Busan(Saha-gu)

An excellent place to see exhibitions and learn about and experience ecology, the Nakdong Estuary Eco-Center is located in Saha-gu, Busan. The center consists of three floors with the first floor home to an information office, a maintenance office, an educational room, and a volunteers’ room. The second floor is home to exhibition rooms, an experience zone, a small library, and an observatory. Audio-visual rooms are located on the third floor. The center runs a variety of experience programs so that visitors may explore the estuary, observe plants and insects, walk around tidal flats and reed beds, and make wooden sculptures. In addition, visitors can observe birds and compare the eggs and beaks of various birds. The center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed on Mondays and New Year’s Day. The Nakdong Estuary Eco-Center, in turn is full of excellent amenities: picnic grounds, a botanical garden, a hiking trail, an observatory, abundant resting spots, an outdoor learning center, and lush trees.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Andong-si)

Ontrepieum, meaning "to bloom flowers in a garden," is situated in Andong's Cultural Tourism Complex. With an area of approximately 30,000 ㎡, it consists of a 1,500-㎡ tropical green house, a 6,600-㎡ herb garden, farming land, an animal performance theater, a nature experience section, and other areas. The tropical greenhouse features tropical and subtropical plants, including herbs, coffee and palm trees. Over 17,000 trees planted in the park, along with its water fountain and photo zones, make it the perfect place for a fun weekend getaway, not to mention that it has been used as a filming location. It is a fantastic place to take some photos with a unique feel. The Andong Cultural Tourism Complex also has a couple of attractions nearby, including a KBS studio, the Korea Folk Museum, the Water Museum and Arts and Crafts Museum.


Jeollanam-do(Naju-si)

Naju Gomtang Hayanjip is home to Naju Gomtang (bone soup), operating for three generations. The savory taste from the soup is the famous feature of this traditional local restaurant. Naju Gomtang Hayanjip participated in the first to fourth Namdo Food Festival and was awarded excellence awards. Also, it was introduced on the TV program, "6 o'clock My Hometown."


Jeollanam-do(Suncheon-si)

Suncheon Bus Terminal provides both intercity and express bus services connecting multiple cities in the country.


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Hotel Valentine is located in the most beautiful Bomun tourist complex, Gyeongju Gyeongbuk. This provides the clean and neat hotel-typed rooms and pension-typed rooms. Guests can see the beautiful scenery of Bomun tourist complex including Bomun lake, Gyeongju World, Gyeong World Culture Expo, Shilla Millennium Park, and can visit Gyeongjus cultural heritage such as Bulguksa Temple and Seokgulam.


Chungcheongnam-do(Dangjin-si)

Gijisi Juldarigi is the main feature of this 500-year traditional folk festival, not like festivals developed on purpose by local governments. Juldarigi, a tug-of-war game, was started to pray for peace and fortune in the new year and to be in concord with neighbors as part of a traditional village’s feast. In 1982, Gijisi Juldarigi was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 75, one of Korea’s representative Intangible Cultural Heritages. Also, it was registered in 2015 as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO along with Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.


Gyeonggi-do(Yangpyeong-gun) , Yangpyeong

Yongmunsan Mountain (용문산) in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, is comprised of Doilbong Peak, Baegunbong Peak, and other peaks. The resort shares the area with various cultural relics such as Yongmunsa Temple (용문사); Yongmunsa Temple’s gingko tree (용문사 은행나무); a stupa containing a relic of the Buddha, a monument of the reverend monk Jeongji; and the Yongmunsan Mountain area’s war record monument. The resort area is frequented by visitors throughout all four seasons but is especially popular in the fall because of the yellow-tinged gingko tree of Yongmunsa Temple (natural monument no. 30).A 2km trek through the valley from Yongmunsa Temple will bring you to Yonggakbawi Rock, shaped like a dragon’s horn, halfway up the mountain. 1km away from the Yonggakbawi Rock lays a huge boulder, Court Rock, on which 100 people can easily sit at the same time. There is also an amusement park that provides great entertainment for children, consisting of a rapid ride, a Viking-boat, a merry-go-round, bumper cars, a family coaster, and other rides.Thirty minutes from Yongmunsa Temple is Jungwon Valley that looks small when seen from the outside, but leads to the mountain’s summit where you can enjoy a superb view. And only another fifteen minutes walk will bring you to the three-tiered Jungwon Falls where you can enjoy the sound of crashing waters and feel the cooling mists that rise from the base of the falls.* Yongmunsa Temple’s gingko treeYongmunsa Temple’s gingko tree is the largest, most stout, and oldest ginkgo tree among all of Korea’s specimens. It enjoys a prime location in front of daeungjeon, the main hall of the temple. It is believed to be about 1,100 years old and is the biggest gingko tree in the East measuring 60m in x_height and 12.3m in circumference. 


