Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

The Daegwallyeong Special Tourist Zone is made up of five cities and counties in Gangwon-do, including Pyeongchang-gun, which is the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Blessed with picturesque highland scenery, the Daegwallyeong Special Tourist Zone includes the cities of Gangneung-si, Donghae-si, Samcheok-si, and the counties of Hoengseong-gun and Pyeongchang-gun. Gangneung is located the nearest to Daegwallyeong. Famous attractions in Gangneung include Gyeongpoho Lake and Gyeongpodae Pavilion. Two of Gangneung’s historic villas, Ojukheon House and Seongyojang House, have been beautifully maintained for centuries. The city of Donghae’s two ports, Donghae Port and Mukho Port, are always buzzing with the energy of coastal life. Donghae Port is a base for the distribution of materials, industrial development, and trade. Cruise ferries take passengers to Russia and Japan. Meanwhile, ferries going to Ulleung-do depart from Mukho Port, which is located near Mukho Lighthouse and the Bukpyeong 5-day Market. Samcheok is a coastal city in the southernmost part of Gangwon-do. With National Road No. 7 at the center, Samcheok is bordered by Donghae to the north and Uljin-gun to the south. Hwanseongul Cave, the biggest limestone cave in Korea, and Daegeumgul Cave are some of the city’s major attractions. Hoengseong-gun is famous for its hanu (Korean beef) and the diverse agricultural experience programs the county offers. The lush forests and the road with a scenic view of Taegisan Mountain also attract many tourists. At 700 meters above sea level, Pyeongchang-gun is home to many ski resorts, making it a major destination for winter sports. [Daegwallyeong Special Tourist Zone] Areas included: Areas around Hoengseong and Pyeongchang-gun, Gangneung, Donghae and Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do Area size: 428.3k㎡ (Gangneung 90.4k㎡, Donghae 48.4k㎡, Samcheok 11.3k㎡, Hoengseong 63.5k㎡, Pyeongchang 214.7k㎡) Tourist attractions: Yongpyeong Resort, Alpensia Resort, Phoenix Park, Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm, Donghae Port, Mukho Port, Seongyojang House, Cheongok Cave, etc.


Gyeonggi-do(Icheon-si)

Seolbong Park is a pleasant resting area that includes a walking path around a wide lake in the middle of the park, a traditional garden and a traditional palanquin. Visitors can take part in caramic making programs at a reasonable price with a professional instructor at the Ceramic Experience Hall which is located near the World Ceramic Center.


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

Situated in Yeongok-myeon (Dongdeok-ri), this spacious beach (56,000m2) stretches over 700m. Surrounded by a lush pine forest, this beach is ideal for camping. Fishing lovers can enjoy catching sweetfish at Yeongokcheon Stream flowing from Sogeumgang (Sogeum River); there are a variety of restaurants offering delicious Korean food along the stream as well. Dongdeok-ri used to be home to a railway station and a traditional market. Trading ships—moving between the Hamgyeong and Gyeongsang areas—used to populate the beach. The beach and its surrounding attractions are great for both hiking and swimming.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Bongjeongsa Temple was built in the 12th year of King Munmu, who ruled the Silla Kingdom from 661 to 681. According to legend, the Great Buddist Monk Ui-Sang (625-702) was launched from Buseoksa Temple and landed on this spot. Documents from Geuknakjeon state that Neungin Daedeuk, a disciple of Monk Ui-Sang, established the temple, and it was rebuilt several times during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).Bongjeongsa Temple is the largest temple in Andong and possesses the oldest wooden building in Korea, called Geuknakjeon. Past the Ilju Gate and the forest path is the Bongjeongsa Temple. Bongjeongsa Temple has a unique and elegant atmosphere. The old trees and hermitages nearby are also worth a look. There are many towers inside, such as the Daeungjeon (National Treasure No. 55), Geuknakjeon (National Treasure No. 15), and many others. There are also important buildings, such as the three-storey Stone Pagoda, the representative pagoda of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Geuknakjeon from the Goryeo Dynasty and Daeungjeon from the Joseon Dynasty stand next to each other. It is interesting to compare these two types of architecture. Inside both buildings are trees with the complete collection of Buddhist Sutras, Laws, and Treatises.


