonhwangsan (1,189 meters), Unmunsan (1,188 meters), Goheonsan (1,033 meters), Munboksan (1,013 meters), and Gajisan mountains. This group of mountains is uniquely covered with reeds. Gajisan Mountain is the tallest of this group, rising above mountains almost 1,000 meters high. An attraction of hiking in Gajisan Mountain is that various large, oddly shaped rock peaks can be seen from the mountain trail. To the east of the mountain is Seongnamsa Temple built during the Silla Kingdom. Today, only Buddhist nuns remain, but there are relics like the budo stupa of National Master Doui (Treasure 369) and a three-story stone pagoda.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Ulleung-gun)

Ulleungdo Lighthouse was first lit in 1958 as a guiding light for boats coming to and from Ulleungdo Island. The lighthouse is a round, white concrete structure rising 7.6 meters high with a light reaching as far as 50 kilometers away. The hiking trail up to the Ulleungdo lighthouse is a natural, narrow path among groves of trees. The gentle slope is surrounded by uniquely shaped cliffs, so it is a popular hiking course for tourists.


Gangwon-do(Yanggu-gun)

Soyangho Lake (소양호) is a man-made lake that was created when Soyang Dam, the biggest rock-filled dam in Asia, was built in 1973. The lake is a hotspot for marine tourism and the lakeside road is an important route that connects Chuncheon and Yanggu. You can travel overland for an hour to get to the dam or take the Kwaeryongho Boat (쾌룡호), a hovercraft that operates regularly on Soyang Lake, and get there in 30 minutes. The hovercraft travels by ejecting air against the surface below, sending up a spray of water on either side of the boat to the delight of passengers. Once you are in the valley, you can see fish farms floating among the islets. When the water level is high, you can travel on the lake all the way to Inje and Sinnam enjoying the beautiful scenery of Naeseorak. Both tourists and locals regularly make use of the ferry service.