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Going on an outing to an ancient palace or park with your family can be a great alternative over the Chuseok holidays to staying at home watching TV. It doesn¡¯t require a long trip but can be a pleasant experience for the whole family, and it will give your children an opportunity to see our treasured cultural heritage for themselves. The Chosun Ilbo offers tips on several good places to visit.
Gyeongbok Palace
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A reenactment of a Chosun-era ceremony at the Gyeongbok Palace
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Gyeongbok Palace offers an excellent educational opportunity to fifth and sixth grade students. Its many interesting historic sites include Geunjeongjeon, the largest wooden building of the Chosun era of high artistic value; Sajeongjeon where kings discussed state affairs with officials; Sujeongjeon, which King Sejong used for academic research; and Gyeonghoeru, which was used as a venue for banquets for foreign envoys and meritorious retainers.
Directions: Get off at the Gyeongbok Palace Station on Subway Line 3, take the no. 5 exit and take a five-minute walk. Or get off at the Gwanghwamun Station on Subway Line 5, take the no. 2 exit and take a 10-minute walk. Or Get off at the Anguk Station on Subway Line 3 and take any bus that stops at Gyeongbok Palace.
Opening Hour: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (last admission at 5 p.m.)
Admission fees: Adults (19-64) -- W3,000 (US$1=W949), Children (7-18) --W1,500, special tours including Gyeonghoeru are W5,000 regardless of age.
Changdeok Palace
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The Jondeokjeong of the Changdeok Palace
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Changdeok Palace is remarkable for its harmony with the surrounding natural environment. Guided group tours are available and free tours on Thursdays only. Ordinary tours include the major building components and special tours include Biwon (or the Secret Garden), a forest in the rear garden, and Ongnyucheon (jade stream). Guided tours are available in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese. Guided tours in Korean start 15 and 45 minutes to the hour, and special tours require reservations. They are not available during the Chuseok holiday on Oct. 5-8.
Directions: Get off at the Anguk Station on Subway Line 3, take the third exit and take a five-minute walk, or get off at the Jongro 3-ga Station on Subway Line 1,3, and 5, take the sixth exit and take a 10-minute walk. You can also take buses no. 151, 162, 171, 172, 272, 601, and 1012.
Opening Hours: 9:15 a.m.- 6:30 p.m.
Admission fees: ordinary tours - Adult - W3,000, children - W1,500,
special tours - Adult - W15,000, children - W7,500,
unguided admission on Thursdays only -- W5,000 regardless of age
Changgyeong Palace
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A reenactment of a Chosun-era ceremony at the Changgyeong Palace
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Changgyeong Palace was built in the 14th year of King Seongjong (1483) and was burnt down in the 30th year of King Sunjo (1830). The Myeongjeongjeon, Myeongjeongmun, and Honghwamun which survived the conflagration and exist today represent the Chosun Dynasty architectural style of the 17th century. Meongjeongjeon was used for morning meetings with officials. Admission tickets for Changgyeong Palace will allow you to visit Jongmyo, a shrine dedicated to the spirits of Korea's royal ancestors, too.
Direction: Get off at the Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4, take the fourth exit, go straight for 300 meters, take the crosswalk and take a left and go straight for another 300 meters. You can take buses no. 101, 104, 106, 107, 108, 140, 143, 149, 150, 161, 162, 171, 172, 272, 301, 1018, and 9410.
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (last admission 5 p.m.)
Admission Fees: Adult -W1,000 children -W500
Namsangol Hanok Village
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The Namsangol Hanok Village/courtesy of Namsangol Hanok Village
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The Namsangol Hanok Village at the center of downtown Seoul shows what traditional Korean houses looked like. In all, five Hanoks were reproduced, from the house of the Park Young-hyo family, who used to be one of the most affluent and influential families in Seoul, to homes of ordinary people. The houses are furnished according to the social status of their owners, giving a glimpse of what their lives would have been like. There are also traditional Korean gardens.
Directions: Get off at the Chungmuro Station on Subway Line 3 and 4, take the third exit and go straight for 200 meters along the road between Chung-ang University Medical Center and Maeil Business Newspaper. You can also take bus no. 0013, 0211, 104, 105, 263, 371, 400, 604 and 7011.
