All Historic Sites

Donggureung Tombs are located in a large forest area, and they are the resting place of Joseon’s kings and queens. There are nine royal mausoleums and seventeen graves in total. The tombs are very large compared to other tombs in Korea, and the surrounding forest adds to the scenery. The Read more [...]

Naganeupseong Folk Village is located in Jeollanam-do Province, and contains a town castle that is over 18,000 Pyeong (1 pyeong = 3.3 sq m) in size. Within the east, south and west of the castle, about 100 families still reside, and the castle area has been very well preserved. You Read more [...]

Bomunho Lake is a man-made lake 1,652,900m² in size. It was built on the site of an old fortress in Mount Myeonghwalsan in the east of Gyeongju in accordance with the Gyeongju Bomun Tourist Resort development plan. There are many leisure facilities and parks around the lake, including an international Read more [...]

This was the location of the palace fortress during the Silla Dynasty (57 BC ~ AD 935). The fortress takes after its name, which, literally translated, means ‘a crescent moon shape on top of a hill’. The famous history books of Samgukyusa mention that Silla’s 4th King Seoktalhae (AD 57~80) Read more [...]

The 4km-wide, 240km-long buffer known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) slashes across the peninsula, separating North and South Korea. Lined on both sides by tank traps, electrical fences, landmines and armies in full battle readiness, it is one of the scariest places on earth. It is also one of the most Read more [...]

The 4th Tunnel was discovered on March 3, 1990. It is located 1,200m from the Military Demarcation Line in the demilitarized zone of South Korea. This is the only tunnel to be discovered that provides full access to tour groups. Educational instruction is given in the square outside the tunnel.

This folk village is, in fact, an outdoor exhibition reproducing former houses of Jeongseon. Visitors can visit and even stay in one of these traditional homes, or enjoy a meal and some makgeolli (rice wine) at traditional style taverns. Speakers installed throughout the village play the local folk song called Read more [...]

Byeongsanseowon is a Confucian school that was established by esteemed Confucian scholars to pay tribute to the memory of Seong-nyong Yu (1542-1607), who was well-respected for his writings and personality. His mortuary tablet is enshrined at this school. Around the time of 1863, Confucian schools enjoyed many freedoms under the Read more [...]

Sorae Church was the first Protestant Christian Church founded in Korea. Following the translation of the Bible into Korean, the church was built in 1884 by Suh Sang Yoon who had been converted to Christianity while in Manchuria. During this period, the western religion was strictly forbidden by the authorities, so Read more [...]

DMZ Theater & Exhibition Hall is a place where you can watch a video which explains about the 3rd tunnel and other tunnels as well as history of the division of Korea.

Eulji Observation Platform, located near the Military Demarcation Line, is now one of the most informative relics dating back to the Korean Conflict. From the Eulji Observation Platform, North Korea soldiers on guard are visible and on clear days so is Birobong Peak of Geumgangsan Mountain. Every year over one Read more [...]

Heunginjimun Gate was built to protect Hanseongbu, which historically housed important government facilities. Heunginjimun Gate was the gate on the east side of the outer wall of Seoul Fortress among eight gates. It is referred to as Dongdaemun Gate as well. The gate was constructed during King Taejo’s 5th year Read more [...]

A haenggung is a temporary palace where the king and royal family retreated to during a war. Hwaseong Haenggung Palace is the largest one of these, use by the Joseon kings since the time of King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800). In addition to being used as a shelter during war, King Read more [...]

Seodaemun Independence Park was built on the former Seoul Guchiso (Detention Camp). It was used to imprison thousands of Korean independence activists until the liberation from the Japanese occupation on August 15, 1945, as well as the political prisoners during the political turmoil in 1960. When the prison was moved Read more [...]

Opened in 2003, the Woryeonggyo Bridge (387m in length and 3.6m in width) is the longest pedestrian overpass made of wood in Korea. Woryeonggyo Bridge harbors a tragic yet beautiful legend about a wife who made a pair of Mituri (hemp shoes) out of her hair in heartfelt yearning and Read more [...]

The conference center in Panmunjeom is surrounded by the Joint Security Area (JSA) and measures 800 meters in diameter. It is the only portion of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where North and South Korean forces stand face-to-face. It was used as a filming location of the movie “JSA (Joint Security Read more [...]

