Sightseeing - Korea travel and tourism information

Cheonmachong Tomb (Daereungwon Ancient Tombs) (천마총 (대릉원))

2024-12-30

9 Gyerim-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-743-1925

Daereungwon Ancient Tombs are one of the most well-known sights in Gyeongju, a history park home to 23 small and large ancient tombs. The area is dotted with tranquil trails among the tombs like the largest tomb in Hwangnam-dong, Hwangnamdaechong Tomb; Cheonmachong Tomb, the place where Cheonmado, a saddle flap painting, was excavated from; and the tomb of King Michu, nicknamed the “Tomb of the Bamboo Warrior.”
Cheonmachong Tomb, excavated in 1973, has a x_height of 12.7 meters and a diameter of 50 meters. Its excavation unearthed many artifacts, such as the famous Gold Crown from Cheonmachong Tomb. Its name comes from Cheonmado, a mudguard saddle flap with a painting of a heavenly horse. Cheonmachong Tomb is the only tomb in the Daereungwon Ancient Tombs to be opened to the public.
The tomb is thought to have been constructed between the late 5th century and early 6th century. Artifacts excavated from the tomb include a gold crown, gold cap, gold waist belt, gold diadem, and gilt-bronze shoes worn by the buried. The gold crown, in particular, is known as the largest and the most elaborate of all gold crowns unearthed in Korea. The artifacts themselves can be found in Gyeongju National Museum, so don’t miss the chance to see them in person.
Another must-visit site is the Daereungwon Magnolia Photo Area, a lone magnolia tree standing between the beautiful curves of ancient tombs.

Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을)

2024-10-25

28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2261-0500

Namsangol Hanok Village opened in 1998 on the northern side of Namsan Mountain in the center of the capital. This village has five restored hanok (traditional Korean house) premises, a pavilion, a traditional garden, a performance art stage, and a time capsule plaza, making it a perfect spot for locals and tourists to take a leisure walk. Upon entering from the front gate, visitors will get a taste of Korea's traditional life while escaping from bustling city life. The traditional garden with its pavilion and old houses creates a peaceful ambiance before the forested Namsan Mountain. A time capsule commemorating Seoul’s 600th anniversary was buried in 1994 at the highest point of the village and is scheduled to be reopened 400 years later in 2394.

The five hanok premises at Namsangol Hanok Village once belonged to aristocrats and government officials of the Joseon dynasty. Each house was originally located in a different neighborhood, but they were all moved to this area and restored to their original form. The houses were rebuilt using their original materials, except for one house, where the materials were too old and deteriorated to be reused. The premises were carefully restored and replicated according to their original form to depict the owners’ social class and personality. These buildings are now used as an exhibit to portray the living environment during the Joseon dynasty and as a venue for educational and cultural programs for children and tourists.

Some of the unique programs and activities to participate in include wearing hanbok, folding hanji (traditional Korean paper), writing in Korean, traditional tea ceremony, traditional etiquette school, and herbal medicine experience. There are also taekwondo demonstrations and other various performances held around the village. Visitors can also try traditional games such as yunnori (traditional board game), or understand more about the area through a guided tour.

Heolleung and Illeung Royal Tombs [UNESCO World Heritage] (서울 헌릉(태종,원경왕후)과 인릉(순조,순원왕후) [유네스코 세계문화유산])

2021-07-24

36-10, Heonilleung-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul
+82-2-445-0347

Heolleung and Illeung Royal Tombs house the mounds for two kings of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) and their wives: King Taejong (1401-1418) and Queen Wongyeong, along with King Sunjo (1800-1834) and Queen Sunwon. Together, the tombs are referred to as Heonilleung Royal Tomb. The site possesses numerous stone statues and vestiges, and is a good place to experience the culture of the Joseon dynasty.

Taereung and Gangneung Royal Tombs [UNESCO World Heritage] (서울 태릉과 강릉 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

2022-09-19

681, Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul
+82-2-972-0370

Designated as a Historic Site, Taereung & Gangneung Royal Tombs is comprised of two tombs. Taereung Royal Tomb houses the burial mound of Queen Munjeong who was the second queen of King Jungjong, the 11th King of the Joseon dynasty, and Gangneung Royal Tomb houses the burial mounds of King Myeongjong, the 13th King of Joseon dynasty, and Queen Insun. King Myeongjong ascended the throne after his elder brother, King Injong, when he was twelve years old at Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1545. The king’s mother, Queen Munjeong ruled behind the scenes, acting as guardian for eight years.

