From Baekje's Smile to Silla's Smile

A futuristic glass wave rises above the old City Hall, blending past and future in one bold design.
Powered by nature and home to the world’s largest indoor vertical garden, it’s one of Seoul’s greenest landmarks.
Open to visitors — step inside and see the living wall for yourself.

In the heart of Seoul stands a hidden architectural gem — a cathedral first envisioned in the 1920s.
A British design, built with Korean devotion, but left unfinished during colonial rule. Then came the miracle: in 1993, the original blueprints were found in an English library.
Finally completed in 1996, the cathedral now stands in its full, intended glory — a story of faith, time, and perseverance.

A blend of nature and urban design, this stream winds through downtown Seoul — though entirely man-made today.
Once a natural river, it was buried after the Korean War and revived in 2005 as a tranquil walkway.
Fountains, illuminated bridges, and the Palgakdam weir make it one of the city’s most beloved evening spots.

The complex of the central Gwanghwamun Square in front of the Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace, which is the compositional center of the capital of Korea, offers amazing views of Seoul: on one side is the main residence of the kings of the Joseon state (now a museum). But along the  Sejong-daero Avenue, departing from the square, there are high-rise modern buildings: government, embassies, Kyobo - the largest bookstore in Korea. Further down the avenue we can see the Seoul City Hall and still further - the Great South Gate of Namdaemun (National Treasure No. 1).

The main palace of the Joseon dynasty — rebuilt more than once, but never lost its grandeur.

Its perfect symmetry, royal guard ceremony, and the chance to wear a hanbok turn your visit into a journey through time.

Winding lanes, wooden hanoks, hidden cafés — this is where time slows down.
Samcheong-dong charms with its hills and galleries, while Bukchon preserves the everyday beauty of Joseon-era homes.
Together, they offer a quiet, romantic escape — a walk through history lined with soft light and gentle stories.

Insadong is famous for the abundance of souvenir shops, traditional restaurants and tea houses, boutiques.

Insadong-kil Pedestrian Street is the central street of the area.

Often you can see street performances - traditional Korean samul-nori percussion quartet or martial arts tekkyon, taekwon-do or performances of youth groups in the fusion style, etc.

In the heart of Seoul stands Jogyesa — the head temple of Korea’s largest Buddhist order.
Small in scale but rich in atmosphere, it changes with the seasons: lotus lanterns in spring, bright chrysanthemums in fall, and peaceful stillness in winter.
No matter the time of year, it’s a place of quiet reflection.

One of the central streets of Seoul, Jongno (literally "Bell Avenue") is named after the pavilion of the same name, which houses the main bell of the country. It is this bell that the best people of the country beat on New Year's Eve.

However, even mere mortals can hit it for good luck: at 12:00 noon, the pavilion is usually opened for visitors. However, a limited number of guests are allowed.

A bustling hub of shopping, street food, and K-beauty.
Amid the trendsetting stores stands Korea’s main Catholic cathedral — a striking symbol of faith and history.
Style meets soul in this lively part of Seoul.

Temple of Bongeunsa is located in close proximity to the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center.

Originally named Gyeongseongsa, it was built by King Wonseong of the Silla Kingdom in the 10th year of his reign (794 AD).

In 1498, thanks to Queen Jeonghyeon, it was renovated and expanded to the east of King Seongjong's tomb, and at that time it was given its new name - Bongeunsa.

The iconic view of COEX is visible from the Maitreya Buddha statue on the temple grounds.

Welcome to K-Star Road, the amazing star road in the heart of Seoul!

K-Star Road, or "Road of the Stars", is a beautiful and popular place where Korean stars seem to have made their mark. As you begin your journey along this road, you will feel the excitement and hype as it passes through the heart of the Gangnam area, known for its trendy atmosphere and emphasis on (K)-pop culture.

Here you will find many GangnamDol figurines representing various Korean stars. Find your heroes - and take a photo with them as a keepsake.

