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Korean Travel Online - New Year's Events and More (concerts, parties, and festivals this winter)

2013 is just around the corner. Here are some ideas on what to do this New Year's and the rest of winter.




Parties and Concerts
Get ready to party the night away with various new year countdown events and concerts

Date Event Where Details
31-Dec Glen Check Live on New Year’s Eve Olympic Park, Seoul
Olympic Park Stn. (line 5, ex. 3)
Celebrate New Year with South Korean indie band Glen Check's indie-dance fusion countdown | W44,000 – W55,000
31-Dec Countdown Seoul Times Square, Seoul
Yeongdeungpo Stn. (line 1, ex. 3)
Global live bands and electro DJs on three huge outdoor stages
W66,000 – W99,000
31-Dec W NYE PARTY Walker Hill, Seoul WooBar’s extravagant W New Year’s Eve party, including special guest performances from DJ Gigirocco and DJ Belzebass
W55,000 – W66,000.
31-Dec NYE Countdown Party Hyatt Regency, Jeju Buffet from 6 pm – 10 pm. Adults W62,000++, children W37,000, drink packages W25,000
29-Dec to
 31-Dec
Countdown Fantasy 2012 – 2013 Mapo Arts Center, Seoul
Daeheung Stn. (line 6, ex. 2)
This will be the biggest indie New Year’s concert in the country. W44,000 – W132,000. www.mintpaper.com 02-3274-8600
31-Dec New Year’s Eve Concert Seoul Arts Center
Nambu Bus Terminal Stn. (line 3, ex. 5)
Gangnam Symphony Orchestra, a huge countdown, fireworks and a floating of hope balloons | 7:30 pm. W30,000 – W50,000. 
31-Dec New Year’s Eve Concert Sejong Grand Theater at Sejong Center Gwanghwamun Stn. (line 5, ex. 8) Orchestra, choir and more
W30,000 – W100,000
31-Dec NYE Countdown Concert Party The Ritz-Carlton Seou Featuring popular baritone singer Kim Dong-kyu
9 pm to 10:50 pm. W190,000 – W220,000
31-Dec Deli Spice End of Year Concert: “We are here, Busan” Busan Cinema Center
Centum City Station (Busan line 2, exit 6)
Korean modern rock band Deli Spice comes to Busan with their hottest songs from the 90’s as well as their newly-released album | 8pm, W66.000. dureraum.org 02-563-0595
31-Dec Year-end Concert "Hi! 2013" Daegu Opera House, Daegu 11:00pm tickets at 30,000 won; 20,000 won; 10,000 won
31-Dec Pansori -Song of Chunhyang National Theater of Korea
Jung-gu, Seoul
The Story of Chunhyang") is one of the best known love stories and folk tales of Korea| 20:00 | W20,000
31-Dec Goodbye 2012-Hello 2013 Suseong Artpia, Yongji Hall
Suseong-Gu, Daegu
11:00pm | W50,000 / W30,000 / W20,000
30-Dec Pianist Ji-Yong Recital Daejeon Culture and Arts Center
Government Complex Station, Daejeon Subway Line 1, Exit 3
5pm | R: 60,000won, S: 50,000won, A: 40,000won
30-Dec Soprano Sumi Jo Concert Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 
7:00pm | RVIP-W170,000 / VIP-W130,000 / R-W100,000 / S-W80,000 / A-W50,000 http://www.sejongpac.or.kr
30-Dec Ballet Gala Performance Suseong Artpia, Yongji Hall
Suseong-Gu, Daegu
5:00pm | 50,000 won; 30,000 won; 20,000 won
28-Dec to
30-Dec
Patti Kim Concert Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center, Aram Concert Hall
Gyeonggi-do, Goyang-si
Friday 8pm / Saturday 7pm / Sunday 4pm
VIP: 121,000won / R: 110,000won / S: 99,000won / A: 77,000won / B: 55,000won
28-Dec Lim Hyung-joo Year-end Concert Daegu Opera House,
Buk-Gu, Daegu
8:00 |VIP-W121,000 / R-W110,000 / S-W99,000 / A-W88,000 / B-W77,000 / C-W55,000
27-Dec to
30-Dec
Ah Q - Contemporary Dance National Theater of Korea
Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul
Thu-Fri 8:00pm; Sat-Sun 3:00pm |  W15,000


Sunrise Festivals
Countdowns at midnight are standard in any country, but the traditional Korean way to celebrate the new year is to bask in the glow of the first sunrise.

