Perfect Time to Visit National Parks of Korea

The stifling heat of the summer has somewhat simmered down and we can now feel a hint of autumn seeping through the air. If you’re planning an autumn vacation, I’d say you should definitely go for the mountains.
Around this time of a year, Korean mountains exhibit splendid foliage. National parks at such mountains as Seoraksan, Naejangsan, Songnisan and Wolchulsan will be perfect spots for enjoying wonderful Korean autumn sights. In link with this, there is a TV program that introduces beautiful mountain scenery of Korea.
There are around 20 national parks in Korea, all of which boast exceptional natural beauties. 38 million people visit the parks annually, and they are home to some 60% of endangered species. So it’s hardly an overstatement to say national parks are the very core of Korea’s ecology.
In an effort to promote Korean natural sights to the world overseas, the Korea National Park Service produced a TV program that introduces Korea’s national parks in cooperation with Arirang TV, an English-language TV channel that has viewers from more than 188 countries including the US, Canada and the UK via satellite.
In the program, foreign reporters visit the parks and go on “eco-tours”, introducing the sights from the perspective of non-Koreans. For example, at Dadohaehaesang National Park, the largest national park in Korea which expands across seven coastal areas in the South and West Sea, reporters get hands-on experience on drying anchovies, or at Odaesan National Park they get to unearth potatoes.
The program is made up of 20 episodes, each of which is about 10 minutes in length. It will be aired at 7:30 pm (Korean time) every Saturday on Arirang TV.
Various Education & Entertainment Programs
We may think national parks are just nice, peaceful tourist spots with a bunch of mountains and creeks and trees and whatnot bundled up together. Well, maybe so. But recently, many educational and entertaining programs are being offered for those far too many city-bound children and life-jaded adults.
For example, at those national parks near the city such as Bukhansan National Park, they have built an “eco village” where city kids can explore nature, get an education on environment and also receive treatment for environment-related illnesses such as asthma or atopic dermatitis which as many as one quarter of children suffer.
Also, since national parks house many of endangered species, children can take actual glimpses at those precious fauna and flora that they’ve only seen on the pages of books. For example, Byeonsanbando National Park houses the very rare insect “chrysochroa fulgidissima,” or in another term, “jewel beetle.”
So, why not take your autumn vacation at one of these splendid national parks?

Excursion to Ulleungdo and Dokdo 21-23 June, 2010

I was enough lucky to get invited to experience Korean ecological environment and culture by the Korean National Council for Conservation of Nature (KNCCN) on part of people-to-people diplomacy in Ulleungdo and Dokdo. This trip was organized from 21-23 June, 2010. I was part of about 100 international students, therefore besides ecological understanding; it also provided a good platform to meet with friends across the world.

Ulleungdo is an island, located in eastern side of Korea, about 161 KM from Mukho ferry terminal. Dokdo islet is further about 84 KM eastern side of Ulleungdo. First, we visited Ulleungdo and the same day we tour for local places notably the museum, and the very next day we took ferry and did excursion of Dokdo islet and finally on the third day we visited many places in Ulleungdo and toured many villages and beautiful sightseeing at there. This writing tells some observations about this wonderful trip.
No doubt both places are worth to visit in perspective of exploring ecological and cultural environment in addition to its geo-political setting. I had a unique opportunity to travel so long by water way i.e. ferry and experienced differences with road/air travelling. Ferry travelling is very much dependent on the weather condition, hence an important predictors of duration and destination. For example, the ferry used to go to Dokdo islet hardly 50 days in a year due to whether condition. Moreover, I felt a different kind of interest but a monotonous scene of sea.
The way of evolving human settlements is also interesting at Ulleungdo. In present context, it is similar to dream to reside on the moon. The chronological evolution of settlement is very interesting for me which can be found in many resources including handbook provided by the Dokdo museum in Ulleungdo. In brief, the political processes and numerous studies by kingdoms to know its habitation holding capability etc made possible to settle very few (about 50 families) to nearly 10, 000 population now. The process of evolution of governance is also appreciable. At the present moment, the village setting of Ulleungdo may be some of the best in the world; however the urban setting is unlike to the development of Korea. The core area especially, ferry terminal area demands for immediate planning intervention to restore natural fabric and enhance ecological environment.
Dokdo islet experienced was also great. We stayed hardly half hour. I wish I would have stayed some more time there and would have landed on the islet. Although, short stay at the Dokdo, permit us to see rich flora and fauna and interesting forms of islets.
I would like to thanks staffs of the KNCCN for arranging this wonderful trip.

