Korean Job Discussion Forums

[grnmle]

I am sort of branching off another thread (Off the beaten track destinations) because I would like to discuss some of places I haven't been to. I am definitely into the History and I know that at times this place can be devoid of places that one can see and touch.

Here is a list of the official sites:

* Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon
* Jongmyo Shrine
* Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple
* Changdeokgung Palace Complex
* Hwaseong Fortress
* Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites
* Gyeongju Historic Areas
* Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes
* Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
* Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong

I am really more concerned with the cultural sites. I'd like to here what people have to say about their visits. I know that sometimes these places can be disappointing but, I'd like to hear some interesting stories that people have possible acquired through visiting them. These places do tend to have lots of interesting stories that are hard to uncover unless you are fluent in Korea or you have a friend with a shared interest.

One of the first places I'd like to visit is the Haeinsa Temple. Has anyone ever been there? How difficult was to get there?

Okay...Have a nice weekend everybody!

[BoholDiver]

The only one I have actually been t is the lava tubes.

They were really cool, I don't know how rare that kind of thing is in the world. But it doesn't makeit any less special.

I saw Hwaseong Fortress as I drove by it. It looked decent.

[definitely maybe]

Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon is a must. It's cool and the history behind it is also interesting.

Bulguksa and Seokguram are in the Gyeongju area, and I also strongly suggest heading down there for at least two days. There's a lot to see there, but it can be a bit of a hassle without a car.

[grnmle]

I've visited Seokuram and Bulgoksa. They are pretty marvelous places. Definitely the two best historical places I visited while in Korea.

I've read the the architecture used at the Grotto is still not fully understood by engineers nowadays, it is clear from the fact that it hasn't been improved upon/preserved using original techniques. I've visited seen quite a few Buddhas and this once is quite special. The architecure is also quite special because the original builders incorporated what is known as the "Golden Mean."

[stevieg4ever]

Most of these are vastly overated to be honest and I have been to all but a few of them. They do not compare with sites from other countries but that is just my opinion ofcourse. The UNESCO label is just window dressing in my opinon and do not highlight the best of what Korea has to offer.

Temples in Korea are all very similar to be honest. Haeinsa and Bulguksa included.

Hwaseong: there are fortresses throughout Korea, again all very similar. Namhansangseong was far better.

Gyeongju is great by Korea's standards but not particularly amazing if you have been to other Asian countries.

[minos]

[stevieg4ever]

Yeah I felt like being a bit more diplomatic then you were and then I normally am myself, but I pretty much agree lol

I went to the 고민돌 in Ganghwado 강화도 and was severely let down. I did't think Hwaseong was anything (but then ive been to the Great Wall, twice) special for all the walking you have to do.

Haeinsa itself isn't a UNESCO site, its the Triptaka (sp) books that are UNESCO listed and these are cornered off from the public so you can't actually see them viz-a-viz what's the point....

OP mentioned Jongmyo but that is small and wont take more then, oh, 45 seconds to see.

The Japanese massacred anything of cultural and historical significance when they were here. Oh, and that drunk Adjossi lol with the gate, remember that?

Im not sure about these 'historic' villages but if they are anything like the folk villages then best to give them a miss.

Then again I have been to twelve Asian countries and plenty of others outside of Asia and the stuff op mentioned wouldn't even scratch the surface of other Asian nations in my opinion.

I would recommend the Boseong tea plantations, a lot of the mountains (Seoraksan and Deokyusan for the cascading waterfall at the start)
The Hwangseongul caves in Gangwondo, the Jejudo waterfalls.
I like Gyeongbukgung myself and the Banpo falls are very pretty and interesting as well.

But all the historical stuff is hardly worth the hassle....

[v88]

As others have said the UNESCO rating here is a little misleading...these places are great for Korea but not really amazing compared to the UNESCO sites in other countries. Also as Stevie has pointed out other sites are often better. Just as a side note, Korean architecture and urban areas are and always have been pretty humble, by design and through planning. Generally grand structures and excessive decoration were against the law...yep, you were only allowed to build so much or have a certain amount of decoration for your class in an attempt to create humility and equality...which of course only led to a great amount of corruption by the wealthy who thought they could bend the rules...some things never change.

* Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon: Lovely place, as many of the temples are...and should be viewd not really just for their structure but for their locations. Temples in Korea generally sit at the base of a mountain in a peaceful location with trails going up to the top of the mountain behind with hermitages near the top or along the way. Generally not breath taking, they are peaceful and give you a sense of Bhuddism here in Korea. The main draw here is the Bhuddist scriptures...but once you've seen them...that's it. As I said, you won't be amazed by the temple or the scriptures, but when you combine a walk in the mountains it is a pretty nice day out. Other temples to look at are Beopjusa (Lovely tall brass Bhudda and 3 story pagoda), Tongdosa (unpainted and quite an active place), Sinheungsa (in Seorak, lovely location and a pretty cool seated Bhudda, they also make a mean cup of I-seul tea - grown on the mountain) and Naksansa (although it was burned down a while back, it's a nice place to visit along the coast). Visiting some of the smaller temples can be just as rewarding as they are not often visited and can be more authentic despite their smaller structures.
* Jongmyo Shrine - Not really that impressive but when combined with the rest of Gongbukgung (palace) this is a worthy day out. You can combine this with a trip to Insadong for lunch and over priced (but very nice) Korean stuff. You can also hit the Folk Museum which is a great before you go to Hahoe of the Folk Village near Suwon.
* Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple: The Grotto is overrated but the drive up the mountain is pretty nice and so is the veiw, the temple is the largest and most majestic og any in Korea and one of the most picturesque but way too many tourists, go there in the off season.
* Changdeokgung Palace Complex - nice but I prefer Gongbukgung
* Hwaseong Fortress - A good day out, really worth seeing...but yes the great wall kinda makes it look pitiful.
* Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites - skip, unless you wish to do a little island hoping, the islands next to Ganghwa are pretty nice and have a few temples worth seeing as well as some beaches. The ferry ride between islands is nice.
* Gyeongju Historic Areas - Go to Kyoto...sorry Korea, but this place is so over rated it's not funny. Of course that being said being here was the first time I really felt I was in Korea. It's a shame more of Korea isn't like this and that the traditional homes are being torn down in record numbers...Koreans can blame the war all they want, but I think they have done just as much damage to Korean culture by ignoring it and throwing it away. Gyeongju is a worthy place to visit for anyone interested in her and the lotus gardens and old homes are really nice (skip the tombs).
* Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes - haven't been
* Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty - loads of these all over the place, The ones in Guri are pretty good and near by.
* Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong - My favourite places...must see. Go to the Folk Museum in Suwon too for a little more. If you drive you can find many soon to be abandoned villages in the area where only the old live. While in Andong you should also see Dosan Seo-won (Confucian Academy) and get a bottle of Soju from the Soju factory (the soju musem kinda sucks, but the Soju is worth a try).