Gangwon-do(Yangyang-gun)

Since its opening in 1963, this beach, out of the other 3 beaches in Donghaean (East Coast) continues to have a great number of visitors every summer. Dense pine tree forests, 4 km of white sands, and shallow waters of 1.5m ~ 70m are characteristic of this beach.Also, Naksansa Temple, one of the eight beautiful sights of the Gwandong area (Gwandongpalgyeong), and the Uisangdae tourist attractions surround this beach, making it even more attractive to visitors. The beautiful four seasons of Seoraksan Mountain can be witnessed in just 10 min. by car, and one can taste delicious seafood at Jeonjinhang, only a 5 min. car ride away.


Gyeonggi-do(Yongin-si)

The best cultural theme park in the nation, the Korean Folk Village is hosting the '2016 Welcome to Joseon' Korean Folk Village Joseon Live Variety Festival from April 9 to June 12, 2016. It is the most representative spring festival of the Korean Folk Village and this year in particular, new parades have been added, along with upgraded version of the 'Fusion Madanggeuk: Birthday party of the Governor' will be held.  With a record of 1 million views on their highlight act featuring the 'flower beggar', 'merchant', 'gisaeng,' and new characters selected from the 'Joseon Characters Audition 3', a total of 22 actors will be seen performing in the acts. With Joseon dynasty as background, visitors may time travel back into a fantasy world with the characters in a interesting and real comedy act.  Besides, a variety of traditional and fun experiences including 'Traditional Costume Experience', making of mapae (transportation card used in the Joseon era), hopa (identity card) and fragrance pouch are also available for all visitors regardless of age and gender. 


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

Namsangol Taekwondo Outdoor Performance staged with the background of Namsangol Hanok village, one of Seoul's top tourist destinations maintaining the unique sense of the traditional Korean culture in the center of the city, presents a lot of spectacles and activities related to taekwondo, one of the world's beloved sports. The performance introduces taekwondo, the pride of Korean people, to tourists and gives them a variety of opportunities to experience the sport, everyday except Tuesdays from May to October. The dramatic meeting of taekwondo and the hanok village reminds that Korean people cherish and inherit their tradition and try to make their culture to be loved ever more.


Seoul(Jongno-gu)

The Culture, Design & Tourism Headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (History & Cultural Heritage Division) has been holding the “Bosingak Bell-Ringing Ceremony” since November 21, 2006. The program takes place at noon daily (except Tuesdays) and gives locals and international visitors the experience of ringing the bell 12 times. The program is run regularly and foreigners can also participate in the special program without the need to register. Foreign visitors can come before 11:40 a.m. and apply on-site at Bosingak Belfry, where participants will be able to experience a bit of Korean culture through the ceremony.[Origin of Bosingak Bell Ringing] Courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentThe Bosingak Bell was rung to signal the opening and closing of the four Main Gates (Sungnyemun, Heunginjimun, Sukjeongmun, and Donuimun) and the four Small Gates (Hyehwamun, Sodeokmun, Gwanghuimun, and Changuimun) in the capital city since the fifth year of King Taejo (1396) during the early Joseon Dynasty. Bell ringing at dawn was called “Paru” and bell ringing in the evening was called “Injeong.”* The bell was named Bosingak Bell in 1895 during the 32nd year of King Gojong. The belfry was originally called Jongnu (bell pavilion). ---------------Paru – ringing the bell 33 times (dawn)- Ogyeong Samjeom: The bell was rung 33 times at around 4 a.m. to signal the end of the night curfew and the start of the new day. The eight gates to the capital will be opened during this time.- The practice of ringing the bell 33 times can be traced to Buddhism; the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy manifests herself in 33 different forms in order to save mankind.---------------Injeong – ringing the bell 28 times (evening)- The bell was rung 28 times at around 10 p.m. to signal the end of the day, the closing of the gates and the start of the curfew.- In ancient times, people divided the universe into the four gung’s of East, West, South, and North. Each gung was further divided into seven, therefore forming 28 gu’s (28 su’s) of constellations. This resulted in the tradition of ringing the bell 28 times.※ Injeong refers to reporting to the 28 su’s of the sun, the moon, and the stars of the universe, while paru reported to the 33 “skies” led by Jeseokcheon (shamanic deity) to seek blessings for national prosperity and the welfare of the people, all of which are related to Buddhism.※ Bell ringing on the eve of New Year’s Day is meant to symbolize the end a year, and as a way wish for blessings, good health and the happiness of the citizens for the brand new year.


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.  


