People inhabited these places even before our era. On the site of modern Seoul, at the end of the 14th century, a small settlement of Hanyang was founded, which later turned into the main city of the Joseon state. It was surrounded by fortified walls, inside which the royal palace of Gyeong-bok was erected. From 1910 to 1942 the city was called Gyeongsong. Seoul received its current namein 1945, translated from Korean it means “capital”. Since 1948, Seoul has been the capital of the Republic of Korea and the main economic, political and cultural center of the country. Now Seoul has the status of a separate administrative unit. The city stands on the banks of the Han-gan River and is a vast agglomeration, which includes, in addition to the capital, many satellite cities. The old city is located on the right bank of the Han-gan River. Most of Seoul ‘s historical landmarks are located here. First of all, these are the palaces of the Joseon era: Gyeongbok-kun Palace, which became the very first palace of the capital of the state of Joseon, and where the National Folk Museum and the Museum of Royal Relics are located; Toksu-kun Palace; Palace of Kyunghee-kun; most beautiful palace in seoul Changdeok-kun and Changyeong-kun Palace. Also interesting in the Seoul Old Town are the Dongdae-mun gate, preserved from the ancient fortress wall, the residence of the president Chonwa-dae, the royal temple-tomb of Chongmyo, the main Catholic cathedral of South Korea Myeong-dong, the Korean house, where traditional dance shows and dinners with national cuisine, the Namsan Folk Village, the 19th-century Dongni-mun Gate, built in the style of the Arc de Triomphe, the Sode-mun Prison Museum and the largest Buddhist temple in Seoul, Chogyo-sa.
In the New City it is worth seeing the ancient Boneung-sa monastery of the end of the 8th century, a 63-storey business center on the island of Yoi, the building of which is called “63”, and visit the Nyanjin market. Be sure to go to the Amsa-don archaeological park, where the sites of primitive people were discovered. If you are traveling with children, then you should visit the amusement parks Grand Park Seoul with the tenth largest zoo in the world, Seoul Land with many attractions and entertainment centers of COEX and LOTTE shopping houses. Cruises on the Han River are very popular, especially in the evening. In addition to cruises on sightseeing ferries, you can rent a motor boat and go on a trip by oneself.
According to Andy Education, from Seoul, you can go to the demilitarized zone that separates North Korea from South Korea, located a few kilometers to the north. To do this, you need to have a passport with you, according to which you will be issued a permit. Tourists will be interested in the village of Panmun-chjom. It was here that negotiations were held between the two warring states during the Korean War and the armistice agreement was signed. The meeting room where these events took place is now open to tourists. At the demarcation line, 150-meter masts with the flag of each of them rise from the sides of each state. The interesting thing is that the line is real, it is a 7 cm high concrete strip. Gyeonggi Province. The provincial capital is the city of Suwon . It can be reached from Seoul even by subway. In the historical center of Suwon, protected by UNESCO, you can see the ancient fortress of Hwaseong and royal gardens. Hwaseong Fortress was built under King Jeongjo in the late 18th century in honor of his father. The main building of the fortress is the 1789 Hwaseong Haeng-kun Palace, which was used as a resting place for the king. The only building of the palace that has survived in its original form is the Uhwa-gan pavilion. Nowadays, honorary changing of the guard and demonstration fights of wrestlers take place near the pavilion. Hwaseong Fortress has 6 gates. The largest gate of the fortress is the southern gate of Paldal-mun. Next to them is the Sonamam guard tower. At the western gate of Hwaseong is the tallest observation tower, Sobuk Konsim-dong. Not far from the gate of Dongam-mun, 5 signal pipes were installed on the fortress wall, from which smoke came out in the event of an approaching danger. An interesting folklore village near Suwonwhich is an open-air museum. Here are the main crafts of the country. In the village you can see the products of local craftsmen, performances with national dances and traditional wedding ceremonies. Tourists are also invited to dine at a national cuisine restaurant and buy souvenirs at a local gift shop.
