Seoul(Jung-gu) , Myeongdong

Hadongkwan is a 70-year-old restaurant in Myeong-dong, Jongno-gu. This restaurant first opened in the 1930s, and serves only two items: Gomtang and Suyuk. And there are only two side dishes: kkakdugi (radish kimchi) and kimchi. Unlike other restaurants, Hadongkwan serves its soup in a brass pot. The broth of the soup seems thin but the taste is delicious and thick. The soup is made of 100% natural ingredients and free of artificial additives.


Gyeonggi-do(Suwon-si) , suwon

Hwaseong Fortress is an impressive structure from the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and the official fortress of Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do. The fortress (constructed from 1794 to 1796) was built as a show of the King’s filial piety towards his father Jangheonseja and to build a new pioneer city with its own economic power.The fortress wall stretches for a total of 5.52km and has a great variety of military facilities that’s hard to find anywhere else. Four gates face each of the cardinal directions—Janganmun (north), Paldalmun (south), Changnyongmun (east), and Hwaseomun (west)—and the seven-arch style Sumun gates straddle the point where the nearby stream reaches the palace. Above the Sumun gates is a pavilion called Hwahongmun.Hwaseong Fortress was constructed under the guidance of Yu Hyeong-Won (1622-1673) and Jeong Yak-Yong (1762-1836), and is believed to have been constructed very scientifically. The fortress wall was built using Seokjae and Jeondol (bricks) and the holes between the bricks are just big enough to fire guns, arrows, or long spears through in case of an attack.During construction of the fortress Jeong Yak-Yong invented ‘Geojunggi,’ which uses a ‘hwalcha’ (lever) to lift up heavy stones, greatly reducing construction time.The Suwon Hwaseong Fortress went through many turbulent times and damage, and in the battle of June 25th, many of the facilities became so damaged that they were deemed irreparable. Even though the fortress restoration initiative (1975-1979) restored many of the sites to their former glory, Paldalmun to Dongnamgakru (an area 491 meters in length) has still not been renovated.The fortress was designated as Historical Monument No. 3 in January 1963, and in December 1997, it was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.a variety of performances and evens are held everyday and Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival takes place every autumn.>> Click here for more on Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


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

Alla Prima is a fusion restaurant operated by chef Kim Jinhyeok, famous for his creative dishes. The restaurant offers dishes combining Asian and Italian cusine.


Jeollabuk-do(Jeongeup-si)

Naejangsan is a famous mountain in the Jeolla-do province, and the best mountain in Korea for viewing autumn’s crimson leaves. The park is 76,032 sq. km. in size and became a National Park along with Baekyangsa District on Nov. 17th, 1971. The name Naejang means 'many secrets' in the mountain. Because of the bright crimson leaves that blanket Naejangsan Mountain’s fall scenery, the mountain is also referred to as "Geumgangsan of Honam."Inside the park, there are famous waterfalls, such as Dodeok Falls and Geumseon Falls, and temples such as Baekyangsa and Naejangsa temples. If you follow the valley left of the ticket booth, you can see the waters of Dodeok Falls, cascading down the cliff. If you go further along the valley you can see the waters Geumseon Falls where even the gods have supposedly bathed. Baekyangsa Temple is both majestic and serene, surrounded by Gulgeori trees that retain their lush green leaves even in winter, and also the Bija trees. Along with Baekyangsa Temple, the Naejangsa Temple is the place to visit during the fall for its lovely autumn leaves. Besides these, there are about 760 kinds of local plants, designated Natural Monuments, and various wild animals living inside Mt. Naejangsan Park.The Park is beautiful not only in the fall, but also in the spring when the azaleas and cherry blossoms bloom, in the summer when the green mountain turns greener, and the winter when the rock cliffs cover themselves with snow. All throughout the year, different kinds of wild flowers bloom here.


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Gangwon-do(Sokcho-si)

Manseok Dak-gangjeong (sweet and sour chicken) is located in Jungang Market of Sokcho. Since 1983, Manseok has been one of the top sweet and sour chicken restaurants in Sokcho.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Jinju Hall (진주회관) is a restaurant specializing in Kongguksu (chilled white soybean noodle soup) with over 40 years of history. Renowned for its rich soup of cold noodles, the restaurant uses fresh soybeans grown in Gangwon-do. The dishes are not only nutritious, but also effective in restoring people's appetites, often lost because of the summer's heat.To make the restaurant's signature dish, buckwheat is mixed with ground soybeans and flour to make dough. The dough is shaped into noodles and boiled. They are then mixed with pulverized soybeans (which are slightly boiled) and cold broth. Boasting a simple taste, this cold soybean noodle dish is one of the most popular dishes in summer.


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Seoul(Yongsan-gu) , Itaewon・Yongsan

Song Hye-kyo, one of the first-generation Hallyu stars, once again proved her talents last year in K-drama Descendants of the Sun. Recently, she has publically announced her plan to marry another Hallyu star Song Joong-ki in the coming autumn. Jackson Pizza located in Hannam-dong is known to be Song’s favorite pizzeria in Seoul and has appeared in several K-TV shows. f(x)'s Luna has also mentioned of Jackson Pizza’s Chicago-style pizzas and French fries on a K-TV show as “the food items of [her] life.” Song’s go-to choice at the restau  


Busan(Busanjin-gu)

If you walk through the busy area of Seomyeon in Busan, it's easy to see that this underground shopping area has a greater number of clothing and accessory shops than other places. Starting with its statue of Oryukdo Islands, one of the symbols of Busan, Seomyeon Underground Shopping Center is a great place to find various brands at more affordable prices.  


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Namdaemun・Seoul-Station

Cheong Kwan Jang is Korea's leading producer of six-year-old Korean red ginseng products, which are sold nationwide as well as in over 60 countries worldwide including the United States, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Located in close proximity of major tourist attractions, the main Cheong Kwang Jang branch in Namdaemun-ro carries a wide selection of red ginseng products, including red ginseng extract and root ginseng, as well as red ginseng candy and chocolate, which are popular gifts and souvenirs.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Myeongdong

Myeongdong Theater is an exclusive theatrical performance center, which has opened in the building where the National Theater of Korea used to be located. From 1934 to 1973, the National Theater of Korea pioneered Korean arts and culture, functioning as a movie theater, performance hall and art theater. Though it closed its doors in 1975, after 3 years of renovation, the theater has been renamed and was reopened as Myeongdong Theater in June 5, 2009. Complete interior renovations were carried out, leaving outside wall design untouched.The theatre has now been re-born as a mid-sized performance hall with state-of-the-art stage equipment and 588 seats, offering audiences a great view of the stage while the close proximity allows them to share the passion of the performers. The theater presents a range of performances such as serious plays, experimental plays, non-verbal performances, and musicals. Not only that, the place is a popular venue for diverse events like acting contests, theater festivals and performance festivals.