South Korea

SEOUL  Capitol of South Korea October 2019

Once a place travellers passed through on their way to China it is now a cultural metropolis with temples, architecture, cinema, music, cuisine, markets, fashion and history to discover and explore.

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) region on the Korean peninsula that demarcates the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) from the Republic of Korea (South Korea). It roughly follows latitude 38° N (the 38th parallel), the original demarcation line between North Korea and South Korea at the end of World War II.  

After the Korean Was the country split into two, separating the North from the South is a two-kilometre border, known as the DMZ. 

The DMZ is 250 kilometers long and about 4 kilometers wide border barrier and a heavily militarised strip of land dividing the Korean Peninsula roughly in half. It was established to serve as a buffer zone under the provisions of the Korean Armistice Agreement Korean Armistice  in 1953, an agreement between North Korea, China and the United Nations Command.

Jingwansa Temple located to the west of Seoul is one of the four major temples around Seoul and was dedicated to Preceptor Jungian in 1010 BC by King Hyeonjong, the 8th King of the Goryeo Dynasty.  The temple is not only neighbour to the beautiful surrounds of Bukhansan National Park, but also contains an impressive collection of cultural and historical artefacts. 

We enjoyed our tour with one of the Buddhist nuns which included a traditional tea ceremony.

Our Gala Dinner was at Sevit Island (Sebitseom Island), a human made floating island that has become a landmark since it became available to the public in 2014.

A culture complex made up of three floating islands created with the theme of “flowers of the Hangang River” representing the view, life, and the earth, as well as a flower in various stages of life. The largest island, ‘Some Gavit’ symbolises the view and takes the form of a flower in full bloom, a multi-functional cultural facility including for performances. The second island, ‘Some Chavit’ looks like a flower bud, an image of life includes a range of cultural experiences and event zones including Beat Square, Youth Woods, and restaurants using 3D. The third and smallest island, ‘Some Solvit’ takes the form of a seed planted in the earth includes water sports facilities and an outdoor garden while enjoying the picturesque Hangang River.

Gyeongbokgung Palace built in 1395 (14th century) and the first Royal Palace for the Joseon Dynasty having survived the brutal attacks of fire and wars. 

Gwangjang Market one of the city’s oldest and biggest markets with more than 5000 stalls famous for various snacks and food, the city’s most popular market.

War Memorial of Korea was once the headquarters of the Korean Army being established to memorialise the war and the symbolise the desire for peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula. 

Cheonggyecheon Stream is a 10.9-kilometre-long stream and public space in downtown Seoul. A natural stream sourced from the Suseongdong Valley in Inwangsan, historically maintained as part of Seoul’s early sewerage until the mid-20th century, when it was filling with concrete for the construction of an elevated freeway, the Cheonggye Expressway. In 2003, the city government began an urban renewal project which restore the stream being completed in 2005.

63 Square skyscraper commands spectacular views of the city.

Walking On The Cloud restaurant located on the 59th floor of the iconic 63 Tower with dramatic views from the Han River to the cityscapes.

Korean fried chicken overlooking the Cheonggyecheon stream

Maple Tree House 단풍나무집 traditional Korean barbeque

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art presents a curator-guided exhibition tour of the exhibition | The Modern and Contemporary Korean Writing.

Museum in Cheongju tells the story of Korea’s old printing culture, including a copy of the Jikji, “Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests’, it is the oldest surviving example of movable printed type. 

Today only the last volume of the Jikji survives, and is kept at the Manuscrits Orientaux division of the National Library of France.

1050-53 AUSTRALIANS in the KOREAN WAR

From June 1950 to July 1953 the Korean Peninsula and the waters around it provided the landscape and seascape for the first war to involve the United Nations. This war inflicted a very personal cost on the Korean people and on the sailors, soldiers and airmen and their families from the nations who came to Korea to help fight Communist aggression. To remember the cost Australia bore for its participation, the Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea in Sydney presents this exhibition to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak that tragic conflict and to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of 17,000 Australians, 339 of whom died on active service and over 1,500 who suffered wounds, during that war.