2014

Andong


Andong is the home of Confucianism in Korea. During the Joseon Dynasty, Andong attracted scores of Confucian scholars becoming a pioneering city in Confucian thought. This city also contained the highest number of private schools from the Joseon Dynasty as well as Confucian schools. To this day, Andong still has around 26 private schools from the Joseon Dynasty. This city also acted as a home to the noble class during the Joseon period. Many of the homes of the noble class are still standing in Andong; some are kept up by the relatives of the original owner. Certain homes have established guest house accommodations. Two of the most famous places are Jirye Art Village and Jeonju Ryussi-musiljongtaek (Ryu noble family’s estate). These are great places to experience the essence of Korea’s traditional lifestyles.

Gyeongju



Gyeongju (경주), located in southeast Korea, was the capital of the Silla Kingdom for 992 years (BC 57-935), the longest surviving kingdom in the history of Korea. Not only is it astounding that it was ruled by 56 kings spanning a period of almost a thousand years, it is equally remarkable that the kingdom of Silla originally started as a small tribal state and later expanded to occupy more than half of the Korean peninsula. The area was initially known as ‘Seorabeol' (서라벌) or 'Gyerim' (계림), and it wasn’t until the end of the era in 935 that it was first referred to as 'Gyeongju.'
Living up to its former glory as the capital of the longest-surviving kingdom in Korea, Gyeongju still shines today, more than a millennium after the kingdom’s demise. Buddhism was introduced in Silla in the 6th century and played a significant role in strengthening royal authority and unifying the people, becoming the foundation of the area's art, tradition, and culture. Consequently, Gyeongju is the home of the greatest Buddhist art treasures in Korea, and is the nation's most popular fieldtrip destination.

Daejeon


Located in central Korea just south of Seoul, Daejeon offers a convenient transportation network with access to every region in the country. For this reason, it has grown to be the most advanced commercial and industrial city in the Chungcheong-do region.
The Daejeon City Tour offers a variety of themed courses including a science tour, history tour, and ecological tour, so travelers can enjoy tours tailored to their interests.

Chuncheon


The provincial capital city of Gangwon-do is nestled in the heart of the famous tourist city of Chuncheon. This city is tucked away in a basin with Uiamho Lake to the west, Chuncheonho Lake and Soyangho Lake to the north, and Sinyeongang River to the south making this a city surrounded by water. The numerous lakes in the region cause many foggy days. Close proximity to Seoul makes this a popular daytrip destination.
This popular riverside tourist destination has many places to visit, including Namiseom, Jungdo Island, Cheongpyeongsa Temple, Gongjicheon area, Wido Island, Soyanggang River, Samaksan Mountain, Deongseon Waterfall, Gugok Waterfall, Jipdarigol Natural Forest, and Chuncheon Hunting Camp. Looking at the topography of Chuncheon, one can clearly tell that it is a lakeside city, with Wido, Namiseom, and Uiam Islands near the center. As a result, aquatic sports are very popular. There are regular ferries at Soyangho, Uiam, and Chuncheon Lakes; many people enjoy fishing in these areas. Famous foods in Chuncheon include makguksu and dakgalbi.

Incheon


Incheon literally 'kind river', formerly romanized as Inchon, and officially the Incheon Metropolitan City, is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seoul and Gyeonggi to the east. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.9 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan. While people have inhabited the area since the New Stone Age, the city's growth was assured in modern times with the development of its port due to its natural advantages as a coastal city and its proximity to the South Korean capital. It is part of the Seoul Capital Area, along with Seoul itself and Gyeonggi Province, forming the world's third largest metropolitan area by population.

Jeju


Located southwest of the Korean Peninsula, Jejudo Island (제주도) is a volcanic island in the shape of an oval that measures 73km from west to east, and 31km from north to south. As Korea’s most southern region, the weather on Jejudo Island remains significantly warmer than the mainland even during the cold winter months. Jejudo Island is sometimes referred to as “Samdado Island” (삼다도, meaning the “three many”) because of its abundance of rocks, women, and wind. Wind from the ocean blows steadily throughout the year and past volcanic activity has littered the island with an assortment of beautiful and unusually-shaped black rocks. The island’s reputation of having an abundance of women points back to the time when fishing was the primary means of income and many men were lost at sea.

Gangneung


A major city of the east coast, Gangneung (강릉) is regarded as one of Korea's top summer destinations, owing in part to its wide sandy beaches. Its well-preserved traditions, historical relics, and tourist services have made it a popular school fieldtrip spot, but history buffs may know it best as the home of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, designated a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2005. The Danoje Festival is rich with ceremonies and rituals, traditional folk games, and other major cultural attributes that have remained relatively unchanged since ancient times. International interest in the city has continued to grow since the festival’s UNESCO designation and an increasing number of tourists visit Gangneung each year.

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