Chungcheongnam-do(Dangjin-si)

Sapgyoho Tourist Park is located in Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do, near Sapgyoho Lake, a man-made artificial lake that was completed in October 26, 1979. The lake also connects with the sea and therefore has abundant maritime resources. Popular tourist sites like Anyang Hot Springs and Dogo Hot Springs also neighbor the tourist park. For its extensive views, both lake and ocean, the Ministry of Transportation appointed Sapgyoho a must visit tourist site in October 1983. The ministry is continuing to build the Sapgyoho embankment, which stretches out to 3,350m in total and is expected to create a more enjoyable area for visitors as it will have a lot to offer. Due to its growing popularity, buses depart every 10 minutes at the Seoul Gangnam Bus Terminal. Sapgyo Lake connects Asan-si and Dangjin-gun, and visitors going to the lake need to get off at Sapgyo Lake Resort Bus Stop.


Chungcheongnam-do(Nonsan-si)

Followed by Sangsangmadang Hongdae, KT&G Sangsangmadang Nonsan is now open in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do. The facility has guest rooms, a cafe, restaurant, multipurpose hall, photo studio, dark room, seminar room, media room, an atelier, a mini swimming pool, and a nurse's office. The place offers an array of hands-on programs at the original site of Hancheon Elementary School which was the educational institute for 30 years in Hancheon-ri, Sangwol-myeon, Nonsan-si before being remodeled as a multi-cultural art space in June, 2011.


Chungcheongnam-do(Seocheon-gun)

Visitors can have a chance to make mosi (ramie fabric) firsthand at the village. Walking around the village at dusk, visitors will realize why the village is called Dalgogae (moon hill): the village was built on a flat plain and when the moon rises slowly, the place is illuminated by the moonlight. While basking in the moonlight, people will hear the sound of a flock of wild ducks flying together. In this ordinary-looking village, the long-standing tradition of Hansan mosi (ramie fabric) is passed down and preserved in the hands of the village women. Hansan mosi is also called 'semosi' (fine ramie) because of the time-consuming and labor-intensive process involved. The village offers a variety of mosi-themed experience programs for visitors. Village artisans with valuable mosi-related experience assist the participants. Programs include ramie plant harvesting and ramie fabric weaving. Visitors can also try some highly nutritious ramie rice cakes and tea. Mosi's history can be traced back as far as the period of the Three Kingdoms. It is said that during the Baekje Dynasty, an old man found the ramie plant at the foot of Geonjisan Mountain after a mountain god appreared in his dream. The natural fabric, mosi, is so thin and delicate that it is compared to the wings of a dragonfly. In the Goryeo Dynasty, the king presented the China's king with Hansan mosi. In the Joseon Dynasty, mosi was was offered to the kings. One can see the difference between mosi and regular fabric by trying on mosi clothes made by the artisans. Experience programs at the village also include natural dyeing, making mosi jegi (object used to play jegichagi) and mosi mobile phone accessories. Food made from mosi plants include mosi buchimgae (Korean pancake) and mosi bread. Another fun activity at the village is hangwa (traditional sweets & cookies) making. Hangwa-making, much like producing mosi, is a labor-intensive process. In making hangwa, grains harvested at the village are used. The grains are fried for a short time, carefully mixed with honey, and then flattened. After it cools down and hardens, it is then cut into small pieces. The taste of freshly-made hangwa adds to the joy of the experience, making it the best activity of the program.


Chungcheongnam-do(Gongju-si)

Gyeryongsan Mountain is known for its diverse range of plants and animals, natural surroundings, mysterious legends, and cultural treasures that have made the mountain one of Korea's sacred mountains since the ancient times. Many visitors travel to the mountain every year for some spiritual healing and meditation. A traditional ceremony that originally began as a gesture of gratitude continued from the Baekje through the Joseon Dynasties, the Sanshinje was recognized as a national event. However, it was temporarily halted when the supervising party of the festival had to stop holding the ceremony in order to join the fight against the Japanese occupation. The festival was later restored by Sim U-Seong, the head of the Gongju Folk Drama Museum, and is now held annually in April. The ceremony draws many visitors thanks to the beautiful spring scenery of Gyeryongsan Mountain. There are also many attractions and traditional performances during the event. Yanghwa-ri Village, the main venue of the festival, is where the heritage and culture of Sanshinje ceremony are well preserved.


Chungcheongnam-do(Boryeong-si)

The Boryeong Beach Special Tourist Zone consists of three major attractions: Daecheon Beach, Muchangpo Beach and Jukdo Island. The 3.5-kilometer-long, 100-meter-wide Daecheon Beach is known for its annual Boryeong Mud Festival, which attracts about 2 million domestic and international tourists for its mud festivities. The soft, white sand and lush pine trees also make this an idyllic beach to visit. Various accommodations can easily be found here since the area has been a popular tourist destination for quite some time. Located south of Daecheon Beach, Muchangpo Beach is where you can witness a sea-parting phenomenon in the summer. The 1.5-kilometer “Mystic Sea Road” between Muchangpo Beach and Seokdaedo Island reveals itself when the sea levels go down due to the difference in the ebb and flow of the tides. During the sea parting, visitors will be able to catch clams, crabs and shellfish. The beach also offers a breathtaking view of the sunset. Jukdo Island is located midway between Daecheon Beach and Muchangpo Beach. This unpopulated fishing island is known for its dense groves of bamboo trees. The waters in front of the island are clean and full of fish, drawing a large number of visitors for sea fishing. [Boryeong Beach Special Tourist Zone] Areas Covered: Sinheuk-dong, Doksan/Gwandang-ri and Woljeon-ri, Nampo-myeon, Boryeong-si Area size: 2,520,000㎡ Tourist attractions: Daecheon Beach, Muchangpo Beach, Jukdo Island, Gatbawi Rock, Boryeong Palgyeong (8 scenic sites of Boryeong), Oseosan Mountain, etc.  


