10 Nature Spots to Visit in Korea
South Korea is a large country with beautiful scenic locations. Each town has a place or two which would be perfect to visit for a nature lover or anyone who wants to appreciate Korea’s natural beauty. There are a lot of nature spots within Korea, so we’re going to look at 10 locations with lovely scenery!
- Namiseom Island
Namiseom Island is located in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do and was created as a result of the construction of Cheongpyeong Dam. It is a half-moon shape and has the grave of General Nami, who led a victory against the rebels of the thirteenth year of the seventh king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Sejo. About half an hour from Chuncheon and an hour from Seoul, it’s a perfect destination for couples or families to come for a nice walk. A neat feature about the island is that there are no telephone poles; all the wires are underground! There is also a swimming pool, theme park, shooting range, camping sites, and a roller skating rink located on the island!
- Seoul Forest Park
Seoul Forest Park is located at Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Prior to its opening in 2005, it used to be a royal hunting ground for kings and served as a military inspection facility. Seoul Forest consists of five parks, spreads over 595,000m, and is an eco-friendly zone. The five parks within Seoul Forest are:
- Culture and Arts Park
- Eco Forest
- Experiential Learning Park
- Marsh Plants Garden
- Hangang Riverside Park
There are different activities you can do at each park, some requiring registration online beforehand and some requiring fees. Seoul Forest Park is developing quickly and is becoming a premium city-park, similar to Central Park in New York.
- Samnak Ecology Park
Samnak Ecology Park is located Samnak-dong, Sasang-gu, Busan. It is the largest of the four riverside parks located along the banks of Nakdonggang River. Within the park there is a marsh, bird feeding site, grassy fields, wildflower field, biking and walking paths, auto-camping site, water-leisure town, and more! It’s very popular among bird-watchers since it is in the migratory path.
- Ginkgo Tree Avenue
Ginkgo Tree Avenue located in Asan, Chuncheon is a beautiful place to visit, especially in the fall, when all the leaves have changed colours and the golden colours are vibrant as the sun hits. Many people visit Namiseom Island in the fall for this reason, too, but Asan has many hot springs and spas, where you should definitely visit after walking down Ginkgo Tree Avenue.
- Ungok Seowon
Ungok Seowon is a Confucian School that’s located in Yeongseong-ri, Samseong-myeon, Eumseong-gun and dates back to 1602. It was originally torn down after an order to shut down all Confucian schools; however, it was rebuilt in 1894. This is a cultural building and allows Confucianism to be studied.
- Naejangsan National Park
Naejangsan National Park is located in Bongdeok-gil, Bokheung-myeon, Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do and is home to the famous mountain Naejangsan, which has one of the best views in autumn. It became a national park in 1971, and within the park, there are waterfalls and temples. It has beautiful views in every season: the golden leaves in autumn, the mountains blanketed in snow in winter, beautifully blooming azaleas and cherry blossoms in spring, and the mountain turns green in summer.
- Spirited Garden
Spirited Garden is located in Nokchabunjae-ro, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju-do. Once known as Bunjae Arpia, it was renamed in 2007. It is a nature garden with a theme of oreum and water, and has more than 400 planted trees throughout. The beautiful garden has been visited by many honoured figures from Japan and China.
- Saryeoni Forest Path
Saryeoni Forest Path is located in Jochon-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do; and is a popular hiking destination on the island. It is said to be one of the prettiest roads in South Korea and you are able to hike the path from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. every day.
- Yeojwacheon Stream
Yeojwacheon Stream is located in Yeojwa-dong, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do; and is known for being one of Jinhae’s best spots for viewing the cherry blossoms when in bloom. It also has the bridge that was featured in the widely-popular TV show Romance in 2002, and is now known as the Romance Bridge.
- Daegu Arboretum
Daegu Arboretum is located in Hwaam-ro, Dalseo-gu, Daegu and was built on a sanitary landfill. It is home to more than 1,000 species of plants, including: giant cacti, flowers, medicinal herbs, and trees; and different ecology programs are held for children and students. It is open year-round and it is free to visit!
Korea is filled with beauty all over, and has a wide range of locations you can visit for any season and interests. You can enjoy the great outdoors, relax, and even learn about Korea’s culture and history at the same time! Go out and explore the beautiful locations of South Korea!
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Written by Ashton Carson
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