Sightseeing - Korea travel and tourism information

Hwawon Oceano Tourism Complex (화원 오시아노 관광단지)

2021-10-23

552, Sia-ro, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do
+82-61-534-6790

Set before the beautiful Korean archipelago, Hwawon Oceano Tourism Complex offers visitors a romantic beachside camping experience with a large campground and convenience amenities such as shower stalls. The campsite is particularly beautiful at sunset and night when stars fill the sky. Currently, the complex offers a golf course in addition to the campground, with plans to add a culture & arts center and marine world zone. Particularly, Pine Beach Golf Course located inside the tourism complex is surrounded by the ocean on three sides, and is perfect for playing a round of golf toward the endless ocean. The course is regarded as Asia’s Pebble Beach, a small coastal resort destination and home to famous golf courses in California.

Tomb of King Wonseong (경주 원성왕릉)

2020-04-04

139, Singyeipsil-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

The tomb of the King Wonseong, 38th king of the Silla Kingdom (785-798) in Oedong-eup, Wolseong-gun, Gyeongju is Historic Site No. 26. The tomb is 21.9m in diameter and 7.7m high and is encircled by a stone fence decorated with twelve oriental zodiac images. The area is also home to a number of stone monuments that stand facing each other: Hwapyoseok (marking the border of the tomb), Muninseok (civil servant statue), Muinseok (military officer image statue) and Dolsaja (a stone lion that protects the tomb). Muinseok in particular is a favorite among visitors because of its exotic appearance. The statue is sometimes compared to a strong and charismatic person of Arabic or Persian descendant, much like the merchants who came to Silla in ancient times.

Gwaereung is styled after tombs of the Tang dynasty, but still retains all the characteristics typical of Silla tombs; namely, the stones around the tomb, the 12 oriental zodiac figures, the protective walls, and the decorative stonework.

Gadeokdo Lighthouse (가덕도 등대)

2020-06-01

1237, Gadeokhaean-ro, Gangseo-gu, Busan
+82-51-971-9710

Gadeokdo Lighthouse is a manned lighthouse patterned after the gothic style of lighthouses in France. Built in December, 1909 at the end of the Daehan Empire (1897-1910), it is an intricate building that houses a light tower (9.2 meters high), an office, and a lighthouse keeper’s room. Plum blossoms, the symbol of the imperial family of Joseon, are delicately carved along this European-style building. It is considered a remarkable cultural property not only because of its architectural design, unique shape or historic value, but also because it has been surprisingly well-maintained, especially in comparison to other lighthouses built during the same period. In recognition of its unmatched style and preservation, the old Gadeokdo lighthouse was designated Tangible Cultural Property No. 50 of Busan in Sep. 2003. It is owned and managed by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. A new lighthouse was built next to the original one in 2002. The new lighthouse structure is octagonal in shape and 40.5 meters high, the second highest lighthouse in Korea.

Gadeokdo Island, the location of Gadeokdo lighthouse, is often referred to as the ‘Island of History,’ and is the largest island in Busan. Gadeokdo, a strategically important base for military operations and seaborne trade, was the stage for a number of gruesome battles during the Imjin War (1592-1598). Today, it is a critical entry point to the Jinhae Bay.

Gadeokdo Lighthouse is located within a national naval base. Therefore, visitors must contact and register with the Busan Regional Maritime Affairs and Port Office prior to visiting the lighthouse. Those who participate in the Lighthouse Experience Program (parties of 6 or less) can spend the night in the innkeeper’s room free of charge. In order to use these accommodations, visitors must apply online at the Busan Regional Maritime Affairs and Port’s homepage between the 1st and the 8th of the month, one month prior to the desired date of visit.

Cheonho Park (천호공원)

2020-03-18

702, Olympic-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
+82-2-489-2776

Located in Cheonho-dong, Cheonho Park is comprised of a musical fountain, an outdoor stage, and various sports facilities, making it the perfect spot for rest and leisure.

Boramae Park (보라매공원)

2021-03-20

33, Yeouidaebang-ro 20-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
+82-2-120

Boramae Park is a former Air Force Academy site that has been transformed into a recreational park on May 1986. At approximately 397,000 ㎡, the park holds various sports facilities including a tennis court and sports center as well as convenient facilities such as a small zoo, pond, walking trail and more. The 2nd floor of Building 4 has a library that is popular with teenagers as well as Teenager Center where they can enjoy various activities and programs. The symbolic tower of the Air Force Academy still stands as a powerful symbol of loyalty and filial piety.

Seosan Seogwangsa Temple (서광사(서산))

2021-09-10

44, Buchunsan 1-ro, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-664-2002

Seongwangsa Temple is located in the quiet downtown area of Eupnae-dong, Seosan in Chungcheongnam-do. Its convenient location makes it easily accessible from almost anywhere in town.

The temple was built by Great Monk Daegyeong in 928 in the late Silla period and the scholar Choi Chiwon came here to study while he was serving as the governor of Buseong-gun (currently Seosan) in 893. Originally, the temple was called Samseonam, or Three Hermitages, for there had been three hermitages in the upper, middle, and lower part of Buchunsan Mountain. During the late Joseon dynasty, the hermitages in the upper and middle part were closed and only the one at the bottom survived. In 1987, the name was changed to Seogwangsa Temple.

