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.


Busan(Geumjeong-gu)

Beomeosa Temple, located in Geumjeongsan Mountain in Busan, is one of the three major temples in Korea, together with Haeinsa and Tongdosa. Up until today, the passion of practitioners of this temple continues, a passion that did not waver even during the war. The temple stay program has two types: the experience program and the relaxation program. Centering on chamseon (Zen meditation), the experience program includes yebul, 108 prostrations, and dado (tea ceremony). With the relaxation program, you may choose to take chamseon (Zen meditation) or have conversation with a monk over a cup of tea. The temple is close to downtown and you can use a city tour bus with departure/final stop in Busan Station to take a tour around the city.  


Busan(Haeundae-gu) , Haeundae

Hotel Illua sits on Haeundae's Dalmaji Street away from the more industrialized Nambuhaean region, overlooking the beautiful beaches of Haeundae. The five-star hotel comes fully equipped with modern facilities and is graced with traditional design elements. Recently renovated, it has been praised both for its luxurious interior and superb guest services.


Chungcheongnam-do(Asan-si)

Oeam Village was formed as a clan village for the Yi family hailing from Yean. Pungdeok House was built 250 years ago and is the main house of the Yi clan’s family estate. The house is box-shaped like the Korean letter “ㅁ” (mieum), a typical architectural shape in the Chungcheong-do province. Oeam Folk Village still looks as it did when it was built about 500 years ago. Follow the village’s narrow winding roads lined with low stone walls and you’ll find Pungdeok House. At first sight, this simple hanok may seem like a snapshot of a yangban’s (ruling class or aristocrats of the Joseon Dynasty) household, but it is actually a house famous for the exceptional dishes it serves. [The best taste born after 13 times of jesa (memorial ritual for ancestors)] In order to continue the line of succession, the head family’s eldest grandson and his wife returned to the village. They wanted to turn the house into a lively and cheerful space for the youth so they started a hanok experience program. As it has been preserved well, the house still retains its original appearance. After undergoing repair and maintenance, the house opened to the public in the spring of 2012. Because she had to prepare food for jesa at least once a month, the eldest grandson’s wife acquired cooking skills in the process. In particular, the traditional dishes she learned from her mother-in-law were instrumental in making Pungdeok House a famous local restaurant. Their most representative dishes are the giju-tteok (steamed rice cake) and the jinip-guk (vegetable soup).  


Jeju-do(Jeju-si) , Former Jeju

Gwaneumsa Temple is located at the foot of the northeast side of Mt. Halla in Ara-dong in Jeju City. The temple is widely believed to have been first built during the Tamra Dynasty Era (BC 476~AD 1005), which was prior to the Goryeo Dynasty (AD 918~1392). However, there is no concrete evidence suggesting the exact year of construction or the temple’s original builder. In the early 1700s, when leaders of the Joseon Dynasty proclaimed Confucianism as the national religion and executed a policy to destroy all the Buddhist temples in the Jeju area, Gwaneumsa Temple was demolished. It was rebuilt in 1912 by a Buddhist nun, Anbongryeokwan, and renovated in 1964. The temple consists of the main shrine, Myeongbujeong Hall, a bell tower, Sanshingak Pavilion, and Bulimun Gate. There is also a Buddhist school run by the Gwaneumsa Temple located in downtown Jeju. There are many tourist spots near the temple such as a wooden seated Buddhist goddess statue that was designated a tangible cultural asset of Jeju-do in 1999. Other popular destinations include Jeju Natural Monument No. 50, a cherry blossom tree habitat, and the nearby “4.3 Historic Site” commemorating the civil revolution many years ago on April 3rd. Also located close to the temple are the Mokseokwan Arboretum, Sancheondan, Halla Mountain, Uerimok Valley, Tamra Valley, and Gewaloreum Hill. The steep trail leading up the side of Halla Mountain, “Gwaneumsa Trail,” is particularly popular for its colorful fall foliage and its breathtaking scenery of endless gorges.  


Gyeongsangnam-do(Geochang-gun)

For over four decades since it was first developed to provide industrial water, the 1.2㎢ lake area has been isolated with high barbed wire fences set up for water quality control and safety reasons. As time went by, the area has fallen behind in comparison with other regions and gradually became a deserted area. But now, after the wired fence has been removed, various facilities and walking paths were created to compliment the breathtaking scenery and the surroundings.


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

This Korean cuisine is located near Samseong (World Trade Center Seoul) Station , Seoul.A restaurant that made it to the MICHELIN Guide 2019 list.The representative menu is Crab Roe Bibimbap.


Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Gecko's Garden is a fusion pub & restaurant where customers can enjoy tapas, steaks, juicy burgers, and barbecue dishes along with a glass of wine or beer. The numerous windows give the restaurant a luxurious feel and allow for an open view of the lush garden outside. Gecko's Garden serves a wide selection of beer and cocktails, but one of the favorites among the restaurant’s female clientele is its iced tea-flavored sorbets served along with an assortment of fruit. An additional tax of 10% and a service charge of 5% are typically added to menu prices, but from 12pm to 5pm, taxes are waived and customers can enjoy their food and drinks at lower prices.


Incheon(Ganghwa-gun)

Seongmodo Island (석모도) is located to the west of Ganghwado Island (강화도). Beautiful West Sea, a drive by the shore, and the great scenic view are some of the features of island's highlights. To get to Seongmodo Island, simply take a ferry at Oepo-ri, which takes only 10 minutes. The seagulls that congregate over the sea, fly close to the ferry boat and provide a beautiful sight.  When you arrive at Seongmodo Island, there is a bus terminal and a bicycle rental shop. If you are planning to hike around the island, rent a bicycle. You can tour around Seongmodo Island on a bicycle, by car, or simply by walking. If you want to go to Bomunsa Temple or Minmeoru Beach, ride the bus bound for Bomunsa Temple. If you want to hike or drive, you can visit most places by going along Ilju Road. It will take only 40 minutes by car, and about 2 hours and 30 minutes by bicycle to look around the island.  The most interesting sites in Seongmodo Island are Minmeoru Beach (민머루해수욕장) and Bomunsa Temple. Minmeoru Beach is the only beach in Seongmodo Island; Its shores are elegant and the surrounding scenery is beautiful with a salt farm near the beach. Bomunsa Temple boasts great views of the West Sea and is famous for its sunsets and a Buddhist grotto that was built inside a natural cave. To the rear of Bomunsa Temple, the Nunseop Rock and the Ma-aeseokbuljwa statue engraved on a rock is also worth a look. Telephone  +82-32-930-3563, +82-32-932-6007   


Jeju-do(Jeju-si) , Former Jeju