Sightseeing - Korea travel information

Hwajinpo Beach (화진포해수욕장)

2024-12-10

Opened in 1973, Hwajinpo Beach is a stretch of white sand made of monazite, a fine sand made of crushed shells and rocks over tens of thousands of years. Monazite sand makes a distinct sound when stepped on and repels ants. The beach is 1.7 kilometer long, about 70 meters wide, and 1.5 meters in average depth. The beach attracts many tourists with its fine white sand, clear waters, and shallow depths. Its view is characterized by scenic landscape of handsome rock formations and lush pine forests surrounding the massive Hwajinpo Lake. The area is home to the Villa of Kim Il-sung, the Villa of Syngman Rhee, the Villa of Lee Ki-poong, and Hwajinpo Maritime Museum. The scenic view of the bamboo forest on Geumgudo Island and the seagulls flying over the water will leave visitors in awe. 

Dokkaebi Road (Mysterious Road) (도깨비 도로(신비의 도로))

2024-12-10

Dokkaebi Road is an amusing road that is also called the Jeju Mysterious Road. It earned its name due to the sensation it gives to the drivers when driving down this steep road. When driving this road, the driver and their passengers will feel like as if the car is moving upward instead of moving down the slope. This is actually an optical illusion, in which the surroundings trick the eye and make the road look like it is tilted in the opposite direction. This phenomenon, however, made Dokkaebi Road a popular tourist site. Various safety facilities are being added to prevent accidents from occurring, and a tourist park is expected to be built along the road in the near future. Drivers are advised to be careful and always look both ways when driving down Dokkaebi Road.
<Credit: Visit Jeju>

Railway Forest & The Garden of Fire (철길숲 & 불의정원)

2024-12-10

A 4.3-kilometer stretch of railroad between Hyoja Station and the old Pohang Station that fell into disuse after nearly 100 years of operation due to the opening of the KTX Pohang Station in 2015. The railroad track runs through residential areas to create an urban forest, and water features like wall streams, musical fountains, and steel artworks began to attract tourists, creating a prime example of future-oriented urban regeneration and green ecological city plan. The Garden of Fire came about as a natural gas spring from 200-meter under sea level was ignited during the construction work for the Railway Forest. The flame was expected to be extinguished, but as the flame persisted, a garden was built around the flame to create a unique view.

Dotoreum Parasitic Cone (돛오름(돝오름))

2023-12-22

San 3, Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

This oreum, or parasitic cone, is located southwest of Bijarim Forest. Its name “Dot” comes from the Jeju dialect for pig, as the shape of the peak is said to resemble a pig. Dotoreum Parasitic Cone is home to a wide variety of trees and plants, but among them, it is most well-known for its bija trees. However, paths in this parasitic cone tend to be rather narrow and rugged, so one must prepare accordingly in order to climb the hill without much trouble. Visitors are advised to prepare comfortable shoes and water at the very least.

Bichwie Muldeulda Gallery Cafe (비취에물들다)

2024-01-11

20-16 Cheongjachon-gil, Daegu-myeon, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do

Gangjin is a historic place that produced celadon from the late Unified Silla period to the end of the Goryeo period. Bichwie Muldeulda Gallery Cafe is a celadon-themed gallery café run by Kim Bo-bae, who comes from a family of ceramic craftsmen and runs the ceramic craft store Gukbo, which is connected to the café. The Goryeo Celadon Museum is also nearby. This café makes coffee using a celadon coffee grinder and serves it in a celadon mug. Visitors can also enjoy a celadon hand painting experience and a potter's wheel experience here. Items made from the experience program will be be baked in a kiln and delivered through parcel service. The experience takes about 30 to 40 minutes.

Hoengseong National SoopCheWon (국립횡성숲체원)

2023-12-07

777 Cheongtaesan-ro, Dunnae-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do

Hoengseong National SoopCheWon is located 850 meters above sea level on Cheongtaesan Mountain. It is Korea's first national forest education center to be opened and operated by the Korea Forest Welfare Institute. Follow the Neulsolgil trail along the nut pine trees to reach the Forest Healing Center to experience the wellness programs available for visitors of all ages. Visitors can also enjoy nature to the fullest by catching glimpses of small wild animals like squirrels and pine cones among the trees. There's also a creek by the birch forest and a walking deck suited for visitors of all ages and wheelchair users.