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission Free
N Seoul Tower
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Tourists look down from the observatory at N Seoul Tower
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N Seoul Tower is the new name of the renovated Namsan Tower. The best thing the tower can offer is a spectacular night view of Seoul. What is more, you do not need to take an elevator to the viewpoint to see the night view. You can enjoy it at the terraces leading to the restaurant on the second floor. The easiest way to get to the tower is to take a cable car, but if you think it is too expensive, you can take a shuttle bus.
Direction: Get out of exit no. 2 at the Chungmuro Station on Subway Lines 3 or 4 or no. 6 at the Dongguk Univ. Station on Subway Line 3, and take the no. 2 shuttle bus. To use the cable car, get off at the Myeong-dong Station on Subway Line 4 and get out of exit no. 3 to the Pacific Hotel. Make a right turn at the corner of the hotel and walk straight for 10 minutes to the cable car station.
Business Hour: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Admission Fees (Observatory): Adult - W7,000 Student - W5,000 Children - W3,000
Seoul Forest
There are five theme parks in the Seoul Forest -- a natural ecological forest where visitors can see wild animals; a wetland ecological garden where visitors can observe wetland plants and birds; an outdoor learning park where visitors can observe insects and plants; a waterfront park; and a culture and arts park. Visiting the forest is an unusual experience, especially for children, because they can see wild animals such as deer, squirrels and ducks, which are difficult to find in the city.
Direction: Use buses no. 2413 or 2224 at the bus stop near exit no. 1 of the Ttukseom Station on Subway Line 2, or take no. 410 or 2014 at the bus stop near exit no. 4 at the Hanyang Univ. Station on Subway Line 2. Buses going there are no. 410, 141, 145, 148, 2014, 2412, 2413 and 2224.
Opening Hour: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Admission Free
Seonyudo Park
Seonyudo Park halfway down the Yanghwa Bridge is an old purification plant turned into an ecological park. Everything in the environment-friendly park -- buildings, trees, and even plants -- are like works of art. There are many photogenic places and a nice night view. Cars are not allowed to enter the park, so use public transport.
Directions: Take buses no. 605, 660, 5714, 6623, 6631, 6632, or 6633 near the no. 1 exit of the Dangsan Station on Subway Line 2. Near the no. 8 exit of the Hapjeong Station on Subway Lines 2 and 6, use buses no. 602, 604, 5712, 5714, 6712, or 6716.
Open 24 hours
Admission Free
Amsa-dong District of Prehistoric Relics
The Amsa-dong District of Prehistoric Relics is the Neolithic housing site dating back to B.C. 3,000-4,000. This is the largest housing site of the Neolithic period discovered in the country. Interesting enough, the site began to be recognized when earthenware and stoneware were discovered when the Han River flooded in 1925. It is a good place for children to learn about people¡¯s lives during the Neolithic age.
Direction: Use town buses no. 02, 03, or 05 near the exit no. 1 of the Amsa Station on Subway Line 8.
Opening Hour: 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Admission Fees: Adult - W500/ Student - W300
Aiins World
Aiins World in Bucheon is a miniature theme park that has some 109 famous architectural sites from 25 nations reduced to 1/25 of the real size. Visitors can feel as if they were in a land of pigmies and learn about the history of the world¡¯s buildings. During the Chuseok holiday, it will offer various events, including a treasure hunt, children dance contest, and hula hoop contest on Oct. 3. From Oct. 3 until 8, visitors can play Korean traditional games such as a shuttlecock game, tuho (a game of throwing sticks into a barrel), yutnori (a four-stick game), and Korean seesaw.
Direction: Use buses no. 5-2 or 37 near exit no. 2 of the Songnae Station on Subway Line 1, or no. 558 near exit no. 8 of the Bupyeong Station on Subway Line 1. Other available buses are no. 1200 at Seoul Station, Ewha Womans University, Sinchon, Hongik University, Hapjeong and Yangpyung-dong. In the Gangnam area, take no. 9300 near exit no. 3 of the Gangnam Station on Subway Line 2. It¡¯s a 15-minute walk from the Bugedong bus stop in Incheon.
Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Admission Fees: Adult - W8,500
Student - W7,000
Children - W6,000
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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