By Gil Kyuyoung
With the cold winter weather subsiding and warm spring air approaching, the Korea Tourism Organization recommends five tourism spots to visit this spring from its top 100 attraction list for 2025-26.
Now in its seventh year, the biennial list ranks and promotes the country’s top 100 destinations.
The following five spots offer healing of body and mind through stories told by history and nature.
1. Imjingak Resort and DMZ Live: dreaming of reunification
A steam engine is displayed at the former site of Jangdan Station at Imjingak Resort, part of Pyeonghwa (Peace) Nuri Park, in in Paju, Gyeonggi-do Province. (Korea Tourism Organization)
Imjingak Resort in Paju, Gyeonggi-do Province, is located in the border area of the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas, showing the pain of war and the importance of peace. Those originally from North Korea look at the country where they grew up from this area.
At the site is a bridge destroyed during the Korean War and a steam locomotive with clear bullet marks at the former site of Jangdan Station. In addition, a hill is filled with colorful pinwheels and an eco-trail goes along the Imjingang River.
A gondola ride going beyond the barbed wire fence brings visitors to see Camp Greaves, a former U.S. military base. A guided tour of the camp’s ammunition depot, barracks and an exhibition hall offers a vivid look at history.
DMZ Live is an interactive space to experience the history and ecology of the DMZ through digital technology like a virtual reality drone rider, DMZ Secret Forest and media exhibition.
2. Daegwallyeong: stress-free trip
Daegwallyeong Samyang Farm (Pyeongchang County)
Daegwallyeong is a hill 832 m high on the border between Pyeongchang-gun County and Gangneung of Gangwon-do Province, complete with a distinct landscape and climate. With a sprawling vast plateau, the hill has low temperatures, lots of snow and strong winds.
These geological and climatic factors have created a unique landscape formed by a ranch, ski resort and wind farm.
Among Daegwallyeong’s large and small ranches, the top three are Samyang Roundhill, Daegwallyeong Sky Ranch and Daegwallyeong Yangtte (Sheep Flock) Ranch. Samyang covers an overwhelming 19.83 square km and has a vast landscape, while Sky Ranch offers attractions like tractor rides and the rare Valais Blacknose sheep.
3. Meeting Admiral Yi Sun-sin: Hyeonchungsa Shrine
Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do Province (Korea Tourism Organization)
Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do Province is dedicated to Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the country’s hero during the Imjin Waeran, or Japanese invasions of the Korean Peninsula in the late 16th century. The compound features an old house, archery range, the old shrine building and a gate to honor loyal subjects or filial sons.
In addition, a memorial hall displays national heritage pieces reflecting the admiral’s human side and achievements such as a signboard for Hyeongchungsa Temple, a portrait of Yi, Nanjung Ilgi (War Diary), long sword, letters and messages.
A can’t-miss spot in Asan is Onyang Hot Springs, dubbed the “royal hot springs” frequented by Joseon Dynasty kings such as Sejong the Great, Hyeonjong and Sukjong. Another is Onyang Folk Museum for its stimulating exhibitions and events.
4. Donguibogam Village: mecca of traditional medicine
Donguibogam Village is in Sancheong-gun County, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. (Sancheong-gun)
At the foot of Jirisan Mountain is Sancheong-gun County, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, where the fresh air can instantly alleviate stress along with clean mountains and water. The main draw here is Donguibogam Village, which is themed on the Donguibogam (Principles and Practices of Eastern Medicine), a classic book on traditional medicine by Heo Jun, a royal physician in the Joseon era.
The village offers the feel of the book and the excellence of medicinal herbs growing in the county. Its facilities include Sancheong Museum of Herbal Medicine, Sancheong Medicine Herb Hall, Heo Jun Pilgrimage Trail, Traditional Korean Medicine Natural Recreation Forest and Mureunggyo Bridge, all of which offer interactive programs themed on traditional Korean medicine and cuisines using such herbs.
5. Namwon: where tradition, art and analog coexist
Gwanghallu Pavilion and Ojakgyo Bridge in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do Province (Korea Tourism Organization)
Namwon, Jeollabuk-do Province, is famous for “Chunhyangjeon,” a famous folk tale of love and loyalty, and cherry blossoms. Centered around the stream running through the city center is Gwanghalluwon Garden to the west and Namwon Tourism Complex to the east.
As the setting for the classic love story, Gwanghalluwon has the artificial island Samshinseom, a pond and Ojakgyo Bridge that form a beautiful traditional landscape. Other attractions there are related to “Chunhyangjeon,” and the evening lighting for Wanweoljeong Pavilion creates both a gorgeous view and an enchanting atmosphere.
Namwon Tourism Complex has Shim Su-gwan Pottery Exhibition Hall, which presents the history of Joseon potters forcibly taken to Japan during the Jeongyu Jaeran, or the second Japanese invasion of Korea from 1597-98, a “Chunhyangjeon” theme park and Namwon Space Observatory.
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