Gyeonggi-do(Anseong-si)

The word ‘Mirinae,’ from the Mirinae Holy Site (미리내 성지) in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, is a pure Korean word for the Milky Way. The site holds the graves of Saint Andreas Kim Daegeon, Korea’s first Catholic Saint; his mother Ursula; Bishop Ferréol, the third head of the Joseon parish who ordained Priest Kim; and Vincentius Lee Minsik who buried Saint Kim’s body. To be sure, this holy site is a serene and peaceful sanctum. The reason it came to be called ‘Mirinae’ is that Korean Catholics came to this place in secret to avoid persecution during the late Joseon Dynasty, and the lamplight coming from their homes in the village where they settled resembled the starlight of the Milky Way. Father Kim was executed at the age of 26 and was not permitted a funeral. But, 40 days after the execution, Vincentius Lee Minsik was able to steal away Kim’s body with great difficulty; he carried it on his back eventually burying it in Mirinae – dismissing all advisement and council that urged him against this. At the center of the site stands a grand memorial church and the Way of the Cross behind it has 15 bronze sculptures depicting the passion of Jesus being captured by Roman soldiers, crucified, suffering, passing away, and being interred. Kim Daegeon (1822~1846) Korea’s first Catholic priest and saint. He was chosen as a scholarship recipient by a French priest, and joined the priesthood at the young age of 24. Kim returned to Korea, but was captured, and executed, dying a martyr. He was blessed by the Roman Pope Pius XI on July 5, 1925, and became a Catholic saint at the canonization ceremony conducted by Pope John Paul II himself in South Korea on May 6, 1984.


Jeollabuk-do(Gimje-si)

Located near the entrance of the Moaksan Provincial Park, Geumsansa Temple (금산사) was established by King Beop, or Beopwang, of the Baekje period (599AD). The Buddhist temple features over ten designated cultural properties including Mireukjeon, a national treasure, as well as other attached buildings. The country’s only three-story building containing a Buddha statue, Mireukjeon was built with wood and has a single-open floor inside. In spring, cherry blossom trees come into full bloom from the mountain entrance all the way to Geumsansa; and in winter Buddhist adherents come to bow before the statue of Mireuk bodhisattva inside Mireukjeon or walk in circles around the pagoda. The statue is the largest indoor standing Buddha in the world reaching 11.82 meters of x_height. The two other Buddha statues standing on right and left of the Mireuk bodhisattva are 8.8 meters tall each.* Important Cultural PropertiesMireukjeon (National Treasure No. 62)Noju (Treasure No. 22)Seogyeondae (Treasure No. 23)Hyedeogwangsa Jineungtapbi (Treasure No. 24)Geumsansa Ocheungseoktap (Treasure No. 25)Geumsansa Bangdeunggyedan (Treasure No. 26)Geumsansa Yukgak Dacheungseoktap (Treasure No. 27)Geumsansa Dangganjiju (Treasure No. 28)Simwonam Bukgang Samcheungseoktap (Treasure No. 29)Geumsansa Daejangjeon (Treausre No. 827)Geumsansa Seokdeung (Treasure No. 828)


Jeollanam-do(Yeosu-si)

Jinnamgwan Hall (National Treasure No. 304) was the naval base of Jeolla-do Province during the Joseon Dynasty. Admiral Yi Sun-shin used this site as his headquarters, and at that time there was a watchtower called Jinhaeru. The original building burned down during the Jeongyujaeran (the second Japanese invasion in 1597), and Admiral Yi Si-eon constructed a large guesthouse (official residence) with 75 rooms on the burnt down site of Jinhaeru in 1599, a year after the conclusion of the Imjinwaeran War (Japanese invasion, 1592-1598). At the hall entrance is a small museum outlining the history of Jinnamgwan and the Imjinwaeran War, and the famous Yeosu Stone Statue (Tangible Cultural Asset of Jeollanam-do No. 33) is located within the precincts of the hall. Nearby attractions include Jasan Park, Odongdo Island, Dolsan Bridge, Chungminsa Shrine, and Manseongni Beach.