Category Date Event Where Details
Festivals 31-Dec to
1-Jan
Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) Festival Sunrise Peak, Jeju Featuring jazz concerts, plays, a mandarin orange-eating contest and more
Festivals 31-Dec to
1-Jan
Ulsan Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival  Ganjeolgot Lighthouse
Ulju-gun, Ulsan-si
Ganjeolgot is known as the seaside location where one can witness the first sunrise in Korea.
Directions: http://bit.ly/W15yVF
Festivals 31-Dec to
1-Jan
Maryangpo Sunset & Sunrise Festival  Maryangpo Port,
Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do 
A great location and lots of celebratory events such as a local specialty market and seaside bonfires.
Festivals 31-Dec to
1-Jan
Homigot Sunrise Festival  Homigot Sunrise Plaza
Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 
A variety of performances and fireworks
Directions: http://bit.ly/YKieH1
Festivals 31-Dec to
1-Jan
Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival  Hourglass Park District
Gangneung, Gangwon-do
Get off of the train in Jeongdongjin and walk only a few meters to the beautiful beach and its large hourglass. 
Festivals 31-Dec to
1-Jan
Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival  Gyeongpo Beach
Gangneung, Gangwon-do
Fireworks and an array of programs and cultural events. 
Festivals 31-Dec to
1-Jan
Yeosu Hyangiram Sunrise Festival  Impo Village (Hyangiram) area
Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do
Gukak (Korean traditional music), sunrise singing contest, wish lighting, dance festival, family film festival, and a lot more
Festivals 31-Dec to
1-Jan
Ttangkkeut SunsetSunrise Festival Ttangkkeut Village
Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do
Celebratory concert, followed by beacon tower lighting, traditional dance performance, lantern flying, and fireworks



Winter Festivals
Snow and ice festivals around the nation. Ice-fishing is a common theme.

Date Event Where Details
through
31-Dec
Luminarie Jeju Festival 2012 Jeju Stadium Park at World Cup Stadium Jeju is covered in luminaries during nighttime
29-Dec to
27-Jan
Pocheon Dongjangkun Festival National Tourist Complex
Baegun Valley, Pocheon City
Ice sculptures, various family winter activities such as trout ice fishing, sledding and kite flying
22-Dec to
3-Feb
Pyeongchang Trout Festival  Odaecheon Stream
Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do 
Ice fishing, winter folk games, sledding, kite flying, and more!
Directions: http://bit.ly/YdyHOU 
5-Jan to
27-Jan
Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mountain Trout) Ice Festival  Hwacheoncheon Stream and five villages of Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do  Cut a hole through the ice or catch fish barehanded
25-Jan to
3-Feb
Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival  Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do  Performances, exquisite snow sculptures, snowman festival, snow sledding, etc.
19-Jan to
27-Jan
Inje Icefish Festival Injedaegyo Bridge
Inje-gun, Gangwon-do 
Fishing and cooking icefish, bowling via innertube, playing ice soccer, sledding, and race-walking on ice. 
04-Jan to 27-Jan Jaraseom Singsing Winter Festival Gapyeongcheon Stream
Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do 
Ice fishing for trout, snow sledding, a 50-people sledge ride on ice, ice sledding, ice skating, and bumper cars
8-Mar to
10-Mar
Jeju Field-Burning Festival Saebyeol Oreum area
Bongseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si 
This tradition of field-burning is reenacted by setting an entire side of the mountain (“oreum”) on fire. 
28-Dec to
6-Jan
Naeseorak Riverside Festival Apgang River
Inje-gun, Gangwon-do
Ice fishing, sledding, skating, a snow sculpture exhibition, music concerts, dance performances, and a talent competition 
21-Dec to
1-Feb
Lantern Festival & Ice Sledding Children's Grand Park, Seoul Lantern Festival: December 21, 2012 – January 6, 2013 (17:30 – 21:30), streets from the main gate to the music fountain
Ice Sledding Field: December 29, 2012 – February 1, 2013 (10:00 – 17:00), Environment Pond (환경연못) next to the main gate 
22-Dec to
24-Feb
Ganghwa Bingeo Festival Hwangcheong Reservoir Fishing Grounds
Ganghwa-gun, Incheon-si
Smelt ice-fishing, bare-hand smelt fishing, ice biking, sledding, ice sliding, and more. 
14-Dec to
27-Jan
The Boseong Green Tea Plantation Light Festival Botjaedaewon & Dahyanggak Observatory
Boseong-bun, Jeollanam-do Province
The green tea plantation transforms into a gigantic village of light! 
4-Jan to
27-Feb
Jaraseom Singsing Winter Festival Jaraseom & Gapyeongcheon Stream area
Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do 
Ice fishing, snow sledding, mini golf on ice, bobsleighing, and ice hockey
29-Dec to 27-Jan Dongjangkun Festival Baegun Valley
Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do 
Ice sculptures, sledding, trout ice fishing, wood-chopping, log-sawing, bonfire-making, and rabbit herding.
1-Dec to
6-Jan
Busan Christmas Tree Festival Gwangbok-dong Cultural & Fashion Streets , Jung-gu, Busan Concerts, events, a main tree, and each section will be decorated with different Christmas trees, ornaments, and lights.