Gyeongsangnam-do(Hadong-gun)

The Tea Culture Center located at the foot of Jirisan Mountain in Hadong Gyeongsangnam-do Province aims to promote the tea culture of the area, the first tea producer in the nation, while advertising the quality and superiority of Hadong green tea. The center is located adjacent to the tea farming area and Ssanggyesa Temple, one of the most famous tourist attractions in Korea.In the Tea Culture Center, there is a tea culture museum where you may learn about the history and culture associated with Korean tea. At the Tea Promotional and Experience Center visitors can enjoy such hands-on programs like making tea in a traditional hand-made way and learning the traditional tea etiquette of the region, a pottery class where you can make your own pottery in a traditional way, and a tea market where you can purchase a variety of high-quality tea produced in the region. Every year, the center holds the Hadong Wild Tea & Culture Festival, an official local celebration designated by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Pohang-si)

If the Korean peninsula is seen as a tiger shape, Homigot in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do forms the tail. As the venue for Homigot Sunrise Festival, the Sunrise Square in Homigot features various facilities including monuments, a flame holder, and a performance stage. The brilliant yellow and golden garden at the entrance blooms in April and May. Hand-shaped bronze sculptures have been installed at the waterfront and the beachfront. The palms of the hands face each other, symbolizing harmony and coexistence. The flame originating from the sunlight at Byeonsan Peninsula was used in various international sporting events. Homigot Lighthouse and Lighthouse Museum are located near Homigot Sunrise Square.


Daegu(Dalseong-gun)

The descendants of Mun Ik-jeom, who are known to have brought the Nampyeong Mun clan to prosperity, reportedly came to Daegu about 500 years ago. It was during the time of Mun Gyeong-ho (1812-1874), the 18th descendant of Mun Ik-jeom, that the clan became established in Inheung. Mun executed his plan to create a village for the clan by putting down roots in the old site of Inheungsa Temple, a large-scale temple in the Goryeo era.Yonghojae, which is a place for offering ancestral memorial services, is the first building established at the village constructed before or after 1920. The first residential building was built around the late 1800s in the form of thatched cottage. During the course of a hundred years, the village developed into what it is today. Featuring about 70 or so tile-roofed homes, Inheung Village is only about 200 years old but it is a great example of traditional residential homes of the yangban upper class in the Yeongnam region. The harmony between the way the village is organized and the surrounding landscape is unique and rare.


Gyeongsangnam-do(Jinju-si)

Jinju National Museum is located within Jinju Castle. After opening in 1984, it reopened in 1998 under the name of “Imjin Waeran Specialty Museum”. The exhibits of the museum are based on Imjin Waeran (Japanese Invasion in 1594), instead of having a purely local flavor. Jinju is the site of the greatest battle of Imjin Waeran, the battle of Jinju Castle, which is why there are many relics about the war at the museum, such as Chokseokru. On the 1st floor you can see literature, paintings and listen to music about the war. You can see the record of POWs and the progress of the war, in the point-of-view of westerners. The exhibited relics were excavated from around the country, and even include relics from Japan, giving you a more complete picture, and the theme based arrangement of the exhibits make it easier to understand the war as a whole. Along the passage you can see many items depicting the major events of the war. There is an exhibit hall called Du-Am Hall with about 179 relics, mainly paintings, pottery, and craftwork, which were donated by Mr. Du-Am. On the 2nd floor you can actively experience the progression of the events in the war. The relics are arranged chronologically, classified by soldier, class, and weapons, etc. The exhibit hall starts with the exhibit on the outbreak of the war, and ends with the book Ichungmugong, which contains the will of General Yi Sun-Sin. You can also see a large-scale model of Geobukseon (Turtle Ship), which was the pride of the Korean Navy at the time.


Gangwon-do(Chuncheon-si)

Jade Garden, created under the theme of ‘Small Europe in the Forest,’ is located near Jade Palace Golf Club on a plot of land measuring 160,000 square meters. The 24 distinctively-themed areas in the garden boast a total of 3,000 plant species including rhododendron, maple trees, irises, and blueberry bushes as well as patches of thick, natural forests. The arboretum makes the most out of its natural valley topography and presents visitors with a mix of tidy gardens, graceful flowers, and an array of European-style architecture.For the convenience of its guests, Jade Garden operates a Tuscan-style visitor’s center where patrons can enjoy a simple snack or beverage and purchase souvenirs. Visitors may choose from three different walking courses (each 2 hours in length) around the arboretum and there a gardening program is also available for aspiring gardeners.