Chungju Hwalok Cave (충주 활옥동굴)

2025-03-16

26 Mokbeoran-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do

Developed in 1922 during the Japanese Forced Occupation, this is the only talc mine in Korea and is the largest in the East, with a recorded length of 57km, an unofficial length of 87km, and an underground vertical x_height of 711m. A 2.5km-long stretch of the cave has been developed into a tourist site, filled with light sculptures, performance venues, and health therapy zones. LED, neon, and a variety of natural lights create a mysterious atmosphere, and since the temperature stays between 11 and 15 degrees year-round, it's even more popular in summer. There is also a kayaking experience that allows visitors to see inside the cave by kayaking in a lake created by mineral water.
Note that the temperature inside the cave averages between 11 and 15 degrees Celsius, which is warm in the winter but cold in the summer, so you'll want to bring a long-sleeved jacket.

Binaeseom Island (Binae Trail) (비내섬(비내길))

2023-12-22

44, Namhangangbyeon-gil, Angseong-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do

With dirt roads instead of wooden decks and rustic wooden overhangs instead of lavish displays, Binaeseom Island’s Binae Trail is made of farm roads and trails that villagers use to access orchards and rivers. It is a place with a view of Namhangang River and Binaeseom Island’s fall, and its nearly flat slope makes it accessible for all members of the family. Binae Trail is divided into two courses. Course 1 takes you past the Migratory Bird Observation Park to the riverside trail, the area's highlight, before passing the old quay and arriving at the Angseong Hot Springs Square in a 7km-long, 2 hr. journey. Course 2 takes you over the Saebajisan Mountain Observatory to Binaeseom Island before re-tracing Course 1 from the old quay. After going down the riverside trail and the Migratory Bird Observation Park, the course takes you back to Angseong Hot Springs Square in a 17km-long, 4 hr. journey.
In <Crash Landing on You>, Binaeseom Island served as the filming location for the scene where the two leads and the supporting actors from the North Korean side have a picnic before the two leads escape from North Korea.

Gaepyeong Hanok Village (개평한옥마을)

2024-01-31

59 Gaepyeong-gil, Jigok-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

Gaepyeong Hanok Village is where more than 60 large and small hanok (traditional Korean house) buildings with over 100 years of history are located within a traditional atmosphere. The village was named Gaepyeong using the letter gae (meaning “stuck between") as it is situated between Deokgaecheon Stream and Silgaecheon Stream. Visitors can observe the typical form of Gyeongsang region's yangban (aristocrat) house in this village, known as the hometown of scholars and writers since ancient times. The historical House of Ildu, which stands out first when entering Jigok-myeon where Gaepyeong Hanok Village is located, was also used as a filming location for dramas such as "Mr. Sunshine (2018)" and "Toji, the Land (2004)." The scenery of the stone walls, in harmony with the antique hanok, offers a calming sensation. In addition, visitors can participate in various experience programs, such as pressed flower craft, dasik (tea confectionery) making, and walking on trails held throughout the village, as well as gochujang (red chili paste) making at Roh's Old House of Gaepyeong-ri, which has the oldest anchae (women’s quarters) in the village.

Hwangnyeongsan Observatory (황련산 전망대)

2024-10-29

391-39 Hwangnyeongsan-ro, Nam-gu, Busan

Hwangnyeongsan Mountain, where the observatory is located, is in the center of Busan as it spans across four districts (Busanjin-gu, Yeonje-gu, Suyeong-gu, and Nam-gu) and is a popular driving course in spring when the cherry blossoms bloom along the road. The Hwangneyongsan Observatory also makes it a perfect place for a night tour. A city that lies below the mountains looks even more beautiful with the cozy lights that illuminate the observatory and the sparkling radio tower.