Other stuff to do
Date Event Where Details
15-Dec to
17-Feb
Sledding Hill Ttukseom Hangang Park, Seoul Sledding and various winter activities http://bit.ly/U8D9Ny
7-Dec to
3-Mar
Five Color Starlight Garden Exhibition The Garden of Morning Calm
Gapyeong-gu, Gyeonggi-do
A magnificent scene of the garden aglow with millions of lights.
31-Dec Bell-ringing at Bosingak Bonsingak, Jongno, Seoul Bell-ringing at midnight with fireworks.
though
13-Jan
Hilton Christmas Train Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel A stunning display of vintage trains and wagons set amidst a “Dickensian” winter landscape
Dec to Jan Outdoor ice skating rinks in Seoul Seoul For an updated roundup of outdoor skating rinks in Seoul click here 

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Korean Travel Online - N Seoul Tower at Night

The N Seoul Tower (formerly known as Namsan Tower) is one of the most popular attractions in Seoul, both for locals and foreigners alike. There are a lot of things to do at the tower and the restaurants have good food too. When the weather is just right, it is nice to hike up the mountain. But since the weather is freezing, the bus is the best way to go.

I've been to N Seoul Tower several times before, but this is the first time I've been here at night. The nightscape is absolutely gorgeous



Since it is holiday season, there are various decorations at the base of the tower too.
The padlocks of love lit up with Christmas lights

Christmas tree for charity

And even the teddy bears are doing the Gangnam Style

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Korean Travel Online - Stunning Photos that Prove Cheorwon is Worth a Visit

Being located right next to the border, Cheorwon combines beautiful scenery with the tragedy of the division between North and South Korea. Here are some stunning photos that prove Cheorwon is worth a visit.

Sambuyeon Falls (삼부연 폭포)
This is one of Cheorwon’s most spectacular sights. The waterfall derives its name from the three hollows that have been eroded in the rock face which resemble three cooking pots. The nearby town called Yonghwa-dong holds a legend of a dragon that ascended to heaven from this place. For more info, click here.



Seungilgyo Bridge (승일교)
Half of this bridge was built by the North Korean Communist regime. The other half was built by the South Korean government after the area was recovered by South Korea.

There are two stories about the origin of the name. One is that the name takes one word each from then South Korean President Rhee Seung-man and then North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, to signify the involvement of the two governments in its construction. The other version is that the bridge was named in memory of Colonel Park Seungil who died during combat near the river.

Cars are no longer allowed to cross the bridge since it is a registered cultural asset. In 1999, the government commissioned the construction of Hantandaegyo Bridge which was built alongside Seungilgyo.



