Sightseeing - Korea travel and tourism information

Gwangju Art Street (광주 예술의 거리)

2020-06-19

24, Yesul-gil, Dong-gu, Gwangju
+82-62-942-6160

Gwangju Art Street is aimed at developing Gwangju’s traditional art scene through exhibition of local work. The street is 300m long and located behind Jungang Elementary School, nearby Gwangju Dongbu Police Station. Items commonly found here include Korean fine art such as paintings, ceramics, writings, and industrial art.

Every Saturday, an art flea market famous for its unique pieces is held here. People from all over the nation gather to display items that include old calligraphy materials, collector coins, stone hairbrushes, Chinaware, wooden sculptures, folk drawings, classic books, ink, and incense burners. Part of the attraction is the stories the collectors share with each part of their collection. Enjoy the many shows and exhibitions that draw regular crowds to this famous road.

The Mudeung art exhibit operates according to districts, and functions as a cultural festival as well. The outdoor exhibition was built in February 1995, and is open throughout the day. The large exhibition space has 32 booths and regularly holds special exhibits. Many regional cultural treasures are also on display here. Every Saturday, the Street of Fine Arts is blocked from traffic, and people gather to share and enjoy art culture. Gwangju Summer Universiade will be held this summer, 2015.

Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)

2024-10-10

161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3700-3900

Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 as the official palace of the Joseon dynasty by Yi Seong-gye, the future King Taejo and founder of the new regime. Gyeongbokgung Palace is commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because of its location to the north, comparied to Changdeokgung Palace in the east and Gyeonghuigung Palace in the west. Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful and is the largest of all five palaces. Many Joseon kings were crowned here. The premises were once destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592-1598). However, all of the palace buildings were later restored under the leadership of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong. The assassination of Empress Myeongseong, however, resulted in Gyeongbokgung Palace losing its function as a royal palace, eventually witnessing the downfall of the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongbokgung Palace retains the original Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, a prime example of Joseon architecture, and the Hyangwonjeong Pavilion and pond. The sculptures in the Geunjeongjeon Hall exemplify Joseon-era sculpture techniques. The west side of the area outside Heungnyemun Gate is occupied by the National Palace Museum of Korea, while the eastern side of Hyangwonjeong Pavilion within the Gyeongbokgung Palace is occupied by the National Folk Museum of Korea.

Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문)

2024-12-04

161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3700-3900

Built in 1395 under the reign of King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon dynasty, Gwanghwamun Gate is the southern gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is also the main gate of the palace, therefore larger and fancier in comparison to the other gates. Gwanghwamun Gate consists of three arched gates; the center gate was used by the king, while the other two were used by the crown prince and royal officials. The tall granite walls of the gate serve as a platform for the wooden gate tower that watches over the city. The gate has a sign with its name written at the top center of the gate tower.

Gwanghwamun Gate went through several damages and restorations over the course of history. It was first severely damaged during the Imjin War (1592-1598) and was not restored until the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1864. Under the Japanese administration, the gate was demolished and relocated to the north of the palace's eastern gate, followed by series of damages during the Korean War (1950-1953). In 1968, Gwanghwamun Gate was relocated back to the south of the palace and was rebuilt using concrete; however, the gate’s position was shifted a few meters away from its original location. In 2006, a major reconstruction project took place to restore Gwanghwamun Gate to its original state and location, disassembling the structure completely and replacing concrete with granite and wood. After three years and eight months of construction, Gwanghwamun Gate was fully restored to its original form and was open to the public on August 15, 2010.

Daegu Donghwasa Temple (동화사(대구))

2023-11-14

1 Donghwasa 1-gil, Dong-gu, Daegu

Donghwasa Temple is located on the south side of Palgongsan Mountain, about 22 km northeast of Daegu. It was built by Monk Geukdal in the 15th year of King Soji’s reign (AD 493). The original name of the temple was Yugasa Temple, but Simjiwangsa rebuilt the temple under King Heungdeok (r. AD 826-836) and named it Donghwasa Temple, which means "the paulownia tree blooms even in winter," in reference to the blooming trees around the temple. Most of the present temple buildings were constructed between 1723 and 1732.