Along K-Star Road you will find many boutiques of world brands. Perhaps those same stars sometimes look into these boutiques too?..

This breathtaking library in COEX Mall features towering bookshelves and a stunning architectural design. It's an ideal spot for book lovers and those looking for a unique photo backdrop. The natural lighting and open space make it perfect for both wide shots and close-ups.

This statue is a must-visit for fans of PSY's global hit "Gangnam Style." It's a playful spot to capture fun and memorable photos, especially if you strike the famous horse dance pose!

The tallest building in Korea is Lotte World Tower. 123 floors and 555 meters high. And on the highest floors is Seoul Sky - an observation deck.

Floor with transparent floor; the floor where you can go outside, the floor with cafes and souvenirs. Even the elevator that takes you to Seoul Sky is a separate attraction with Guinness records to boot.

The famous "Baekje smile" is the characteristic friendly and warm facial expression of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, reproduced in the statues of the state of Baekje (18 BC - 660 AD).

Of course, reproductions and photographs are one thing; but getting to know the smile in the original is different! It used to be quite difficult to get to the "smile" - after all, the Buddhist trinity is located in the Korean outback - Sosan County, South Chungcheong Province, but now an asphalt road has been laid here; we have to walk only a short section of the path ... Nearby are the ruins of the temple, in which there was a hermitage (satellite temple / hermit's dwelling) with the Buddha and 2 bodhisattvas with our smile.

The unique technique and artistry of the unknown master will allow us to see the open, unburdened, friendly expression on the face of the Baekje people who lived here more than 1400 years ago.

Keshinsa is a satellite temple (subordinate) to the famous Sudoksa, which has one of the few wooden structures from the Goryeo period; but, if Sudoksa, with the exception of the main hall, looks quite "modern" on the whole, then the spirit of antiquity has been preserved in Keynes ...

It was founded in 654 (the 14th year of the reign of King Uizha-wang of the state of Baekje) by the monk Hegam (혜감/慧鑑) under the name Kewonsa (ke - discovery; won - beginning). In 1350 (the 2nd year of the reign of King Chungsuk-wang of Goryeo), it was renamed Kasimsa (sim - soul; kesim - spreading wisdom). Burnt down in 1475 but rebuilt in 1484. In 1740, it underwent another reconstruction and has not undergone significant changes since then. Thus, before us is a temple with a history dating back centuries, and with several buildings from the Early Joseon era!

Taeuncheon - 1484. Buddha and bodhisattvas in the main hall - Taeucheon - non-standard: Amitabha, Ksitigarbha and Avalokiteshvara. "Hall of the found knife [wisdom]", located to the left of Daeungjeong - apparently, was erected simultaneously with it; on the right is the Eternal Life Pavilion (무량수각); The composition of the central part of the temple is completed by the open pavilion Anyallu - "Tranquility and Rest".

Myeongbujeong ("Hall of 10 Lords of the Underworld") was built in 1646. Thus, the temple consists of really old buildings. If you want to plunge into the atmosphere of tranquility and antiquity - welcome to Kesimsa.

The site of the martyrdom of over 1,000 Korean Catholics between 1797 and 1872. Pope Francis made a pilgrimage here in 2014.

Stone fortress built between 1417 and 1421. Here was the command post of the army of Chungcheong Province. The main purpose of the fortress is to resist the raids of pirates from Japan. For 10 months, Admiral Li Sunxing served here in 1578.

The oldest temple in Korea is Sudoksa. This temple is unique; he, one of the few Korean temples, was lucky enough to survive the war with Japan in 1592-1598. The oldest building of the temple - its main pavilion Taeungjeong - dates back to the Goryeo period (1308). On the beams supporting the roof of the building, you can still see the unique surviving image of the "Golden Dragon" from the Goryeo period. However, the temple was founded much earlier - in the Baekche era, information about its foundation dates back to the 6th century (Sabi period). Sudoksa is the only surviving Baekje temple!

