Discover places worth seeing — from historic sites to mountain trails.
Coast & islands
고성군
Hwajinpo Beach sits on the northern coast of Goseong in Gangwon, on the strip of sand between the open sea and Hwajinpo, the largest lagoon on Korea's east coast. Behind its 1.7 km of white sand lie pine woods and the lake, and on the hill…
Historic sites & memorials
서울특별시
Between the office towers and hotels near Seoul City Hall, a building with three tiers of octagonal roofs stands almost hidden. Hwangudan is the site of the altar where, in 1897, King Gojong offered sacrifices to Heaven, took the title of…
Nature
제주시
Hwansang Gotjawal Forest in Jeoji-ri, western Jeju, is a forest whose paths were cleared by one family. In the winter of 2006, Lee Hyeong-cheol suffered a stroke that paralysed the right side of his body; as rehabilitation he began clearin…
Gardens & parks
포항시
On the hill just north of Yeongildae Beach in Pohang, Hwanho Park covers about 514,000 m², making it the largest park in the city. The Pohang Museum of Steel Art, playgrounds and an outdoor stage are scattered among its woodland paths, and…
Mountains & peaks
부산
Climb this 427 m peak in the middle of Busan and the lights of Gwangan Bridge, Haeundae and Seomyeon spread out below you. Hwangnyeongsan Mountain straddles four districts, Busanjin, Nam, Suyeong and Yeonje, and because you can drive almos…
Gardens & parks
경주시
Hwangseong Park is a forest of about 1.02 km² on the northern edge of central Gyeongju. It is said to descend from Goseong Forest, which Silla raised with earthworks and planted trees to shield the capital's exposed northern side, and toda…
Historic sites & memorials
횡성군
On the eastern side of Chiaksan, a small painted shrine stands on a cliff above the bend of the Gangnimcheon stream. Taejongdae in Hoengseong is where King Taejong (Yi Bang-won), the third ruler of Joseon, is said to have waited in vain fo…
Churches & monasteries
횡성군
In a valley in Hoengseong, Gangwon Province, a red-brick bell tower rises from a low hill. Pungsuwon Catholic Church began as a village of believers hiding from persecution, and the church itself was designed by a Korean priest and built b…
Historic sites & memorials
서울특별시
Hyochang Park in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is a Historic Site where Kim Koo and other leaders of the independence movement are buried. Walking paths wind through pine woods, so at first glance it looks like an ordinary neighbourhood park, but eac…
Coast & islands
신안군
Heuksando is an island far out in the Yellow Sea, south-west of Mokpo. Its name means "black mountain island", because from a distance its forested hills look so dark they appear black. The island covers about 19.7 km² and is almost entire…
Fortresses
서울특별시
Heunginjimun, widely known as Dongdaemun ("Great East Gate"), was the main eastern gate in the wall around Hanyang, the Joseon capital. It is the only one of Seoul's eight city gates with a half-moon ongseong outer wall, and the only one w…
Waterfalls
영주시
Water from the Huibang Valley, which rises on Yeonhwabong peak in Sobaeksan, pours down a rock face at about 700 metres above sea level to form Huibang Waterfall. At 28 metres it is counted as the largest waterfall in the Yeongnam region,…
Old towns & squares
부산
On the cliffs of Yeongdo island in Busan, a row of small white-walled houses clings to the edge, looking out over the anchorage where big ships wait at sea. Huinnyeoul Culture Village began as a hillside settlement where refugees from the…