1. Hwaseong Fortress
Hwaseong (Brilliant Fortress) is the fortress built by King Jeongjo of Joseon Dynasty in the 18th century, for his father Prince Sado. For those of you who don’t know, he is the king potrayed in Sungkyunkwan Scandal. The subject of Prince Sado’s murder, King Jeongjo’s filial piety towards him and desire to move the capital city to Suwon were important parts of that drama. Ever since I watched that drama, I’ve been fascinated with Korean ancient eras, especially Joseon. So naturally other than Gyeongbokgung Palace, I would want to visit this fortress.
2. Yangdong and Hahoe Traditional Village
Yangdong Village is a traditional village from the Joseon Dynasty . It displays the Yangban (aristrocrat) lifestyle. Fifty-four historic homes over 200 years old have also been preserved. The village preserves folk customs as well as traditional buildings of traditional Joseon Dynasty architecture. The village is notable because it has preserved many of its original structures, such as the village Confucian school and other buildings, and maintains folk arts. Visiting traditional villages has always been in my must-do list when I visit a foreign country. I really enjoyed my visit to Beijing’s traditional village, so I really look forward to visiting these villages in Korea.
3. Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava tubes
Breathtaking! It’s like heaven on earth!
Jeju Island has always been at the top of my Korean must-go places, but that’s largely due to the fact that practically every Korean drama features Jeju Island in it. Little did I know that other than the trademark black-stone beaches, Jeju offers so much more. I didn’t know Jeju is a volcanic island! (Hence the above scenery and the lava tubes caves) Jeju Island is also listed at number 23 on CNN’s 50 Natural Wonders: The Ultimate List of Scenic Splendor.
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