At the end of the 19th - the first half of the 20th century, the temple became the center of the revival in Korea of "proper Korean" Buddhism, which was persecuted both under the kings of Joseon and under the Japanese colonial authorities. In particular, such famous monks as Gyeongho and Mangon lived and conducted their activities in the temple.

A unique temple in Korea in Japanses style.

A small town located on the shores of the Western (Yellow) Sea, experienced ups and downs: once the majority of the population in it were not Koreans, but rich Japanese!

In the city, you can feel the atmosphere of the first half of the 20th century, the rapid, uneven growth of the country, the development of colonial capitalism, and the elusive charm of a provincial Korean town, with a touch of Japanese style in architecture.

The unique Buddhist temple Dongguksa has been preserved in the city: it is the only Japanese-style Buddhist temple in Korea. Founded in 1913 by the Japanese monk Uchida under the name "Diamond Temple", it was renamed after liberation (August 15, 1945) as Tonguksa ("Temple of the East Country"; "East Country" is one of the names of Korea).

During the time of the state of Goryeo (910 - 1392), not far from Kunsan in the battle of Jinpo, the first victory of the Koreans over Japan with the use of firearms was won, which is dedicated to the theme park with a collection of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, aircraft, etc., the joy of the boys.

Itinerary (subject to slight changes): Gunsan Museum of Modern History - former customs building, with a small customs museum - Chinpo Naval Theme Park - Donggukgsa Temple - Walk through the old quarters of Gunsan.

Omokdae-Imokdae

Imokte is in a small area called Chaman Graffiti Village; the walls of the houses here are painted by professionals and amateurs: the world of Japanese manga and Korean manhwa; korean alphabet, fantastic, disney cartoon characters, traditional korean stories.

Unfortunately, the Confucians were not very tolerant of Catholicism. We are reminded of this by the Jeonju Catholic Cathedral (built in 1908-1931), located on the site of the executions of Catholics.

A shrine that houses a portrait of the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, King Taejo (Lee Songye). An extensive complex of buildings, including the sanctuary itself, the state sago archive, a museum, the burial place of the placenta of King Yechzhon, and a complex of auxiliary buildings.

Why and who made portraits of kings, what is a historical archive, why bury the royal placenta - we will try to find answers to these questions in Gyeonggijeong.

In the very historical center of Jeonju, you will find yourself in a fabulous atmosphere. Traditional Korean hanok houses with tiled roofs line the romantic narrow streets. Here, each house is a unique masterpiece of architecture, reflecting the richness and depth of Korean history.

Walking along these streets, you will notice how each house merges with the surrounding nature and creates a harmonious image. You will see small gardens with flowers, well-kept courtyards, as well as traditional decor elements that recreate the atmosphere of antiquity, and sometimes, on the contrary, remind us of modern design trends.

Recently, it has become fashionable for Koreans and guests of the Land of the Morning Calm to rent stylized costumes - traditional hanbok, or European costumes of the era of the first half of the 20th century, which is closer to us. In Jeonju, you will see many such couples or families looking exotic against the backdrop of historical buildings and traditional hanok houses...

Did you know that dolmens in Korea are a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Sites with an "increased accumulation" of dolmens in Korea: about. Ganghwa, Hwasun and Gochang counties. Today we will see the largest dolmen in the world - it is located in Hwasun County.

The picturesque valley with beautiful views stretches for 4 km. We will walk along the valley, talk about why dolmens are needed, where they came from in Korea, we will climb into the Bronze Age quarry. And let's get acquainted with the legend of the giantess grandmother (no, that's not the name of the dolmen).

600-year-old village surrounded by a stone wall

The garden, which hosted the 2013 World Gardens Exhibition, impresses with its variety of landscapes, abundance of plant species and modern garden design.

The zones of the countries participating in Expo 2014 have been preserved, as well as separate zones created by excellent Korean gardeners.

