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Only in Korea
Venture inside a North Korean spy submarine near Jeongdongjin on the east coast.
Peer inside the Korean president’s bedroom in Cheongnamdae near Cheongju in Chungcheongbuk-do.
Hike inside the world’s largest lava tube on Jejudo.
Get up at 3.30am to chant sutras with Buddhist monks on a temple stay programme .
March along a North Korean invasion tunnel under the DMZ that the North claimed was a coal mine.
Admire giant penises at Haesindang Gong·won and Totem Pole Park.
Dive with sharks (and live to tell the tale) in Busan Aquarium.
Sit inside a Buddhist version of paradise in the replica of King Muryeong’s tomb in Gongju.
Squeeze yourself into a goblin-sized, rustic teashop in Insadong, Seoul with small birds flying around.
Discover the Secret Garden inside a Seoul palace where kings wrote nature poetry and students sweated over their exam papers.
Cultural Icons
banchan – small side dishes such as kimchi that accompany nearly every meal
ceramics – world class celadon (green-tinged pottery) that was produced during the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392)
dancheong – ornate and multicoloured eaves that adorn Buddhist temples and other buildings
embroidery – superb craftsmanship is shown in this traditional female art
hallyu – the wave of recent Korean TV dramas, films, fashions and music that has proved popular all over Asia from Mongolia to Malaysia
hanbok – traditional gown-like clothing that is more admired than worn
Han·geul – the Korean writing system that was invented in the 1440s but which took over five centuries to replace Chinese characters
hanok – traditional wooden buildings with a tiled or thatched roof that were grouped around a courtyard and heated with ondol (underfloor heating)
samul·nori – a lively and popular farmer’s drum and gong dance that is full of colour and rhythm
taekwondo – Korea’s famous martial art with a kick
Natural Wonders
Hallasan, an extinct 1950m volcano with a crater lake on Jejudo
Seongsan Ilchulbong, another spectacular extinct volcanic cone on Jejudo
Ullsan Bawi, giant granite cliffs in Seoraksan National Park
Gosu Donggul, a huge limestone cave near Danyang
Manjanggul, the world’s largest lava tube, on Jejudo
Maisan, two rocky peaks in Jeollabuk-do that look like a horse’s ears
Seonyudo, an island jewel off Jeollabuk-do
Chungju Lake, Korea’s largest and most scenic waterway in Chungcheongbuk-do
Ulleungdo, a beautiful, rugged volcanic island in the East Sea with an off-the-beaten-track atmosphere
Dokdo, remote, rocky islets in the East Sea that are claimed by Japan
Top Fortress Picks
A World Heritage marvel, Hwaseong was built in the 1790s by King Jeongjo and winds around part of Suwon city for 5.7km.
South of Seoul, Namhan Sanseong has walls that stretch for nearly 10km and provided a refuge for King Injo in 1636.
The south coast fortress of Jinju was the scene of carnage when the Japanese attacked it in 1592.
Near the west coast, Haemi Fortress was where early Catholic converts were imprisoned and executed during the 1860s.
The walls of the well-preserved 15th-century Gochang Fortress in Jeollabuk-do are nearly 2km long.
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