Sightseeing - Korea travel information

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.

Anbandegi Village (안반데기 마을)

2024-05-24

428 Anbandegi-gil, Wangsan-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

Anbandegi Village is a mountainside village located at an elevation of 1,100 meters. The village name is a combination of the words "anban," which refers to the large and oval wooden platform used when pounding rice cakes, and "degi," which means flat land. Most of the village lands are covered with cabbage farms formed along the mountain slope. The steep slopes make it impossible to use farm machinery, which means all the cabbages farms are the result of manual work by the villagers.

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.

Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum (강릉 솔향수목원)

2023-12-06

156 Sumogwon-gil, Gujeong-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum was built in 2008 and opened on October 30, 2013 in Gujeong-ri, Gujeong-myeon. The arboretum was formed around the scenic Yongsogol Valley and the foothills of Chilseongsan Mountain, which still preserves the prestigious Geumgang pine tree forest. The arboretum spreads across an area of 78.5 ha and is organized in 25 themes that boast a total of 220,000 plants of 1,127 different species. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of scenery that change with season as well as themed areas such as eco-forest path dense with a colony of ginger trees and bamboos, pine forest square, wildflower gardens and more. The main attraction of this arboretum is the walking path named "Breath of Thousand Years Healing Path."

Balwangsan Cable Car (발왕산 관광케이블카)

2024-07-18

715 Olympic-ro, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

Equipped with 100 eight-passenger cabins, Balwangsan Cable Car is a 7.4-kilometer-long cable car that ensures a swift and safe ride. Departing from the Dragon Plaza Platform to reach the Dragon Castle Platform at the summit of Balwangsan Mountain, it offers the longest cable car ride in Korea. The ride takes about 18 minutes and makes one feel as if they are soaring through the sky at 1,458 meters above ground. The cable car is subject to be out of operation in adverse weather conditions, so visitors are advised to check in advance.