Located in Gwangju Metropolitan City, the Namdo Folk Food Museum was established to preserve and promote the folk foods of the Namdo region. The museum is housed in a building that resembles both the long, rectangular presses used to make patterned rice cakes and the Ipseokdae Rock of Mudeungsan Mountain, a symbol of Gwangju. Even the colors of the building’s walls hold special significance. The obangsaek ‘five colors’ (blue, white, red, black, and yellow) symbolize the cardinal directions, the seasons, the major organs in the body, different tastes, feelings, and philosophy.Major facilities at the museum include: a special exhibition room for invitational displays on culture and art, the permanent exhibition room on Namdo folk food, the Museum Studio with material related to the museum itself, and the Museum Shop, which sells a selection of Namdo folk food. Other facilities include the Honam Cultural Material Exhibition Room, which showcases the culture of the Honam region (literature, customs, and art), and a seminar room for art and culture-related lectures and conferences.
Opened in 1978 at the Seogyo intersection in the Hongik University area, Bobo Hotel became so popular that the intersection was often referred to as the “Bobo Sageori (Bobo 4-way intersection).” Bobo’s chic yet comfortable atmosphere and unique design concept reflects the area’s youthful energy. Bobo Hotel strives to be comfortable yet energetic space where guests can escape from their hectic city life. Being close to the Hangang River, it offers magnificent night views of Yanghwadaegyo and Seongsandaegyo Bridges.
Home Plus Seomyeon is located in a multipurpose building that houses a CGV movie theater, restaurants, a wedding hall, and other facilities for shopping and entertainment. The retail store offers information, such as product displays, in foreign languages to assist foreign customers.
For over 33 years, Hilton Tailor has served prominent customers with exceptional suits and shirts. Once a customer becomes a patron, he can order shirts or suits by phone or email. Suits are tailored to fit each customer's physical shape and preferences. Trendy suits are handmade as well. Suits in Hiton Tailor are known for their comfort and durability. It is one of the most famous shops in Itaewon with prominent customers from all over the world.
Founded in 1395 by the first king of the Joseon Dynasty, Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeongbukgung Palace. Roughly meaning “may the light of enlightenment blanket the world,” the name symbolizes the resounding dedication that the people of the Joseon Dynasty had in creating a new dynasty. Constructed solely out of granite, its center is an entrance that resembles a rainbow, called Hongyemun. Above that is a gate tower.
Gwanghwamun holds a painful memory in Korean history. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, in order to dampen the spirits of the Korean citizens, the Japanese governing general destroyed the gate and built his own government building. The present appearance of the gate is that of 1968 when it was rebuilt using concrete, and it’s location is about 10m behind the original spot. Though Gwanghwamun is the most beautiful of the five palace gates, it was not designated by the Korean government as a national treasure because it is made purely of concrete. The government is now in the process of removing the Japanese building and restoring the palace.
Gwanghwamun has its name written on a sign on the gate, and it was personally written by then-president Park Jeong-Hui. On either side of the gate you can see the word “Haetae” facing south. Haetae is a mythical unicorn-lion that is said to protect palaces from fire. According to Pungsujirisang, there was a fire around Gwanaksan Mountain, so in order to protect the palace from fire from the mountain, these fire-eating Haetaes were put beside the gate.
The Shilla Duty Free Shop – Gimpo International Airport Branch is conveniently located at the departure lounge of the airport. The duty free shop offers many luxury items including cosmetics, perfumes, bags and sunglasses. There are also many gifts, souvenirs, Korean brands and traditional goods for business travelers and foreigners.
The shop offers promotional events every month. Check the event page of the website to find out about the promotion of the month. Click here to see the event page.
Gangneung-si in Gangwon-do is the first local district in Korea to host a coffee festival and support coffee artisans as well has promote development of coffee-related contents such as coffee museum, coffee street, coffee factory, barista academy, etc. With almost all coffee shops in the area roasting their own coffee beans, Gangneung-si is well-recognized as the "city of coffee."
The fields in Suncheonman Bay is thickly covered with reeds taller than a full-grown man. It is the biggest colony of reeds in Korea. The image of the entire field swaying in the wind is as dazzling as waves on the sea.The field of reeds is home to many plants that thrive in damp conditions, like the common reed and the starwort. Among the world’s wetlands, Suncheonman Bay is widely known for attracting the largest number of rare birds. Internationally rare birds such as the hooded crane, white-naped crane, white stork, black-faced spoonbill, Eurasian Oystercatcher, as well as birds designated as natural treasures, can be spotted here. There are about 140 species of birds including the snipe, wild duck, shelduck, and wild goose in total. In order to get to Suncheon, visitors can either fly to Yeosu Airport from Gimpo or Jeju, and then take an airport bus to Suncheon.For more information, visit the Suncheonman Bay website at www.suncheonbay.go.kr
This place specializes in shabu shabu with 24 years of tradition that insists on using original Korean beef fillet. This Korean beef is mouthwatering as it is directly delivered from a farm in Gwangju, Jeonnam, each day. The organic seasonal vegetables with shabu shabu, the hand-made soy bean curd and the springy noodles in a rich broth are delightful.*Best Korean Restaurant as designated by The Seoul Metropolitan Government
Yeyije (예이제) is a Korean restaurant located across from Paradise Hotel in Haeundae, Busan. ‘Yeije’ is a combination of the Korean words ‘Yey,’ meaning ‘ancient times’ and ‘Ije,’ meaning ‘now.’ True to its name, the restaurant is decorated with a harmonic blend of traditional and modern elements.The major course menu, Gungjung Hanjeongsik (court-style traditional Korean food set) consists of Kkotsal Galbi (grilled bottom sirloin), grilled natural pine mushrooms, Tteokgalbi (grilled short rib meat patties), Daeha jjim (steamed king prawn), and Sinseollo (court-style casserole). All dishes, from appetizer to dessert, are cooked with only natural ingredients.Thanks in part to its convenient location near Haeundae, Ye Ije is visited by many tourists and international guests.