ICIC & ISAAR 2019

Tour Program

Half Day Tour (09:00~13:00 or 14:00~18:00)

TOUR CODE ITINERARY FARE
H-A course HICO → Seokgulam Grotto → Bulguksa Temple → HICO (End of Service) $65

Seokgulam Grotto

located on Mt.Tohamsan, is the representative stone temple of Korea. The official name of Seokguram, National Treasure No. 24, is Seokguram Seokgul. Designated as World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995, it is an artificial stone temple made of granite. The construction started with Kim Dae-Seong (700~774) in 751 during the reign of King Gyeong-Deok (742~765) of the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.~A.D. 935)

Bulguksa Temple

is the representative relic of Gyeongju and was designated as a World Cultural Asset by UNESCO in 1995. The beauty of the temple itself and the artistic touch of the stone relics are known throughout the world. Bulguksa Temple was built in 528 during the Silla Dynasty, in the 15th year of King Beop-Heung's reign (514~540).
TOUR CODE ITINERARY FARE
H-B course HICO → Gyochon Village → Daereungwon Tomb Park → Cheomsengdae Observatory → HICO (End of Service) $60

Gyochon Village

Located in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongju Gyochon Village is a hanok village that allows visitors a look inside life of famous the Choi Clan. Visitors can see the House of the Gyeongju Choi Clan (Important Folklore Material No. 27) and try some Gyeongju Gyodong Beopju Liquor (Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 86-3) inside the village.

Daereungwon Tomb Park

Within Daereungwon Tomb Complex is Cheonmachong Tomb (Ancient Tomb No. 155), which was excavated in 1973. Cheonmachong Tomb consists of a wooden coffin placed inside an underground chamber mounded with boulders and earth, characterized as a typical upper class tomb of the Silla period. A total of 11,526 artifacts were discovered within the tomb, including Cheonmado, an artwork considered to be highly valuable as it is Korea's first artwork to be excavated from an ancient tomb.

Cheomsengdae Observatory

is the oldest existing astronomical observatory in Asia. Constructed during the reign of Queen Seon-deok (r. 632-647), it was used to observe stars in order to forecast the weather. This stone structure is a beautiful combination of straight lines and curves, and was designated as National Treasure No.31 on December 20th, 1962. Cheomseongdae was built in a cylinder shape with stones 30cm in diameter. 362 stones were piled up to make 27 levels. Roughly 4.16m up from the bottom there is a 1㎡ square entrance and a space to hang a ladder under it.
TOUR CODE ITINERARY FARE
H-C course HICO → Hwangryongsa Temple Site → Bunhwangsa Temple → Seokbinggo (Ancient Ice Storage) → Gyeongju National Museum → HICO (End of Service) $60

Hwangryongsa Temple Site

is attached to the Taegojong Order of Buddhism. No information is available on when the temple was built, but it is thought to have been built by the descendants of Hwang Hee (1363-1462), who returned to his hometown to avoid political strife in the mid Joseon era, wishing for national peace and the prosperity of the family clan. The temple had been taken care of by Hwang Hee’s descendants for generations, but at one time became ruined. The temple had been rebuilt in modern days.

Bunhwangsa Temple

was built during the year 634 and the third year of Queen Seondeok's rule, the 27th ruler of the Silla Kingdom. Prominent Buddhist priests Wonhyo and Jajang have resided at the temple. As the temple has a long history, it once held many historical relics but most of them have been lost due to the Mongolian invasion and the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. The remaining relics are Mojeon Stone Tower, Hwajaengguksabibu (A memorial stone placed in memory of Wonhyo, a renown Buddhist priest from the Silla Kingdom).

Seokbinggo (Ancient Ice Storage)

means a freezer made of rocks. It is an ancient refrigerator only in Korea. Half of Seokbinggo is underground while the other half is above ground, signifying the scientific propensity of Korea. The floor, walls, and ceiling are made of granite and have an airway. The walls are covered with limestone to keep off moisture and water. The floor is slanted to allow melted ice to funnel out. From historical annals, it is assumed that Seokbinggo was made at least 1,500 years ago. Seokbbingo has been designated as National Treasure No. 66.

Gyeongju National Museum

is loved by visitors and residents alike as it houses numerous historical and cultural artifacts of the Silla Dynasty (57 BC - AD 935). The museum recently went through renovation, and the galleries and the exhibition halls have taken on a new look. As a significant cultural center, Gyeongju National Museum not only strives to preserve, exhibit, and research the rich history and culture of Silla, but it also strives to take a leap forward to become a cultural multi-complex center by promoting international exchange opportunities, social education programs, and a variety of special exhibitions.
TOUR CODE ITINERARY FARE
H-D course HICO → Yangdong Village → Daldongnae of Olden Times → HICO (End of Service) $65

Yangdong Village

is Korea’s largest traditional village, showcasing the traditional culture of the Joseon Dynasty and the beautiful natural surroundings. Mt. Seolchangsan and its four spines of mountains can be seen beyond the village. Approximately 160 old houses and 500-year-old thatched-roof cottages are nestled within the valley. Fifty-four of these homes, are over 200 years old and have been excellently preserved in their original state, offering a rare opportunity to view a variety of unique Korean traditional houses in person.

Daldongnae of Olden Times

is one of the fun-loving theme park in Gyeongju. “Nostalgic Dal-dongne” is popular tourist attraction in Gyeongju. “Dal-dongne” literally translates to Moon Villages. People named this settlement as moon villages because it is situated on the hillside of mountain high above the city, you can see the moon clearly and feel much closer at the height. The Moon Villages began to grow after the Korean War (1950’s) as refugees’ residence from North Korea. After that, these slum villages spread out in big Korean cities like Seoul and Busan during the high-speed economic growth in Korea by people who wanted to find jobs from the countryside.