Donggureung Tombs - 동구릉 (東九陵) (Built 1408-1904)

Last week, we had an opportunity to visit Donggureung tombs. Recently, this site is designated as ‘World Heritage Site’ hence came under World’s cross hair. This graveyard has nine royal mausoleums and seventeen graves. It is located in a large forest area and it occupies a larger area compared to the other tombs in Korea. The surrounding forest enhances the beauty of the place.

Photo taken in front of the tomb

Source: Donggreung Brochure

For any big projects, location does matter. In the same way Donggureung site was selected based on (a) Distance from Hangan (Old name of seoul) (b) distance in relation to other royal tomb (c) the accessibility of the location and (d) Korean traditions of geomancy. It also considered traditional burial rituals of Korea and the natural environment.

One interesting story, the long reeds are said to have been transplanted from King Taejo's hometown of Hamgeung. Overall it carries 600 years of fascinating Joseon History within it.

Here, I am going to explain brief characteristics of all the tombs.

1. Geonwonneung

tomb of King Taejo

This is the tomb of King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon dynasty. He founded dynasty in 1392 and ruled merely for 6 years and then retired. After his death in 1408, his fifth son King Taejon built his tomb.

2. Hyeolleung

tomb of King Munjong and Queen Gwon

This is the tomb of King Munjong (5th king) and Queen Gwon. King Munjong was an extremely learned man and published many books on Korean history. He was the son of King Sejong, considered to be the greatest of all Joseon kings. Munjong died at age 39 after reigning only 3 years (1450-52). Queen Gwon died in 1441 but her remains were interred here only in 1513.

3. Mongneung

tomb of King Seonjo, Queen Bak and Queen Kim

This is the tomb of King Seonjo (1567-1608), Queen Bak, & Queen Kim. To the right of his tomb stand the twin tombs of Queen Bak and Queen Kim. The King's tomb has a 12-sided retaining wall and the Queen's tombs have a rock fence.

4. Hwireung

Tomb of Queen Jo

This tomb belongs to Queen Jo, 2^nd wife of Injo, the 16^th ruler of Joseon dynasty.

5. Sungneung

tomb of King Hyeonjong and Queen Kim

Sungneung is the tomb of Hyeonjong, the 18th king of Choson. Queen Kim is interred in a separate burial mound to his right. He ruled for 15 years (1659-74) and died at age 33.

6. Hyereung

tomb of Queen Sim

Here lie the remains of Queen Sim, the first queen of King Gyeongjong, the 20th ruler of the Choson dynasty (r. 1720-24). Gyeongjong was the son of the infamous concubine Jang Huibin.

7. Wolleung

tomb of King Yeongjo and Queen Kim

Wolleung is the tomb of King Yeongjo, the 21st ruler of Joseon, and his wife Queen Kim. Yeongjo died in 1778 at age 82. The son of Choe Sukbin, a concubine of king Sukjong (19th king), Yeongjo acceded to the throne upon the death of Gyeongjong, his half brother and son of Jang Huibin. King Yeongjo reigned for 52 years, longer than any other king of the Choson dynasty.

8. Sureung

tomb of prince Ikjong and Prince Jo

Prince Munjo, the son of King Sunjo (the 23rd king), did not live long enough to reign. Munjo married at age 11 and died at 21. His father loved him greatly and ordered a kingly tomb, or "neung", built for him. The prince was given the title of Ikjong posthumously. His widow Queen JO was buried here in 1890.

9. Gyeongneung

tomb of King Heonjong, Queen Kim and Queen Hong

The tomb of King Heonjong, the 24th ruler, is the sole example of a tomb with three mounds enclosed inside the same wall. Heonjong became king at age seven and married Queen Kim at age 11. Queen Kim died when the king was 16. Two years later at 18, he married Queen Hong. King Heonjong reigned for 15 years (1834-49) and died at age 22. Both queens are buried in separate mounds to the right of the King's tomb. Queen Hong was the last member of the royal family to be buried at Donggureung. She died in 1904 at age 73.