In the vicinity of Suwon, there is an Everland amusement park with many attractions, a safari park, a water park, a race track and an art museum. It can take more than one day to visit the park, so the park has guest houses.
West of Seoul on the coast of the Yellow Sea is one of the main port cities of South Korea, Incheon.. Inchon is associated with several important historical events in the country. In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War broke out here. At that time the city was called Chemulpo. It was a major port, which was part of the neutral zone, where the ships of different countries stood. In January 1904, Japanese troops, consisting of more than 10 ships, attacked the Russian cruiser Varyag. Russian sailors did not surrender the ship to the enemy, but scuttled it. During the Korean War, in the middle of the 20th century, an American landing force landed in Inchon, which struck at the North Korean troops. This was a turning point in the course of the war, because by that time North Korean troops occupied most of South Korea .. In 2002, the country’s largest airport was built on the nearby island of Yeongjong. Incheon also includes the islands of Yeongjong, Wolmi and Mui. On Yeongjong Island, it is worth visiting Mount Begun-san with Yonggun-sa Monastery and mineral springs, as well as coastal thermal complexes and the central beach, where a festival is held annually in August. Ganghwa Island is located near the border with North Korea in the Yellow Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the fifth largest island in South Korea.. During periods of political instability and attacks from other states, the island became a refuge for the royal court, that is, for a while it turned into the second capital of the state. In this regard, many fortifications, monasteries and palaces were built here throughout the history of the city. The island is famous for its numerous dolmens – burials of the Bronze Age, crowned with mysterious structures made of huge boulders. The largest dolmen is 6.5 m long and 2.6 m high. Next to it is a 5-tiered pagoda and a 2.8 m high Buddha image carved on stone from the 11th century. Also on the island of Ganghwa, the Buddhist monastery of Jeongdeun-sa is interesting., where the sacred Korean scripture Tripitaka Koreana was kept during the Mongol invasion. The monastery was founded in 372 on the slopes of Mount Jeongzhok. Its main attractions are a huge pavilion of the 17th century with a sculpture of a naked woman carved in wood, which was made by one of the builders of the monastery, an 11th century Chinese bell and a second edition of the Tripitaka Koreana of the 13th century. Not far from the Chongdeun-sa monastery is the 17th century Samnan Fortress, which was built on the site of an older ruined fortress. There is an altar on Mount Mani, which, according to legend, was built by Tangun, the hero of legends and the progenitor of the Koreans. In the main city of the island – the city of Ganghwo – there are the ruins of the royal palace of the Goryeo era of 1234.
Seokmo Island is located off the west coast of Ganghwa Island. In the 7th century, under the state of Silla, the Pomun Monastery with the cave temple of Sokku-ram was built on this island. The altar of the temple is interesting, where 23 Buddha figurines are exhibited, which, according to legend, were fished out of the sea by a local fisherman. About 400 steps were laid from the main pavilion of the monastery to the mountains. They lead to the image of the deity Kwanesuma carved in the rock. Icheon city is located 60 km from Seoul in the southeastern part of Gyeonggi province, known for its masters of pottery. Pottery has been produced in Ichon since ancient times, as evidenced by fragments of clay products found during archaeological excavations, which date back to the 3rd century BC. The town hosts an annual pottery festival. Also in Ichon there is a whole exhibition center with pottery products and a craft village where potters exhibit their products and show the main stages of their production. In the vicinity of the city there are many hot springs, on the basis of which thermal complexes with baths, saunas, pools and even attractions have been created. It is worth noting that many hotels in the city can offer tourists thermal baths. Not far from Icheon in the mountains there are several ski resorts – Yangzhi Pine, Star Hill, Jisan Forest and Bearstown. Gangwon Province is located in the northeastern part of the country on the coast of the Sea of Japan. Most of its territory is occupied by the ridges of the East Korean mountains, covered with dense forests. There are national parks such as Seorak-san and Ode-san. This is a great place for