Sightseeing - Korea travel and tourism information

Lotte World(롯데월드 어드벤처)

2024-11-28

240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
+82-1661-2000

Operated by Lotte Group, Lotte World is the perfect spot for entertainment and sightseeing for Koreans and international tourists alike. The theme park is divided into the indoor Lotte World Adventure, and the outdoor lakeside Magic Island, with additional amenities including a shopping mall, folk museum, ice rink, hotel, and more.

Lotte World Adventure is the world's largest indoor amusement park, complete with top-of-the-line rides, fantastic parades and performances, and food from around the world. The Folk Museum displays miniature models of Korea throughout 5,000 years in history. Lotte World Garden Stage presents various themed musicals to match each season and Lotte World Star Avenue is the perfect place to experience Korean stars and the entertainment world.

Bonghwa Cheongnyangsa Temple (청량사(봉화))

2022-12-27

199-152, Cheongnyangsan-gil, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-672-1446

Located in Cheongnyangsan Mountain Provincial Park, Cheongnyangsa Temple was built by the great monk Wonhyo in 663, the 3rd year of King Munmu of the Silla Kingdom. According to the principles of feng shui, the area is an ideal place for a temple – with the 12 mountain peaks surrounding the temple like the petals of a lotus flower.

The temple is home to two precious historical remains; one is the board of Yuribojeon that King Gongmin of Goryeo wrote upon and the other is Jibul. Yuribojeon is the building where Yaksa-yorae-bul (the Medicine Buddha Statute) is housed and Jibul is a Buddha statute made of paper that was painted with gold.

At the back of the temple is Bosalbong Peak looking out towards Cheongnyangsan Mountain. A 30-minute walk along the hiking trail will lead the hikers to Eungjinjeon, a hermitage with a beautiful view where the great monk Wonhyo once stayed. Behind Eungjinjeon stands Geumtapbong Peak and the sheer cliffs below. The peak was named Geumtapbong (meaning ‘golden pagoda’ in Korean) since it looks like a nine-story pagoda with pine trees growing around the base. In the autumn, the beautiful red, gold and orange hues of the maple trees are a true sight to behold.

Ulleungdo Island (울릉도)

2022-07-28

66 , Dodong 2-gil, Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-790-6454

Ulleungdo Island is the seventh largest island in Korea. The volcanic island consists of 44 islets of varying sizes annexed around it. With many cliffs, the island is a popular spot for rock climbing. Many walking trails that connect the sea to the mountain and rivers are also available. A walk along the Ulleung Haedam-gil offers visitors a chance to see everyday life of people on the island as well as the island's natural beauty.

Andong Hahoe Village [UNESCO World Heritage] (안동 하회마을 [유네스코 세계유산])

2024-12-03

186 Jeonseo-ro, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-852-3588

Hahoe Village is one of the most famous folk villages in Korea. Surrounded by the Nakdonggang River, the village is home to descendants of the Ryu clan of Pungsan, which still makes up 70 percent of the villagers. The village became even more famous after Queen Elizabeth of England visited on April 21, 1999, and President George H. Bush of the U.S.A. in 2005.

The village has many cultural treasures and important cultural materials, earning the village the designation of National Folklore Cultural Heritage in 1984. Hahoe Masks, a National Treasure, is also an important feature of the village.

Buseoksa Temple [UNESCO World Heritage] (부석사[유네스코 세계문화유산])

2024-02-28

345 Buseoksa-ro, Buseok-myeon, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Founded in 676, Buseoksa Temple is a temple located on the eastern slope of Sobaeksan Mountain. It was established to commemorate the victory of the Silla kingdom (BC 57-AD 935) over the Chinese Tang dynasty during a war at that time. Over the years, it underwent several reconstructions and expansions, resulting in the preservation of numerous cultural assets. Particularly, the "Muryangsujeon Hall" is regarded as one of the most beautiful traditional architectural structures in Korea.

Bongjeongsa Temple [UNESCO World Heritage] (봉정사 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

2023-05-18

222, Bongjeongsa-gil, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-853-4181

Bongjeongsa Temple is believed to have been built in 672 by the Great Buddist Monk Uisang. However, other documents seem to state that Neungin Daedeuk, a disciple of Monk Uisang, established the temple. During the Korean War, many documents related to the temple were destroyed, so much of the history has been lost. In 1972, while reconstruction work was being done on Geungnakjeon Hall, records were discovered stating the hall was repaired in 1363. This discovery gave concrete evidence that Geungnakjeon Hall is the oldest wooden building in the nation.

Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park (문경새재도립공원)

2023-02-13

932, Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-571-0709

Mungyeongsaejae Pass, which crosses Joryeongsan Mountain, has always been the highest and most dangerous mountain pass in Korea, being reputed to be too tall for even birds to fly over. The three gates of Juheulgwan, Jogokgwan, and Joryeonggwan were built for national defense after the Imjin War (1592-1598). These three gates are designated collectively as Historic Site No. 147. The area between the three gates was designated a provincial park in 1981. The path from the first gate to the last passes through beautiful forests and takes roughly four hours round-trip. Also located within the park boundaries is Mungyeongsaejae Open Set, used for filming historical dramas.

Sobaeksan National Park (Gyeongsangbuk-do Region) (소백산국립공원(경북))

2023-02-17

Punggi-eup, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-638-6196

Sobaeksan National Park was designated as the 18th national park in December 1987. The features of Sobaeksan National Park include wildflowers and royal azaleas in spring and snowy scenery in winter. The mountain borders three provinces and four cities. Attractions include various peaks, temples, and waterfalls. The mountain is especially popular in May when royal azaleas are in full bloom and a natural forest tunnel is formed. Birobong Peak of the mountain is covered with snow six months of the year and is called the Alps of Korea.

Juwangsan National Park (주왕산국립공원)

2023-03-13

169-7, Gongwon-gil, Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-870-5300

Juwangsan Mountain (alt. 720.6 m) is located in the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, the backbone of the Korean peninsula. The mountain features deep valleys and many sheer rock cliffs to make it the third-largest rocky mountain in the country. Juwangsan Mountain was recognized as a tourist attraction on May 30, 1972, and became the 12th national park a few years later on March 30, 1976. The park is relatively small, filling in an area of just 105.582 ㎢ but it is great for a leisure walk with walking trails along the valleys up to waterfalls.

Juwangsan Mountain was called Seokbyeongsan Mountain during the Silla dynasty due to the many stone peaks jutting out but has been called Juwangsan Mountain since the Unified Silla period. In addition to these tall rocky peaks, Juwangsan National Park also includes four waterfalls, caves, Daejeonsa Temple, and other attractions for a comprehensive tourist site.

Sosuseowon Confucian Academy [UNESCO World Heritage] (소수서원 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

2020-12-04

2740, Sobaek-ro, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-639-7691

Sosuseowon Confucian Academy is situated at the foothills of Sobaeksan Mountain. Sosuseowon was the first to receive a royal charter as a private Confucian academy along with financial support and acknowledgement by the king. This academy was originally founded under the name Baegundongseowon in 1542 by a Confucian scholar Ju Se-bung, who was also the magistrate of Punggi County at the time. Baegundongseowon first started as an academic institution that enshrined a memorial tablet of An Hyang, a Confucian scholar whom Ju Se-bung had deep respect for. After Ju Se-bung left the county, Toegye Yi Hwang, a renowned Confician scholar, became his successor and made an official request to the king to be granted a royal charter. The request was well received, and the king renamed the institution to its current name, Sosuseowon.

Sightseeing - Korea travel information