Daecheongho Lake (대청호)

2022-12-26

Dong-gu, Daejeon / Munui-myeon, Chungcheongbuk-do
+82-42-251-4748

Daecheongho Lake is a man-made lake, stretching from Daejeon to Cheongju-si, Okcheon-gun, and Boeun-gun. Construction began in 1975 and finished in 1980, and the lake supplies water for various use to people in Daejeon and Cheongju.

The reservoir water spans an area of over 72.8 ㎢ with a perimeter of 80 kilometers, and the water kept in storage has a volume of 1.5 billion tons, making the reservoir the third largest lake in Korea. The area is famous for its beautiful driving course along a tree-lined road through the nearby mountain which has an altitude of 200 to 300 meters. Also, resident birds and migratory birds, such as white heron, can be seen during summer in the upper region of the lake.

Yeouido Park (여의도공원)

2024-04-08

68, Yeouigongwon-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

Yeouido Park is a large recreational area located on Yeouido Island in the central part of Seoul. It was once originally covered with black asphalt, and people frequented the place for bicycling and roller-skating. The construction began in 1997 and opened officially in February 1999. It is now the place where many people in the city come to rest and enjoy strolling around, playing sports, and cultural events.

Yeongjongdo Island (영종도)

2022-05-12

100, Unnamseo-ro, Jung-gu, Incheon
+82-32-745-0211

Yeongjongdo Island, combined with Yongyudo and Sammokdo Islands through land reclamation work, connects to the mainland via Yeongjongdaegyo Bridge and is located 3 kilometers northwest of Yeonan Pier, Incheon. The 4.42 kilometer-long ride to Yeongjongdo Island provides amazing views of the ocean and mud flats. A fish market is the first thing that greets visitors to the island, providing fresh seafood daily. The island has the Yonggungsa Temple and Baegunsan Mountain, known for its walking trails. At the peak of the mountain, visitors can see a panoramic view of Incheon International Airport.

Seonamsa Temple [UNESCO World Heritage] (선암사 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

2022-12-28

450, Seonamsa-gil, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-754-6250

Seonamsa is a beautiful temple located at the east end of Jogyesan Mountain. The distance between the entrance and the temple site is approximately one kilometer. The temple site is nestled within a lush forest of diverse trees that are hundreds of years old. In front of the temple is an arched stone bridge named Seungseongyo Bridge, which is supported by natural bedrocks. In front of the main hall, Daeungjeon Hall, are two three-story stone pagodas that grab visitors' attention. Not only is Seonamsa Temple home to many of the country's pristine treasures and artifacts, it is also one of the few temples that preserve the traditional temple culture even as of today. Seonamsa Temple is beautiful throughout the year, but it is especially inviting in spring and fall when the flowers start to bloom and tree leaves change in color.

Soswaewon Garden (담양 소쇄원)

2023-01-04

17, Soswaewon-gil, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-381-0115

Soswaewon Garden is a private garden from the Joseon period where Korea's traditional beauty is preserved. It was built by Yang San-Bo (1503-1557) after he gave up his success when his mentor Jo Gwang-Jo (1482-1519) was killed during political strife. Soswaewon Garden presents itself as a clean and transparent garden where the righteous enjoy the life of anbinnakdo (being comfortable amid poverty and taking pleasure in an honest lifestyle) surrounded by a bamboo grove.

Including peach trees, various kinds of trees and grass are planted on both sides of the stream while clear water flows down the foot of the garden walls. The log bridge above the valley adds to the charm of the scenery. The harmony between nature and the artificial waterfall is a sight to behold. Soswaewon Garden is 150 meters away from the main road. Passing through the thick bamboo forest, you will find the small valley and Soswaewon Garden on your left.

Dosolgyegok Valley (Seonunsan Mountain) (도솔계곡 (선운산))

2025-03-15

250, Seonunsa-ro, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-560-8681

Dosolgyegok Valley is located in Seonunsan Mountain in the Gochang-gun district. Seonunsan Mountain, which is also called Dosolsan Mountain, is known for its thick forests and intriguing rock formations. Along the valley, there are many interesting sites such as Jinheungdonggul Cave, Yongmundonggul Cave, Nakjodae Overlook, and Cheonma peak. Dosolgyegok Valley is also famous for being very deep, where the mountain and water fight each other and whirl around in a yin & yang shape. The green forests in summer cover the valley beautifully, and the red leaves and white snow decorate the area in fall and winter.

Sightseeing - Korea travel information