hiking and ecotourism. Skiing and beach holidays are also popular in the province. The city of Sokcho is located in the northeastern part of the province on the coast of the Sea of Japan. It is here that ferries with Russian tourists come from the Far Eastern city of Zarubino. Sokcho is a modern city with beaches, shops, many fish markets, hotels and restaurants. The city center is located between the Jeoncho and Yeongnan lakes. Along the coast of Sokcho from the Passenger Sea Terminal Dongmyeong, the main city avenue stretches south. In the northern part of the avenue, an extensive fish market is interesting, where you can rent a boat and go fishing, the Yongkeum-jeon gazebo (a great place to meet the dawn), an old lighthouse with an observation deck and Yeongnan Lake. In the southern part of Yongnan Lake, Tiger Mountain rises, resembling a tiger in outline, and a park stretches along its banks, where not only local residents, but also guests of the city like to relax and ride bicycles. From the south, the central part of the city is separated by Lake Choncho. On its shore rises the modern high-rise Expo Tower 73 m high with an observation deck. Cape Chon adjoins Lake Choncho from the east. The village of Abai is located on the cape, where North Korean refugees from the Korean War settled, it is one of the poorest areas of the city. Not far from the northwestern shore of Lake Choncho in the central part of the city is the Museum of Ceramics, and nearby is the Central Market. South of Lake Choncho, a beach stretches along the coast Sokcho. The beach is officially open only in the summer. South of Sokcho Beach, in the Old Port area, there are many seafood restaurants. Seorak Sunrise Park is located on the southern outskirts of the city on the seashore. Here, among the lush vegetation, you can not only have a great rest, but also go on a submarine tour to Zhuo Island. Excursions are arranged from Sokcho to the Kymgang-san (Diamond Mountains) mountains, which are located on the territory of North Korea. North Korea granted the right to tourism activities in the mountains of Kumgang-san to South Korea for 50 years, a special tourist zone was formed here, which has the status of a separate province. You cannot travel to the Diamond Mountains on your own, only as part of organized tourist groups. The highest point of the massif reaches 1638 m. Bizarrely shaped rocks form off the coast of Kymgang-san, and in their central part there are many Buddhist temples, waterfalls, lakes, and mineral springs.
To the west of Sokcho, on the slopes of the Seorak-san mountains, adjacent to the Geumgang-san mountain range, is the Seorak-san National Park.. This area has been under state protection since 1965. The maximum mark of Seorak-san is Mount Taechon with a height of 1708 m. About 2000 different species of animals live in the park. Several hotels were built near the park, and on its territory there are campsites, so you can go hiking in these places for a few days. At the entrance to the park, the cable car begins, which goes to Kwongum Peak. From here you have breathtaking views of the surroundings. To the east, you can see the Piryon and Tovanson waterfalls, to which hiking trails are laid from the entrance to the park. In the western part of the park there are Buddhist monasteries. Northwest of the entrance to the park is the 7th century Sinheung-sa Monastery, built under the Silla state. On the way to the monastery, you will see a 22-meter Buddha statue, erected in 1986. Also worth visiting is the 7th century Sinheung-sa temple. To the north, the temples of An-yang, Newon and Gyojo, which is located in a cave, are interesting. On the northwestern outskirts of the park, behind the Gyojo Temple, the Ulsan-bawi ridge stretches, to which an iron staircase leads. In general, the mountains are considered one of the most picturesque places on the planet. They are great for hiking.
Between the city of Sokcho and the Seorak-san National Park, there is an area with hot springs, on the basis of which thermal spas were created. The most popular thermal resort of these places is Khanva Sorak with a large water entertainment complex Sorak Waterpia. The resort has hotels, outdoor pools, baths, saunas, water slides and many other attractions. The local mineral waters have a sodium-calcium-magnesium composition and are enriched with negative ions. Their temperature is +49 degrees. Mineral waters are effective in the treatment of arthritis, neuralgic and skin diseases. Not far from here is another thermal complex Cheoksan based on mineral waters of a similar composition, but with a temperature of +53 degrees.
To the west of the city of Sokcho is the northernmost ski resort in South Korea – “Alps”.
