Sightseeing - Korea travel and tourism information

Birthplace of Empress Myeongseong (Queen Min) (명성황후 생가)

2024-08-22

71 Myeongseong-ro, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-887-9730

This is the house where Empress Myeongseong was born and lived until she was eight years old. She would grow up to be the wife of the dynasty’s 26th ruler, King Gojong. The birthplace and the adjoining Memorial Hall are open to the public.
Empress Myeongseong was a brilliant diplomat who pursued openness and reform to maintain the sovereignty of the nation. Unfortunately, her tumultuous life came to an end in the early morning hours of October 8, 1895 when she was murdered by the Japanese army.

During Japanese colonial rule, the empress was wrongfully accused of being a jealous and overly ambitious person. Studies of various archives have since revealed what a great person she really was. Recently, numerous television productions and musicals have also corrected those misunderstandings. Renovated in 1995, her birthplace includes three buildings with servants’ quarters, master’s quarters, and a separate house. A commemorative monument now stands at the site of the room where the empress studied as a child. The Memorial Hall in front of the house contains various archives and artifacts related to Empress Myeongseong’s life.

Bigeumdo Island (비금도)

2021-07-01

Jukrim-ri, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-240-8524

Located 54 kilometers from Mokpo Port, Bigeumdo Island is made up of 82 islands. The coastline is approximately 132 kilometers and in 1996 the Yeondogyo Bridge was constructed connecting it to Dochodo Island. Bigeumdo Island makes up 5% of the salt production in Korea.

The most beautiful beach on Bigeumdo Island is Wonpyeong Beach with its fine red sand. In particular, the view of the sunset on this beach is spectacular. It was also the filming location for TV drama "Spring Waltz."

Yeomiji Botanic Garden (여미지식물원)

2024-10-16

93 Jungmungwangwang-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-735-1100

Yeomiji Botanic Garden features a vast outdoor garden spanning 110,000 square meters and an indoor botanical garden covering 10,000 square meters. With over 2,300 species of plants, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Jungmun Tourist Complex, Cheonjeyeonpokpo Falls, Hallasan Mountain, and the coastline from the central observation tower indoors. Outdoors, there are themed gardens representing Korea, Japan, Italy, and France. The cactus garden also showcases baobab trees.

Golgulsa Temple (Gyeongju) (골굴사(경주))

2024-02-27

101-5 Girim-ro, Munmudaewang-myeon, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Golgulsa Temple is a temple located within the Hamwolsan Mountain, situated between Gyeongju City and the East Sea. With a history of over 1,500 years, it houses many Buddha statues preserved within its twelve grottoes. Maintaining the tradition of Korean Buddhism's practice of Seonmudo, visitors can witness Seonmudo performances. Additionally, there are templestay programs available, offering opportunities to experience Korean temple culture.

Gakwonsa Temple (각원사)

2024-03-15

245 Gagwonsa-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-561-3545

Gakwonsa Temple, nestled midway up Taejosan Mountain in Cheonan, stands as a beacon of hope for the peaceful reunification of Korea. The temple's most renowned feature is the immense bronze statue of the seated Amitabha Buddha, which measures 15 meters in x_height, 30 meters in circumference, and weighs 60 tons. Additionally, Gakwonsa Temple is distinguished by its Daeungjeon Hall, the largest Dharma Hall in Korea. The temple's Gaesan Memorial Hall houses a collection of artifacts associated with the temple.

Cheonan Gwangdeoksa Temple (광덕사(천안))

2021-12-01

30, Gwangdeoksa-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-567-0050

Gwangdeoksa Temple is said to be established in 637 by Monk Jajang Yulsa during the Silla Kingdom and was refurbished during the reign of King Heungdeok (832). The temple sits in the southeast of Gwangdeoksan Mountain, which borders Asan-si and Cheonan-si, and the southwest of Taehwasan Mountain. It was the biggest temple within Chungcheong and Gyeonggi regions before the Japanese invasion. However, it was burnt down during the Japanese invasion and the main buildings such as Daeungjeon, Myeongbujeon and Cheonbuljeon Halls are relatively new compared to the other original facilities.