Chungcheongnam-do(Seocheon-gun)

One of 8 scenic views of Seocheon, the Maryang-ri Camellia Forest is designated as Natural Monument No. 169. Almost 500 years worth of camellia trees cover an area of 8,265㎡ in this forest. The best time to enjoy the camellias is from the late March to the early May. If one goes to the top of Camellia Pavilion (Dongbaekjeong), there is a beautiful view of the blue sea and also is home to great sunset views.    


Chungcheongnam-do(Boryeong-si)

In Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Boryeong Eunhaeng (Ginkgo) Village is filled with ginkgo trees. It is also called “Cheongna Eunghaeng Maeul” (청라 은행 마을) and “Green Rural Tourism Village” (녹색농촌체험마을). Upon entering the village, murals can be seen, which are enhanced by ginkgo trees throughout the village, particularly in autumn when they change a dazzling yellow. The village uses Janghyeon Elementary School, which closed in 1991, as a market place and local experience venue. Permanent hands-on programs and seasonal countryside activities, making a mosaic with ginkgo leaves, and shaking and gathering ginkgo leaves are also available. ​


Chungcheongnam-do(Asan-si)

Asanoncheon Hot Spring was discovered in 1987 and designated as a tourist zone in 1999. The mineral-rich spring water offers a slew of natural health benefits. The alkaline water found in the natural hot spring contains a variety of minerals (about 20 types), including calcium and sodium bicarbonate. When you bathe in the hot spring, your skin absorbs these minerals, which speed up cellular restoration and blood circulation. An oxygenated circulatory system is beneficial in keeping not only your stomach, but your body's other vital organs and tissues healthy and strong. The hot spring offers natural treatment options for various common ailments such as arthritis, neuralgia, high blood pressure, stomach disorder, and stroke. Nestled in the mountains, the spa offers the relaxation of walking in the forest and breathing in the fresh valley air. Also, stopping by the historical statue at Asanho Lake along the west coast highway to Asanoncheon Hot Spring will add an extra bit of fun to your weekend excursion.    


Chungcheongnam-do(Buyeo-gun)

Below Seongheungsanseong Fortress (built in 501 during the Baekje Kingdom) in Buyeo is an ancient temple called Daejosa (great bird temple).  Inside the temple grounds stands a giant standing stone Buddha statue looking toward the east. The temple, which was founded during the 5th year of the Baekje Kingdom, has an interesting legend behind its origin. According to the legend, an old monk fell asleep after praying under a large rock on the slopes of Seongheungsan Mountain. In his dream, a large bird with a golden glow flew in from the west and sat on the rock where Daejosa currently stands. While the bird continuoulsy flapped its wings, a ray of light shone on the rock and it was there that the statue of Avalokitasvara Bodhisattva appeared. The old monk had the same dream at the same time for many days. He recounted his dream to the seongju (castle lord), who then reported it to King Seong of Baekje. The king interpreted the dream as a sign that it was the right time to move the capital of Baekje to Sabi (now Buyeo) and ordered the construction of a large temple at the location that appeared in the dream. The temple was so big that even at a hurried pace, it would still took 10 years to build. Workers had to work day and night and every time the workers felt tired, birds would come singing to brighten up the atmosphere so that the workers can forget the fatigue and continue working. Hence, the temple was completed after only five years. Because of the golden bird, the temple was named Daejosa, literally meaning 'great bird temple. The rock on which Avalokitasvara Bodhisattva appeared in the dream was turned into a stone statue of a Buddha. This standing stone Maitreya Bodhisattva statue is a fine work of sculpture which, along with the stone Bodhisattva of Gwanchoksa Temple (Treasure No.218), is representative of the early Gorye period.In front of Wontongbojeon Hall (a hall enshrining Avalokitasvara Bodhisattva) stands a pagoda. In the old days, the stone pagoda used to have only the cover stones but as the pagoda body stones were found, the pagoda structure was restored in 1975. This pagoda is assumed to have been built in the early days of the Goryeo Kingdom.


Chungcheongnam-do(Buyeo-gun)

Baek-Je Won is a cultural complex made up of a botanical garden and the Buyeo Museum. The botanical garden has wild plants grown in the Baekje area. It is smaller than most botanical gardens but the plants here are categorized together according to their characteristics. Plants are displayed like artworks to blend together with Buyeo's cultural relics, therefore tranforming the garden into a space to see both experience both nature and history together. The Buyeo Museum has exhibits showcasing the lifestyle of Buyeo's people from the Baekje period to the modern times. Exhibits include materials related to plants and agriculture, cultural heritage artifacts, folklore materials such as ceramics, and modern-day items like stamps, music items and movie posters.