South of Sokcho, on the coast of the Sea of Japan, is the city of Gangneung . This is one of the famous seaside resorts in South Korea.. Along the northern part of the city coast stretches the resort area of Chumun-jin. Jumun-jin Beach is surrounded by vegetation, it is usually very quiet here, since there are not so many vacationers, the coastal waters are shallow and clean, and the sand is very fine, so families with children mainly come here to relax. Not far from the beach there are such natural attractions as the Muryn Gorge and Guryong Waterfall, which consists of 9 small waterfalls. The central beach of the city is usually crowded with vacationers, because there are many cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues. South of Gangneung stretches Cheongdong-jin beach. The beach is not only a great place for people with a wide variety of preferences to relax, but also a place where, in addition to the sea, there is something to see. The local train station is located right on the beach, which allowed her to get into the Guinness Book of Records. On one of the mountains surrounding the beach, there is a hotel in the form of a ship. There are several parks around Cheongdong-jin.
In the mountains adjacent to Cheongdong-jin, there is Hasla Nature Park and Dongmyeong Monastery. In addition to relaxing on the beaches of the sea coast, Gangneung offers holidays on the shores of Gyeongpo Lake. There is also an organized beach around it. You can also go fishing on the lake. In the city of Gangneung in a place called Ochzhuk-khon, where thickets of black bamboo stretch, there is a house-museum of Yulgok with buildings from the beginning of the 16th century. The museum exhibits the works of the 16th century artist Sinsaimdan, whose son Yulgok became a famous politician and philosopher of his time. In addition, in the museum you can get acquainted with the life of the Korean people of the 16th century.
Northwest of Gangneung is Ode-san National Park. It was created in 1975 on the slopes of the mountain range of the same name. The park has several hotels where you can stay overnight. The highest point of the park is Pirobon Peak (1563 m). Visiting these places, you will see vast forests, lakes and waterfalls. The park is home to the Botanical Garden, founded in 1999. The garden is divided into several parts: an indoor garden with indoor plants, an ecological garden with wild plants, a herb garden with mountain flowers and herbs, and a theme garden with plants bred in honor of famous people. But the most famous park Ode-san brought ancient Buddhist monasteries built in the era of the state of Silla. There are 9 of them in total. 2 of them are the most interesting. Woljong-sa Monastery was founded in 643. It consists of 60 small temples and 8 hermitages. At the entrance to the monastery there is a huge gate, the roof of which is decorated with drawings. On the territory of the monastery complex you will see the Museum of Relics, the main exhibit of which is a stone statue of Buddha squatting (this is the only Buddha statue in the world depicting him in such a position), a 9-story pagoda and a pavilion with the remains of Buddha. 8 km north of Woljong-sa is the Sanwon-sa monastery of the second half of the 7th century. The oldest bell in South Korea is kept in the courtyard of the monastery – Sangwon-sa Dongjong (725). The bell is decorated with fine engraving. On the altar of the main temple of the monastery stands a figurine of the god of wisdom, Munsu, who, according to legend, appeared to King Sejo in the form of a child and cured him. Not far from the monastery, the remains of Buddha Shakyamuni from China are kept in a special building.
South of the Odae-san National Park are the ski resorts Yongpyeong and Phoenix Park.
South of Gangwon Province is North Gyeongsang Province. It is full of historical monuments. In the north of the province, on the banks of the Nakdong-gang, is the city of Andong . Under the state of Silla Andon was called Chinkhan and was one of the strongholds of Buddhism in the state. Since the 14th century, under the state of Joseon, Confucianism began to spread here, and to this day the descendants of Confucian scholars live in Andong. Due to the many ancient buildings, houses and Buddhist shrines, Andong has preserved the spirit of antiquity. Here you can even stay overnight in traditional Korean hanok houses, which are numerous in the city and are under state protection. In Andong, the Bongjeon Monastery of the late 7th century, the Soju Museum, the Hahoe Folk Village and the Dosansowon Confucian Academy are of interest. 5 km from Andon, by the road, you can see a rock overgrown with trees, on which the image of Buddha Amitaba, more than 10 m high, is engraved.
