Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Cultural Heritage Administration, Royal Culture Festival Organizing Committee / Dae Han Imperial House Korea's beautiful palaces and the royal culture they present have great value as precious tangible and intangible heritages. The Royal Culture festival is held at the Four Royal Palaces and Jongmyo Shrine, allowing visitors to get first-hand knowledge of their value. Each of the five venues will have unique performances, exhibitions, experiences and programs set within the individual traits of the palaces and Jongmyo Shrine. The palaces and Jongmyo Shrine, which have kept their place forhundreds of years, will be hosting the Royal Culture Festival for ten daysfrom April 28 to May 7. Marking its third anniversary, the Royal PalaceFestival is a cultural heritage festival that reinterprets the court cultureand historical background of each palace. Different performances,exhibitions, programs and ceremonies will be taking place inGyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, ChanggyeonggungPalace, Deoksugung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine. It will be an opportunityfor people to get more involved in the festival. Programs [Gyeongbokgung, Encounter with Kings] - Opening ceremony - Photo Exhibition on Hanbok - Nighttime Concerts at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion - Royal Music Performance - Royal Kitchen Experience ‘A Taste of Royal Cuisine’ - Promenade of the King - Royal Library of the King - Media Facade Show at Heungnyemun Gate - Dae Han Imperial Culture Exhibition  - Intangible Heritage Performances - Royal Culture Experience             [Changdeokgung, Encounter with Nature]   - Nighttime Promenade at Changdeokgung Palace - Exhibition of Royal Poets and Palace Photos - Experience of Royal Pharmacy     [Changgyeonggung, Encounter with Everyday Royal Life] - King Yeongjo and Changgyeonggung Palace - One-Day Time Travel to 1750 - Nighttime Royal Music Performance - Outdoor Royal Theatre Performance       [Deoksugung, Encounter with Modernity]   - Intangible Cultural Heritage Performance - The Daehan Empire and Coffee - The Korean Empire Concert - Diplomatic Reception for Envoys to the Korean Empire   [Jongmyo, Encounter with Ritual] - Royal Ancestral Ritual at Jongmyo Shrine - Myohyeollye Ritual at Jongmyo Shrine - Nighttime Royal Ancestral Ritual Music at Jongmyo Shrine - Experience Hall       Today we meet the palace of yesterday The opening ceremony of ‘The 3rd ROYAL CULTURE FESTIVAL 2017’ "TODAY, WE MEET THE PALACE" is the start of the festival. A Festival that will infuse new life to the palace which has contained the time of the past and the present and a historical and cultural presence.   The 3rd ROYAL CULTURE FESTIVAL 2017 Special Event We meet the Korean Empire! In 1897, King Gojong became an emperor and proclaimed the establishment of the Korean Empire in order to widely express the independence of Joseon. In celebration of the 120th anniversary of the declaration of the Korean Empire, in 2017 we made an opportunity to experience its time   ​   ​   Today we meet the palace of yesterday At the Gyeongbokgung Palace, starting with the opening ceremony, ‘Gyeonghoeru Pavilion Nighttime Concert’ will be held in the spring evening, ‘A Taste of Royal Cuisine’ will let you taste royal cuisine culture and ‘Hanbok Photo Exhibition’ will show the beauty of Hanbok. At the Changdeokgung Palace, ‘Botanical Tour with Donggwoldo’ will help explore nature and ‘The Royal Medicine’ will give you a glimpse of Korean traditional medicine. At the Changgyeonggung Palace, ‘Time Travel to 1750’ will take you back to 1750 and show the royal daily life and ‘Outdoor Historical Drama’ will perform a realistic depiction of the era. At the Jongmyo Shrine, ‘Royal Ancestral Ritual’ will be held with other related music performances. On the 120th anniversary of the declaration of the Korean Empire, at the Deoksugung Palace, ‘Declaration of the Korean Empire’ will contain the dream Emperor Gojong had in mind along with ‘Diplomatic Reception for Envoys’ and coffee Emperor Gojong enjoyed.     • Further information will be posted on the Cultural Heritage Administration, Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation and Royal Culture Festival. Visit our website for more information Royal Culture Festival website : www.royalculturefestival.org Royal Culture Festival Facebook : www.facebook.com/royalculturefestival Cultural Heritage Administration website : www.cha.go.kr Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation website : www.chf.or.kr •For more info : http://www.royalculturefestival.org/info/guide


Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

Woljeongsa Temple is located in the forest of the valley east of Mt. Odaesan, and it is composed of 60 temples and 8 monasteries made into one large temple. Woljeongsa Temple was established by Monk Ja Jang (590~658). At Woljeongsa Temple there is the Seongbo Museum where you can view the Buddhist culture of the Goryeo Dynasty (918∼1392), the nine-story octagonal pagoda, also called as the Sari-Pagoda (relic pagoda), and the Stone Seated Buddha figure. Also there is the Jeokmyeolbogung where Buddha's bones are said to be preserved, and the large sermon hall Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion. Usually in a Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion the Vairocana figure is enshrined, but it is interesting that the Sakyamuni figure is enshrined at Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion at Woljeong temple. Woljeongsa Temple of today was restored after the Korean war in 1950 when the Chilbulbojeon, Yeongsanjeon, Gwaneungjeon, Jinyeonggak and 17 other buildings were burned. Many cultural assets and historic data were lost at this time. The Silla Dongjong, which was excavated from the Seonrimwon site in Yangyang-gun, was also lost. The Budo site (relic site) and sagoji (historic document storage) is nearby Woljeongsa Temple. The Budo site is a 15-minute walk from the Woljeongsa Temple to its location at the Sangwonsa Temple, just before crossing the Banya Bridge. Here there are 22 pagodas that hold the remains of the monks who had lived here. Sagoji is an hour’s walk from Woljeongsa Temple towards Sangwonsa near Yeonggamsa Temple.


Seoul(Jung-gu)

Most foods from the northern region are characterized by their mild taste. In particular, Pyeongyang-style cold buckwheat noodles has a milder flavor compared to Hamheung-style cold noodles. Pildongmyeonok's cold buckwheat noodles may taste bland for those who are used to stronger flavors or seasonings, but it is praised by others who prefer mild flavors. The neat after taste of broth and chewy noodles are enough to delight one's tastebuds. Pyeongyang-style dumplings is another popular dish at Pildongmyeonok.    


Incheon(Nam-gu)

Originally founded as O Ik-hwan Women’s Hospital in 1993, Seoul Women’s Hospital is presently the only hospital specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in Incheon and it is the first women’s hospital to have acquired the medical institution certification. The hospital serves an average of about 5,000 child births annually, 250,000 outpatients, and numerous cases of surgical operations. The hospital has maintained the top ranking delivery rate in Incheon for consecutive years, and is ranked third nationwide. It has 97 beds in total, where 90 of them are for general patients and 7 are in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It was approved as a baby-friendly hospital by UNICEF in 2005 and 2009. The hospital provides first aid for high risk infants and premature babies in need of special care or treatment at its neonatal intensive care unit, which is equipped with specialized equipment including 11 incubators, artificial ventilators, and echocardiographs to offer immediate and accurate checkup and treatment. Lastly, the hospital deals with over 800 cases of in vitro fertilization (IVF) a year and over 1,000 cases of artificial insemination (AID) annually. The success rate of pregnancy via IVF was 50% in year 2012. The hospital was designated as a “medical institution specialized in embryo creation” in 2005 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and was registered as a government supported IVF and AID authorized institution in 2006 for couples with sterility issues.


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

Walking on the Cloud presents a wonderful view from atop a skyscraper, offers numerous culinary delights, and was featured in the SBS drama 'The Palace of Dreams'. The restaurant offers traditional Western food such as steaks and ocean crawfish dishes, along with a live musical trio consisting of a violin, piano, and contrabass, making it a popular dining place for couples. The top-class chef also developed a menu accordingly to the taste of Koreans, with greaseless, clean-tasting dishes aimed to satisfy all guests.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Master Craft Shop displays and sells high-quality Korean handicrafts, stamped with the UNESCO Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts. The shop possesses handicrafts by renowed master craftsmen and artists. Crafts have both practical and decorative uses. 


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Myeongdong

Tomo Residence, situated in Myeong-dong, one of the main tourist centers in Seoul, is just two minutes’ walk from Myeong-dong Station and the Airport Limousine Bus Stop, so it attracts national and international tourists who want to get around the city on public transport. It is the ideal base for travelling around and fully enjoying many vivid nearby attractions such as Myeong-dong, a shopper’s and gourmet’s paradise, neighboring department stores, and Dongdaemun and Namdaemun Markets.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

               


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

Kumkang is a representative shoe brand of Korea (sneakers, casual shoes, etc.) that is gradually expanding its product line to include accessories and clothing.The Kumkang branch in Yeongdeungpo carries an especially wide selection of dress shoes and bags. In addition to larger sized shoes (plus size section on B1), the store also carries x_height-increasing dress shoes for men and women, women’s sandals, and golf shoes.


Gyeonggi-do(Gwacheon-si) , Seoul Grand Park

Seoulland has transformed into a Christmas Party wonderland with a variety of events such as magic shows and chrismas special performances for visitors of all ages. In the country cabin of Adventure Land, the family musical CATS will be staged along with a magic show. The popular Light Fantasy Show will take place at the Red Windmill area. The Christmas party is complete with special events throughout the park such as playing with Santa, finding Christmas gifts and a special exhibition of “Our Land, Dokdo Island.”