Must-see attractions in South Korea

  • Cheongnyangsan Museum

    Gyeongsangbuk-do

    A modest effort with artefacts related to the area’s agricultural history.

  • Wando Tower

    Jeollanam-do

    This 76m-tall tower offers views of Wando harbour and to the islands beyond.

  • Gudurae Sculpture Park

    Chungcheongnam-do

    A pleasant grassy space with sculptures by Korean and international artists.

  • Geumnyeongchong

    Gyeongju

    Across the road from Noseo-dong tombs is this tomb, adjoining Bonghwadae.

  • Dumun Pokpo

    Seoraksan National Park

    This waterfall is reached after a lovely 2½ hour climb from Namgyo-ri.

  • Yeongwon-sa

    Gangwon-do

    A temple built by Buddhist priest Uisang Daesa during the Silla period.

  • Fish Market

    Jeollanam-do

    Like any port town worth its salt, Yeosu has a bustling fish market.

  • Bori-sa

    Gyeongju

    This beautifully reconstructed nunnery is set amid old-growth trees.

  • Juwang-am

    Gyeongsangbuk-do

    This small and pleasant Buddhist hermitage is worth stopping by.

  • Naewonmaeul

    Gyeongsangbuk-do

    A tiny village where craftspeople perform woodworking.

  • Geumgang-sa

    Gangwon-do

    A Buddhist temple within Odaesan National Park.

  • Sujong-am

    Gangwon-do

    A Buddhist temple within Odaesan National Park.

  • Gwangam-sa

    Gyeongsangbuk-do

    This is a small and attractive Buddhist temple.

  • Yeonhwagul Cave

    Gyeongsangbuk-do

    A cave that can be explored within the park.

  • Naeso-sa

    Jeollabuk-do

    Compared to many temples in Jeollabuk-do, Naeso-sa is a bit underwhelming. Originally built in AD 633 and last renovated in the 19th century, its…

  • Tomb of King Muryeong

    Chungcheongnam-do

    The tomb of King Muryeong, the 25th Baekje king, was discovered – miraculously intact and completely by accident – in 1971. The tomb and the six others in…

  • Jeondong Catholic Church

    Jeonju

    The easiest landmark to find around the hanok village is a tall, red-brick church built by French missionary Xavier Baudounet where Korean Catholics were…

  • Baekje Royal Tombs

    Chungcheongnam-do

    Buyeo has seven royal tombs, dating from AD 538 to 660. They're sealed for protection, but there's a re-creation of the most impressive one, which is…

  • Samchung-sa

    Chungcheongnam-do

    This modest shrine inside Busosan-seong commemorates three Baekje officials. Seong Chun, a royal adviser, died in prison after angering the king. Heung Su…

  • German Village

    Gyeongsangnam-do

    Here's a destination people visit because it's popular, not because it's interesting. Local marketing bumf calls it one of the island's best sites, but…

  • Jeonju Hanji Museum

    Jeonju

    Adjacent to a modern-day paper factory, this museum covers the history and processes involved in making hanji (traditional Korean paper) and also shows…

  • Goran-sa

    Chungcheongnam-do

    This tiny temple at the bottom of a cliff is reached via stone stairs from Busosan-seong. Behind it is a spring that provided the favourite drinking water…

  • Anguk-sa

    Jeollabuk-do

    Originally built in 1227, Anguk-sa housed a secret Joseon dynasty archive known as Sagak; later, monk soldiers lived at the temple to protect these…

  • Gyeokpo Beach

    Jeollabuk-do

    This small beach easily fills up with inflatable tubes and tents on warm weekends. Aside from swimming, the main attraction is the nearby Chaeseokgang…

  • Omok-dae

    Jeonju

    On a hill overlooking the entire village is a pavilion where General Yi Seong-gye celebrated a victory over Japanese pirates in 1380, prior to his…

  • Jeju Peace Museum

    Jeju-do

    Gama Oreum is a parasitic volcano that hides an underground fortress created by the Japanese army in the final stages of WWII. Explore some of the 2km of…

  • Jeonju Hyanggyo

    Jeonju

    Hyanggyo were neighbourhood schools established by yangban (aristocrats) in the 1500s to prepare their sons for the seowon (Confucian academies), where…

  • Undersea Tunnel

    Gyeongsangnam-do

    The journey to the Undersea Tunnel is more interesting than the sight itself. Constructed in the early 1930s, the 483m-long tunnel connects both sides of…

  • Jeonju Korean Paper Institute

    Jeonju

    See sheets of hanji (handmade paper) being manufactured in this institute, housed in a gloriously atmospheric hanok (traditional wooden home) down an…

  • Baekje Cultural Land

    Chungcheongnam-do

    This 'historical theme park' imagines what the Baekje palace and attendant village might have looked like, with structures you can enter (and plenty of…

  • Byeonsan Beach

    Jeollabuk-do

    One of the most popular beaches on the west coast, the big draws here are the 2km stretch of white sand backed by a fir-tree forest, shellfish hunting…

  • Silmi Beach

    Gyeonggi-do & Incheon

    The nothernmost of the two main beaches on Muuido's west coast, Silmi is 2km south-west from the ferry terminal. Quieter than Hanagae Beach, at low tide…

  • Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village

    Incheon

    As if a princess had waved a magic wand over its streets, this once gritty neighbourhood has been transformed into a children's wonderland of brightly…

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