Gyeonggi-do(Gwangju-si)

Hwadam Botanic Garden is an eco-friendly arboretum located within Konjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, a 40 min drive away from Seoul. In effort to revive the country's forest ecosystem, LG Evergreen Foundation brought in approximately 4,300 types of exquisite and domestic plants to form a forest park divided into 17 themes. "Hwadam" can be translated into "a friendly communication," a name given to the forest in hopes that the area serves as a mean for people to communicate with nature. While the forest is designed to offer an environmentally friendly atmosphere, the ecosystem and habitats of the forest are well-preserved, serving as a home to many living species.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Kyung-In Museum of Fine Art is located at the center of Insa-dong, Seoul. Insa-dong is famous as a traditional cultural street. Kyung-In Museum of Fine Art is a cultural ground for artists and is also a tourist attraction. It is divided into three gallery halls, an outdoor gallery hall, an outdoor stage where many events take place, a screen, and finally a traditional teahouse. People love this place because it is where artists can meet and exhibit their art pieces, and where tradition and modern culture intermingle. The first gallery of Kyung-In Museum of Fine Art is composed of two floors. It is the largest gallery hall in Kyung-In Museum of Fine Art. The pleasant and spacious gallery hall is quite striking; it excellently accomplishes all kinds of exhibitions. The second gallery hall can be divided into three floors, a greenhouse, and a terrace. First of all, this gallery hall is made entirely of glass. Natural sunlight warms up the room. It is a place where the artificial steel frames and the naturalness of the indoor trees create an exquisite harmony. The plane artistry and cubic artistry are exhibited to their fullest effect here. The third art gallery hall is in the form of a Korean house, which looks great together with the outside garden. It is a place that incorporates the beauty of a traditional Korean house. If you are interested in traditional Korean houses, you should visit this gallery. It is especially famous for its crafts, paintings, and Korean-style art. Apart from all these there is an art and craft shop. At the art and craft shop you can buy and view the art pieces and props of many talented artists, including wood printing and paintings. It is beloved by many due to the fact that here you can experience the lives of currently active artists. At Kyung-In Museum of Fine Art there are two places where you can enjoy refreshments. One place is the ‘teahouse.' At the teahouse you can feel the aroma of the four seasons breathing with you. The delicacies of the shop are the diverse herbal teas and the natural fruit ice cream. If you treat yourself to the natural fruit ice cream along with the aroma of the herbal tea, surely all your fatigue will melt away. If you want to try a different traditional tea place, you should visit 'Dawon.' The sublime sound of the hanging-bell at the roof’s edge and the beauty of a traditional Korean-style house will make you feel like you are in a Korean temple. At ‘Dawon’ there are 15 different kinds of traditional Korean tea. And since one can enjoy the sculptures of the garden while drinking, it is widely visited both by Koreans and foreigners alike.


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Busan(Jung-gu) , Nampo-dong(Jagalchi Market)

Since 1959, Nampo Samgyetang (남포 삼계탕) in the heart of Busan has been serving samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup) made with fresh, homegrown ingredients. Brewed for as long as 24 hours, the restaurant's chicken stock is rich in flavor and nutrition. Other special dishes include jeonbok samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup with abalone) and jeongi gui (electric grilled chicken).


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

Cheongkwanjang Spa G is a spa facility recently launched by Cheongkwanjang, a high quality hongsam (red ginseng) brand of the Korea Ginseng Corporation. The specialized spa programs at Cheongkwanjang Spa G use six-year-old ginseng roots that have gone through rigorous testing and quality management. Spa G consists of five individual hongsam therapy rooms. Guests can receive water massage to stimulate blood circulation at the Hongsam Spa Room, detoxify and provide nourishment to the body through heat and steam treatments and application of red ginseng concentrate at Hunjeungyok, get stress relieving foot massages at Foot Spa Zone, and restore scalp health using red ginseng products at Head Spa Zone. All spa programs require reservations, and spa programs vary from 1 to 6 hours depending on the choice of treatments. The spa is open from 9 am to 11 pm.


Seoul(Seongdong-gu) , The Eastern Part of the Seoul

Opened on June 18, 2005, Seoul Forest had previously undergone a series of changes on Ttukseom (Ttuk Island). In the past the forest had been a royal hunting ground for kings and served as a military inspection facility. But, in more recent decades the area has served a wide variety of functions. Ttukseom initially served as a water-treatment facility, and later as a golf course, horse racing track, and eventually a sports park. Consisting of five parks spread over 350,000 pyeong (approximately 1.16 million ㎡) of land, Seoul Forest is an eco-friendly zone appreciated not only by the people of the city but also those visiting Seoul. Seoul Forest is rapidly developing into the premium city-park of Korea like Hyde Park in London and Central Park in New York. * Cultural Art Park (220,000㎡) Situated in the heart of Seoul Forest, the Cultural Art Park features Seoul Forest Square, Ttukseom Family Field, decorative flower beds, a visitors’ center, a skate park, an outdoor stage, a waterside lounge (restaurant), an in-forest open space, an in-forest play ground and a water play area. * Ecological Forest (165,000㎡) The Ecological Forest, once an area covered by the Hangang River, has been transformed into an eco-forest connecting the Han and Jungnang-cheon (Jungnang stream). This natural habitat for wildlife animals is home to fallow deer, formosan deer, elks, chipmunks, mandarin ducks, mallards, spot-billed ducks and moorhens, there is also an observatory to help visitors get a better view of the local wildlife. * Nature Experiencing Study Field (85,000㎡) Occupying the structure of the former Ttukseom Water Treatment Facility, this refurbished educational area was established to house an insect botanical garden, a wild flower garden, a themed flower garden, an event ground and a surrounding protective forest. * Wetlands Ecological Field (70,000㎡) Making use of the local reservoir’s natural environment, the Wetlands Ecological Field contains a wetlands ecological management office, an ecological playground, an outdoor nature classroom, a bird observatory, a wetlands flower garden and a botanical garden fed with local, clear waters. * Hangang River Waterside Park (33,000㎡) Located southwest of Seoul Forest, this riverside area at the junction of the Hangang River and Jungnang-cheon features a waterfront park, a marina and a rest area.


