The Ramada Plaza Jeju Hotel, modeled after the Hohwa Cruise Ship, floats on the waterfront of Jeju-do Island. This floating hotel, the only one of its kind in Korea, is located on Jeju's Tabdong Coast and was established with a 100% investment by the Korea Teachers Credit Union. The internationally renowned hotel brand RAMADA was introduced to raise hotel management and accommodation facilities to world class standards and thus satisfy worldwide business travellers and tourists. The beach is immediately accessible from the hotel, while Jeju International Airport is only a 5-minute drive away.The Ramada Plaza Jeju Hotel has 380 guest rooms, a convention hall that is able to accomodate over 1,000 people, and other convenience facilities for the guests. Also, the Kids Suite, the first to be introduced in Korea, offers benefits to both children and their parents with its comfortable space for play and relaxation. The oceanside guest rooms offer a beautiful view of the beach from the bathroom, the same feeling as if you were on a cruise.
Located near Gimpo International Airport, Hotel Nostalgia offers various cultural events and specialized programs. Each of the 71 rooms is equipped with free satellite TV channels and broadband wireless Internet access. It also has a banquet hall, a business club, Western and Korean restaurants, a sky lounge, a live music bar and a coffee shop. Nearest subway stations include Gayang Station (Subway Line 9) and Hwagok Station (Subway Line 5).
Daegaya Museum is an exhibition of history and culture of the Daegaya (The Great Gaya; 42-562 AD) Kingdom. The Museum consists of the Daegaya History Pavilion and the Daegaya Royal Tomb Pavilion. The History Pavilion houses a collection of relics from the Daegaya Kingdom era, while holding special exhibitions and education activities periodically. The outdoor exhibition center displays items that represent ancient lifestyle such as dugouts, attic storage, iron furnace, as well as religious relics. The Royal Tomb Pavilion is a 37m-wide dome that houses relics of the Jisandong Ancient Tombs. It is essentially the restoration of the Jisandong Tumulus No. 44, the first large-scale sunjang (burial of the living with the dead).
Yongheunggung Palace is where King Cheoljong (a Joseon Dynasty ruler who reigned from 1849 to 1863) used to live before his ascension to throne. The chief of Ganghwa County, Jeong Gi-se, enlarged the original residence and named it Yongheunggung (meaning palace of the rising dragon) in the 4th year of King Cheoljong’s reign. Its architectural features include a paljak (Korean traditional half-hipped roof) and supporting columns rendered in Jusimpo style, the column brackets placed only on top of the columns. The palace was built in the tradition of dwelling houses such as the Yeongyeongdang and Nakseonjae houses in Changdeokgung Palace, so the palace buildings give off a simple and plain atmosphere. Within the precincts of the palace are a memorial stone and a monument house indicating that the palace used to be the old home of King Cheoljong.
King Suro founded the Garak Kingdom in A.D. 42 and married Heo Hwang-ok, a princess from the Indian country of Ayuta, in A.D. 48. He was the founder of the Gimhae Kim family. Heo Yeop, a Yeongnam governor, gave the tomb its current look in the 13th year of the reign of King Seonjo (1580). The tomb compound includes various buildings, including the Sungseonjeon (where the ancestral tablets of King Suro and his queen are kept), Anhyanggak, Jeonsacheong, and Jegigo, as well as stone structures, such as a sindobi (tombstone) and gongjeokbi (monument established to pay homage the deceased). The tombstone in front of the royal tomb was built in the 25th year of the reign of King Injo (1647) of the Joseon Dynasty. The name 'Sungseonjeon' was bestowed on the tomb by King Gojong in the 21st year of his reign (1884).
The Gimhae Astronomical Observatory was opened on February 1, 2002 as part of the Millennium Commemorative Project started in December, 1998. It was built to satisfy the general public’s curiosity about the universe and celestial bodies, inspire young people, and give everyone a unique, memorable experience. The observatory is shaped like an egg, in memory of the legend of King Kim Suro, the founder of the Garak Kingdom, according to which the king was born from an egg.
It is said that the queen of King Suro, Heo Hwang-ok, was a princess from the Indian country of Ayuta. Since sophisticated navigation equipment had yet to be invented, it can be assumed that she found her way to the Garak Kingdom by following the stars. It is also said that a prince of the Garak Kingdom built an observatory on the highest point of a mud fortress in Jinrye in order to make astronomical observations. The place is still referred to as Bibidan, which means a place to watch the stars.
These historical facts indicate the stars were very important to the Gaya, an ancient kingdom established mainly in the Gimhae area. The peak of Bunseongsan Mountain, where the observatory is located, offers sweeping views of the entire area of Gimhae-si. The night view of Gimhae-si, when the stars are out, is breathtaking.
Hiddink Motel is just 3 minutes’ walk from Gwangju Station and a stone’s throw from many excellent restaurants, so guests can enjoy sampling Jeollanam-do’s tasty cuisine and get around easily by public transport. Mudeungsan, the great mountain in the southwestern region of Korea, offers various climbing courses, and is appreciated by many tourists. The hotel provides a free lunchbox service upon request.
Ca'del Lupo is an Italian restaurant, closely located to Paris Baguette in Hyoja-dong, Jongno-gu near Gyeongbokgung Palace Station. Though the restaurnat masters delicious homemade Italian cuisine on the inside, the exterior is wholly Korean. This unique combination of Hanok (traditional Korean house) style housing and Western foods is drawing a lot of people to Hyoja-dong. The great mix of both cultures can be seen in the sophisticated decorations and from the amazing food. The herbs they use are picked directly from the restaurant's personal garden. But to enjoy the atmosphere here, you will have to make a reservation far in advance.
Dongbang Tourist Hotel, which went through a remodeling in February, uses clean water from nearby hot springs. As it is also located close to Geumgang Park, guests may take advantage of the opportunities for a convenient tour of the area.
Gapyeong Sledding Hills are open throughout the year. It normally operates from the beginning of December to early March. Unlike other sledding Hills using artificial snow, Gapyeong has artificial grass under its snow as well as the characteristic of having the sun behind the hill so that the snow does not melt. Thus, operating hours are prolonged by 1 month until the end of winter on natural snow.Gapyeong Sledding Hills features two slopes for adults and two for children. With the set up of the ‘horizontal baby-walker (moving walker)', going up the hill is easy just by standing on the sled. Next to the children’s slope, there is a separate snow house and a place for snowball fights.In addition, visitors can experience the unique fun of summer sleighing with the operation of the Water Sledding Hills in summer from the middle of July to October.Gapyeong Sledding Hills also operate the ‘Ice Sledding Hills’ during winter, and it is available with no extra fee.When coming from Seoul, take the bus to Hyeon-ri from the Seoul Sangbong Bus Terminal and get off at Deokhyon-ri Gapyeong Sledding Hills.