Best of Korea

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has selected eight regions, all of which boast a unique history and culture, and are home to beautiful natural surroundings, as must-see attractions of Korea.

Korea’s Most Representative Upper-class Village

Korea’s representative single clan village has well preserved traditional houses of the Joseon Dynasty to this day. Visitors can see how people, specially the upper-class, lived in those times.

Location	Hahoe-ri, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
Main Features	• Clan village of the Pungsan Ryu family • Beautiful natural scenery created by the Nakdonggang River
Other Attractions	• Hahoe Byeolsingutnori, Seonyujulbullori, and other traditional performances • Architectural beauty of Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy • Andong International Maskdance Festival

Active and Breathing Museum

Mountains boasting great natural scenery, and the proud millennial history of the Silla Kingdom.

Location	Downtown and the Mt. Namsan areas of Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
Main Features	• In addition to the 1968 designation of the Gyeongju National Park, the Gyeongju Historic Area was also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage in December of 2000. • As a cluster of precious historical and legendary relics of the Silla era, there are many royal tombs, palace sites, Buddhist relics and much more.
Other Attractions	• Gyerim Forest, Wolseong Fortress, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Naemulwangneung Royal Tomb and Daereungwon Tumuli Park are among the many historical relics scattered in the Wolseong District. • Najeong, the birthplace of Park Hyeokgeose, the founder of the Silla Kingdom • Poseokjeong Watercourse, a symbol of the ruin of Silla

Height of Joseon Dynasty Science

A UNESCO World Heritage that has greatly combined design and military facilities.

Location	Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do Province
Main Features	• This UNESCO World Heritage has merged theories of both Western and Eastern military bases. • The shapes and designs of all the structures inside the 6-km-long fortress are greatly praised. • Recovery of the Hwaseong culture
Other Attractions	• Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, Hwaseong Museum, Yunggeolleung Royal Tombs, Yongjusa Temple and other attractions related to King Jeongjo • Wolhwawon Garden in Hyowon Park, Pulhyanggi Arboretum (Osan), etc.

One of the World’s Top Five Coastal Wetlands

A region’s motivation and creativity: restoration and sustainable use of ecological resources.

Location	Dosa-dong, Byeollyang-myeon and Haeryong-myeon in Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do Province
Main Features	• Acknowledged as an important site for preservation under the Ramsar Convention in 2006 • Natural Monuments such as hooded cranes, oyster catchers and spoonbills • Suncheonman Natural Ecosystem • Host city of the Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013
Other Attractions	• Songgwangsa Temple, Seonamsa Temple, Suncheon Wild Tea Center, Naganeupseong Fortress, etc. • Boseong Green Tea Field, Seomjingang Train Village in Gokseong, Goheung Space Center

The Best Site of Jejudo

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage for its great geological worth.

Location	Seongsan-ri, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-governing Province
Main Features	• 182-meter-high crater on east Jejudo Island was created by spewed lava during the mid-Pleistocene epoch. • Designated as a Natural Monument of Korea in 2000
Other Attractions	• Udo Island, Seopjikoji Cliff, Oreum(parasitic cone), Manjanggul Cave, Jeju Olle Trails, etc.

140,000,000 Years of Ancient Mystery

Korea’s oldest and largest wetland, and an exceptional ecological repository.

Location	Daeji-myeon, Daehap-myeon, Ibang-myeon and Yueo-myeon in Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do Province
Main Features	• Acknowledged as an important site for preservation under the Ramsar Convention in 1998 • Comprised of Upo, Mokpo, Sajipo and Jjokjibeol wetlands
Other Attractions	• Nakdonggang Gaebiri-gil Trail, natural wetlands, etc.

Tradition Meets Modernity

Bukchon, hometown of Joseon Dynasty scholars, and Insa-dong, a collage of Korean culture.

Location	Insa-dong, Samcheong-dong, Jae-dong and Gahoe-dong in Jongno-gu, Seoul
Main Features	• Hanok (traditional house) of the Joseon Dynasty royals and scholars. • Initially where arts and crafts shops and cultural relics shops were clustered, then in 1988 merchants got together and initiated the Traditional Culture Street.
Other Attractions	• The 5 major palaces of Korea, National Museum of Korea, Seoul Fortress, Namdaemun Market, Myeong-dong, etc.

Cluster of Hanok

Globalization of “HanStyle,” and a landmark of traditional Korean culture.

Location	Gyo-dong and Pungnam-dong in Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do Province
Main Features	• The entire village portrays the history of hanok. (1930-1960) • Repository of historical relics such as Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Jeonjuhyanggyo Confucian School and Jeondong Cathedral
Other Attractions	• Jeonjuhyanggyo Confucian School, Pungnammun Gate, Nambu Market, Makgeolli Alley (Seosin-dong,Samcheon-dong, etc.), bibimbap, etc. • Hanok accommodations, cultural facilities, HanStyle experiential programs • Korean Traditional Culture Academy, Jeonju National Museum, Namgosanseong Fortress, Hanji Museum, etc.

UNESCO World Heritage

The profound beauty of Korea’s natural, historical and cultural relics remain despite a turbulent history. From megalithic ruins and ancient tombs to grand palaces and secluded temples, a great number of sites and time-honored traditions of Korea have been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage. These treasures pass on legacies of past generations and serve as a reminder to future generations of the nation’s valuable assets. english.visitkorea.or.kr > Culture > Unesco World Heritage

WORLD HERITAGE

• Changdeokgung Palace

• Jongmyo Shrine

• 40 Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty

• Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

• Gyeongju Historic Areas

• Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple

• Historic Villages of Korea : Hahoe and Yangdong

• Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites

• Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks

• Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes

INTANGIBLE HARITAGE OF HUMANITY

• Arirang a representative folk song of Korea that has been sung for hundreds of years with many regional variations

• Jultagi tightrope walking

• Taekkyeon a traditional Korean martial art

• Weaving of Mosi (fine ramie) in the Hansan region

• Daemokjang a traditional wooden architecture, and specifically woodworkers who employ the traditional carpentry techniques

• Maesanyang the traditional activity of keeping and training falcons and other raptors to take quarry in its natural state

• Gagok lyric song cycles accompanied by an orchestra

• Cheoyongmu a masked dance derived from the legend of “Cheoyong”

• Ganggangsullae a traditional circle dance

• Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut a shamanic ritual for prosperity and abundant fisheries

• Namsadang Nori an all-male vagabond clown performance

• Yeongsanjae a ritual performed for the deceased to be reincarnated in a good place and to pass on Buddha’s teaching to the

living

• Gangneung Danoje Festival a festival held on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month wishing for a good harvest

• Pansori a traditional narrative solo song accompanied by a drum beat

• Royal Ancestral Ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine and its Music

MEMORY OF THE WORLD

• Hunminjeongeum Manuscript

• Joseonwangjosillok the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty

• Seungjeongwonilgi the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat

• Uigwe the Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty

• Baegun Hwasang Chorok Buljo Jikji Simche Yojeol (Vol. II) the Second Volume of

“Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests’ Zen Teachings”

• Printing woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana and Miscellaneous Buddhist Scriptures

• Donguibogam the Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine

• Human Rights Documentary Heritage 1980 Archives for the May 18th Democratic Uprising Against Military Regime, in Gwangju,

Republic of Korea

• Ilseongnok records of Daily Reflections