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Photos of Korea, Yangpyeong (2026)

22/05/2026

Seoul Lotus Lantern Festival (연등회)

Leading up to Buddha’s birthday each year is a large lantern festival in Seoul called Yeon Deung Hoe, or the Lotus Lantern Festival. The festival draws in a huge crowd of 300,000 Koreans and 50,000 foreigners. The festival is a tradition over 1,200 years old. It is listed as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. The parade of lights follow a route from Dongdaemun to Jogye Temple and include 20,000 participants carrying lanterns as well as floats. This year, the parade also included autonomous robots.

Seoul, Jongno District
서울특별시 종로구

22/05/2026

UNESCO Spotlight: Baekje Historic Areas

In the Three Kingdoms Era of Korea, there were three kingdoms that dominated the peninsula, including Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. I am fortunate enough to live in a former capital of Baekje, so I have access to many of the historic sites at my doorstep. There were two main capital cities of Baekje: Ungjin (modern-day Gongju) and Sabi (modern-day Buyeo). The original capital was in Wiryeseong (modern-day Seoul) until threats from the Goguryeo Kingdom to the North forced a move to Ungjin (475). In 538, the capital was moved to Sabi, and eventually, Iksan would become a secondary capital as well. As such, many of the historic sites entered into UNESCO World Heritage List (in 2015) are around these former capitals.
Gongju – Among the historic sites, the most well-known might be Gongsanseong Fortress in Gongju. It is one of the most beautiful fortresses in Korea. Just down the road from the fortress are the royal tombs, including the tomb of King Muryeong, which was a major archaeological discovery in 1971. The tomb was intact and untouched by robbers for over a millennium, making it a great source of understanding the Baekje Kingdom.
Buyeo – There was, of course, a fortress in the proceeding capital as well. It is called Buseoseong. The fortress is famous for the Cliff of Falling Flowers (낙화암) where women chose to throw themselves off the cliff to their certain doom to avoid capture at the fall of the Baekje kingdom. Next to the fortress is the Archaeological Site in Gwanbuk-ri. Buyeo is also home to the Jeongnimsa Temple Site, Buyeo Royal Tombs, and Naeseong City Wall.
Iksan – The secondary capital of late-Baekje was home to a palace, where the Archaeological Site in Wanggung-ri is now, as well as a large temple complex called Mireuksa Temple. The temple site is quite impressive to me.
All three former Baekje capitals have a strong connection to their Baekje past. The longest-running history and culture festival in Korea is the Baekje Culture Festival held in autumn. It is a shared festival between Gongju and Buyeo. It’s a very large festival celebrating the legacy of the Baekje Kingdom.

21/05/2026

A crowd gathers for the Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) last weekend.

21/05/2026

UNESCO Spotlight: Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong Villages

Korea is a modern country with skyscrapers and apartment complexes. The country modernized quite quickly since the 1990s, losing many traditional villages along the way. There are still a number of preserved traditional villages you can visit today. It will give you a glimpse into the past. Korean traditional houses (hanok) are beautiful, and it always fills me with awe to see the villages and imagine what life was like during bygone eras. In 2010, two traditional villages were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. They were the Hahoe Village in Andong, and the Yangdong Village in Gyeongju. Both villages are representative of Confucian life during the Joseon Dynasty (1392 – 1910). Both villages are surrounded by and home to farms, just as they were years ago.
Located about 20km from the city of Andong, Hahoe Village is over 600 years old and was established by the Ryu clan of Pungsan. It is a popular traditional village where you can freely walk around and see the approximately 100 traditional Joseon-era hanok houses. The village derives its name from its location on a riverbend. The village is also heavily associated with Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori (하회별신굿탈놀이), a type of mask dance that has been passed down through the generations. One of my favorite festivals in Korea is the Andong Mask Festival.
Yangdong Folk Village is the largest traditional village in South Korea. It was founded by Son So (1433-1484) on the side of a mountain in Gyeongju. There are over 160 thatch-roofed houses in amongst the trees, including 54 that are over 200 years old. What I liked about Yangdong is how there are small roads weaving through the forested hills. Houses seem more natural and distinct. In other villages, it feels more like a showcase, whereas Yangdong is more immersive and relaxing.

20/05/2026

UNESCO Spotlight: Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites

Domens are structures, prehistoric megalithic stone structures with a top ‘table’ stone being supported by one or more supporting stones. The most famous dolmens, of course, are the one at Stonehenge. However, you might not know that Korea is home to 40% of the world’s dolmens. There are about 40,000 dolmens spread over the Korean peninsula. In Korea, they are known as goindol (고인돌). They are so common and inconspicuous that it is believed many were removed by farmers as nuisance stones. The three main cluster areas (Gochang, Hwasun, and Gangwha) were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. If you are looking for the best place to view dolmens, Gochang might be your destination. There are over 440 of them at the Gochang site. Some of the dolmens that needed to be moved were transported here. The most famous one is not within the park but on its own on a nearby hill. Hwasun is home to the largest dolmen in Korea. It is estimated to weigh over 200 tons. However, I think the most impressive single dolmen is located on Ganghwa Island. This table-type dolmen is 2.6m tall with a granite capstone that is 6.5m x 5.2m by 1.2m. Dolmens, or goindols, are an often-overlooked part of Korean history, even among Korean citizens. Though they are not as visually striking as the temples, forts, and palaces, they are what connect us to the people who lived on the peninsula 3000 years ago. The dolmens are proof of why Korea is considered one of the oldest continuously surviving cultural identities in the world.