Seoul(Mapo-gu) , Hongik-University-Area

Songhakgim is a brand of seaweed harvested from some of the cleanest waters of the Western Sea, where the fresh waters of the rivers and the salty waters of the ocean mix. Rich in minerals and other nutrients, it is said to be healthier than other brands because of the abundant sunlight it receives as it grows.On the 1st floor of the Songhakgim store, visitors can see the manufacturing process of Songhakgim. On the 2nd floor, guests can make their seaweed (gim) purchases. Also on the 2nd floor is the Traditional Culture Experience Hall where international tourists can try on hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) and make spicy rice cakes and rice balls.


Seoul(Jung-gu) , Dongdaemun

At Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, traditional buildings, relics, ruins, and cutting edge modern cultural facilities come together harmoniously. Seoul Fortress, Igansumun Water Gate, Dongdaemun History Exhibition Hall, Dongdaemun Excavation Site Exhibition Hall, Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial Hall, an event hall, and Design gallery can all be found at the park. Also, the remains of the old Dongdaemun Baseball Stadium can still be seen, including two stadium light towers used for night games and a giant torch. During the construction work of the park, remains and relics were unearthed, including Igansumun Water Gate and Chiseong (the first defense facility found) of Seoul Fortress, 44 buildings sites from as early as the Joseon Dynasty including Hadogamteo Site (military training ground), and 1,000 relics including Joseon Baekja (white porcelain of the Joseon Dynasty) and Buncheong Sagi (grayish blue powdered ceramics) from the early Joseon Dynasty through the Japanese colonial rule period. The excavated relics and remains will be restored and exhibited around the park.


Gwangju(Seo-gu)

The Shinsegae Department Store, located in Gwangju-si Seo-gu, offers a place of high-class shopping. A large lobby, a gallery and information center illustrate its convenience facilities for customers, while high-quality brand names fill the various shops for a refined shopping culture. Furthermore, the cultural center on the ninth floor offers state-of-the-art facilities for lectures and friendly services for a healthy and productive cultural lifestyle.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Boeun-gun)

Built in the 14th year of Silla King Jin-Heung's reign, Beopjusa Temple is located on Mt. Songnisan. What stands today are the remnants of rebuilt monuments through left over from the lengthy and arduous process. When you enter the temple, the yellow earthen road will catch your eye. The earth was ground into small stone shapes, burned, and then scattered over the road. The road itself leads to the Orisup Trail, and there will be a nature study trail beside it. Pass the Orisup trail, through thick pine trees, and you will come across the main gate of the temple. There is a large rock with a hole in the middle beside the main gate. You can drink spring water that comes out of the hole. Inside the temple you can see Palsangjeon, Pavilion which is a wooden building shaped like a tower. Then you can visit the Seokryeonji Lotus Flower Pond. As the name suggests, the pond is made of stones. At the back of Palsangjeon Pavilion, there is the Ssangsajaseokdeung (Two Lion Stone Lamp), and, again as the name suggests, the two lions uphold the stone lamp. The main building is also fascinating. It is two-stories high, and very stately. In addition, Beopjusa Temple has Ma-aeyeorae-uisang carved into a rock. Uisang refers to a sitting Buddha, and this particular Ma-aeyeorae shows Buddha sitting on a lotus flower. Passage of time has done much damage, but the original shapes are still well preserved.Beopjusa Temple represents Mt. Songnisan, containing within it 1,500 years of history and a matching list of numerous National Treasures and Monuments. Here you can experience the Buddhist culture reflected in these artifacts.


Daegu(Suseong-gu)

Daegu National Museum was built to preserve and exhibit the unique cultural heritage of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do province. It is a neat brick building with two basement floors. There are three exhibit halls, a special exhibit hall, experiment study room, audiovisual studio and library. At the Archeology Gallery you can see relics ranging from the Neolithic Era to the Three Kingdoms Period chronologically. At the Art History Gallery you can see and learn about the Buddhist culture of Gyeongsangbuk-do province. Here you can see Buddhist sculptures, Buddha statues and Buddhist crafts. The Goryeo celadon and Buncheong ware are also displayed here. At the Traditional Folk Life Gallery you can learn about the Seonbi culture and the beliefs and rituals of the Yeongnam area, and see traditional Korean houses. You can also enjoy the Outdoor Gallery where a five-storied stone pagoda stands. There are other facilities where visitors can participate in museum activities. You can try traditional dyeing, explore the traditional herbs and learn about agricultural plants. Do not miss going here because this is where you can learn about traditional herbs used for medicine, plants and grains. Resting in the natural surroundings at the wildflower and plant walkway or the Ecology Valley can be very relaxing.