Seoul(Jung-gu)

Established in 1976, Cecil Theater is a very prominent theater. The first five Korean Film Festivals were held here, making it the heart of Korean theaters. It is a theater steeped in tradition, and was reopened not long ago, with its facilities modernized. The high and narrow stage was lowered for better viewing, and the stage was widened to a greater scale. The lobby is especially fancy. It always carries a nice scent of espresso, which is provided free of charge. It is open everyday from noon to 1 p.m. even on days with no performances, for local office workers.Cecil Theater is known for the view of its surroundings. The spacious path leading to the theater is surrounded by stonewalls. Beside the trail is the Cathedral of the Korean Anglican Church. With its classical architecture and flowering trees, it is an absolutely beautiful sight. It is especially elegant and beautiful during spring and autumn. You can also visit Deoksugung Palace, Jeong-dong Street and City Hall in the neighborhood.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Sinsadong・Garosu-gil

At this restaurant, Pyeongyang-style handmade mandu (dumplings) casserole and Korean royal casserole are made in the traditional way and are very tempting. This restaurant has been around for 50 years and has been run by the same family in Pyeongan-do for three generations . Pyeongan-do Obuja is an ideal place to bring a special guest.


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.  


Chungcheongnam-do(Asan-si)

Oeam-ri Folk Village is occupied by the families of its founder Ye-an Lee who settled here about 500 years ago. There are about 86 Giwa houses and straw houses with narrow stone fence alleyways between them. When you walk along the stone fences you can experience the deep tradition roots of the historic village. You can see all kinds of trees in the front yard of the houses, such as persimmon trees, apricot trees, chestnut trees, and gingko trees. At the front entrance to the village you can see the totem pole guardian, and daily artifacts of the Joseon Period (1392-1910) such as treadmills, millstones, water mills, and thatched roof houses. The stone fence roads and Yusil wine add to the traditional atmosphere of the place. The most famous houses in the Oeam-ri Folk Village are the 'Yeongam Gunsu' House and 'Ichampan' House. Yeongam Gunsu House has a beautiful garden with thick trees blending with pond and stones. No one lives at the house anymore. Its entrance has a sign which is said to be written by Chusa Kim Jeong-Hee. Ichampan House is designated as Important Folk Monument, and people who live here have been making a folk wine called Yeonyeopju for generations. This wine has also been designated as an Intangible Cultural Asset. It was a wine offered to the king every spring and is made with Nuruk (glutinous rice) and Yeongeun, mixed with fermented evergreen leaves. The entire village of the Oeam-ri Folk Village is called a living museum, because the old ways are so well preserved everywhere. It takes about an hour and a half to go through the entire village.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

Myboon is a lifestyle-focused, fashion select shop, and it is a collaboration between the fashion select shop, Boondo Shop of the Shin Se Gae shopping mall, and an internationally-famous art director, “Milan Vukmirovic.” The shop focuses on direct marketing lesser-known designer brands; so, you can check the international fashion trends at a glance. Celebrities like G-Dragon, Bae Yong Jun, Jang Dong Gun, and others have all made this shop the place to shop. The juice bar, which you can only find in Myboon, is loved by health conscious stars like Victoria from f(x).  


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Eden Pottery specializes in Korean pottery from celadon to white porcelains. The shop is full of superb Korean pottery in its gallery-like atmosphere. Customers will be exposed to the rich history of Korean pottery and its diverse types. Products are made by experienced craftsmen.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Namdaemun・Seoul-Station

At this particular establishment, you can taste crushed loach soup in Gyeongsang-do style and fried loach. Smoked duck shabu shabu and vegetables, as well as Smoked duck casserole are also very delicious. *Best Korean Restaurant as designated by The Seoul Metropolitan Government    


Jeollabuk-do(Jinan-gun)

The Jinan Red Ginseng Spa is a spacious spa (B1-3F, 7,720 square meters) offering an unusual assortment of health facilities and programs. Treatments use the systematic and scientific use of red ginseng, Oriental medicinal herbs, and the principles of yin and yang and the five natural elements to give spa-goers an indulgent experience that relaxes both the mind and body. Read on to learn more about some of the treatments and facilities available at the spa. Gold: Taegeuk Bubble Sense Therapy Relax on a warm stone chair for a body massage of red ginseng bubbles that come up to your neck. Then, hop in the dew shower to relax. Tree: Yangsaeng Herb Therapy As part of this spa treatment, clients rest on a bed of dried medicinal herbs and hay designed to help overcome fatigue. Sound Floating Space In this spa treatment, guests float peacefully on the water while listening to music via underwater speakers in an experience that simulates being in the womb. Aqua Zone This outdoor open-air tub is a great therapy option that also lets visitors enjoy the beautiful landscape of Mount Maisan.    


Seoul(Songpa-gu) , Jamsil(Lotte World)

Olympic Park is an impressive leisure facility in which historic remains from the Baekje Era share space with modern, state-of-the-art sports stadiums, an eco-friendly forest, and spacious grassy fields. The legacy of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the park not only houses the country’s largest sports arena, but has also become a place where Seoul residents come to relax and unwind. Spread across 430,000 pyeong (approximately 1.45 million ㎡), Olympic Park encompasses the land that was once Mongchontoseong Fortress and Mongchonhaeja (manmade lake) from the early Baekje period. The park is divided into several zones, including a leisure sports park, a cultural art park, an eco-park, and the History Experience Park dedicated to the area’s rich historic heritage. Because Olympic Park is so large and takes over three hours to explore, visitors are advised to familiarize themselves with entrances and exits and travel routes before they start. To further save time, visitors can ride the Road Train (“Hodori Train”) located next to Peace Square. * Cultural Art Park The Cultural Art Park is a place where visitors can enjoy diverse cultural experiences and performances. The park also features Olympic Museum, Seoul Olympics Museum of Art (SOMA)—one of the world’s top five sculpture museums—and Music Fountain. * Leisure Sports Park This area is comprised of Sports Square (walking/jogging paths, an acupressure path, inline skating area, etc.) and Peace Square (a pleasant area with a wide variety of activities and sports lessons). * Environmental Eco-Park Persistent efforts have succeeded in restoring natural splendor to this place where a equally splendid civilization once blossomed. People and nature co-exist comfortably within Environmental Eco-Park, which has become home to families of spot-billed ducks, white herons, cuckoos, pheasants, Korean squirrels, chipmunks, and frogs. More recent efforts to rejuvenate the local ecosystem have resulted in the appearance of woodpeckers and raccoons, both of which are rarely spotted in cities. The croaking of small round frogs can now be heard within the park as well. * History Experience Park Visitors to the park can experience Korean history firsthand at Mongchontoseong Fortress and Baekje Museum, while hearkening back to the more recent, grand spirit of the Olympics in the "Holy Land of Peace."


Seoul(Yeongdeungpo-gu) , Yeouido・Yeongdeungpo・Mapo

Jungin Myeonok offers Pyeongyang-style naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles), passed down to the owner from parents who came from North Korea. ​