19/05/2026

UNESCO Spotlight: Gyeongju Historic Areas

Known as the “museum without walls”, Gyeongju is a historically significant city filled with national treasures and cultural properties. In 2000, some historic areas were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. During the Three Kingdoms Era, Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla Kingdom and was known as Sorabeol. After Silla’s conquests over Goguryeo and Baekje, Gyeongju was the capital of the Unified Silla. At its peak, it was one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the world on the level of Constantinople, Chang’an, and Baghdad. Within Gyeongju, you can find many royal tombs, palaces, forts, and temples. However, Cheomseongdae is the representative feature of the city. Built in the 7th century, the stone tower is the oldest extant astronomical observatory in Asia. Gyeongju should be on everyone’s Korean tour itinerary. Everywhere you look, there is another beautiful and historic area.

18/05/2026

UNESCO Spotlight: Changdeokgung Palace Complex

In the early days of the Joseon Dynasty, the capital shifted between Hanyang (modern-day Seoul) and Kaeseong (modern-day North Korea). In 1405, King Taejong moved the capital back to Hanyang ordered the construction of a new palace, as he believed Gyeongbukgung to be unlucky. The new palace would be called Changdeokgung and was built on a hilly 58-hectare plot of land. To the rear of the palace was an extensive garden built under the principles of feng shui. The main buildings were completed in 1405 with buildings being added and the palace being expanded throughout the 15th century. During the Imjin War, the palace was destroyed by fire. King Seonjo had it rebuilt from 1607 to 1610 and it remained the royal residence for the next 258 years. It was the first palace to be rebuilt after the war. A restoration project in the 1990s brought back this important and representative Korean palace to its former glory and it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

15/05/2026

UNESCO Spotlight: Haeinsa – Tripitaka Koreana

Established in 802, Haeinsa Temple has a special place in Korean history as it is home to the Tripitaka Koreana. The Tripitaka Koreana is a collection of 81,352 wooden printing blocks containing Buddhist Scriptures. It is the oldest intact version of the Tripitaka, having been carved in the 13th century (1237-1248) after the Mongol invasions destroyed most the original set of blocks. In 1398, the blocks were moved from their original location on Ganghwa Island and a year later were in Haeinsa. Each birch block is 24cm high and 70cm long with a thickness between 2.6cm to 4cm. If you lined up the woodblocks, they would stretch 60km! They were designated as National Treasure No.32 in 1962. Amazingly, the Tripitaka was spared during an 1818 fire that burned most of the temple complex. The temple was set to be destroyed by bombing during the Korea War but a pilot disobeyed orders to spare the treasure Haeinsa held. Unfortunately for me, the doors to the depository were closed when I went. It is understandable, but I am jealous of the photographers who were able to photograph the storage halls. Haeinsa Temple (Dharma Jewel) is also considered one of the Three Jewels of Korea, along with Tongdosa and Songgwangsa Temples. Haeinsa Temple was also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

14/05/2026

UNESCO Spotlight: Bulguksa Temple & Seokguram Grotto

There is a reason why Bulguksa Temple is the most famous in Korea. This temple is the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and houses many National treasures including Dabotap and Seokgatap pagodas. This temple dates to 751 when Chief Minister, Kim Daeseong, commissioned it to honor his parents, though he did not survive to see its completion. The temple was destroyed during the Mongolian invasions in the late 13th century and was extensively damaged during the Imjin War. However, the temple has received many reconstruction and expansion projects. Most recently, a major reconstruction was conducted between 1969 and 1973, bringing the temple back to its former glory.
Bulguksa Temple is located on Tohamsan Mountain. At the top of the mountain, there is Seokguram Grotto. The grotto was designated the 24th National Treasure of Korea in 1962 and is home to a 3.5m tall Buddha sitting on a 1.34m tall lotus pedestal. It is a fine piece of Buddhist art preserved through the centuries by the grotto. Just like Bulguksa, the grotto was built by Kim Daeseong and finished after his death.
If you are feeling strong, you can even make the 3km hike from Bulguksa up to Seokguram Grotto. I completed the hike on my first trip to Gyeongju and have been back a few times. However, I drove up in later expeditions. As two of the most famous and beautiful examples of Buddhism in Korea, they are definitely worth visiting. Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto were registered on the World Heritage List in 1995.

11/05/2026

Seosan Munsusa Temple (문수사(서산))

Munsusa Temple is a quiet little temple in Seosan near the more famous, Gaesimsa Temple. Both temples boast a vibrant display of king blossoms. During an excavation survey in 1973, a statue was found to be inscribed with a creation date of 1346, meaning the temple dates to at least the late Goryeo Dynasty. The temple was rebuilt in the 1630s.

201, Munsugol-gil, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
충청남도 서산시 운산면 문수골길 201 (운산면)

10/05/2026

Seosan Hanoo Ranch (서산한우목장)

Covering over 21.06km2, Seosan Hanoo Ranch is an important area for the development of Korea’s own cattle creed, hanoo. It is home to around 3000 of the cattle. In December 2024, a 2.1km boardwalk was created that allows visitors to casually stroll into the pastures. The ranch was established in 1969 and is managed by the NH Nonghyup Bank Hanoo Improvement Center. The best time to visit the ranch is in spring as there is a cherry blossom road along the fence.

San 8-60, Yonghyeon-ri, Unsan-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungnam
충남 서산시 운산면 용현리 산 8-60

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