Korea Tour Series VI – Seoul, Paju(DMZ), Gongju, Buyeo, Jeonju, Hapcheon, Busan, Gyeongju, Andong 12 days

Incheon Int’l Airport

Welcome to Korea! You will be met at the arrival gate by a local representative
holding a sign.

Upon arrival, you will meet our English-speaking guide and transfer to Seoul.

Lotte Myeongdong or similar

Seoul

Today, you will start the tour of Gyeongbokgung which was built in 1395, three years after the Joseon dynasty was founded. The name means the “Palace Greatly Bless by Heaven” The site of Gyeongbokgung was at the heart of Seoul and, indeed, deemed auspicious according to the traditional practice of geomancy. Onward to Jongmyo Royal Shrine[World Heritage Site] which enshrine 27 King’s ancestral tablet of the Joseon dynasty(1392-1910). After that, you will walk Insadong antique street where antique shops, restaurants, galleries and traditional tea houses are. Transfer to Gwangjang traditional market which opened its business on 1905.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner[Temple Food]

Lotte Myeongdong or similar

Seoul / Paju(DMZ) / Seoul

Depart for Imjinggak at DMZ, see the Freedom Bridge and Mangbaedan which is an altar for the Koreans to come to pay respect to their families in North Korea. It is especially crowded during the Lunar New Year and Korean Thanksgiving Holidays, “Chuseok”, as this is the closest families can get to North Korea. After, transferring to the DMZ, you will see the 3rd tunnel and Dorasan observatory. One can see parts of North Korea from the observation deck. The Media Hall offers an insight into the disparities between the divided countries. Back to Seoul and You will transfer to the restaurant where you can taste the meal that was served to the Royal families during the Joseon dynasty.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner[Special meal : Royal Court Cuisine]

Lotte Myeongdong or similar

Seoul / Gongju / Buyeo

Today, you will take a trip to the hidden dynasty of Baekje(BC18~AD660)[World Heritage Site]. In July 2015, eight Baekje ruins in Buyeo and Iksan, including Gongju’s Gongsanseong Fortress, Gongju’s Royal Tomb of King Muryeong and Royal Tomb, were registered as World Heritage Sites. Based on exchanges with China, Baekje’s original culture was achieved and conveyed to neighboring countries such as Japan, contributing to the prosperity of ancient East Asian culture, and making it a world heritage. In particular, Princess Muryeong Royal Tombs and Royal Tombs of Gongju were recognized for their value as royal tombs during the Baekje Ungjin period (475-538), proving the excellence of Baekje culture and close cultural exchanges in ancient East Asia. Forward to Buyeo.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Buyeo Resort or similar

Buyeo / Jeonju

You will visit Buyeo national museum and taste the beauty of Baekje dynasty(BC18~660). Forward to the Archaeological site of Gwanbukri which is believed to be one of the most important relics related to Baekje’s royal palace as the remains of Baekje’s Sabi period and Jeongnimsaji temple site which has a typical arrangement of Buddhist temples during the Baekje period. The main gate, stone pagoda, Geumdang, and auditorium are arranged in a straight line from north to south and show the shape surrounded by Seungbang and a corridor. There is no accurate evidence on the duration of Jeongnimsa Temple, but it is believed to have been destroyed along with the collapse of Baekje. This is because a red-burned layer of soil at Geumdang site was found in the excavation survey of Jeongnimsa Temple Site. Currently, the five-story stone pagoda of National Treasure No. 9 and the seated stone Buddha of the Goryeo Dynasty of Treasure No. 108 remain at Jeongnimsa Temple Site and are designated and managed as Historic Site No. 301. Transfer to Jeonju.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Lahan Jeonju or similar

Jeonju

You will begin a tour of Hanok village which is well preserved than that in Bukchon, Seoul. Forward to Jeonju Hyanggyo which is a local educational institute during Joseon dynasty, then Gyeonggijeon and Omokdae. Gyeonggijeon is the place where the national treasure No. 317, Eojin (portrait of the king) of King Taejo Lee Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, was enshrined, and the Jeongjeon building that actually enshrined the portrait is Treasure No. 1578. Omokdae is the place where Lee Seong-gye, who defeated Japanese pirates in Unbong Hwangsan Mountain in the 6th year of King Woo of Goryeo (1380), stayed for a while on the road to improvement. To commemorate this, a monument was erected in the 4th year of Gwangmu (1900) of the Korean Empire, and the inscription “Jupil Yuji,” which means that King Taejo stayed for a while, was engraved with his own handwriting.

