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 National Museum

Gwangju National Museum, opened on December 6, 1978, was established to promote the development of cultural arts and to foster patriotism. Gwangju National Museum’s goal is to conserve cultural values through the collection and preservation of historical and valuable artifacts found in the Gwangju and Jeollanam-do regions as well as make contributions to the community through continuous research, exhibition, and education. With over 160,000 artifacts as well as various educational and experience programs, the museum aims to provide an enjoyable cultural center for visitors.

Naju Pear Museum

Known as the birthplace of Korean pears, Naju pears are well-known for its long history. The fruit was exported worldwide starting in 1967. The Naju Pear Museum promotes the fruit and is a learning center for its agricultural history. The museum opened on April 20, 1992 and is the world's only pear museum.

Korea Bamboo Museum

The Korean Bamboo Museum is a comprehensive complex that preserves, exhibits, produces, and allows people to experience bamboo products. First opened in 1981 at Damju-ri, the museum was expanded and relocated to the current location in March 1998. Not only does the museum provide bamboo-related exhibitions, it also provides techniques on making bamboo products as well as holds the Bamboo Festival every May.

Jungoe Park

Jungoe Park is one of the nation's most famous leisure spaces. There is a children's grand park, the Olympic Garden, and the Olympic Monument. The children's grand park is especially popular on weekends and holidays. There is also a folk museum, an education center, and the Biennale Exhibition Hall in the Biennale & Museum section of the park. The park is most popular during fall for its beautiful foliage. In addition, the Rainbow Bridge is a symbol of the Biennale and was installed during the 1st Gwangju Biennale.

Gokseong Leisure Culture Center

Gokseong Leisure Culture Center was built to provide culture, education, and leisure facilities to the public. There are three concert and lecture halls, Dongak Art Hall, Seomjin Hall, and Daehwang Hall. There are also facilities for hobby and health classes. The center opened on March 11, 2010.

Kimdaejung Convention Center

Kimdaejung Convention Center is a state-of-the-art facility in Gwangju, a city with rich cultural heritage and tourism resources. It was built as part of the efforts to promote Gwangju’s competitiveness as a main trade city in northeast Asia to boost local economy and, particularly, tourism resources. The center has served as a main venue for international meetings and exchanges (concerning products, information, culture, and technologies), significantly improving Gwangju’s image. Outstanding services, professional staff, and diverse amenities will make any meeting at Kimdaejung Convention Center pleasant and successful.

Chungjang-ro Street

Chungjang-ro Street is Gwangju’s major fashion district, comparable with Myeongdong Street of Seoul. The streets of Chungjang-ro are lined with shopping malls, clothing stores, restaurants, cafes, movie theaters and various other attractions, providing the ultimate experience of modern culture in Gwangju. It is the city's hub of fashion, both trendy and traditional, as well as venue for diverse performances.

Gangjin Goryeo Celadon Museum

Goryeo Celadon Museum was established to preserve and promote Gangjin celadon, as well as foster knowledge and creativity in regards to celedon in the next generation. The exhibition halls feature smart pads and audio explanations, combining modern technology with ancient relics for better understanding. This museum is considered to be an informative historic site to get knowledge of Goryeo Celadon through the past, present and future.

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.

Yeongam Pottery Museum

Yeongam Pottery Museum is dedicated to promoting the history of pottery in Korea, starting from the oldest known pottery coming from Gurim Village. Visitors can learn about the history of this art form through exhibitions, educational programs, and hands-on experiences. Locally produced pottery is also available for sale. Nearby attractions include the Wangin Historic Site and Ha Jung-woong Museum of Art.

Jangseongho Tourist Area

Jangseongho Tourist Area is located south of Naejangsan National Park, in Jangseong, known as the hometown of Hong Gil-dong, a Korean Robin Hood. The lake was made by the damming of Hwangnyonggang River, and holds up to 89.7 million tons of water, filled with many freshwater fish species. In addition, the walking path along the 603-meter-long embankment attracts many tourists with beautiful views of the mountains and lake. Cruise ferries and motorboats also cross the lake. Nearby attractions include Ibamsan and Baegamsan Mountains, Namchanggyegok Valley, Baegyangsa and Naejangsa Temples, Gosanseowon Confucian Academy, Bangjangsan Recreational Forest, and more.

Seomjingang Train Village

Since its development in April 1999 as a part of government efforts to boost regional tourism, Seomjingang Train Village has established itself as a popular attraction in Gokseong. A replica of the region's old steam engine train runs 10 kilometers between the old Gokseong Station in Seomjingang Train Village and Gajeong Station. The train runs along the old tracks at a moderate speed, allowing passengers to enjoy the scenic view along the tracks.

Korea Gasa Literature Collection

The Gasa Literature Collection was completed in October 2000 and is located in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, an area which is famous for its fertile land and rich historical heritage. Apart from the main building, additional buildings include a souvenir shop, and traditional tea house. In the museum, historical literature such as “Myeonangjip” (a collection of Gasa poems by Song Sun) and “Songgangjip,” (a collection of Gasa poems by Jeong Cheol) are on display. There are 11,461 artifacts and literature on Gasa culture, 18 Gasa works, and 15,000 books about Gasa.

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.