Central Area

A:Admission Fee   C:Closing Day   H:Hours   L:Location   T:Transportation

The central area encompasses the Chungcheong-do Provinces. It is an area of broad stretches of paddy fields interspersed with rugged mountains.
Daejeon is one of the area's principal cities, about two hours south of Seoul by car. It is a major junction for the train lines and expressways connecting Seoul-Busan and Seoul-Gwangju-Mokpo, and is rapidly becoming one of Korea's major scientific centers. Yusong Hot Spring Resort is located just northwest of the city.

From Seoul to Daejeon
1hr. and 30min. by train (Saemaeul-ho); 1hr. and 50min. by bus

Expo Park(Tel:(042)866-5114). on an outdoor site of approximately 627,000sq.meters(156.75 acres), is located in northwestern Daejeon, and is where Daejeon EXPO '93 was held. The area has since been renovated and turned into a public science park.
Expo Park features the Starquest Pavilion, Technopia Pavilion, Earthscape Pavilion and Vision of Korea Pavilion, as well as the Han-bit(Great Light) Tower, constructed to commemorate Daejeon EXPO. Visitors are able to grasp state-of-the-art technology in a single visit to Expo Park.
Several major science facilities, such as the Daedeok Science Research Complex, plus the cultural relics of Buyeo and Gongju, the capitals of the Baekje Kingdom, and Mt. Gyeryongsan, National Park, which is renowned for its magnificent natural beauty, are adjacent to Expo Park. For this reason, Expo Park is becoming a famous tourist attraction, where visitors can easily experience Korea's cultural heritage, science facilities and the beautiful natural surroundings in a single trip.

L: Northwestern Daejeon
T: Bus 30 min. from downtown Daejeon
H: 09:30-18:00
A: 1,000Won  Big3 4,000Won,  Big5 6,000Won *Admission fees for individual pavilions are not included.

Just west of Daejeon is Mt.Gyeryongsan National Park(Tel:(042)825-3003). The hiking trails of Mt. Gyeryongsan lead to two temples: Gapsa, which is famous for the changing colors of its maple trees in autumn, and Donghaksa, located on the eastern slope of the mountain.

L: Bus 50 min. from Daejeon
A: 2,000won

Northwest of Mt. Gyeryongsan National Park is Gongju, which was the capital of the ancient Baekje Kingdom from A.D.475 to 539, when it was moved south to Buyeo. The kingdom fell when the Silla Kingdom unified the Korean Peninsula in the 7th century. Many remains of Baekje's former glory are well preserved in these two old capitals.
Gongju's main attraction is its National Museum, which exhibits treasures from the 6th century tombs of king Muryeong. Although most Baekje tombs were pillaged over the centuries, King Muryeong's Tomb(Tel:(041)856-0331) was left undisturbed until its excavation in 1971.

T: Bus 1 hr.from Daejeon, 2 hr. and 30 min. from Seoul
A: 800won(for king Muryeong's Tomb)

Buyeo, about 20 miles further southwest, was the last capital of Baekje(A.D. 539-660).It also has a distinctive National Museum , 400(adult)(Tel:(041)833-8562) which incorporates the unique architecture of the Baekje Kingdom.The museum houses numerous interesting artifacts.

The bird's-eye view of the Baengmagang River Valley makes the hike to the oldest Baekje fortress above Nakhwaam Rock((041)835-3006)well worthwhile. Nakhwaam Rock is the site of a tragic legend. Some 3,000 women of the Baekje court leapt to their deaths here of avoid dishonor at the hands of their enemies during the fall of the Baekje Kingdom. The image of the women plummeting down in their colorful dresses gave the place its name, "Rock of Falling Flowers."

T: Bus 1 hr.and 30 min. from Daejeon, 3 hrs. and 20 min. from Seoul, 45 min.from Gongju
A: 1,400won(for Busosanseong Fortress) 

Gwanchoksa Temple(Tel:(041)736-5700~2), to the southeast of Buyeo near Nonsan, has one of Korea's most interesting Buddhist statues, Eunjinmireuk. This is a statue of the Buddha of the future and is more than 1,000 years old. At 19m (63 ft.), it is one of Korea's tallest Buddha statues, Its enormous earlobes, huge head, and unusual crown, all out of proportion, attract immediate attention.

T: Bus 1hr.from Daejeon to Nonsan
A: 1,500won

Asan is about an hour's drive south of Seoul on the Seoul-Busan Expressway. In Asan is the Onyang Hot Springs area, a popular honeymoon retreat. The Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan commemorates the historic feats of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who defeated the Japanese Navy in the late 16th century.

In the vicinity of Cheonan, a one and a half hour drive from Seoul, stands the Independence Memorial Hall of Korea(Tel:(041)560-0114). The memorial hall commemorates those people who struggled for freedom against foreign invasions throughout Korea's long history. The memorial hall collects, studies and exhibits historic artifacts and materials related to Korea's resistance to aggression, the fight for independence, the search for a national identity, and the record of the nation's development and progress.

T: Train 1hr.from Seoul to Cheonan. Bus 20min.from Cheonan to Independence Memorial Hall
H: 09:30-18:00(Nov.-Feb.-16:00)
A: 1,600won C: Mon.

Chungjuho Lake, 80 miles south of Seoul, offers a wide variety of water sports in the mountainous area of central Korea. Cruise boats ply the 32-mile-long waterway between Chungju and Danyang. Passengers can also enjoy a stunning view of Danyang Palgyeong, the "Eight Scenic Wonders" of the limestone region surrounding Danyang.

T: Bus 2hrs. and 10 min.from Seoul to Chungju

The most famous cave in the area is Gosudonggul Cave(Tel:(043)423-3071), located less than one mile from downtown Danyang. It contains glistening stalactites in all shapes and sizes. The cave is so breathtaking that it is also called the "Underground Palace."

T: Bus10 min. from Danyang Express Bus Terminal by taxi; 1 hr. from Chungju by bus
H: 09:00-17:00
A: 3,000won

Woraksan is a beautiful mountain, 3,700 feet(1,093m) high, some 24 miles (40km) southeast of Chungju. Deokjusa Temple, built by Deokju, the last princess of the Silla Kingdom, adds to the mountain's natural beauty and creates an atmosphere of mystery.
Mt. Songnisan National Park(Tel:(043)542-5267/8)is located to the northeast of Daejeon and is one of the most popular tourist spots in the central part of the Korean Peninsula. The park's Beopjusa Temple, established in 553 A.D., displays famous art works including a 108-foot-high bronze statue of Buddha.

T: Bus 3 hrs. and 40 min. from Seoul; 2 hrs. from Cheongju or Daejeon
A: 2,500won