Korea UNESCO culture heritage sites are 13 places. Among of them, I like to introduce 7 sites for foreign travelers. I made the brief information(location, features, transportation, etc)
Korea unesco culture heritage sites features
Korea is the peninsular country with 5000 years. For these heritages, my key point of recommendation criterions are “fun” “unique” ” how much helpful to understand Korea culture”.
the Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen is the heritage of Bronze age, Baekje kingdom Historic Areas was founed in 180 BC. Hahoe and Yangdong, Jongmyo Shrine, Changdeokgung Palace are representive for Joseon Dynasty (14th~early 20th based on confusinism. Sansa(산사山楂) Buddhist Mountain Monasteries built from 7~9 centries, express well Korea buddhism culture.
1 Korea local Confucius school “Seowon” ( 서원(書院 Unesco listed in2019)
‘”Seowon 서원(書院)” is a traditional Korean Confucian private academies during the Joseon Dynasty(1392 ~ 1894), which always also contained a shrine dedicated to Confucius, and many other celebrated sages, including celebrated Korean scholars, . They usually contained dormitories and housing for resident students and scholars.
How to get to Seowon
The components of Korea UNESCO culture heritage “Seowon” are Sosu-seowon(서수서원 (1543), Namgye-seowon 남계서원 (1552), Oksan-seowon 옥산서원 (1572), Dosan-seowon 도산서원 (1574), Piram-seowon(1590) 필암서원, Dodong-seowon 도동서원 (1605), Byeongsan-seowon 병산서원 (1613), Museong-seowon 무성서원 (1696) and Donam-seowon 돈암서원 (1634). These(9sites) are located across the central and southern parts of the Republic of Korea.It was a very important education private local school. From trip of Seowon, you could experience the Korea confucius education culture in the past & realizd how much the confucianism influenced on 500 years Jeson dynasty society. It would take 3-4 hours by bus. If you like to know the detail way plz, use contack info (Korea travel hot line) or google map.
Korea Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay)
2 Changdeokgung Palace Complex (창덕궁(昌德宮 listed on1997)
Among of 5 palaces in Seoul, It is most well-preserved one of the Joseon Dynasty (1392 – 1910). This is where kings and their ministers discussed state affairs to effectively reign over the people, and where the royal family resided. This Palace was built in 1405 by King Taejong, the third ruler of Joseon. Changdeokung palace was burnt down during the Imjin War (Japanese invasion in 1592) and became the first palace to be rebuilt in 1610. Since then, it became the primary palace for about 270 years where 13 kings including the last monarch(Sunjung) stayed.
Changdeokgung Palace Complex feature & how to get there?
It is an outstanding example of East Asian palace architecture and garden design, exceptional for the way in which the buildings are integrated into and harmonized with the natural setting, adapting to the topography and retaining indigenous tree cover.
For the more detail info, please check this site. There is the night tour info also. I like more recommend the night tour than the day tour. The subway(City hall station) is the best way to arrive there for foreigners, I supposed.
3 Jongmyo Shrine (종묘(宗廟 listed on 1995)
This Korea UNESCO culture heritage site is located in Seoul downtown place also near to Changdeokgung palace. So I like to introduce. This heritage site built in 1394 is the building of the memorial services for the kings and queens were held here to pray for the safety of the country and its people; the rites also served to enforce the legitimacy of the royal family. The building itself has the greatest religious meaning from a Confucian perspective, showing reverence and respect in every aspect of its construction. The current Jongmyo Shrine is a reconstruction built in the 17th century after the Imjin War (1592-1598). From trip of here you could experience of Jeson dynasty funeral culture and it would be helpful to understand the Korea traditional culture.
Jongmyo Shrine Location & how to get there?
It is closed to Changdeokgung place above I explained. Also I recommend the subway of Jongno 3-ga Station exit 11. It would take about 10 minutes walking. This station with 3 lines is crowdy.
4 Hwaseong Fortress (수원 화성水原 華城 listed in 1997)
Hwaseong Fortress is an impressive structure stretching for 5.7 km and was built in 1796 during the Joseon dynasty. It is a new style of fortress that is distinct from Korean fortresses built in the previous period. In particular, * Silhak ideology developed during this period had a great influence on the construction of Hwaseong. Silhak scholars carefully studied the fortress walls of Korea, China, Japan, and Europe, and adopted on a unique style of fortress that was most suitable for Korea.
* Silhak(실학, 實學): Silha was a Korean Confucian social reform movement in the late Joseon Dynasty. Sil means “actual” or “practical”, and hak means “studies” or “learning”.