From April to October 2023, the World Garden Expo 2023 will be held again at the Suncheon National Garden!

Ecopark is famous for its thickets of reeds, reaching heights higher than human height. This is the densest reed thickets in all of Korea. In addition, this place is known for the fact that cranes, storks, spoonbills and other rare birds fly here. There are about 140 different species of birds throughout the park.

The name of the temple literally translates to "Dragon Palace Temple of the Country East of the Sea", 해동용궁사 海東龍宮寺.

The construction of the temple was completed in the 2nd year of Wu-wang's reign in 1376.

The temple was built by the sea thanks to the prophetic dream of the founder of the temple, the teacher [king - van] Hegyn. In a dream, a Dragon appeared to him (whose responsibility includes the seas and oceans) and "advised" to build a temple on the seashore, devote himself entirely to prayers - and then the great drought that Korea suffered from would pass ... Initially, the temple was called Pomunsa.

The current name of the temple was given in the 1970s. The abbot responsible for the restoration of the temple named it so after the Bodhisattva of Mercy appeared to him in a dream.

Most popular beach in Busan and a vivid resort district.

A picturesque 2-storey bridge over the sea in Busan is one of its most exquiste landmarks.

The largest seafood market in Korea, where you can see all kinds of marine creatures, both from the plant and animal worlds (and from the border worlds too!).

You can also eat deliciously at the market: fried or raw fish, as well as seafood, is served at the table in numerous restaurants in the market.

If you prefer something less exotic, we recommend the food court at the Lotte department store next door. The observation deck at the department store offers a magnificent view of Busan from a bird's eye view.

The Buddha statue in this small temple in an artificial grotto is considered the most elegant in All of Korea! The grotto is located on the slope of Mount Tkhohamsan, where the winding serpentine of the mountain road leads.

The walk to the temple through the mountain forest from the parking lot takes about 15-20 minutes; depending on the weather, either a mysterious foggy landscape awaits us (fogs are not uncommon on this mountain), or breathtaking bird's-eye views of the thousand-year-old Gyeongju.

In the grotto, which is formally the hermitage of the Bulguksa temple, located below the slope, the dominant position is occupied by the above-mentioned statue of Buddha, sitting in a lotus position on a pedestal in the shape of a lotus. Around it at different heights are bas-reliefs and statues of bodhisattvas, arhats, Indra and Brahma, the Four Heavenly Kings.

If the group agrees, we can go down the mountainside to the temple of Bulguksa.

The main Buddhist temple of United Silla, it is now a place of pilgrimage for many guests of Korea.

The temple was built in 774 under the leadership of the premier of the state of Silla, Kim Taesong. Legend has it that Bulguksa was dedicated to the parents of the current, so to speak, Kim Taesong. While Seokguram, the temple-hermitage under Bulguksa, was intended for Kim Taesung's parents from his previous incarnations.

In 1995, Bulguksa and Seokguram were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Cheomseongdae is one of the oldest observatories in the world (7th century). The tower of the observatory is full of symbolism: the total number of hewn stones from which it is built; the number of rows of these stones before and above the small window, the shape of the stones... Reasonable Silakians paid attention to everything.

Cheomseongdae was built under the reigning Queen Seondok - one of three in the history of Silla. The queen ended up in a drama that, of course, was filmed in Gyeongju.

The only mound which inner parts are open to the public (though filled with replicas, it shows the inner construction of a Shilla mound)

The main state Gyeongju temple from the Silla period, the "Temple of the Yellow Dragon", Hwanyeongsa, has not survived; however, we still have a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the pagoda of a hermitage temple of Hwanyeongsa. The hermitage temple is called Punghwansa.

The peculiarity of the pagoda of Punghwansa is that it is built of stones, hewn in such a way that they resemble bricks in shape. What can you not do if you are not familiar with the technology (brick production, in this case)!

Though made anew, it is a nice and quite picturesque place, especially at night.