Guides

Helpful travel and culture guides for Korea.

Region

All regions Seoul Jeju Busan Incheon Jeonnam-Gwangju Jeollanam-do

Dorisan Observatory

Located at the top of Mt. Dorisan in Yeomi-ri of Sangjodo Island, Dorisan Observatory is the highlight of the area, and offers panoramic views of Dadohae and its many islands including Gwanmae, Byeongpung, Nabae, Daema and Soma Islands. The eco-friendly structure provides panoramic views of nearby islands that locals like to say, “appear scattered over the sea like a flock of birds over water.” Visitors can enjoy majestic sunrise and sunset views, and on days with clear visibility, can see Bogildo Island in Haenam and even as far as Hallasan Mountain and Chujado Island in Jeju. Another of Jodo’s attractions is the nature lover spots on Hajodo Island. Jodo is comprised of the Sangjodo and Hajodo Islands connected by a bridge. The entire area is filled with pine trees and has plenty of beach access. The nearby Dondaebong Peak (230m) and the Hajodo Lighthouse offer comparable views and scenic landscapes for visitors in the area to enjoy.

Hwawon Oceano Tourism Complex

Set before the beautiful Korean archipelago, Hwawon Oceano Tourism Complex offers visitors a romantic beachside camping experience with a large campground and convenience amenities such as shower stalls. The campsite is particularly beautiful at sunset and night when stars fill the sky. Currently, the complex offers a golf course in addition to the campground, with plans to add a culture & arts center and marine world zone. Particularly, Pine Beach Golf Course located inside the tourism complex is surrounded by the ocean on three sides, and is perfect for playing a round of golf toward the endless ocean. The course is regarded as Asia’s Pebble Beach, a small coastal resort destination and home to famous golf courses in California.

Gwangju Arts Center

Opened in 1991, the Gwangju Arts Center is the cornerstone of culture and arts in Gwangju. It offers high-quality performances and exhibitions across various genres, including Korean traditional music, opera, classical music, and ballet. The center boasts a range of artistic facilities, such as a main theater, a secondary theater, a traditional music hall, a sculpture garden, and an amphitheater. The main theater has a seating capacity for up to 1,500 people.

Jangheung Jeongnamjin

Jangheung-gun’s Jeongnamjin is the warmest place on the Korean mainland. The region has a diverse natural environment including stunning views of mountains, fields, the ocean, lakes, rivers and streams. It also has several cultural and tourist sites such as Cheongwansan Mountain, Bangchon Cultural Village, and Borimsa Temple, one of the three Borimsa Temples in Asia. The Jeongnamjin district has a wide variety of tourist attractions nearby such as the Samsan Embankment; a provincial park on Cheongwansan Mountain; a literature park; and Sodeungseom Island, a famous sunset attraction often used as a filming location and festival grounds. A number of festivals are held around the area to promote the region's diverse produce and beauty.

Busan Air Cruise

Busan Air Cruise was built to revive the reputation of Songdo Beach, the first public beach in Korea opened nearly 30 years ago. Thirty-nine cabins, including crystal cabins with transparent floors, travel over the ocean between Songnim Park on the east and Amnam Park on the west. Visitors can also enjoy the first cable car museum in the nation at Songdo Doppelmayr World, Asia's first midair swing Sky Swing, theme park photo services and more.

Aqua Planet Jeju

Aqua Planet Jeju boasts the largest aquarium facility among East Asian countries. Housing over 45,000 marine creatures from domestic regions and abroad, Aqua Planet Jeju is a highly recommended family-friendly attraction. The highlight of Aqua Planet Jeju is its main tank which contains 6,000 tons of water and houses 27,000 fish, showing marine life up close. This fish tank facility is twice the size than that of Aqua Planet Yeosu, and over three times larger than that of Seoul COEX Aquarium and Busan Sea Life. What makes this aquarium event more special is the Jeju haenyeo (female divers) diving performance, which is only available in Aqua Planet Jeju.

Changkkom

Changkkom is a unique rock formation with a window-shaped hole, popular among tourists for taking photos.

5.16 Tree Tunnel

The 5.16 Road is the first national highway of Jeju and connects the cities of Jeju and Seogwipo. Drive the winding road toward Seogwipo to the points about 2.6 to 1.2 kilometers at a distance from Hallasan Seongpanak Rest Area to reach a tree tunnel shaped like an arch made with evergreen trees and deciduous trees. At the northern entrance to the tree tunnel, there is a sign reading, “The road is more beautiful if you drive slowly.” The road here is narrow and has many curves, causing a risk of accidents, so drivers should be careful. Another reason to slow down while driving on this road is to appreciate the surrounding scenery. Located at the foot of Hallasan Mountain, the road provides various aspects of nature throughout the four seasons. Trees that extend out from both sides of the road and are bent as if embracing the sky provide cool shade in the summer, red leaves in the fall, and dazzling snow scenes in the winter. The 5.16 Tree Tunnel presents picturesque four seasons of Jeju.

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain

The Rainbow Fountain plunges 20 meters into the water on both side of Banpo Bridge over the Hangang River. When the sun goes down, 200 lights illuminate the fountain as it sends out dancing, rainbow-colored jets of water in the air in synchronization with music. The fountain boasts spectacular views from the hills, the Hangang River observation deck, and the moon-shaped Moonlight Square. Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain operates every day from April to October, four to six times a day for 20 minutes.

Alleys of Changsin-dong

K-movie <PARASITE> - A town full of nostalgia On the day Kitaek's family returned home, the torrential rain flowed ferociously in streams. The alleys of Changsin-dong, with its narrow and steep stairs, were a good backdrop for visually representing the condition of the Kitaek’s family, who were about to fall. Changsin-dong is a warm and charming neighborhood where traces of the 70s and 80s can be felt.