1. 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

2. Four “Golden Ages” 600 – 800 Late 3-Kingdoms, Early Unified Shilla
0950 – Early Goryeo Dynasty
1392 – Early Joseon Dynasty
1988 – ???? Modern South Korea

3. 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

4. 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)

5. Bulguk-sa Temple and Seokgur-am Grotto (1995)

7. Haein-sa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks (1995)

8. Jongmyo Shrine (1995)

9. Changdeok-gung Palace Complex (1997)

10. Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (1997)

11. Gyeongju Historic Areas (2000)

13. Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (2000)

14. Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (2009) 40 tombs in 18 locations

15. Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong (2010)

16. Baekje Historic Sites (2014)

17. Baekje Historic Sites (2014)

18. Namhan Sanseong Fortress (2014)

19. System started in 1967 with Jiri-san – visionary!
21 National Parks
System started in 1967 with Jiri-san – visionary!
also 21 Provincial Parks

20. Taebaek-san National Park
( !) Nationalistic Shamanism

21. Gaya-san National Park
Nongsan-jeong Pavilion

22. Gaya-san National Park
Nongsan-jeong Pavilion

24. 21 greatest Buddhist Temples

27. Buseok-sa Muryangsu-jeon

29. Seoul Samgak-san Doseon-sa

31. 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

32. Special Sites, such as Seoul’s Inwang-san

33. Concluding Note: Further Information: