Busan(Yeonje-gu)

Established in 1986, the Busan Sports Complex features the main stadium, Sajik indoor swimming pool, an indoor gymnasium, Sajik Baseball Ground, and an athletes' training center. The main stadium was the venue for the 2002 Asian Games and several matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The Sajik Baseball Ground is home of the Lotte Giants, and seats up to 28,500 people. The Busan Sports Complex regularly hosts international sporting and cultural events, while providing excellent facilities for personal as well as group training.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

The Choi Gi Soon Dackjongyi Doll Institute makes and displays Dackjongyi dolls (traditional Korean dolls). The dolls are made of special paper created from mulberry trees. Naturally, they ooze a unique scent that comforts visitors. This cozy gallery displays traditional Korean dolls from the past to the present. Visitors can watch and attend a craft class. The dolls can be leased for exhibition, purchased, or customized upon request. 


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

Saladian is a restaurant that specializes in salad dishes, serves vegetarian food, and is recommended by the Seoul Government. The name is a newly-coined word that means a person who loves salad. The portion size of their salads makes for a filling meal, and you can add more toppings and other condiments as well. The restaurant chooses the freshest and healthiest ingredients, and they use pasta made of 100% semolina. Their pasta with olive oil is the most popular item besides the salads.


Seoul(Songpa-gu)

Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street is a large shopping district containing over 200 brand-name discount stores. The street is T-shaped, with a 1km-long main street connected to a 400-meter-long alley, and the Munjeong 1-dong Resident Center located at the center. For shoppers’ convenience, there is a public parking lot (if visitors purchase goods at Rodeo Street, they can park here for free) and a parking lot for foreign tourists only (free of charge). Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street is one of Korea’s major shopping streets with customers ranging from teenagers to adults, since discount stores stocking sports wear, casual wear, shoes, men’s and ladies’ suits, and golf wear are all located on this street. Moreover, this is a great place to find deals on famous brands, at prices lower than at a department store. On some items you can get discounts of up to 70-80%.Shopping TipsSince most of the goods are stock from previous seasons, it might be better to purchase the more classic styles rather than the trendy fashions. In some cases, the goods might have been slightly crumpled or stained during the transfer from warehouse storage, but taking them to the dry-cleaners should fix most problems. However you should be careful when looking at the sewing quality, and check for missing buttons.One more thing to bear in mind is the shopping season. Even discount stores have periods when stock runs low. The best time to shop is immediately after the stores in Rodeo Street restock their merchandise. This is done at about the same time as department stores. There is also an enormous variety of goods to choose from during the Rodeo Festivals in May and September. The purchased goods are exchangeable but non-refundable, so check the quality of the products carefully before you purchase them. In addition, Munjeong-dong Rodeo Street has a wide selection of restaurants and entertainment facilities. There are a number of pizza places, coffee shops, and food courts, as well as internet cafes and game rooms in the alleys behind the stores. Visitors can also relax in the surrounding parks. There’s a park with a 600-year-old zelkova tree right behind the Munjeong 1-dong Resident Center. Munjeong Rodeo Street is not just a shopping area; it’s a cultural area. The ‘Munjeong-dong Cultural Festival’ takes place every year in May, and the ‘Munjeong-dong Rodeo Festival’ takes place in May every other year. During these festivals, visitors can watch traditional Korean performances, traditional wedding ceremonies, international fashion parades, hip-hop dancing, and more. A charity sale is held on weekends and national holidays on the open-air stage of the Munjeong 1-dong Resident Center, and merchandise is sold for even bigger discounts.


Seoul(Seodaemun-gu) , Sinchon・Ewha Womans University

This road takes you from Sinchon Subway Station right to Yonsei University. Like branching tree roots, the numerous side streets diverge off the main road. In 1999 Yonsei College Street was designated as “The Road One Wants to Walk.” Since then this famous street has been improved upon even more, placed on tourist maps and promoted by businesses. A visitor to this area can eat at a plethora of restaurants, coffee shops and stores. In the afternoon hours, you can also enjoy the taste of small food stands that line the sidewalks.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu)

S.J. Cho Korean Paper Art Gallery is dedicated to hanji (traditional Korean paper) art and opened in July of 2011. Hanji art uses an array of colorful hanji paper to create an image that is similar to a painting, but without the paints and brushes. Paper can be torn, folded, or crumpled into different shapes to create a unique work of art. S.J. Cho Korean Paper Art is the center of the Korean Hanji Art Organization, which has helped popularize hanji art over the past 30 years. Visitors can browse through hanji art at the gallery, enjoy traditional tea at the café, or look out at Bukhansan Mountain on the rooftop. The Experience Hall is located in the basement, where visitors can learn more about hanji art, or even try their hand at making their own.


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

With 24 granite pillars, a splendid blue dome, and white exterior, the National Assembly Building is a beautiful piece of architecture. The historic building came to life in 1975 after six years of construction. The pillars and the dome symbolize the various opinions of the public emerging as one. The building is a favorite among tourists as it is located next to the Hangang River. The Hangang River sits behind the building as a beautiful backdrop.The National Assembly Building contains the Visitor Center, a walking area, and benches alongside the Hangang River. The easiest way to visit the National Assembly Building is by applying at the Visitor Center. One can tour various parts of the National Assembly Building as well as the main conferencing area. The application process lasts roughly twenty minutes. The drawback is that it does not offer a foreign language service. Those who are interested in seeing Korean politics in action may also see sessions as they proceed. However, those not particularly interested in Korean politics will be more than satisfied with the regular tour.


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

The old building of the Seoul train station was designed by Tsukamoto Yasushi, a professor of Tokyo University. Construction of the station started in June, 1922 and was completed in September, 1925. Due to its unique domed roof and large size, the station attracted much attention in its early years.After Korea regained its independence from under Japanese colonial rule, the station’s name was changed from ‘Gyeongseong Station’ to ‘Seoul Station’. During the Korean War, the station was partially destroyed but later restored. After Korea began industrializing after the war, the South annex and West annex were constructed to handle the increasing transportation volume.In 2004 when the privately-funded new station was constructed, the old station closed down, but after reconstruction in 2011 opened as a multicultural space called ‘Culture Station Seoul 284’. The main section (Jungang Hall) is for performances, exhibitions, events, and cafés, while the 2nd floor houses a hall that serves as a venue for cultural performances, exhibitions, academic seminars, business meetings, and more.


Daegu(Jung-gu)

Jjimgalbi, steamed beef ribs, is a popular Korean dish. What sets Bongsan Jjimgalbi (봉산찜갈비) apart is that the restaurant serves the ribs in nickel-silver bowls that have higher thermal conductivity, which helps to bring out the best flavor and texture in meat. Furthermore, the popularity of Bongsan Jjimgalbi has given rise to other jjimgalbi restaurants on the same street that is now known as Dongin-dong Jjimgalbi Street. Today, jjimgalbi remains a representative local specialty of Daegu, and one of the most popular Korean dishes among international visitors.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Samcheongdong・The Northern Part of the Seoul

Samcheongdong-gil Road stretches from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Samcheong Tunnel. Just past Samcheong Tunnel, at the end of the walkway, you’ll find Samcheong Park—a park famous for its thick forest and scenic views. Samcheongdong-gil goes through the middle of the city, but is a peaceful, quaint area. The street is lined with cafes, museums, antique shops and a number of famous art galleries. Since each art gallery building along Samcheongdong-gil has its own unique architectural design, taking a walk and appreciating the buildings is a journey in itself. Many galleries have their own cafes, restaurants, or craft shops, allowing visitors to enjoy art, shopping, and lunch all under one roof.