Sightseeing - Korea travel and tourism information

Pyeongchang Uiyaji Wind Village (평창 의야지 바람마을)

2025-01-10

137, Kkotbadyangji-gil, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-33-336-9812

Pyeongchang Uijaji Wind Village is located at the top of Daegwallyeong Pass. The village is a sight to see in winter when covered in snow. Throughout the year, visitors can join in various activities such as making cheese or ice cream.

Ganghwa Armiae World (강화 아르미애월드)

2020-02-29

742-2, Jungang-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon

Ganghwa Armiae World is a theme park with Ganghwa mugwort as its theme. The mugwort of Ganghwado Island is widely known for its great medicinal effects. Armiae means “creating beauty through mugwort.” Armiae World provides its visitors with various opportunities to experience Ganghwa mugwort.

Mugwort Korean Beef Restaurant serves quality beef from cattle fed Ganghwa mugwort. The restaurant features a modern interior with beautiful views of the surrounding area. The Mugwort Experience Hall presents various mugwort-related experience programs such as a spa, foot bath, and sitz bath. The Agricultural Exhibition Hall provides a childrens' interactive experience about the value of farming, and the Onsaemiro Maze Park offers a history trip of Ganghwa greenhouses along the labyrinth. Other facilities include the Pottery Experience Hall, Ganghwa Agricultural Goods Sales Office, outdoor lawn square for events and picnics, and a processing plant for agricultural and indigenous products including mugwort.

Armiae World is located at the foot of Hyeolgusan Mountain, which is well-known for beautiful azalea flowers in the spring. Providing hands-on experiences in farming, Armiae World is emerging as a unique tourist attraction of Ganghwado Island.

Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site (강화 선원사지)

2022-09-19

222, Seonwonsaji-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-933-8234

Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site was first discovered in 1976 during a surface examination around Ganghwado Island undertaken by the Ganghwado Island Academic Research Team of Dongguk University. The site was designated as Historic Site No. 259 in 1977. Seonwonsa Temple was built by General Choi Wu in 1245 (the 32nd year of King Gojong’s reign during the Goryeo dynasty), which was right after the transfer of the capital to Ganghwado during resistance against the Mongolian invasion.

The temple was meant to be a spiritual mainstay in fighting against Mongolia. It used to be one of the two largest temples in Korea along with Songgwangsa Temple. However, the temple was completely destroyed during the early Joseon era, leaving only the site itself. The famous wood blocks of Palman Daejanggyeong (the Tripitaka Koreana), currently housed in Haeinsa Temple at Hapcheon, are said to have been originally stored in Seonwonsa Temple. It is believed that the carved wood blocks were taken from Seonwonsa to Heungcheonsa Temple during the Joseon era and again moved to Haeinsa Temple during the reign of Sejo.

Located on a mountain slope, the presumed location of the building site extends 250 meters from south to north and 170 meters from east to west.

Gwangseongbo Fortress (광성보)

2022-07-25

27, Haeandong-ro 466beon-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-7070

Gwangseongbo Fortress’s outer wall from the Goryeo era was mended in 1618. The fortress was built in 1656 and the outpost was constructed in 1679. It was completely remodeled into a masonry castle with gates in 1745. During Sinmiyangyo (the American invasion in 1871), Gwangseongbo was the fiercest battle ground in Ganghwa. On April 24, 1871, a fleet with 1,230 American naval forces led by Rear Admiral John Rodgers landed on Ganghwado Island to demand the opening of Korea's ports and commerce. The armed forces attacked Chojijin Fortress and Deokjinjin Camp, then marched to Gwangseongbo Fortress, where they engaged in close combat with the warriors of Joseon. Although General Eo Jae-yeon and the other warriors were poorly equipped with far inferior weapons, they bravely fought to the death against the invading forces.

The battlefield ruins of the fortress and the gate towers such as Anhaeru, Gwangseongdon, Sondolmokdon, and Yongdudon were repaired in 1977. The twin tombs of General Eo Jae-Yeon and his brother Eo Jae-seon, along with the anonymous tombs of warriors who died on the battlefield were also honorably arranged at the same time. Furthermore, a stone monument commemorating the restoration of Ganghwa Battlefield was erected on Yongdudondae Post.

In 1988, an extensive rest area was created toward the shore for visitors’ convenience. Gwangseongbo Fortress is presently designated as Historical Relic No. 227. A religious service known as Gwangseongje is held annually to commemorate the patriotic spirits of General Eo Jae-yeon and other unnamed warriors. This service takes place at 11 a.m. on every April 24th of the lunar calendar.