Hwaseong Fortress features & transportation
Hwaseong Fortress reflects the interchange of scientific and technical achievements between the East and West. The fortress had a great influence on the development of Korean architecture, urban planning, and landscaping and related arts. In addition, It combined traditional fortress building methods with an innovative site layout that enabled it to deliver defensive, administrative and commercial functions. It is a testimony to the rapid social and technical developments at those times. Sewon subway station is the cloest one to Hwaseong Fortress. There are the buses( No 900, 7-1, 66, 777) to Hwasong Fortress
5 Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (listed in 2000)
Korean dolmens, a kind of tomb, are prehistoric relics made of huge rocks. They are found in three regions, namely Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa. Hundreds of dolmens are located in each region, and in terms of diversity and density, it is hard to find dolmens like these in any other part of the world.
Features & transportation
The global prehistoric technological and social phenomenon that resulted in the appearance in the 2nd and 3rd millennia BCE of funerary and ritual monuments constructed of large stones (the “Megalithic Culture”) is nowhere more vividly illustrated than in the dolmen cemeteries of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa.This Korea unesco culture heritage site would make you feel like walking around the Bronze age! I like you recommend Ganghwa Dolmen sites where is near to Seoul. You should use the buses. For the detail, I like you the hot line for travelers above I introduce or Google map.
5 Baekje(백제 百濟) Historic Areas (listed in 2015)
Alongside Goguryeo and Silla, Baekje is one of the three ancient kingdoms that once shared the Korean Peninsula. Over the roughly 700 years from its founding in 18 B.C. to its demise in A.D. 660, the Baekje Kingdom was ruled over by 31 monarchs.
This Korea unesco sites are located in the mountainous mid-western region of the Korea, this property comprises eight archaeological sites dating from 475 to 660 A.D including the Gongsanseong fortress and royal tombs at Songsan-ri related to the capital, Ungjin (present day Gongju), the Busosanseong Fortress and Gwanbuk-ri administrative buildings, the Jeongnimsa Temple, the royal tombs in Neungsan-ri and the Naseong city wall related to the capital, Sabi (now Buyeo), the royal palace at Wanggung-ri and the Mireuksa Temple in Iksan related to the secondary Sabi capital. Together, these sites represent the later period of the Baekje Kingdom.
- For the detail information (Transportation, food, etc..) , please visit Baekje Historic Areas (baekje-heritage.or.kr)
6 Hahoe (하회 河回) & Yangdong (양동 良洞)Folk villiage (listed in 2010) Korea
Hahoe and Yangdong Folk clan village founded in the 14th-15th centuries, situated in the province of Gyeongsangbuk-do, are two of the best-preserved examples of how the locals lived long ago. Experiencing these Korea UNESCO culture heritage is like stepping back in time, and well worth the visit for anyone eager to soak up the rustic rhythms of Korean country life. The villages have the ensemble of YangBan and commoners’ houses, and these well reflect the precepts of this Dynasty in terms of its social structures and cultural traditions based on Confucian philosophy and ethics.
Yangdong & Hahoe(하회 河回) Location & more details
It is a little far from Seoul. It would take about 4-5 hours by car or Bus. It is a little far from Seoul, however you could enjoy very quite and peaceful natural atomophere there. For more info check thsi site http://yangdong.invil.org/index.html (need google translation). Andong more info http://www.hahoe.or.kr (W/ En, Jp, Cn, Fr, De)
*Yangban ( 양반 兩班), were part of the traditional ruling class or gentry of Joseon dynastic(14~19th). During the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were mainly composed of highly educated civil servants and military officers. They usually would not do labor on field.
7 Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea ( listed on 2018)
Buddhist monasteries nestled in mountains in Korea, called Sansa (산사山楂) are multifunctional religious facilities serving as home to the religious practices, beliefs and daily living of monks and laity. These are located throughout the southern provinces of the Korean Peninsula and established from the 7th to 9th centuries. The Korea unesco culture heritage of Sansa consists of seven Buddhist mountain monasteries—Tongdosa,(통도사 通度寺) Buseoksa(부석사 浮石寺), Bongjeongsa(봉정사 鳳停寺) Beopjusa (법주사 法住寺), Magoksa (마곡사 麻谷寺), Seonamsa (선암사 仙巖寺) and Daeheungsa (대흥사大興寺). these 7 temples express the Outstanding Universal Value of Korean Buddhist mountain monasteries. If you like to experience of Korea Buddhism, It would be the best choice.
Sansa Location & more details
The old Korea sansa are usually located on the remote and mountain deep side. For the detail info (transportation, heritages, etc), please check the Korea sansa website