Seoul(Nowon-gu) , The Eastern Part of the Seoul

The Korea Military Academy is famous for strict discipline, patriotism, and officer pupils. In the past this was not an open place to the public, but since 1997 it has become a new tourist site. There is now a touring course which is the main attraction for visitors. The tour starts at the School Information Center to the museum, memorial hall and the exhibition, which takes approximately an hour and thirty minutes. The Army Museum holds various military treasures and remains, and at the memorial hall you can learn more about the history of the army. However the highlight of the tour is the parade of the pupils. You can watch the students march with their flourishing formal suits. You can also see this at the “Hwarang Ceremony”.  


Gyeonggi-do(Seongnam-si) , Bundang

Located in the Bundang area of Seongnam City in Gyeonggi-do province, the Bundang Olympic Sports Center spans eight floors and includes an indoor ice-skating rink, a food court, various convenience facilities, a multi-purpose indoor gym, health club, aerobics room, Taekwondo ring, a golf course and a swimming pool.The indoor ice skating rink on the first floor basement has state-of-the-art facilities and the highest ice quality, which visitors can enjoy all year round.


Incheon(Namdong-gu) , Incheon Center

The Sorae Ecology Park was once a facility used to produce salt until 1996. It wasn’t until 2009 that it became a park, restoring the mud flat, tidal channel, and making the closed salt field a ecological habitat for various marine life and migratory birds. The Sorae Ecology Park also provides a history to the facility and houses a Nature Learning Center, where visitors can experience sea salt production and learn more about the various wildlife and plants living in the marsh.


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

Sandglass Park is surrounded by the East Sea, mountains and Jeongdongjin 2-ri Village. Sandglass Park has pine trees, benches facing the sea, and access to Jeongdongjin Beach. A sandglass doesn’t show the present time like a sundial and a water glass and it measures the time elapsed by sand volume descending through gravity. So, the sandglass was used for determining the velocity. Jeongdongjin Sandglass Park was established in 1999 by Gangneung-si and Samsung Electronics Co. to commemorate the upcoming century. Part of this commemoration was the building of the giant sandglass at the park. The Sandglass has a diameter of 8.06m, its x_width is 3.2m, a weight of 40 tons and holds 8 tons of sand, making it one of the biggest sandglasses in the world. It takes a whole year for sand to trickle to the bottom and then the sandglass restarts again on New Year’s Day each year at midnight.


Gyeongsangnam-do(Hadong-gun)

Hwagae Market, which appears as the setting in Kim Dongri's novel, "Yeokma" (meaning "Stagecoach"), has a beneficial location on the border of Yeongho-nam and Gyeongsangnam-do, allowing it to easy access to seafood and salt from the southern coast, grains from the plains of Honam, wild vegetables and herbs from the foot of Jirisan Mountain and its lumber trading center. You could count the number of markets of that scale in Korea on one hand.


Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

The Traditional Korean Food Experience Center is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and developing Korean food culture by offering a number of experience programs on traditional Korean food. Visitors can also lodge at a hanok (traditional Korean house) for a little bit of lifestyle experience. Day programs change by the month; overnight experience programs available (prices vary and classes are held in the Korean language).* Special Features- All the dishes are made of organic vegetables grown by the staff.- The center does not use any chemical/artificial ingredients whatsoever.- The traditional houses are furnished with classic Korean furniture.- There are over 500 jars containing fermented pastes and sauces.- A wide variety of fermented pastes and sauces such as gochujang (red pepper paste) and doenjang (bean paste) are available for purchase.


Jeollanam-do(Gokseong-gun)

Located in Gokseong-gun, Jeonnam, Rail Pension has recently been renovated. Visitors can see Gokseong tourist spots at a glance and the beautiful scenery during all four seasons. The pension also has an outdoor terrace for viewing the scenery of Seomjingang train village complex. Each room has a unique name, and the light-colored wooden interior and use of Phytoncide is great at relieving stress.