Tapgol Park (탑골공원)

2024-03-04

99, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-731-0534

Tapgol Park is the first modern park in Seoul. Having been the site of the Buddhist temple of Wongaksa Temple since 1467, the land was turned into a park in 1897. The park has a significant presence in Korean history, being the place where the March 1 Independence Movement began in 1919. One can find historical sites that hearken back to the struggle, such as the Palgakjeong Pavilion, the center of the movement; cultural heritage sites such as the Ten-story Stone Pagoda of Wongaksa Temple Site and the Stele for the Construction of Daewongaksa Temple at Wongaksa Temple Site; and monuments such as the independence movement relief plate, murals, the statue of Son Byeong-hee, and the statue of Han Yong-un.

Busan Chinatown Special Zone (부산 차이나타운특구(상해문.상해거리))

2022-10-24

1, Jungang-daero 179beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan
+82-51-440-4815

Busan Chinatown, also known as Shanghai Street, offers visitors a chance to experience the past with old fashioned streets and Chinese songs playing from restaurants. Travelers can experience little China in the middle of Busan.

Gwanghalluwon Garden (광한루원)

2024-12-27

1447 Yocheon-ro, Namwon-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-625-4861

Originally known as Gwangtongnu, Gwanghalluwon Garden was built by Hwang Hui Jeongseung in 1419 during the reign of Joseon dynasty’s King Sejong. Because of its outstanding beauty, Governor Jeong In-ji gave the garden the name ‘Gwanghallu’ in 1444, comparing it to a garden from the palace on the moon. It is famous as the location where Lee Mong-ryong and Chunhyang (two lovers from a well-known Korean folk story) first met. In the 1920s Chunhyangsa Temple was established in the neighboring area and a portrait of Chunhyang was hung in a place of honor. The garden is the venue of the Chunhyangjae Festival every spring, celebrating the deep and lasting love of the famous couple. The area around Gwanghalluwon Garden is full of many attractions, includes Ojakgyo Bridge, symbolizing the bridge connecting Chilseok and Gyeonwu from the traditional story of Chilseok, as well as Chunhyang Hall, Wolmae-jip (house of Chunhyang's mother), Wanwoljeong Pavilion, Yeongjugak Pavilion, Samsinsan and many other traditional buildings.

Mireuksa Temple Site [UNESCO World Heritage] (익산 미륵사지 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

2024-04-07

362, Mireuksaji-ro, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-859-3873

Mireuksa was the largest Buddhist temple of the ancient Baekje Kingdom (18 BC-AD 660). According to Samgukyusa (historical records published in 1281), King Mu (30th king of Baekje, in power AD 600-641) and his wife Queen Seonhwa were said to have seen a vision of Mireuksamjon (the three Sanskrit) emerging from a large pond. At the time of their revelation, the king and queen were on their way to visit a Buddhist monk in Sajasa Temple on Yonghwasan Mountain (now known as Mireuksan Mountain). In response to their vision, the king drained the nearby pond and established Mireuksa Temple. The temple is believed to have shown the most advanced architectural and cultural skills of Baekje, Silla, and Goguryeo (the three main kingdoms at that time). Records indicate that King Jinpyeong of Silla even sent his craftsmen over to assist with the temple construction.

The two main features of the Mireuksa Temple Site are the stone pagoda (Mireuksaji Seoktap) and the flagpole supports (Mireuksaji Dangganjiju). The 14.24-meter-high west stone pagoda (National Treasure No. 11) is the oldest and largest Korean stone pagoda in existence. The west pagoda currently has only six tiers, but is estimated to originally have had nine. The nine-story east stone pagoda (27.67 meters in x_height) was restored to its original stature in 1993 based on historical records. Other surviving landmarks include the flagpole supports (Treasure No. 236) to the south of the stone pagodas. The 395 centimeter-tall poles are estimated to have been created during the Unified Silla period (AD 676-935) and are set 90 meters apart from east to west.

Sightseeing - Korea travel information