Gyeongju Historic Area [UNESCO World Heritage] (경주역사유적지구 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

2025-03-24

757 Taejong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

The Gyeongju Historic Area, registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage on November 2000, is an area that embodies the time-honored history and culture of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935).

The Gyeongju Historic Area can be divided into 5 major sections. The first section is the Namsan Area, a treasure trove of Buddhist art masterpieces dating back to the Silla Kingdom. Gyeongju Namsan Mountain (often referred to as an ‘outdoor museum’) is home to many historical heritage sites from the Silla Kingdom. Major attractions include: Poseokjeong Pavilion Site (Historic Site), Rock-carved Buddhas in Tapgok Valley (Treasure), Three-story Stone Pagoda in Cheollyongsa Temple Site (Treasure), Rock-carved Buddhas at Chilburam Hermitage (Treasure), Rock-carved Seated Buddha in Bulgok Valley (Treasure), and 37 other Buddhist relics

The second section is the Wolseong Area, one of the former palace sites of the Silla Kingdom. The area consists of Gyerim Forest (Historic Site); Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (Historic Site), a Silla Royal Palace site; and Cheomseongdae Observatory (National Treasure), the oldest observatory in Asia.

Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, the third area, features a cluster of the royal graves of the kings and queens of Silla. Also in the same area are Ancient Tombs in Nodong-ri (Historic Site), Ancient Tombs in Noseo-ri (Historic Site), Ancient Tombs in Hwangnam-ri (Historic Site), and Five Royal Tombs (Historic Site), among others. Archaeologists have discovered a number of invaluable relics and historic items in this area such as Geumgwan (golden crown), Cheonmado (a painting of flying horses), and numerous pottery pieces. These finds are perhaps the greatest clues into the life of the people of the Silla dynasty.

Area number four, the Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, is where the former site of the Hwangnyongsa Temple (Historic Site) and Bunhwangsa Stone Pagoda are located. Last is the Sanseong Area, housing remnants of the major defense system for the capital city. The site consists of Myeonghwalsanseong Fortress (Historic Site) which is estimated to be around 400 years old.

The Gyeongju Historic Area has a total of 52 designated cultural assets that are registered as World Cultural Heritages.

Gyeongju Najeong Well (경주 나정)

2020-04-06

Tap-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

To the southeast of the royal tomb, is a small monument that has been erected among the pine trees; next to the monument is a well called Najeong. According to Samguksagi (Historical records of the Three Kingdoms) and Samgungnyusa (Memorabilia from the three dynasties), Park Hyeokgeose, the founding monarch of Silla, was born by this well. In 69 BC, Sobeolgong, the head of Goheochon Village, saw a white horse on its knees by the well. When he approached the well he found that the horse had magically disappeared and that a large egg was left in its place, from which a boy was born. When the boy turned 13 years old (57 BC), he was appointed king by the village chiefs and began to rule the area then called ‘Seorabeol’. A memorial stone (2.25 meters high, 45 centimeters long, and 21 centimeters wide) was erected in 1803 in the third year of King Sunjo's rule (Joseon dynasty) detailing the historical origins of the founding father of Silla.

Nonsan Jijangjeongsa Temple (지장정사(논산))

2021-08-17

103, Hwagogan-gil, Nonsan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+82-41-732-5629

Upon finishing his thousand-day prayers in Gyeryongsan Mountain in June 1980, Monk Deoksan came down to the site of an old temple in Noseong-myeon, Hwagok-ri and built Jijangjeongsa Temple. The upper part of the current Daeungjeon Hall was once the main hall of Jijangam Hermitage and was originally about 33 square meters. Daeungjeon Hall was later expanded to its current size. In 1995, Yeongsanjeon (Cheonbuljeon) Hall was built and in 1997, Seonjae Preschool was opened. The temple is open for praying and meditation and also has a charnel house. The temple and its followers are loyally devoted to the practice of Buddhism in its purest form.

Bomunho Lake (보문호)

2024-11-11

424-33 Bomun-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-745-7601

Bomunho Lake is a man-made lake 1,652,900 m² in size. It was built on the site of an old fortress in Myeonghwalsan Mountain in the east of Gyeongju in accordance with the Gyeongju Bomun Tourist Resort development plan. There are many leisure facilities and parks around the lake, including an international hotel and Gyeongju World. Bomunho Lake is very popular among bikers and walkers.

Unlike other cities or towns where cherry trees are only found in certain areas, Gyeongju is packed with cherry blossoms. In spring, the whole cityscape turns pink with the beautiful blossoms. The combination of the stunning trees reflected in the waters of Bomunho Lake and the trees of Bulguksa Park gracefully adorning the nearby temple make for particularly stunning sights. When a light breeze blows, cherry blossoms gently flutter down like satin snow flakes. The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon is held in April when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

Sightseeing - Korea travel information