Busan(Gijang-gun)

Busan’s beautiful port city of Daebyeonhang Port sees the richest harvest of anchovies in Korea, especially in the months of April and May, therefore holds the Busan Gijang Anchovy Festival during this period. Daebyeonghang Port is also the film location for the 2001 box office hit movie featuring Jang Dong Gun and Yu Osung. The scene where Jang Dong Gun reminisces about his childhood memory of swimming in the ocean near a lighthouse while smoking a cigarette was filmed at this very location. The beautiful clear sea decorated with a lighthouse is not only popular during the Anchovy Festival, but is also a popular tourist attraction all year round.Event Programs: As a symbol of the fact that the festival is held by the sea, the Gijang Anchovy Festival begins with a fishermen’s parade around the port while carrying nets and other fishing equipment, while the fishermen themselves dress up in traditional fishing outfits which are white Hanbok. Gijang Anchovy Festival also offers rich seafood dishes, and visitors can enjoy the most fresh anchovy hoe (raw fish) in the area during its peak season. Pickled anchovy with seaweed is also a popular dish, and cuttlefish and cutless fish are also popular spring catches of Daebyeonhang. An outdoor food market offers a variety of hoe (raw fish) dishes, soups, and baked foods at moderate prices with an incredible view of the ocean.At nights, a musical performance is held with music, singing, and dancing, adding to the evening excitement. For even more fun, colorful fireworks light up the sky and give pleasure to the evening events. The Gijang Anchovy Festival is smaller in scale and simpler compared to other festivals, but it doesn’t diminish the spirit of fun at one of Korea’s cleanest ocean villages.Festival Highlights: For Korean movie fans, watch the 2001 box office hit to add more enjoyment to your trip. Comparing the red lighthouse and Daebyeonhang’s clean ocean waters to the scenes in the movie offers another sort of fun. Of course, the Anchovy Festival is fun as well if you don’t end up watching the movie. Buying a freshly caught fish and having it served on the spot is definitely the highlight of the festival.


Jeollabuk-do(Iksan-si)

The Wanggung Five-story Stone Pagoda is located on a hill about 2 kilometers south of Wanggung-myeon in Iksan, which is believed to have been the capital of the nation during the Mahan Era. The pagoda stands tall at 8.5 meters and was officially designated National Treasure No. 289. Relics from the Goryeo Dynasty that were found inside the pagoda were designated National Treasure No. 123 and are currently housed in the National Museum of Korea. Of the excavated relics, the most famous; the Sarijangeomgu, a magnificent container of Buddha’s Sarira; the green glass Sarira bottle topped with a lotus-shaped stopper; and the Sungeumgeumganggyeongpan, which contains the 19 golden plates of the Diamond Sutra.


Seoul(Jongno-gu)

Changuimun was often called Jahamun. It was one of four mini gates in the north surrounding the castle town Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty. But because one of the four main gates, Sukjeongmun, was closed, Changuimun became a favorite north gate. Hence, people also called Changuimun the North Gate. It is the only gate among four mini gates that is still in its original state. Although it is small, almost 50m², in terms of size, it looks very firm and sturdy. While Dongsomun Gate, one of four mini gates, is decorated with a phoenix, Changuimun Gate is adorned with a wooden chicken along its rafters. The reason behind the wooden chicken was that the chicken was believed to be the nemesis of the centipede. People believed that installing the wooden chicken was important to overcome the harmful spirit of the centipede. 


Gyeongsangnam-do(Gimhae-si)

The Gaya Culture Festival is a historical and cultural festival of Gimhae-si, whose long history and tradition is based on the Geumgwan Gaya, a leading power among the six Gaya groups. The festival is well known at home and abroad.King Kim Suro founded Gaya in A.D. 42 and married Heo Hwang-ok, a princess from the Indian country of Ayuta, in A.D. 48. This was the first known international marriage in the history of the Korean Peninsula. Gaya was quite advanced in the production of earthenware and iron implements, and traded with neighboring countries like China, Nakrang, and Japan. It thrived as a center of international exchange in Northeast Asia, and its culture was also remarkably developed.Gimhae, the birthplace of the Gaya culture, has a long history and unique culture. Through the Gaya Culture Festival, the region is continuing to preserve, build on, and develop the Gaya culture and heritage. The Gaya Culture Festival asserts Gaya’s rightful place alongside the Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla kingdoms.


Gyeonggi-do(Bucheon-si)

Formerly K-One Hotel, it was remodeled and renamed to Lausanne Hotel in order to achieve internal and external developments. The hotel provides excellent service and accomodations to all guests.