Jeongneung Royal Tomb [UNESCO World Heritage] (서울 정릉(신덕왕후) [유네스코 세계문화유산])

2021-02-09

116, Arirang-ro 19-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
+82-2-914-5133

Jeongneung Royal Tomb is the tomb of Queen Sindeok, the second wife of King Taejo (1392-1398), founder of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). The queen met a sudden death due to health complications. Although one of her sons was the crown prince, he was killed by a successive brother, Yi Bang-won, in order to obtain the throne. After Yi Bang-won rose to the throne as King Taejong, he relocated Queen Sindeok's tomb to outside of the city walls.

Yeonghwiwon and Sunginwon Royal Tombs (서울 영휘원(순헌황귀비)과 숭인원(이진))

2021-03-12

90, Hongneung-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-962-0556

Yeonghwiwon & Sunginwon Royal Tombs house the tombs of Queen Consort Sunheon and the first son of Imperial Prince Yeong, Yi Jin. Queen Consort Sunheon was a concubine of Emperor Gojong and the mother of Imperial Prince Yeong. The tomb site was originally the resting place of Empress Myeongseong, the first official wife of Emperor Gojong, but her tomb was moved to Namyangju after Gojong's death where they are interred together.

Archaeological Site in Amsa-dong, Seoul (서울 암사동 유적)

2021-07-27

875, Olympic-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3425-6520

The Archaeological Site in Amsa-dong reproduces the lifestyle of the Neolithic Era. Even the entrance gate is shaped like a huge dolmen and the trash cans are ancient diagonal-line patterned earthenware. Archaeological Site in Amsa-dong was excavated in 1925 when a flood washed away the soil on the banks of the Hangang River and exposed a large number of diagonal-line patterned earthenware. After several excavations, the Archaeological Site in Amsa-dong was established.

The site was a location for a massive colony, thus many ancient buildings, stone axes and stone arrows have been uncovered as well as countless diagonal-line patterned earthenware. The housing site is round with a spot in the center for fire. The site is colossal and possesses nine mud huts, two exhibition halls displaying ancient artifacts and an open mud hut where visitors can experience life in the Neolithic Era. The site offers many attractions such as mud huts and promenades. Archaeological Site in Amsa-dong is also very educational for children and families who want to learn and experience the Neolithic Age.

Osaengnyeong (Hangyeryeong) Pass (오색령(한계령))

2021-04-12

Seo-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-33-672-2883

This 1,004 m-high pass connects Seo-myeon of Yangyang-gun and Buk-myeon and Girin-myeon of Inje-gun, at the border between Naeseorak and Namseorak. The people of Yangyang know the pass as Osaengnyeong, while in Inje it is known as Hangyeryeong. Yi Jung-hwan, a late Joseon period scholar and the author of the geographical text Taengniji (On Selecting a Village), counted Osaengnyeong Pass as the first and the foremost of the six famous passes in Gangwon-do. Indeed, Osaengnyeong Pass was the route through which essential supplies were transported from Yangyang (in Yeongdong) to Inje (in Yeongseo region), and the rough pass taken by the people of Yangyang on the way to Seoul. Its presence in the folklore of the region can be seen in the popular song Hangyeryeong, which speaks to the difficulties of those who had to climb the pass. Hangyeryeong Road was opened in 1981, and today’s National Road No. 44 is famous for being a driving course through the beauty of Seoraksan Mountain. This is also the starting point of the shortest route to Daecheongbong Peak, the highest peak in Seoraksan Mountain, and the trail to the summit of Jeombongsan Mountain.

Ganghwa Bomunsa Temple (보문사 (강화))

2024-12-26

44 Samsannam-ro 828beon-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-933-8271

Bomunsa Temple is located on Seongmodo Island in the Gangwondo Island district. The temple is on Sangbongsan Mountain, one of three mountains that make up the Samsan-myeon area. Like many temples in Korea, the foundation date is unknown but it is believed to have been founded in 635 during the reign of Silla Queen Seondeok. The temple faces out to the ocean, with the sound of waves reaching all the way to the main building.

The main courtyard is fragrant with the scent of an aromatic tree, designated Incheon Natural Monument No. 17. Beyond the tree is a gathering of Buddhist scuptures and a large grotto.

Dongnimmun Gate (독립문)

2022-12-15

251, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Dongnimmun stands at the location originally known as Yeongeun, where envoys were once treated. When a Chinese envoy visited, the King would go out through this door to greet. In 1898, to announce the independence from Japan, Dongnimun was constructed with the fund collected by the citizens. The traces of the past still remain on Dongnimmun with two pillars in front of Dongnimmun being the remains of Yeongeunmun.

The Arc de Triomphe in France can be recalled in comparison to Dongnimmun. Dongnimmun was built using granite with a passageway x_height of 14.28 meters. On the top it is written ‘Dongnimmun’ in Korean with the national flag drawn on each side. On the inner-left side there are stone stairs leading to the attic. The national flower Mugunghwa are planted around Dongnimmun. Now it is surrounded by roads and it is eye-catching to view when passing by.

Sightseeing - Korea travel information