Goseokjeong (고석정)
Goseokjeong refers to the entire area around the Goseokjeong Pavilion and the valley surrounding Goseok Rock. Im Kkeok-jeong, who was the legendary leader of a peasant rebellion in the early Joseon Dynasty, is believed to have hidden in the 10m high rock which has natural cave inside. Im Kkeok-jeong resisted against the corrupt social class by helping the poor with the tribute goods that he had extorted around this area while the goods were being carried to the court from the Hamgyeong-do region. For more info, click here.


Cheorwon Peace Observatory (철원평화전망대)
A three-storey building built in August 2007. The first floor holds a permanent exhibit about the DMZ while the 2nd floor is the lookout in the DMZ, from which the North Korean propaganda village can be seen. For more info, click here.

Woljeongni Station (월정리역)
Trains running between Seoul and Wonsan used to stop at this station. Behind the sign 'The cheolma (iron horse) wants to run,' the remains of a train which was destroyed by the bombardment during the Korean War has been sitting here for over 60 years. For more info, click here.

Nodongdangsa – The House of Labor Party Ruins (노동당사)
This North Korean Labor Party Office was used to promote communist politics and control people before the Korean War. The building was so notorious that people used to say “Anyone that goes in never comes out intact.” For more info, click here.

Unfortunately, the building was under maintenance work when we went; hence the lack of photos. According to the notice, it finishes on Dec. 5, 2013, so it should be available for viewing now.

Baekma Highground Monument (백마고지 위령비)
This monument is dedicated to the Korean army and foreign soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the war. From here, you can see Baekma Hill. The hill would change hands 24 times after repeated attacks and counterattacks for its possession. It was one of the most intense position-grasping battles for a small hill during the course of the Korean War. Afterwards, Baekma Hill looked like a threadbare white horse, hence its name of Baekma, meaning a white horse. The 2011 movie "The Front Line" (Gojijeon) will give you an idea of what this battle was like.

Dopiansa Temple (도피안사)
The temple was named Dopiansa to indicate that the iron-made Buddha statue had reached “pian”, meaning an eternal place to rest. In addition to the legendary iron Variocana Buddha statue (National Treasure No. 63), the temple houses a 4.1 meter-tall three-story granite pagoda (Treasure No. 223). For more info, click here.

Jiktang Falls (직탕폭포)
Famous for its unique structure, this waterfall cascades in the middle of the entire section of the stream. The 80m width makes it the widest in the nation.



Bird Watching in Cheorwon (철원 철새탐조관광)
Every winter, cranes, eagles, geese, and other migratory birds come to Cheorwon. Cranes stalking around the fields and birds taking off en masse from the reservoir make bird watchers exclaim in awe. The four best bird-watching spots are Togyo Reservoir, Dongsong Reservoir, Woljeong Station Observation Deck, and the Saemtong area. For more info, click here.


For videos from the trip, watch these clips from Steve Miller:
Cheorwon Part 1:


Cheorwon Part 2: 




For a complete list of attractions, festivals, and accommodations in Cheorwon, download the pdf version of the map here
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Korean Travel Online - Yeosu's Top 10 Attractions

After successfully hosting the 2012 World Expo, Yeosu has seen a rise in its tourist numbers. In 2013, the city has accomplished its goal of having 10 million tourists in a year.

According to Yeosu City's official site, yeosu.go.kr, the popular tourist sites based on the actual number of tourists who visited the location are: 
Marine Rail Bike

For city tours, click here.
For a list of other attractions in Yeousu, click here.

Yeosu Aqua Planet at Expo Marine Park:
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Also located within a walking distance from the expo site is Odongdo Island. To get to the island, you just have to walk along the breakwater that connects the mainland to Odongdo.

























View from Odongdo
Jinnamgwan
Big-O at Expo Marine Park


Accommodation:                                                                                                                            

For something luxurious, you can stay at MVL Hotel, which is located right next to the expo site.























Otherwise, if you prefer a more downtown location, you can stay at one of the many accommodation options near Yeosu City Hall such as Benikea Hotel Yeosu or Narsha Hotel.
Nothing beats a hot soak in the tub while enjoying the ocean view and the sunrise.
View from Benikea Hotel Yeosu