Gyeonggi-do(Seongnam-si) , Yongin

Jangseogak (장서각) was established by Yi Wang-jik in 1918 as a library for Korean studies. Since its opening, the library has housed archives of Korean classics and modern works as well as the Jangseogak documents, which were transferred from the Cultural Asset Management Bureau (now Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea) in 1971.Jangseogak has a stack room, a space for collecting and arranging classical manuscripts and general books, a reading room, a room for references and genealogical records, a theses and periodicals room, an area for special documents, and rooms for filming, photocopying, and developing microfilms. It contains documents for scholastic research and education.Most notably, the Jangseogak holds the Uigwe (287 types 490 books, or Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty, and Donguibogam (25 volumes 25 books/Treasure No. 1085-2) documents, which are both listed on the UNESCO Memory of the World register. 


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

A traditional tea ceremony experience will take place at Jagyeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung every Saturday and Sunday from mid May to mid October, 2014.The ceremony includes a tea culture demonstration and experience, making honey cakes, traditional etiquette introduction, and lectures related to tea culture. To participate in the tea ceremony, download the application form from the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation website and submit the form through email.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Chungju-si)

This festival showcases all of the world’s martial arts forms, as well as Korea’s traditional martial arts. This festival opens with the theme 'World's Martial Arts and Culture', showcasing demonstrations of Taekkyeon, Taekwondo, and Hapkido by Korea’s traditional martial arts groups. Martial artists from 16 nations have been invited to the festival, and will be taking part in demonstrations and performances. Programs have been prepared for non-Korean speakers and visitors will get a chance to try out many of the martial arts on display.


Gangwon-do(Sokcho-si)

At 1,708 meters high, Daecheongbong is the highest peak in Seoraksan National Park and the third highest peak in Korea following Hallasan Mountain (1,950 meters) and Jirisan Mountain (1,915 meters). It marks the point where Nae-Serok (inner Serok) meets Oe-Serok (outer Serok). Due to irregular climate and low temperatures, it is home to various stunted high mountain plants and about 50 rare plants, as well as a variety of wild birds. From Daecheongbong Peak you can view the fascinating landscape of Seoraksan Mountain in all four directions.The most popular hiking trail to Daecheongbong Peak starts from Sogongwon and passes the Biseondae and Hoeungak Pavilions. From Daecheongbong Peak, the trail continues to Seorak Waterfalls and Osaek Mineral Spring. The one-way span is about 16 kilometers and takes about 11 hours and 20 minutes. About 10 minutes from Oryeon Falls is the Yangpok Shelter where visitors can stay the night on a first-come first-served basis. The website offers more information on shelters and reservation. 


Seoul(Mapo-gu)

The annual Haneul Park Sunrise Festival takes place at Haneul Park on January 1. Many people gather every year to bid farewell to the passing year and wish a happy New Year.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Jecheon-si)

Located along the national highway between Jecheon and Wonju, Baeron Holy Ground has great spiritual significance as it served as the fountainhead of the spread of Catholicism in Korea. During the early years of Catholicism in Korea, Catholics fleeing from the Sinhae Persecution (1791) came to this place, formed a community, and made their faith deeper. A man named Hwang Sa-yeong (Alexander, 1775–1801) hid in a tunnel and wrote letters about the situation of the Joseon Catholic Church on silk fabrics, but was captured and martyred in 1801. Baeron is a historic place where Joseon’s first theological school, St. Joseph Theological School, was founded, but the school was eventually shut down. The graves of Fr. Tomas Choe Yang-eop (1821–1861), Korea’s second Roman Catholic priest, and the Martyr Hwang Sa-yeong Memorial Tower can be seen at Baeron Holy Ground. Baeron Holy Ground is surrounded by rugged mountains such as Guhaksan Mountain and Baegunsan Mountain and Chiaksan Mountain. The mountain path from the holy ground eventually leads to Bakdaljae Natural Forest.