Breakfast / Lunch

Lahan Jeonju or similar

Jeonju / Hapcheon / Busan

Transfer to Hapcheon to visit Hainsa temple[World Heritage Site] which was founded in 802 in the reign of King Aejang of the Silla dynasty. Along with Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon and Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, Hainsa temple is considered the three most important temples in Korea and is also considered one of the five major temples along with Beomeosa temple in Busan and Hwaeomsa temple in Gurye. Transfer to Busan.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Lotte Busan or similar

Busan

You will visit Gamcheon culture village which is a representative landmark of the original downtown of Busan. It can be said to be a successful example of great results from urban regeneration projects through the Sanbok Road Renaissance Project which is nicknamed as Machu Picchu or Santorini in Korea. However, it is not attached to the coast like Santorini in Greece, and the scenery is not similar to Santorini. Forward to Jagalchi fish market, the largest fish market in Korea that represents Busan. It is said that the name Jagalchi did not come from the name of the fish, but was given because there were many gravels on the floor. Of course, gravel is not found now that the inside of the market has been modernly renovated. Move to Busan Tower Observatory which is a tourist tower located in Yongdusan Park and a key facility representing Busan in the 20th century. The observatory is said to have been modelled after the shape of the roof of the Dabotap of Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, not far from Busan. It is a two-story structure like Seoul N Tower and if you take the elevator up, you can see Busan at a glance. Then, forward to BIFF Square and Gawangan Bridge. BIFF square is a square and street located in Nampo-dong which is like Myeongdong in Seoul. BIFF stands for the Busan International Film Festival and is the origin of the Busan International Film Festival. Gwangan bridge, nicknamed Diamond Bridge, is the longest bridge in Korea and has landscape lighting facilities that can produce more than 100,000 different colours by time, day of the week, and season. It is the first two-story maritime bridge in Korea, and the suspension bridge is also the largest in Korea. In addition, the nation’s largest three-story two-story truss bridge was built on both sides of the suspension bridge for 360m, making it a famous place in Busan along with the night view of Gwangan Beach.

Breakfast / Lunch

Lotte Busan or similar

Busan / Gyeongju

Transfer to Gyeongju, capital city of Silla dynasty(BC57~935). Today, you will visit Gyeongju which was the capital city of Silla dynasty. The history of Gyeongju, once called Seorabeol, is also the history of the thousand-year-old Silla dynasty. Gyeongju embraces Buddhism, science, and vibrant ancient culture that blossomed by the artistry of the Silla people, and the great spirits of Hwarangdo that enabled the unification of the three dynasties. Thus, Gyeongju is a UNESCO-designated city which should be preserved by the public. With a thousand years of the evergreen spirit of Silla, Gyeongju is truly a museum without a roof. Donggung and Wolji was a separate palace of Silla, where the prince of Silla lived and is one of the representative ancient Korean buildings, and the original form of the Unified Silla Garden was well preserved, and many valuable relics were found to show the architectural style. Cheomsungdae, a heritage so often seen in textbooks, has stood in the same spot for 1,500 years right in the heart of Silla’s history. This unmistakable landmark of Gyeongju has such a unique design that there is hardly anyone who hasn’t bought a souvenir of it. Its unique shape inspired countless scholars to research Cheomsungdae, and there have been many theories about its use. Some say Cheomsungdae was used for heavenly rituals, others say it was simply a symbolic tower. But the most dominant theory is that Cheomsungdae was an astronomical observatory. Gyeongju National Museum is the National Museum under the National Museum of Korea. It exhibits relics excavated from Gyeongju and Gyeongsangbuk-do areas, and mainly exhibits relics from the Silla period as its location is located. Among the museums under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there are the second largest and most relics after the National Museum of Korea. Gyeongju was the capital so long ago that buildings were almost destroyed, so there are few colourful attractions to catch tourists’ eyes, and most of the colourful artifacts such as gold crowns are in museums, so it is one of the tourist courses that tourists visit when they visit Gyeongju.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Lahan Select or similar

Gyeongju

Today, you will start the tour at Bulguksa temple. The Bulguksa Temple [UNESCO Heritage Site] was built in 528, the year after Buddhism was officially accepted by the Silla dynasty. Seokguram grotto[UNESCO Heritage Site] first began construction in 742 A.D. alongside neighbouring Bulguksa Temple. The construction of both religious sites started under the guidance of Prime Minister Kim Daeseong. Forward to Seokguram grotto which was completed in 774 A.D. just shortly after the death of Kim Daeseong. Initially, Seokguram Grotto was called Seokbulsa Temple (Stone Buddha Temple, in English). The Grotto was constructed, according to legend, to appease Kim’s parents from his previous life. Daereungwon, called Tumuri park, is a large-scale ancient tomb area and it is believed to belong to the kings, queens, and aristocrats of Silla. It was designated as Historic Site No. 512. And you will experience making Silla pottery.

Breakfast / Lunch

Lahan Select or similar

Gyeongju / Andong / Seoul

After breakfast, you will transfer to Andong and enjoy the taste of Confucian village of Hahoe. Hahoe is the village where the members of Ryu family which originated from Hahoe village have lived together for 600 years. It is a representative village for one family where tile-roofed houses and thatched roofed ones have been quite well conserved for a long time. The reason for the village name Hahoe(Ha means a river and Hoe means turning around) was that the Nakdong River flows around the village in an “S” shape. It became more famous after Queen Elizabeth II visited in 1999. And you will visit Byeongsan seowon[World Heritage Site]. Seowon was an educational institution where the disciples of local Confucian scholars gathered to study. Transfer to Seoul.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Lotte Myeongdong or similar

Tour ends

After breakfast, you will have free time until checkout time. Transfer to Incheon Int’l Airport.