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

Approximately 6km northward from downtown Gangneung, Gyeongpo Provincial Park is surrounded by a slew of both natural and cultural attractions (Gyeongpodae, Gyeongpo Lake, and Gyeongpo Beach). Gyeongpo Lake, in particular, is home to precious species such as swans and mallards. Known as one of the most scenic locations in Gangwon-do for a long time, Gyeongpodae is a fascinating spot to enjoy the first full moon of the year; the serene Gyeongpo Lake used to attract fishing enthusiasts in droves, but fishing is now prohibited due to natural preservation purposes. Within the park are Gyeongpo Beach (one of the cleanest beaches on the East Coast), elegant Gyeongpo Lake, Gyeongpodae, Banghae Pavilion, Hohae Pavilion, Gyeongho Pavilion, and Gyeongyangsa (Gyeongyang Temple). Visitors can enjoy the attractions all year long with cherry blossoms in the spring, swimming in the summer, fishing, and walking on the beach in the winter. Restaurants near the park offer unique local food such as fresh sashimi (including the famous Squid Sashimi), spicy fish stews, and Chodang Tofu.  


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Gyeongju-si)

Girimsa Temple is located in Mount Hamwolsan in Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju. The temple was built in the Silla era and, with 16 buildings, is the second largest temple after Bulguksa.Legend has it that the temple was originally built by the Venerable Gwang-yu, a sage from India, in the early part of the Silla Kingdom. The temple was reportedly called ‘Imjeongsa’ at first, but was later changed to ‘Girimsa’ after undergoing expansive renovations by Monk Wonhyo. It is still unclear exactly what year the temple was built in.Girimsa is divided into two main areas. The first is the area around Daejeokgwangjeon Hall where the statue of Birojanabul is enshrined. The second is the area around the majestic 500-year-old bo tree (a kind of large fig tree) that is home to a wooden pagoda, the Seongbo Museum, Samsingak, Mangbujeon, and Gwaneumjeon halls. The Daejeokgwangjeon Hall was first built during Queen Seondeok's reign, and was rebuilt six times since its original construction. Its simple but majestic architecture is characterized by baeheullim (aka, entasis columns) and a Dapoyangsik (Dapo-style) single-tiered gabled roof.Girimsa is famous for Ojongsu, water that is said to have five different tastes. It consists of gamrosu, which is best for making tea; hwajeongsu, which supposedly gives comfort to the drinker; janggunsu, which makes the body stronger; myeongansu, which gives clear vision; and otaksu, which is said to sparkle so brightly that it attracts all the birds of the air. During Japanese colonial rule, the source of janggunsu, literally meaning ‘water of a general,’ was reportedly blocked off by Japanese soldiers, who were afraid the water would give the Korean people the strength to overthrow them. Except for janggunsu, water still continues to flow from each source.On the way to Girimsa temple is the Golgulsa Temple, well known for its 12 grottos. Golgulsa was originally a hermitage (monastery) of Girimsa. After becoming an independent institution, it became the center of Seonmudo practice in Korea. The temple aims to promote the art of seonmudo on a national and international level.* Major Cultural Properties Lacquered Seated Mercy Bodhisattva of Girimsa Temple (Treasure No. 415)Daejeokgwangjeon Hall (Treasure No. 833)Sojo Birojana Samjonbul (Treasure No. 958)Sutras kept inside the Vairocana Buddha of Girimsa (Treasure No. 959) 


Jeollabuk-do(Buan-gun)

Chaeseokgang refers to a rocky cliff and the sea around it, situated in the Gyeokpohang and Dakibong areas on the Byeonsan Peninsula. It is easy to misunderstand the name for a river, but it is a very large rocky cliff. The origin of the name comes from China, from the story of Lee Tae-Baek, while drinking wine on a ship, he saw the moon reflected in the river and jumped into the water to grab it. The name Chaeseokgang was adapted as it resembles the Chinese equivalent of this location.Chaeseokgang was created from many layers of rocks stratified by the sea, and the blue sea and the rock cliffs together create quite a lovely picture. It is nature’s masterpiece of stratification, and you can see interesting structures and shapes here that are not seen elsewhere. You can enter Chaeseokgang twice a day when the water recedes, and at low tide, you can observe various sea life existing in the lower areas of the rock cliffs and the cave. If you are able to see the sunrise or twilight at the cave, the scenery there is simply awesome.Around Chaeseokgang, there also lies the stately Mt. Naebyeonsan as well. Mt. Naebyeonsan has a temple called Seonunsa Temple, and it is a fine place to be introduced to Buddhism. The quiet mornings and evenings at the temple adds to the calmness and beauty of the twilight.