Korea’s best Places to Visit, and Twelve UNESCO World Heritage Sites Presented to the Research for Korean Culture course Korean Cultural Institute, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul September 11th, 2015 By Professor David A. Mason Department of Public Service Chung-Ang University
Four “Golden Ages” 600 – 800 Late 3-Kingdoms, Early Unified Shilla 0950 – 1200 Early Goryeo Dynasty 1392 – 1592 Early Joseon Dynasty 1988 – ???? Modern South Korea
Interlocking Lists of the Places Most Worth Visiting In the Republic of Korea 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites 317 National Treasures of Korea 21 grandest Buddhist Temples 4 most famous Neo-Confucian Academies 6 Palaces & a Royal Shrine 42 National and Provincial Parks 12 most-sacred and scenic mountains best-preserved-nature areas and islands Some unique individual sites
11 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites Bulguk-sa Temple and Seokgur-am Grotto (1995) Haein-sa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, (1995) the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks Jongmyo Shrine (1995) Changdeok-gung Palace Complex (1997) Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (castle) (1997) Gyeongju Historic Areas (2000) Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (2000) Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (2009) Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong (2010) Namhan Sanseong Fortress (2014) Baekje Historic Areas (2014)
Bulguk-sa Temple and Seokgur-am Grotto (1995)
Haein-sa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks (1995)
Jongmyo Shrine (1995)
Changdeok-gung Palace Complex (1997)
Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (1997)
Gyeongju Historic Areas (2000)
Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (2000)
Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (2009) 40 tombs in 18 locations
Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong (2010)
Baekje Historic Sites (2014)
Baekje Historic Sites (2014)
Namhan Sanseong Fortress (2014)
System started in 1967 with Jiri-san – visionary! 21 National Parks System started in 1967 with Jiri-san – visionary! also 21 Provincial Parks
Taebaek-san National Park (2016.08!) Nationalistic Shamanism
Gaya-san National Park Nongsan-jeong Pavilion
Gaya-san National Park Nongsan-jeong Pavilion
21 greatest Buddhist Temples
Buseok-sa Muryangsu-jeon
Seoul Samgak-san Doseon-sa
the best-preserved natural areas and islands UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site: Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (2007) UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Mount Seorak-san (1982) Jeju Island (2002) Shinan Dadohae (2009) Gwangneung Forest (2010) Upo Wetlands west of Busan City Suncheon Bay Wetlands, South Jeolla Deogyu-san and Worak-san National Parks Ganghwa, Jindo, and other Islands, west & south coasts
Special Sites, such as Seoul’s Inwang-san
Concluding Note: Further Information: www.san-shin.org