UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES OF SOUTH KOREA
UNESCO-inscribed places of interest is my priority when visiting
a country. South Korea is no exception
to my feat, though a work in progress to complete. As of 2016, there are twelve world heritage
sites in South Korea composed of eleven cultural sites and one natural site.
SEOUL
CHANGDEOKGUNG PALACE COMPLEX
The Palace is closed every Monday. This is a reminder from our first trip in
Seoul.
Constructed of wood and set on stone
platforms, featuring tiled hipped roofs with a corbelled multi-bracket system
and ornamental carvings, this UNESCO World Heritage Site complex is designed in
accordance with traditional palace layout principles.
The buildings of Changdeokgung Palace
complex blend with the natural topography of the site. There is a secret garden as well, which tour
is mandatory to go with a group and a guide.
The tour takes almost an hour and for us with a limited time in the
city, we have to let go of the opportunity and wander on the huge complex
instead. Portions of the palace were
likewise used in filming the popular Korean drama, Jewel in the Palace.
Location:
03072 2-71 Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Subway Options To Get There:
·
Anguk Station (subway line 3) exit 3,
roughly 5 minutes away from foot
·
Jongno 3 (sam)-ga Station (subway lines 1, 3,
5) exit 6, roughly 10 minutes away on foot
GYEONGGI
PROVINCE
HWASEONG FORTRESS
Maehyang-dong, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Admission: FREE
Surrounding Suwon, the provincial capitol of Gyeonggi-do South
Korea, is a concrete wall named as the Brilliant
Castle or the Hwaseong Fortress. The
Korean fortress was builty by a king in the Joseon dynasty to honor the remains
of his father, who has been executed by being locked alive inside a rice chest
by his own father after failing to obey the command to commit suicide.
The surrounding wall resembles that of Intramuros in Manila only
that this fortress is much wider in acres and regarded with cultural
significance. But what is more
surprising for this destination is its appeal to avid viewers of Korean TV
dramas, especially that one of the palaces in the vicinity was chosen as one of
the locations of South Korea’s worldwide period drama “Daejanggeum or popularly
known as “Jewel in the Palace”.
The palace is named as Hwaseong Temporary Palace. We were actually caught by surprise because
we have no idea what this fortress is all about. A day trip to the province of Gyeonggi though
is all worth it.
How to Get There
from Seoul:
Option 1 – By
Subway (Travel time of one hour)
· Take Subway Line 1 (blue) south – Cheonan Line in the direction
of Sinchang to Suwon Station.
Trains may go different locations, so you must be aware at all
times that it should be on the direction towards Suwon or Sinchang.
· At Suwon Station, hop on the intra-city bus either 11, 13, 13-3,
36 or 39 at Exit 4. (Suwon Station – North square) which all go to
Paldalman. The said buses leave from
Deokyyeongdae-rp which is right where the train station and the tourist
information are.
· Get out of the bus at Paldalman.
This is a roundabout with a monument in the middle. And walk towards the Hwaseong Temporary
Palace and other sites leading to the fortress.
Option 2 – Nooriro
Train (Travel time of 30 minutes)
This is much more expensive amounting to 2,700 won but
convenient. The travel is non-stop from
Seoul Station to Suwon Station.
We opted for the first option.
1 comments
Konti na lang! Sampu na lang kumpleto na! :D
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