Tourist Attractions & Monuments South Korea

Located in the middle of the modern district of Gangnam, these 2 tombs represent a pleasant haven of greenery. The statues in front of the tumuli may be quite imposing, but the detour is only necessary if you have never visited other royal tombs. Here lie Seongjong, the ninth king of Joseon (1469-1494) and his second wife, Queen Yun (the king had no less than 10 concubines and 27 children). Near them, their son Jungjong, the eleventh king of the dynasty (1506-1544).

This park, built in 1888, is the oldest western Korean park. Its name means "freedom" and there is indeed a reproduction of the famous statue of New York. Another symbol of freedom stands proudly on it: the statue of General MacArthur who led the Allied troops who came to defend the South in 1950. His greatest achievement was the landing at Incheon. Although it looks like a memorial park, it offers a pleasant walk and a superb view of the harbour, mountains and downtown Incheon.

During the Goryo Dynasty (918-1392), this fortress was used in a defensive role, particularly due to its strategic position right on the Ganghwa Strait. The battery, which housed 8 guns, was built in 1679 and completely rebuilt in 1977. We can see a dragon-shaped battery (Yongdudondae) advancing on the water, very elegant; a fortified gate (Anhae-ru, 1745) and also the rest of the artillery. The French landed there and invaded in 1866, abandoning a few cannons.

Route 15 from Gwangju and Hwasun to Boseong is very beautiful. A little way off to the left (it's well signposted) is the Ssanbongsa temple. We pass along a pretty alpine road with conifers and clean, timeless villages. The village before the temple is charming, with its old family altar(sadang), a pavilion by a stream in which you can bathe in summer. The temple is small but set in a pretty park. It caught fire in 1984, but has since been rebuilt. It features a very elegant 3-storey hall.

Built under the reign of King Sejong in 1419, it was unfortunately destroyed (one more) by the Japanese in 1597. It is one of the four most famous pavilions in South Korea. Indeed it overlooks a lake, and the nobles and scholars of the region came to enjoy its calm and magnificence. A very famous folk history is also linked to this place. The story is about the love story of Seong ChunHyang, daughter of a courtesan and Yi MongNyong, son of a wealthy magistrate. Despite their different social status, the two lovebirds married secretly. But suddenly, MongNyong had to go to Seoul for his studies. During her absence, the governor of the city of Namwon decided to seize the young woman by inflicting torture and other ill-treatment on her. But she always resisted! Some time later, MongNyong was appointed governor of the Jeolla region, he discovered the fate of his sweet and tender and then rushed to punish the infamous perpetrator. He officially took ChunHyang as his wife and they moved to Seoul. For those who are interested in this story, it is told in a famous novel, Chunhyangjeon, written in Korean in the 17th century. It has been translated into French by Zulma under the title Le Chant de la fidèle Chunyang.

The walks around the lake and near the pavilion are, in view of this pretty romance, marked by romanticism. Maybe this is THE place for lovers in Korea.

Here again, nature, a great artist, offers a pretty park with a view of the coast gnawed away by the waves. In the open sea, we discover an incredible rock 20 metres high and 10 metres in circumference, called Janggunseok. Its top only, is covered with a tuft of vegetation which makes it atypical. A little further off the coast, small islands complete the scene. At sunset and sunrise, the place becomes even more beautiful and is therefore a fabulous tourist spot. The beauty of the place is undeniable.

First you take a beautiful coniferous path, then you will see a courtyard hall and the monks' houses on the left. The temple was founded in 633 under King Mu of Baekje by the monk Hyegu. It was rebuilt a thousand years later. The main Dae-eungjeon hall has pretty sculptures on the ceiling. It houses the largest Buddhist fresco in Korea, a bodhisattva wearing a white dress. In the courtyard is a 3-storey stupa dating from Goryeo but in the Silla style. It is one of the most famous temples for its temple stay program.

This cultural complex, established in a former cable factory closed in 2008 and creatively renovated, will delight lovers of art, cuisine or architecture. With its bamboo grove, bookshop, galleries (including an annex of the famous Kukje gallery), stores, micro-brewery, bars, cafés and restaurants, it's a great place to spend a few hours. The space offers a variety of programs and activities for every age group, so there's something for everyone. It also hosts events related to the Busan Art Biennale.

It is considered one of the sambosachal (one of the three jewels of Buddhism). It has this rank because of the high number of renowned monks who have been trained there. In this temple located on the western slope of the Jogyesan one can admire some treasures in particular like the Bisari Gusi which is a very large container for rice (enough for 400 monks it seems). There are also the Ssanghyangsu, which are two magnificent Chinese junipers, and the Neunggyeonnsa, which is the name of a plate with particularly complex patterns.