Korea Travel News

Jeollanam-do is home to many Buddhist temples including the famous Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon City. The area's temple-stay program includes five major temples; Songgwangsa. Hwaeomsa, Daedunsa, Mihwangsa, and Baegyangsa Temple.

The program includes tips on temple etiquette and how to make a Buddhist-style bow, zen meditation, tea ceremony, and a tour of the temple grounds and monks cell, etc. Meditation provides visitors an opportunity to discover new internal depth, and the tea ceremony is an opportunity to sip tea in a peaceful state of mind while conversing with one of the temple monks.

After the temple experience program is over, visitors can experience the Namdo region's folk foods and tour the region's cultural artifacts before departing.

Each temple also provides unique programs for guests that differ from programs that other temples may offer.

The temple-stay experience is 2 days and 1 night long, and begins every Wednesday and Saturday, 1 PM in front of the Jeollanam-do Provincial Office. On the 1st and 3rd week of each month the program is held at the Songgwangsa or Hwaeomsa, and on the 2nd of 4th week of each month the program is held in the Daedunsa, Mihwangsa, or Baegyangsa Temples. The fee is 48,000 won.

The Shineville Luxury Resort, a large-scale resort with 310 guest rooms, 9 restaurants, convention center, golf practice green. fitness center, and maritime sports facilities, has opened its doors at the Tosan Tourism District in Pyoseon-myeon, Namjeju-gun, Jeju-do. It has secured a position as Jeju Island's largest resort, and prides itself on providing top-quality accommodations for their guests.

Located near the ocean, the resort offers a fantastic enironment for rest, relaxation, and recreation. Sports and cultural events are close at hand, along with a seawater swimming pool, squash court, and multi-bar.

jeonwol daeboreum, meaning the biggest full moon' in Korean, is January 15 of every year on the lunar calendar. This yearm the day falls on February 15 and various New Year's celebrations will take place for the occasion.

Group customs include tug-of-war and jwibullori, a custom in which the dry weeds between the rice fields are set on fire.

For the full moon in 2003 on February 15, from 10 AM to 7 PM, Changnyeong-gun will reenact the Mt. Hwawangsan reed burning ceremony ending a 2-year hiatus for the custom to burn the reeds that grow high in a valley there. They cover an area of 2.7km radius.

The reason for this quirky tradition is this; The area is free of trees, dominated by reeds, and controlled periodic burning of the reeds will prevent larger fires in the future. it also facilitates the growth of new reeds. Another reason is that Mt. Hwawangsan's name signifies 'big fire' and setting the fire every year signifies the preservation of old New Year's tradition.

Nearby is the ecologically important wetland Upo Marsh, where migratory birds land every year.

Jeonju, home to many of Korea's finest traditional art forms, will host the 4th annual Jeonju International Film Festival for the 10 days between April 25 and May 4.

The Jeonju International Film Festival was started in 2000 as a way of helping the development of independent films in Korea. The 2002 festival featured 265 films from 32 different countries, and 1,226 people in the film industry came to Korea on invitation to take part in the festival.

During the festival period, movie theaters around Jeonju will show films in both competitive and non-competitive categories. Main events that accompany the films are the Asia Independent Film Forum, Digital Spectrum, and Filmmaker's Forum. Other events are the Documentary Biennale, Korean short film screenlings and discussions, and a children's movie palace. Great for movie enthusiasts!

The old Waryong Elementary School in Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, now houses a school that can teach traditional Korean etiquette to over 300 students at one time - this unique venture is the Andong Etuquette School.

The school has four learning areas, each devoted to different aspects of proper traditional conduct. They are the Etiquette Center, Tea Ceremony Room, Traditional Rhythm Room, and the Etiquette Village Schoolhouse. These courses thach mostly forgotten things like how to wear a hanbok properly (traditional Korean instruments, and the making of traditional Korean foods.

Visitors are more than welcome to take part, but must give prior notice; a translator should also attend.

Nearby are the Dosan Confucian School and the Korean Classic Literature Promotions Center, where one can experience even more of the Confucian culture.

The Argentinean heat that passed the test of Broadway with flying ease is burning up Seoul. De La Guarda is a passionate musical performance that embodies dance, music, and the circus. It has finished its run on Broadway and has moved along to set fire to Seoul. Modern techno music and South American drums combine to provide the rhythms for the Argentinean actors that play their craft while soaring seven meters in the air. It's a new aspect to traveling in Korea, an opportumity not to be passed up while it's had.

The musical requires audiences to stand for the duration of the show, but throw away your inhibitions to the energy of De La Guarda, and the 70 minutes will be up, regrefully, before you know it. You might also keep in mind that the occasional kidnapping of a guest by the highflying actors is known to occur-so don't be caught unawares!

The Korea Botanic Garden has gathered 1,200 varieties of Korea's indigenous plant life in one place, including many rare species. It earned the distinction of having been highlighted by KNTO in 2000 as one of "seven Places Worth Visiting in Korea."

The botanic garden features a greenhouse, hiking trail, and ecosystem center. Each area has tried its best to present the plants as they would be found in nature for visitors to fully experience the beauty and diversity that lies in nature - one part of  the garden is categorized as spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Besides being serious eye candly, the garden has educational value as well. Plant specimens are labeled with the scientific name for reference.

The Korea Botanic Graden enjoys a great location within Odaesan National Park in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, so visitors can also enjoy the mountain park and nearby Woljeongsa Temple.

This upcoming May 19 through 25 (main events on the 24 and 25), a large-scale world festival will attract the people form all over the world.

The Hi-Seoul Festival will take place in front of City Hall and Gwanghwamun Gate, spots that garnered much attention last June for the fantastic show of World Cup support. The festival, hosted by the with cooperation of several cultural organizations, comprises a variety of programs.

It is planned to celebrate cultures from around the globe, bringing together the world's and Korea's traditional foods to the same place. Other events in the planning are a citizen's walk, international together-ness festival, street performance, and a live concert by popular Korean pop stars. It will be a good chance to experience some facets of Seoul as a world cultureal city.