The hot springs have been called Bugok (the hanja characters 釜谷 refer to “cauldron” and “valley” respectively) because the land resembles the shape of a cauldron. When the spring was first discovered, people with skin ailments came in crowds because of the water’s healing properties. The sulfur and minerals in the water are effective for respiratory and skin ailments. Today, the hot springs attract 10,000~20,000 visitors a day, adding up to about 4 million people a year.
Discovered in 1973, the hot springs have a 6,000-ton daily water supply flowing from underground at a temperature as high as 78℃. Bugok was officially designated a national tourist resort in 1977. Twenty years later, it was promoted to a Special Tourist Zone. Composed of 24 hot springs, the complex has hotels, condominiums, a golf course, and a fountain that shoots up hot water. The resort Bugok Hawaii has a variety of amenities including outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a theater, and saunas, making it a popular destination for newlyweds and families.
The Bugok Hot Springs Festival, also called Onjeongje, is held from October to December every year to promote the area. The festival offers various activities such as a boiled egg eating contest (eggs boiled using water from the hot spring), foot baths, Pungmulnori (Korean folk music tradition) and other performances. Nearby attractions include Hwawangsan Mountain and the Upo Wetlands.
[Bugok Hot Springs Special Tourist Zone]
Areas covered: Geomun, Sachang and Bugok-ri, Bugok-myeon, Changnyeong-gun,Gyeongsangnam-do
Area size: 4,819,000㎡
Homeo offers customers unique furniture and accessories showcased in a cozy setting. There is even a cafe decorated with a variety of one-of-a-kind accessories. Homeo is simply a great place to shop around and rest while traveling.
Jagalchi Market boasts an impressive array of seafood caught both in the nearby sea and the faraway ocean. It is a beloved tourist attraction in Busan. The market was formed by the people who populated the area after the Liberation in 1945, and the Korean War. As one of the largest seafood markets in Asia, the market offers all kinds of seafood to visitors.
Mungyeong is known for its exquisite ceramics. While each piece has its own individual shape and design, as a whole, ceramics of Mungyeong are highly regarded because of their historical and cultural value. Mungyeong is home to a number of master craftsmen as well as Sagijang (referring to craftsmen making chinaware), who have been officially designated Intangible Cultural Property by the Korean government. As a renowned kiln site producing Buncheongsagi (grayish-blue celadon) since the early Joseon Period, Mungyeong still offers outstanding ceramics that reflect the essence of traditional craftsmanship.
Opened in 1995, Chungnyeongsan Mountain Natural Recreation Forest is located at Oebang-ri, Sudong-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, around 1 hour from Seoul. The recreation forest has various trekking courses leading to Chungnyeongsan Mountain and Seorisan Mountain and facilities like the forest park, training facility, water play site, nature observation sites, camping sites, and more.
The Oreung Tombs (“oreung” meaning “five royal tombs”) have been officially designated Historic Site No. 172 and are the final resting places of four kings of the Park clan—King Park Hyeokgeose (founder of the Silla Kingdom), King Namhae, King Yuri, and King Jabi—and one queen (Queen Aryeong, wife of King Park Hyeokgeose).
To the east of the royal tombs lies Sungdeokjeon Shrine, which holds the ancestral tablet of King Park Hyeokgeose. Behind the shrine is the Aryeongjeong Well, said to be the birthplace of Queen Aryeong.
Daejeon History Museum, comprised of a permanent exhibition hall, donated relics exhibition hall, planned hall, and city promotion hall, was created as a cultural area for citizens according to the Doan new city development project of Daejeon on October 16, 2012.
The permanent exhibition hall presents precious cultural assets in Daejeon with the theme of life and culture of Confucian scholars of Daejeon. The donated relic exhibition hall showcases artifacts donated by residents of Daejeon, and in the planned exhibition hall, a special exhibition is held to offer diverse items to see one or two times a year. In addition, plenty of hands-on programs, lectures, and performances are given in the museum to entertain visitors.
The Imcheonggak Pavilion was built as a home during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1919) because of one aristocratic family’s love for the scenic beauty of the surrounding area. The most famous structure on this property is the annexed pavilion. Imcheonggak is designated Treasure No.182. Thankfully this structure was untouched during the Japanese invasion taking place from 1592-1598.
An autograph of the famous Confucius scholar, Lee Hwang (1501-1570), can be found hanging outside the pavilion.
The mask play of Hahoe Byeolsingut Exorcism itself, performed first by merchants in Andong Hahoe Village around mid 12th century is designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 69. Hahoe Village, a clan village of the Pungsan Ryu family, preserves the traditional Korean way of life. The entire village has been designated as Important Folklore Material No.122. The mask dance performance has been performed to wish for much happiness and a good harvest for the village.
Event Programs: Byeolsingut Exorcism means an unusual and uncommon form of exorcism. In an agricultural society, a good harvest was considered to be the key factor of the village’s survival and the villages performed a sacrificial rite to pray to the heavens for an ever-lasting and bountiful harvest. As an act of incantation, the mask dance is made up of 10 episodes with a satirical story of former nobleman. The 10 episodes include: the ‘Gang Shin Episode’ (an invocatory rite of a would-be medium), the ‘Mudong Episode’ (the doll bride enters the stage), the ‘Juji Episode’ (Juji is an imaginary animal), the ‘Butcher Episode’ (a character butchers a cow without any hesitation), the ‘Granny Episode’ (the sorrow and joy of the lives of the public can be felt), the ‘Depraved Monk Episode’ (it satirizes the depraved monks and Buddhism at the end of the Goryeo dynasty), the ‘Nobleman Episode’ (it satirizes the hypocrisy and affectation of former noblemen), the ‘Dang Je’ (a ritual service for putting God back in his first place), the ‘Wedding Episode’ (the doll bride and the scholar marry) and the ‘Bridal Room Episode’ (describing their honeymoon).
Plant serves vegetarian cuisine, presenting two different menus every week and freshly baked goods, including gluten-free cakes and muffins, on a daily basis. The cafe provides a cozy atmosphere where visitors can enjoy their meals comfortably. It's frequented by foreigners and vegans; non-vegetarians also visit the place for Plant's signature desserts.