South Korea Hotel

Places & Activities

Gyeongsangnam-do

Gyeongsangnam-do is rich in tourist sites, particularly the mountains and national marine parks. Haeinsa Temple and Tongdosa Temple provide visitors the opportunity to visit two of the largest temples in Korea. Busan is the second largest city in Korea and plays a major role in international trade and cultural exchanges.

Popular Cities

Geoje is located on an island and is renown for camellia seeds, pine trees and peculiar rock formations. Composed of as many as sixty islands, it features clear waters and soft sandy beaches covered with small rounded stones called mongdol. Geoje is also abundant with natural beauties such as Haegeumgang River and the eight-colored bellflower.

Recommended Destinations

Geoje Haegeumgang: as one of the best sights in Geojedo Island, Geoje Haegeumgang is called the Geumgang (Sea Diamond) of the South Sea.  As a rock island, Haegeumgang is belongs to Hallyeo Marine National Park, which is assigned as an official green area in South Korea.  Its original name was Galgotdo, because it is shaped like the spreading roots of arrowroot.  These days it is known as Haegeumgang, meaning Mt. Geumgangsan in the sea.

Hakdong Pebble Beach: provides a cozy atmosphere. Hakdong was named so because its shape was said to be like a crane (in Korean "Hak") flying up to the sky.  Compared to other beaches, it has small pebbles, "Mongdol" in Korean, spread about 1.2 km long, 50m wide, covering 30,000 ㎢ area starting from Yongbawi Rock. The feeling one gets when walking on these pebbles is soothing and the sound of the waves are refreshing.  You can also soothe your feet when you walk on the rocks and activate acupressure points on the soles of your feet.  The wild camellia forest, which blooms along the seashore, creates a beautiful landscape when they bloom in February and March.  You can also see the Parlsaek (8 color) birds that come here.  You can see these colorful birds from June to September.

Oedo-Botania: is a marine botanical garden located in Hallyeo Maritime National Park, which has a beautiful view of the crystal blue South Sea and surrounding landscape. It is 4 kilometers away from Geojedo Island. About 20 minutes by ship from Gujora Port, past Naedo Island lies the European-like Oedo Island. In 1969, Lee Chang-ho first came to this island to escape from the wind and waves as he was fishing. Him and his wife created this breathtaking landscape with all the care for 30 years.

Tongyeong-si Tongyeong City is centered near the islands of Hallyeo Haesang National Park. It is bordered on three sides by the sea and the coast is dotted with as many as 150 islands. Being a rather small island, it has preserved its cleanliness and beauty, and features the Yuja and Chungmu Gimbab (rice wrapped with seaweed), and hosts the annual Hansandae Festival.

Recommended Destinations

Hansando Island, located in the middle of Hallyeo Haesang National Park, is a historically important site.  This is where General Lee Sun-Shin (1545 ~ 1598) won his great victory using the "Turtle Boat" (an ironclad warship shaped as a tortoise) by commanding the naval forces of Chungcheong, Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces at the beginning of Imjinwaeran, the Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1598).

Nammangsan Sculpture Park In Mt. Nammangsan, there is a citizens’ park where you can view Tongyeong. At the top of the mountain stands a bronze statue of General Lee Sun-Shin (Chungmugong) built by the citizens in 1953, and Suhyangjeong Pavilion. Under the Suhyangjeong Pavilion, there is Citizens’ Cultural Center. Right under this center is Nammangsan Outdoor Sculptural Park.

Somaemuldo Island: about an hour ride by ferry from Tongyeong Port will take you to the best attraction of Hallyeo Maritime National Park, Somaemuldo Island. Located at the end of the Korean Peninsula, the island is well known for its oddly shaped rocks of the coast cliffs, the clear and blue sea, the beautiful Deungdaesum Island, which is often shown in movies and commercials.

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