Major Tourist Attractions In South Korea

Korea does not have a whole lot of cities, but what there are, are interesting. The capital, Seoul for instance, is a very fascinating mix of the old and the new- a glittering glass-and-steel city almost completely rebuilt after being ruined in the 1950s, but with its old temples and pagodas still intact. Very different from Seoul is the provincial town of Kyongju, ancient capital of the Shilla dynasty, and full of old tombs, gardens, shrines, palaces and castles.

Kyongju, the ancient capital of the Shilla dynasty, was an important centre of administration, culture and religion for nearly ten centuries- it’s full of old tombs, pagodas, palaces and shrines, many of them in ruins but some surprisingly intact. These have yielded up a lot of priceless treasures - including gold crowns, jewellery and more.  

Kyongju is now a small provincial town, fairly low-key, but a must-see for anybody who’s interested in Korean history. Among it’s most prominent sights are the Chomsongdae observatory (one of the oldest in East Asia), the Onung (Five Tombs), and the Tumuli Park, a walled enclosure with about twenty more tombs. Also near the city is the Sokkuram Grotto, a Buddhist shrine with a seated image of a large Buddha; the spectacular Pulguksa temple, built on a series of stone terraces cut into the mountain side with some of the most beautiful paintings in the country. If you’re very keen on history, you should definitely include a trip to the local museum- it has a very good collection of local finds.

Other important (read large!) cities of South Korea include Pusan, Taegu, Mokpo, Kunsan, Sokcho, and Cheju also called Ceju or Jeju- an island that is one of South Korea’s hottest tourist destinations and a very beautiful place. All of these cities are not necessarily great places to visit as a tourist, but they’re major cities nevertheless.

A recreation of a traditional Korean Village, The Korean Folk Village is located at a distance of 30 minutes’ drive from Seoul. It’s a compact little village, on which shows, pretty effectively, the regional diversities- in art, architecture, handicrafts and lifestyle of the Koreans. The Folk Village was erected in 1973 and has almost everything representative of Korea- a Buddhist Temple, a Confucian School, a marketplace, a brewery, and lots of artisans’ workshops. In addition, there are performances of dances, music, tightrope walking, and enactments of weddings and funerals- all quite interesting. All in all, the Korean Folk Village is a good place to visit if you’re interested in Korean culture, but don’t have the time, the energy or the money to go traipsing through the entire country.

Kanghwado Island is South Korea’s fifth largest island, and known not just for its natural beauty, but for also for its historical significance- it used to be, at one time, an important political base, and the existent monuments today include lots of fortresses, temples and ancient walls. It also has an altar believed to have been erected by Tan-gun (the legendary founder of the Korean nation). Along with this are the Buddhist temples, the most famous being the Pomunsa Temple, with a Buddha carved on the rocky slope of a mountain and the Chondungsa Temple, and a 13th century celadon kiln dating back to the days of the Koryo dynasty. Kanghwado Island is about an hour and a half from Seoul, if you drive down.

 Soraksan National Park is probably one of the most scenic places in the entire country- and perhaps the Korean peninsula even. It lies on the east coast, and is an area of mountains, thick forests, rivers, and spectacular waterfalls. The mountains of the park are great for trekking and skiing during the winters, while the beaches nearby offer lots of scope for swimmers in the summer.

It’s a very popular tourist destination, both among foreign and local tourists, so go prepared to be surrounded by camera-toting fellow travellers and don’t forget your own camera- this is one area which is hard to beat when it comes to pure and simple scenic beauty! The National Park can be accessed by plane, train or express bus from Seoul. You can stay either in regular accommodation or at a camp- at either Sork-dong or Osaek Springs, in the park.

Another picturesque area, Songnisan National Park can be reached by bus from Seoul, and is known for its lovely mountains- great for trekking. It’s also known for the Popchusa temple, an ancient Buddhist shrine that was originally built sometime in the sixth century. The Japanese, who ruled the country for a long time, burnt down the structure in 1592. Locals restored it in 1624. The temple has a five-storey high pagoda, and a huge bronze Buddha (all of 33m high), the largest in the Orient. Worth a visit, especially if you’re keen on walking, mountains, Buddhism, or history.