In the southern part of the province, 360 km southeast of Seoul, the city of Gyeongju is located. Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla state from the 4th to the 10th centuries. The most skillful masters of the state lived here, who created outstanding architectural structures. Today, the city has many ancient monuments, thanks to which Gyeongju was named a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. In 647, the Jeomseongdae observatory was erected in the city. It is the oldest surviving observatory in the world. Near the observatory there is a park of tombs – Tumuli Park, which is a great place for walking. The oldest burials in the park date back to 284. On the other side of the Jeomseongdae Observatory, Anapji Pond is interesting, on the banks of which a summer royal palace stood in the Silla era. To the south is the National Museum, and even further south is the Nam-san burial area, where there are about a hundred Buddhist temples, 70 pagodas and many images of the Buddha carved in stone.
In the northern part of Gyeongju, a whole resort area has been created around Lake Pomun with many hotels., golf courses, shopping centers and restaurants. Pomun Lake is also home to the 7th century Bunhwang-sa and Hwangnyeong-sa monasteries. In the eastern part of Gyeongju is the Tohom-san area, where the Bulguk-sa monastery and the 8th century Seokgu-ram cave temple are located. Northwest of Bulguk-sa Monastery is a folk craft village where you can see traditional houses, workshops for making porcelain, jewelry, fabric and embroidery, a museum with models of Gyeongju sights, and buy souvenirs. In addition, in the vicinity of Gyeongju, the island of Ulleung-do is interesting., which can be reached from the city of Pohang. The island is an extinct volcano rising steeply from the waters of the Sea of Japan. Dokdo Island is located 87 km southeast of Ulleung-do, which is the easternmost point of the Republic of Korea.
On the south coast of the Republic of Korea, 410 km southeast of Seoul, the city of Busan is located. This is the second largest city in the country, which has the status of a separate administrative unit. Busan throughout its history has been an important trade center of the state, and even today the city port of Busan ranks 4th in the world in terms of cargo turnover. The seaport is located in the center of the Old Town. Next to it is the Yeondu-san Recreation Park. AT Busan is interested in the huge Gwangnan Bridge, 7420 m long, which connects the Nam and Haeundae districts. The Chagalchi area is known for its fish market. This market consists of 9 floors and is the largest fish market in the country. The Seomyeon area is the location of most hotels, restaurants, bars and discos.
In Busan, at the mouth of the Nakdong River, there is a reserve for migratory birds.. On the territory of the reserve in its coastal part stretch sand dunes, and in the delta of the river – small islands. In spring and autumn, you can see a lot of migratory waterfowl here – snipe, ducks, swans and geese, about 150 species of birds in total, and the greatest species diversity of birds is observed in autumn and spring. Tourists are transported through the park on special excursion boats.
In Busan there are many beaches, and all of them are clean, well-equipped and suitable for swimming and relaxing. The only problem that foreign tourists face in the summer is the large number of tourists, both foreign and local. The most popular beaches in the city are Haeundae and Gwanalli. Slightly north of Gwanally Beach stretches Songjong Beach, and in the southern part of the city on a small island is Tadaepo Beach. On the northwestern outskirts of Busan on Mount Geumjeon (800 m) is the Buddhist temple Pomo-sa. Here, in the mountains, the remains of the fortress walls have been preserved, which in the 18th century protected the approaches to the city. A cable car has now been laid to this place. Not far from here is the Donne thermal spring, on the basis of which pools and baths function.
Geographically, Busan is located in South Gyeongsang Province. The southern coast of the province and over a thousand offshore islands are part of the Hallyo National Marine Park. The largest island is Gojo-do. It is connected to the mainland by several bridges and a ferry service. POWs were held on the island during the Korean War. Now, on the territory of the former camp, there is a Historical Park, in which tanks, military trucks and other military exhibits of the mid-20th century are exhibited. E-do Island is famous for its 145 sq. km. Plants from all over the world are found here. The small Sanjeonggam Park is adjacent to the Hallyo National Marine Park on the coast., where the real traces of dinosaurs are preserved and there is a dinosaur museum that tells about these ancient inhabitants of the planet.
