Dream Night Tours

KTO announces its recommended trips for June

    
Under the theme "Dream Night Tours,"the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has released its list of recommended trips for June:
Take a trip to Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, to appreciate starry night views; Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, a 1,000-year-old city, where romance blossoms like whispers among lovers; Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, once the seat of the Silla Kingdom, with a night sky bright enough to light up your face; Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, the Naples of the Orient with wonderful night views, and Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, where King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty practiced filial piety.

STARRY NIGHT VIEWS FROM THE SONGAM OBSERVATORY

Yangju, Gyeonggi-do, had one "tohobu,"an administrative unit of the Joseon Dynasty designed to protect the capital from the outside. Diverse features of the culture have blossomed from ancient times. To name a few, there are Yuyang-dong, the birth place of the Yangju byeolsandaenoli mask dance, designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 2 and Jangheung-myeon,
    
a center of modern cultural heritage with such modern facilities as the Jangheung Art Park, Jangheung Wild Plant Arboretum and the Jangheung Astronomical Observatory to nourish youngsters"dreams of becoming an astronaut.
The Songam Observatory, which opened its doors in July 2007, offers visitors the chance for romantic adventures and moments of excitement with such facilities as a space center, an observatory, a hotel and restaurants. Take a cable car ride to the observatory on the Brothers Peak of Mt. Gyemyeong. Daytime views such as a myriad of ridges stretching from the astronomy theme park to Mt. Bukhan surrounding Seoul as well as nighttime theme park views of the starry night sky cannot be better.
For more information call the Culture and Sports Department of the Yangju municipal government at 031-820-2121 and the Songam Observatory at 031-894-6400~2.
THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD CITY WHERE ROMANCE BLOSSOMS LIKE THE WHISPERED WORDS OF LOVERS

As summer sets in, you face endless nuisances
    
You cannot give up precious moments of fun and romance with your loved ones, though. With this in mind, Jeonju is the most suitable place for such moments -- featuring the 'Hanok Village'with traditional Korean architecture. It's best to take a break to beat the sultry heat at Gyeonggi-jeon, an altar for the founder and king of the Joseon Dynasty during the daytime before embarking on a trip to the village after sunset and a leisurely stroll without the hustle and bustle of the city.
A stone's throw from Gyeonggi-jeon are the Pungnam Gate, the Jeondong Cathedral, the Omokdae Pavilion, the Hanok Lifestyle Experience Hall and the traditional liquor museum.
Strolling and beating the heat promises to be the favorite travel theme recommended for June. Jeonju offers a rich serving of such traditional cultural heritage as the pansori, a traditional Korean narrative opera, and the dinner table with legs groaning under the weight of too many dishes. Jeonju gives a feeling of friendship, like when you share a kettle of makkeoli, traditional Korean wine.
   
For more information, call the Culture and Tourism Department of the Jeonju municipal government at 063-285-5151 and the information desk of the Jeonju Hanok Village at 063-282-1330..

STARRY NIGHT SKY OF THE SILLA KINGDOM BRIGHT ENOUGH TO LIGHT UP YOUR FACE

It takes about 20 minutes for you to stroll from the Gyeongju National Museum to the Daeneungwon site that contains the Cheonmachong Tombs where numerous treasures of the Silla Kingdom were excavated. The museum and the site are the beginning and the end of your recommended trip to Gyeongju. The crown-jewel attractions of your trip -- the Imhaejeonji (Anapji), Wolseong, Gyelim and the Cheomseongdae Observatory -- are clustered along National Road No. 7 linking the Gyeongju National Museum and the Daeneungwon site.
The Daeneungwon-Gyelim-Wolseong-Imhaejeonji course is representative of Gyeongju's night travel courses. It offers wonderful night views of each travel attraction and moments of memory and romance with roads for walking approaching each travel destination. A panorama of colors and street lights along the promenading roads offer families and lovers romantic moments to remember. Traveling to the Imhaejeonji on foot at a slow pace means the final station of the recommended trip to Gyeongju as well as its finale.
For more information, please contact the Culture and Tourism Department of the Gyeongju municipal government at 054-779-6061; the Silla Cultural Center at 054-774-1950; the Gyeongju Namsan Research Institute at 054-771-7142; and the Gyeongju National Museum at 054-740-7518.

YEOSU, NAPLES OF THE ORIENT

Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, known as the "Naples of the Orient,"is a port city with wonderful natural landscapes and a myriad of islets and coasts. The commercial port changes its appearance with wonderful colors and lights at night to beckon tourists. The highlights of the port's night views are the Dolsan Grand Bridge and its cruise tours. Visitors of the bridge at night find themselves in a different world of lights and colors, combined with the sea, islets and the port while seeing the piers of the bridge. Among the must-see sights are the nation's largest one-floor wooden structure, Jinnamgwan Pavilion and Hyangilam with a scenic sunrise view and Bangjukpo Beach.
For more information, please contact the Tourism Promotion Department of the Yeosu municipal government at 061-690-2037.

HWASEONG FORTRESS IN SUWON, FAMOUS FOR KING JEONGJO's FILIAL PIETY

Hwaseong Fortress in Padal-gu, Suwon was constructed over two years and eight months under the reign of King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty. The fortress was constructed for his mother the Empress Hyeongyeong at the current site near Hwasan, Suwon, to which the king moved his late father Crown Prince Sado's tomb from the current Dongdaemun Gate. In December 1997, the fortress was listed among UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage Sites.
Hwaseong Fortress, measuring 5.7 km in circumference, has four gates and other structures displaying the architectural styles of the late Joseon Dynasty. Visitors can experience such things as archery and a Yongcha (Dragon Wheels) ride, while getting a glimpse of traditional Korean culture at the Hwaseonghaenggung Palace, which is also the venue of regular weekend performances catering to families and tourists.
The whole of the fortress shows off its splendor and beauty under nighttime lights. While strolling around every nook and cranny of the fortress, you may be mesmerized with the attractions of the fortress as you, departing from your daily hassle, are given an opportunity to reflect on filial piety, as practiced by King Jeongjo.
For more information, please contact the Culture and Tourism Department of the Suwon municipal government at 031-228-2068, the Hwaseong office of the Suwon city government at 031-228-4410 and the Suwon city tour office at 031-256-8300. nw

The "Hanok Village"with traditional Korean architecture in Jeonju

(counterclockwise) A night view of the Songam Observatory; Robots perform at a theater; the space center; and a traditional performance troupe performs the Yangju Byeolsandae Noli (mask dance play).

(from top) A general view of the Hanok Village in Jeonju; a night view of the iron-clad bridge at Deokjin Park in Jeonju; Jeonju bibimbap, rice mixed with vegetables; a night view of the Daeneungwon Tomb in Gyeongju; a restored pavilion at the Imhaejeonji, a former palace site of the Silla Kingdom; and a night view of the Cheomseongdae Observatory, National Treasure No. 31 from the Silla Kingdom in Gyeongju.

(clockwise) The Jinamgwan Pavilion, National Treasure No. 34 in Yeosu; a night view of the Dolsan Grand Bridge; and a charming landscape of Yeosu.

(clockwise) The Geojunggi of the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, the nation's first equipment designed to relocate stones during the rein of King Jeongjo of the Yi Dynasty; the Honghwamun Gate of the Hwaseong Fortress; and the Gongsimdon, an inner castle of the Hwaseong Fortress, located at one side of the Hwaseomun Gate.