Busan(Jung-gu)

Bosu-dong Book Street has a unique background. It was formed after the independence of Korea (August 15) as a residential area in the empty place where the previous Gukje Market was demolished. People started selling the books Japanese left behind, and later on, when it became a private area, book sellers moved to the current place to sell their books. When Busan became the provisional capital during the Korean War, refugees brought and sold their precious books for a living. As time went by, professors and students came to the alley and started purchasing books, contributing to the build up of the current book street. Once, used books were gathered in the alley and rare books could be found. Thanks to this, more temporary buildings were formed. At that time, about 70 books stores were available for students to sell and buy used books. In the early 60’s when the publication culture was not yet settled down, many students and educated people had to sell their books and then buy secondhand books or magazines. After going through this time, the Bosu-dong Book Street became a famous book street throughout the nation. The prices of books are scaled according to the conditions of the book or bargaining.


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

The Hyundai Department Store Mia Branch, located in Seongbuk-gu Gireum-dong, boasts a structure that stands with five basement floors and ten stories above ground. Living up to its motto, "An added value of living", the Mia branch offers a great selection of products and top quality customer service.The department store is closed one Monday a month, so be sure to check the official homepage for exact closing dates. Store hours are from 10:30am to 8:00pm daily.


Daegu(Jung-gu)

Daegu Concert House, previously Daegu Citizen’s Hall, is newly opened after undergoing renovations from April 2011 to August 2013 to reconstruct eaves and columns of the large concert halls and to build a performance support hall perfect for international concerts. The hall is equipped with sound facilities matching international standards. Grand Hall has 1,284 seats, Chamber Hall (small concert hall) has 248 seats, and the parking lot can accommodate a total of 387 cars throughout 215 spaces in the basement level parking lot and 72 spaces in the parking tower. In addition, the concert hall houses an exhibition hall, practice room, and community facilities. In particular, the Grand Hall offers vivid, visible, and acoustic effect by shortening the distance between the performers and audience so that it fits the international standard for concert halls with the best sound facilities.


Seoul(Jongno-gu)

After Korea gained independence from Japan in 1945, the former president Lee Seungman and his wife lived in their house called Ihwajang. Even though he moved out of the house after he was elected the first president of Korea, he used to return and visit for walks in the garden. After he relinquished his appointment as president, he stayed here for a while before coming to America as an exile.Ihwajang house consisted of the bonchae, or the main building, which was where Lee Seungman and his wife’s living quarters were, jogakdang(president’s office area) and other buildings. Jogakdang, the president’s office area, is a small and narrow building but it is an important historical place where he had a conference to form the first Korean ministry. Ihwajang house shows the change of Korean traditional house under Japanese control. 


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Myogaksa Temple is located on the east side of Mt. Naksan in Sungin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. First established by Monk Taeheo Hongseon in May of 1930, it has since expanded and underwent two renovations. The temple’s location was selected based on the principles of Feng Shui, which dictated that a temple built in its location would bring peace and comfort to Seoul’s residents. The Myogaksa Temple complex on Mt. Naksan accommodates a Deabul (Grand Buddha) Shrine, a Wontong Buddhist shrine, a Nakga preaching hall, Seokgulam Grotto, Sanshingak (Mountain Spirit Pavilion), and the Mae Buddha Statue. Deabul and Wontong shrines are two of the finest Buddhist architectural masterpieces. The Buddha statue, located inside the Seokgulam Grotto, was built around the ninth or early tenth century and has been designated a national cultural treasure. The Mae Buddha Statue, also located in this temple, was carved out of the rocky cliffs of Mt. Naksan and has been designated a cultural asset of the City of Seoul.Since the 2002 FIFA World Cup when Myogaksa began operating its temple stay program, the temple has become a wonderful place where locals and tourists can escape the daily hustle-and-bustle of Seoul to experience the serenity of Buddhism. 


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Euljiro・Chungmuro・Namsan

This Jokbal Street restaurant has a history of over 50 years, and the elderly white-haired proprietor has been running the business the entire time. Basketball players who play a game at the Jangchung Gymnasium visit the restaurant. When it first opened, the price of jokbal (steamed pork hock) was 150 won and the bindaetteok (mung-bean pancake), 10 won. Back then, the food was a luxury that students couldn’t even dream of buying, but now everyone can afford it. The taste of jokbal here is special: firstly because the trotters are transported to the restaurant immediately, and also because of the restaurant’s unique broth. The meat is extremely chewy and the delicately flavored fat melts in your mouth like ice cream. For a treat that cannot be enjoyed anywhere else, the owner hints that the large serving is much more delicious than the small one.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Cheomseongdae is the oldest existing astronomical observatory in Asia. Constructed during the reign of Queen Seon-deok (632-647), it was used for observing the stars in order to forecast the weather. This stone structure is a beautiful combination of straight lines and curves, and was designated as National Treasure No.31 on December 20th, 1962. Cheomseongdae was built in a cylinder shape with stones 30cm in diameter. 362 stones were piled up to make 27 levels. Roughly 4.16m up from the bottom there is a 1㎡ square entrance and a space to hang a ladder under it. The inside is filled with soil up to the 12th level, and the 19th, 20th, 25th, and 26th levels all have long rocks hanging on two areas, shaped as the Chinese letter '井' (jeong). It stands 9.17m high and the base stone on each side measures 5.35m. The Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice and the 24 solar terms (also known as the astronomical solar year) were determined by the observation of stars. The pavilion stone is believed to have been used as a standard of deciding directions, north, south, east and west. The 362 stones used to build Cheomseongdae represented the 362 days in a lunar year.


Busan(Haeundae-gu) , Haeundae

There are many islands named Dongbaekseom Island (동백섬) in the South Sea where dongbaek trees thrive. Among them, the Dongbaekseom Island in Busan used to be an island, but is now part of the mainland. Dongbaekseom Island is a very small, and many dongbaek trees and evergreens thrive there. At the top of the island, there is a statue and a monument of Choe Chi-Won, a scholar and writer during the Silla Kingdom.The Busan Tourism Organization has declared Dongbaekseom Island Tourist Site No.46. The island also has Dongbaek Park (동백공원) and a 2.5 m high statue of a mermaid near the beach which many tourists can easily visit on their way to the beach.


Seoul(Mapo-gu) , Hongik-University-Area

17℃ stands for the optimum temperature to preserve chocolates at its best quality. Presenting a wide variety of hand-made chocolates, purchasable items include chocolate bars and café menus like chocolate cakes and chocolate beverages. In particular, you can control the amount of cacao in your chocolate drink ranging from 40%~80% according to your preference.


Gyeonggi-do(Paju-si) , Paju(Heyri Art valley)

Pinocchio Museum was established with a motivation of Pinocchio created by Carlo Collodi, an Italian author about 130 years ago. The fairy tale, the Pinocchio, is a famous children’s classic story, giving children of the world an awareness to the dangers of lying. The Pinocchio Museum consists of exhibition hall where visitors can experience a wooden doll, Pinocchio, in person, and it houses 1,300 Pinocchio-related pieces as well as exhibition hall such as Pinocchio Story, Pinocchio doll museum, Pinocchio experience hall and photo zone. Nearby attraction includes Asia Publication Information Center, Nabynara Museum, and Youlhwadang Publishers, and other cultural facilities alongside with a beautiful walking path.