Ganghwa Chojijin Fortress (강화 초지진)

2021-02-10

58, Haeandong-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-7072

Chojijin Fortress is believed to have been built in 1655 (6th year of King Hyojong) for the purpose of national defense against coastal attacks from foreign enemies based on articles regarding the construction of Chojijin Fortress. The fortress was the scene of many hard-fought battles including the invasions of America and Japan in the 1870s. The site was then taken by the foreign troops due to the inferior fighting power of the Korean military, and very nearly completely destroyed. In 1876 (13th year of King Gojong), the Japanese warship Unyangho invaded and forced the Joseon Kingdom to open their ports, which later led to the forced signing of the Jana-Korea Treaty of 1876. Only the base of the fortress and the site of the high ground remained until 1973, when restoration work was started. The patriotic spirit of the Joseon dynasty still remains in this historic site.

Yongheunggung Palace (용흥궁)

2022-07-27

16-1, Dongmunan-gil 21beon-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-3515

Yongheunggung Palace is where King Cheoljong (r. 1849-1863) used to live before his ascension to throne. The chief of Ganghwa County, Jeong Gi-se, enlarged the original residence and named it Yongheunggung (meaning palace of the rising dragon) in the 4th year of King Cheoljong’s reign. Its architectural features include a paljak (traditional Korean half-hipped roof) and supporting columns rendered in Jusimpo style, the column brackets placed only on top of the columns. The palace was built in the tradition of dwelling houses such as the Yeongyeongdang and Nakseonjae houses in Changdeokgung Palace, so the palace buildings give off a simple and plain atmosphere. Within the precincts of the palace are a memorial stone and a monument house indicating that the palace used to be the old home of King Cheoljong.

Goryeogung Palace Site (고려궁지)

2021-06-01

394, Ganghwa-daero, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-7078

Goryeogung Palace Site on Ganghwado Island is the site of the royal palace where the people of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) resisted the Mongolian invasion for 39 years. In the 19th year of his reign, King Gojong moved the capital to Ganghwa on account of its natural and strategic advantages. During the Byeongjahoran (Chinese invasion of Korea) in 1637, the palace was lost by force to the Qing dynasty of China. Later, Joseon Dynasty palace building and Ganghwa Yusubu (Ganghwa governor’s office) buildings existed in the Goryeo palace site but were destroyed by the French army during the Byeonginyangyo (French Campaign against Korea). Nowadays, the only structures that remain are the Dongheon main office (built in 1638) and Ibangcheong administration office (built in 1654). The palace and its subsidiary buildings were restored in 1977. It has historical lessons of the spirit of independence and overcoming national crisis.

Dongincheon Samchi Street (동인천 삼치거리)

2021-01-27

57, Uhyeon-ro 67beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon
+82-32-832-3031

Dongincheon Samchi Street is located in front of Dongincheon Station in an alley to the side of Incheon Educational and Cultural Center for Students. The street became connected samchi, or grilled seerfish, over 40 years ago with the opening House of Inha, a home-style restaurant. Originally, the street was not known for samchi, but it became one of the most popular menus at the restuarant, with many other shops in the area following in this trend. In 2002, it was designated as the grilled seerfish street and a signboard was put up at the street entrance. Currently, there are about a dozen grilled seerfish restaurants lining the street, and each restaurant has a unique signboard of its own. The fish are imported from New Zealand, and each restaurant offers a distinct taste resulting from different grilling methods and sauces. The restaurants also sell a variety of appetizers and side dishes at affordable prices.

Bupyeong Haemultang (Seafood Stew) Street (부평 해물탕거리)

2022-10-26

113, Bupyeongmunhwa-ro, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon
+82-32-832-3031

The history of Bupyeong Haemultang Street began 30-40 years ago, when there were just three restaurants on the street. Over the years, the street gained a reputation for serving delicious haemultang (seafood stew), and there are now ten seafood restaurants on the street. Each restaurant offers a rich, yet distinctly different flavored seafood stew prepared with aromatic vegetables and fresh seafood purchased from the marketplace every morning. The Haemultang Street has become so popular that many people travel the long distance from Seoul just for a satisfying meal of seafood stew. The restaurants specialize in stew and steamed seafood dishes, but also continue to develop new fusion menus to please all taste buds.

Seopori Beach (서포리해변)

2021-07-13

15, Deokjeongnam-ro 587beon-gil, Ongjin-gun, Incheon
+82-32-899-2253

Seopori Beach, designated as a national tourism area, is surrounded by a luxurious forest of 100-year-old pine trees. The moderately sloped, white sand beach extends 3 kilometers in length and 300 meters in x_width. The beach and the pine tree forest provide a great recreational area for the 100,000 annual visitors. Leisure facilities include a vast sports field, seaside playground, tennis court, restaurants, karaoke, bicycle rentals, and more. Visitors can enjoy fishing from the rocks on the seashore, swimming in the clean sea, and strolling through the pine forest to appreciate the scenic surroundings.

Sightseeing - Korea travel information