In addition, there are two sacred places for Buddhists in the province. These are the monasteries of Hein-sa and Tondo-sa. Hein-sa Monastery was founded in 802 on the slopes of Mount Kaya-san. It houses about 80,000 wooden boards of the second edition of the Tripitaka Koreana, which were carved in the 13th century and brought here in 1398. Each board has a weight of more than 3 kg, and the book, respectively, is about 240 tons. The monastery hosts the Tripitaka festival every October. Only at this time you can see the boards in the immediate vicinity, when the monks carry them around the territory of the monastery. Tondo-sa Monastery was founded in 646. Its purpose is to pass on to the descendants the teachings of the Buddha. From ancient times to this day, Buddhists have been attested in the monastery, preparing to become monks. The monastery keeps such a shrine as part of the Buddha’s sari. On the territory of the monastery there is the Seongbo Museum with collections of ancient wall paintings, Buddhist accessories and elements of temple buildings.
From the cities of the province of South Gyeongsang, the city of Jinju will be of interest to tourists. The historic center of the city is occupied by the remains of an ancient fortress from the late 14th century. You should definitely look at the Kunbuk-mun fortress gate and visit the National Museum with archeological objects and dramatizations from the history of the city.
Off the southwest coast of the country is South Jeolla Province.. Its capital is the city of Gwangju . It has the status of an independent administrative unit. In the city itself, only the State Museum is interesting. Here, in 7 halls, you can see objects found during archaeological excavations, objects from the Three Kingdoms period (pottery, iron products), artworks on the theme of Buddhism, artworks from the Joseon era, pottery from the era of the Goryeo state, and objects from a sunken in coastal waters about 600 years ago a Chinese merchant ship. But mostly tourists come to Gwangju to do ecotourism and hiking. Tamyang is located 22 km north of Gwangju.. Tamyang has been the center of bamboo cultivation since ancient times. There is a center for the study of bamboo, the world’s first bamboo museum, bamboo forests and souvenir shops selling bamboo products. In early May, the city even hosts a bamboo festival. From Tamyang, you can go to Chiri-san National Park, which is located on the slopes of the Chiri-san mountain range. The park is home to the highest point on the mainland of the country, Chonwang-bong Peak (1915 m). The national park is always shrouded in fog or shrouded in clouds. There are several hotels at the entrance to it.where you can stay overnight. Several monasteries are of interest on the territory of the Chiri-san National Park. Khwaom-sa Monastery was founded in 544. The legend says that it was founded by the Hindu priest Yong Gi, who descended here from heaven on a mythical animal with the body of a turtle and the head of a dragon. The statue of this animal can be seen in the monastery. Of the most ancient buildings of the monastery, only the Taung-jeon pavilion of 1630 has been preserved, where fragments of the sacred Korean scripture, the stone Tripitaka Koreana, destroyed by the Japanese, are kept. The monastery also houses one of the largest pavilions in the country, Kakwam-chjom, the vault of which is supported by huge wooden pillars with decorations in the form of drawings in their upper part. A little higher up the slope stands the three-tiered Wonton-jeon-jeon pagoda of the 7th century. A staircase of 108 steps leads to it.
To the south of the Chiri-san National Park near the city of Sunchon is Songwan-sa monastery, which, together with the Haein-sa and Dondong-sa monasteries, is the top three Buddhist sacred places in South Korea. The monastery was founded in 1190. Today it is the main monastery of Korea, where monks are trained. 3 relics are kept here: a rice bowl, two Chinese junipers and a handmade temple bowl.
Interesting trips to tea plantations on the slopes of the mountains near the city of Boseong, which is located in the southeastern part of the coast of the province. The local climate is favorable for growing tea bushes. By visiting the plantations, you can learn about the main stages of growing tea bushes and tea production, about tea ceremonies, as well as go to tea shops and purchase various varieties of Korean tea.