The freedom house is built in July, 1998. The freedom house is located in JSA (Join Security Area) on South Korea’s area. In this 4 floors building, there are Inter-Korean Liaison Division and inter-Korean Red Cross to give communication service between North Korea and South Korea.

Of the 4 Great Gates (Sukjeongmun, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, and Seodaemun), established by the Emperor of 1396, Sukjeongmun is called the north gate. Located to the north of Seoul, this gate, with Gyeongbokgung Palace in the center and Changaemun (Jahamun) to the right, makes up the wings of the north gate. Read more [...]

Camp Bonifas is a United Nations Command military post located 400 meters south of the southern boundary of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. It was 2,400 meters south of the Military Demarcation Line, which forms the border between South Korea (the Republic of Korea) and North Korea(the Democratic People’s Republic of Read more [...]

Changdeokgung Palace was the second royal villa built following the construction of Gyeongbukgung Palace in 1405. It was the principal palace for many kings of the Joseon Dynasty, and is the most well-preserved of the five remaining royal Joseon palaces. The palace grounds are comprised of a public palace area, Read more [...]

Jangneung is the tomb of Danjong, the 6th king of the Joseon Dynasty (r. 1441-1457). After having the throne taken away by Suyang Daegun, his uncle, Danjong was condemned to exile in Yeongwol County, where he was later murdered and his remains were abandoned in the Dongang River. When no Read more [...]

Haemi Martyrdom Holy Ground is the site where nearly 1,000 Catholics in Chungcheongnam-do were buried alive during the time between the Byeongin Persecution in 1866 (3rd year of King Gojong) and 1882 (19th year of King Gojong). At that time, Catholics were executed outside Haemieupseong Fortress’ Seomun Gate (West Gate). Read more [...]

‘Solmeo’ gets its name from a small cluster of pine trees. The first Korean priest, Saint Kim Dae-gun Andrea was born here on August 21, 1821 and continued to live until he was seven to escape from persecution by following his grandfather to Handeok-dong, Yongin (Golmaemashil). Furthermore, it is where Read more [...]

Past names of Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine included Yongdubong (Dragon Head Peak) and Jamdubong (Silkworm Head Peak), but was renamed in 2000. Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine is the site of the Byeonin Persecution of 1866, where many Roman Catholics were brutally murdered. This site was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Read more [...]

Jeonju Hyanggyo is a Confucian school that was established during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and is designated historical treasure No. 379. This was a national education center during the Joseon period. The school was originally located at the Gyeonggijeon Shrine site but was relocated in 1603. The mortuary tablets of Read more [...]

Located in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongju Gyochon Village is a hanok village that allows visitors a look inside life of famous the Choi Clan. Visitors can see the House of the Gyeongju Choi Clan (Important Folklore Material No. 27) and try some Gyeongju Gyodong Beopju Liquor (Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 86-3) Read more [...]

Seongyojang is the former upper class residence of the Naebeon Lee (1703-1781) noble family of Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do. It was designated Important Folklore Material No. 5 in 1967. The meaning of “Seon”, in Seongyojang, is a boat. Gyeongpo Lake was directly in front of Seongyojang at the time it was built, Read more [...]

Jinjuseong Fortress, which is historically linked to the Japanese invasion in 1592, was originally named Geoyeolseong Fortress during the Three Kingdom Period, later renamed as Chokseokseong Fortress in the Goryeo Dynasty and finally settled as Jinjuseong Fortress in the Joseon Dynasty. The reinforced stonewall has a circumference of approximately 1,760m, Read more [...]

Dongnimmun stands at a spot originally known as Yeongeun, where envoys were once treated. When a Chinese envoy visited, the King would go out through this door to greet him. It’s in 1897, to announce that our independence to Japan, Russia which had influence and threatened China, Korea for a Read more [...]

Seodaemun Prison History Hall is a special museum located at Seodaemun Independence Park. It was built near the end of the Joseon Dynasty (~1910), and was where Japanese soldiers tortured and later executed Korean Independence Movement followers. Seodaemun Prison History Hall was built in remembrance of Seodaemun Prison, and to Read more [...]