Busan(Dong-gu)

Urban regeneration centered along Sanbokdo-ro road, this road was designated to be the province of renaissance. An archive center where stories of local residents in Sanbokdo-ro road can be found, and a new planned exhibition is held every two months. Personal collection, as well as the history of locals living in this district are well preserved, and such variety of cultural contents is served as a warehouse of resources for the future. * Opening Date: March 6, 2013


Jeju-do(Seogwipo-si) , Seogwipo

The architectural style of Yakcheonsa Temple is reminiscent of that of Buddhist temples of the early Joseon Dynasty. Measuring an impressive 30m high and spanning a total area of 3,305 meters squared, it is the largest temple in the East. Upon entering Yakcheonsa Temple, guests will be greeted by a 5m-tall statue of Vairocana, the tallest of such statues in Korea, on a 4m high pedestal. The walls on both the right and left have been sculpted into large altar portraits of Buddha and in front of the Dharma Hall is a giant Buddhist temple bell, weighing 18 tons. Beloved for its size and grandeur, the temple consists of a main temple (2,652 meters squared) and a 3-story residential structure for the Buddhist monks. Other notable sites are the Gulbeopdang (the Dharma Hall, built inside a natural cave), the Samseonggak Shrine, and the Sarira Pagoda. Yakcheonsa Temple is not only popular among Buddhists but is also a well sought after tourist destination.


Gyeonggi-do(Pocheon-si) , Pocheon

Located at the entrance of Sanjeong Lake, Pyunggang Botanical Garden opened in May 2006, and was designated as a habitat for preservation by the Ministry of Environment. The garden has on exhibit both native plants and around 5,000 species of plants from around the globe. Additionally, the garden features an exquisite collection of 1,000 different alpine plants that normally reside on an altitude of 2,000 meters.The scope of the garden is comprehensive, but it is divided into 12 themed areas, including a Rock Garden, where the largest alpine plants in Asia are concentrated; a Wetland Center, which mimics the natural ecology of a wetland region; a Pond Garden consisting of roughly 50 ponds lined with gorgeous flowers; a Moss Center where moss that grows in deep valleys and forests can be seen; and a Grass Square, which serves as a green common year round. The Pyunggang Botanical Garden, serves an important role in preserving rare plants, but is also creating a new botanical garden culture, and serving as a center for public ecological education.※ Non-smoking area/cooking and drinking is strictly prohibited.Collecting plants, bugs, soil and stone without authorization is banned.


Jeollabuk-do(Jeonju-si)

Arirang Hotel is located in Jeonju-si Jeonbuk. Jeonju is popular with travelers because there are many events including Pungnamjae, Jeonju international film festival, world sound festival and Bibimbab festival in Jeonju. Arirang Hotel has the seminar room and business room for convenient use. Jeonju's representative spots are Jeonju Hanok village and Jeonju international film festival, and Jeonju's foods are Jeonju Bibimbab and Kongnamul Gukbab (bean sprout soup with rice). It is 15-minute ride from Jeonju station and Jeonju express bus terminal, so that travelers can conveniently use the public transportation. The pick-up service is available in Jeonju.


Gyeongsangnam-do(Hapcheon-gun)

Featuring the highest peak, Sanghwangbong, Mt. Gayasan is composed of many summits each over 1,000m in x_height. From the Taebaek Mountains, the Gayasan stretches from east to west. In 1972, it was designated as National Park No.9 due to its breathtaking scenery. Gayasan is know for its many tourist highlights, namely Haeinsa Temple, which is in the southwestern part of Gayasan. It is one of the three most famous temples in Korea. The Tripitaka Koreana (National Treasures No.32), consisting of over eighty thousand blocks, are found here. The place makes for fantastic scenery with the old temple and the beautiful landscape. In addition, there are other cultural properties such as Jangkyunggak (National Treasure No.52), Stone Buddha Figure (Treasures No. 518) Banya Temple Gyeongwangsa Monument (Treasures No.128) which was designated as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Moreover, Gayasan is noted for its graceful mountain landscape. The water flowing from Gayasan valley meets in front of Haeinsa Temple and flows to the southeast where it forms Gayacheon stream. Among the many valleys, Hongryudong valley (its water seems to turn red because of the leaves' autumnal tints) finishes the grandeur scenery with the several thousand year-old pine tree. Namsanjeil-bong, a peak located in southern part of Hongryudong, is called Mt. Cheonbulsan among Buddhists because it seems like thousands of Buddhist statues cover the mountain ridge. Mt. Cheonbulsan is a favorite one-day mountain climbing course for many. Gayasan shows magnificent landscapes every season with the cherry blossoms, azaleas and royal azaleas lined up on the road to Haeinsa Temple in Spring, the clean water and green trees in Summer, the glorious tints of its autumn foliage along the rock ridges in Autumn and a snowy landscape in Winter.