Be sure to go to Chin-do Island. It is the third largest island in South Korea. It is famous for an unusual phenomenon called the “Miracle of Moses”, which occurs in early May and mid-July due to the ebb and flow of the tides. The phenomenon is that a road miraculously appears in the sea, along which you can go to the neighboring island of Mo.
On the west coast of the province is city of Mokpo. Ferries depart from here to Jeju Island and sightseeing boats or ferries to nearby islands. In the city itself, the Museum of the Sea is interesting , which was opened in 1194. The museum exhibits a variety of finds from the day of the sea, models of sunken ships near the coast, and also presents the traditional life of a fishing village.
To the north lies the province of North Jeolla, most of which is covered in rice and cotton fields. The provincial capital is the city of Jeonju . It is believed that it was in this city that the state of Joseon was proclaimed in 1392. Through the Old City of Jeonju Daejo’s main street stretches. Walking along it, you will see the Punnam-mun gate of 1388, which is an exact copy of Seoul’s Namdae-mun gate, the Western-style Cheongdong Cathedral of 1908, Gyeonggi-jeong, which housed the royal palace in the early 15th century, and is now on display items that belonged to the royal family, as well as many traditional Korean hanok houses. Hanok houses can also be seen in the Jeonju Hanok Folk Village, there are about 800 of them. Be sure to visit the Omokdae Folk Craft Center. Here are ceramic and wooden products, Korean embroidery and products made from local hanji paper, which is made from mulberries grown in these places. Also worth visiting are the National Museum, the Jeonju History Museum, and the Korean Vodka Museum.
Mai-san provincial park is located not far from the city. The park is located on the slopes of two mountains Sutmai-san (673 m) and Ammai-san (667 m). Because of the shape of the mountains, the Koreans call them “horse ears”. At the foot of the mountains, you can see more than a hundred pagodas built of stone in the 19th and 20th centuries by monks. They mysteriously do not fall or collapse, although they are simply pyramids made of stones without any bonding material. The highest of them has a height of 15 m. The famous monk Yui Kap-miong was the first to build pagodas. Here he also left mysterious writings in an unknown language. Mirik-sa monastery is located in the northern part of the province.. It was the main monastery of the Baekcho state and was originally conceived as the new capital of the state. The monastery was built under King Mu in the 7th century, and the royal court was also located here. To this day, only a stone pagoda has survived from the monastery buildings, of which only 6 remain from 9 tiers. In 1997, a museum was opened at the monastery. Here, local craftsmen and antiques are collected, as well as a model of the main pagoda of the monastery, whose height exceeded 50 m.
Be sure to visit the Byeong-san Peninsula National Park, in which both part of the coast and mountain ranges are protected. In the coastal area, there are attractions such as the Chesok-gang River, Byeong-san Beach with very fine sand, and the wave-shaped rocks of Twejogamjin, resembling thousands of stacked books. Byeongsan Beach is surrounded by pine forests and is considered one of the most popular beaches on the west coast. In the mountains, the Zhikso waterfall and Geam-sa temple are interesting.
In the northeastern part of the province of North Jeolla, in the mountain valley of Muju Gucheondong, the largest ski resort in the Republic of Korea Muju is located.
The provinces of Chuncheon North and South are located south of Gyeonggi Province. Chuncheon North Province is the only landlocked province in the country. On the territory of the province of South Chuncheon, the city of Buyeo is interesting, which became the last capital of the Baekcho state and stayed there until 660. The Baekcho Historical Museum is located in the city, which shows the history of the development of the state, its culture and the life of its inhabitants. There are several tombs of Baekje kings around the city. Gwangchok-sa Monastery is located 18 km from Miruk-sa Monastery in North Jeolla Province. It was built in the 10th and 11th centuries. The famous Buddha statue of the future is kept in the monastery. A hat is worn on the head of the Buddha, this is the only similar statue of the Buddha. In the provincial capital of South Jeolla, Daejeon – in its very center is the Yuson hot spring. The source water contains calcium, potassium, hydrogen sulfide, silicic acid and radium. Waters help in the treatment of neuralgic and geriatric diseases. There are hotels and treatment centers near the spring.