February 2025
The Korean government handpicked some remarkable local destinations that showcase the country’s diverse appeal. When planning your next trip to Korea, make sure to include these destinations in your itinerary.
Writer. Aisylu Akhmetzianova Korea.net Reporter
The annual list of the country’s top 100 tourist attractions includes the five royal palaces of Seoul, Purple Island in Jeollanam-do Province and Udo Island near Jeju Island.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Jan. 20 said that along with the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), it released the 2025-26 Top 100 Korean Tourism Attractions.
Marking its seventh edition, the biennial list has picked and publicized the nation’s top tourist hotspots since 2012.
The entries include 61 cultural tourism resources such as historical sites, architecture, interactive and leisure facilities and 39 natural and ecotourism resources such as forests, beaches and wetlands.
By regional distribution, the Greater Seoul area has the most sites with 22, followed by the provinces of Gangwon-do (State) with 11, Chungcheong-do 15, Jeolla-do 18, Gyeongsang-do 28 and Jeju six.
Debuting on the list are 27 places, including interactive spots to enjoy things “like a Korean” like eating ramyeon (instant noodles) at a park by the Hangang River; shopping at Sokcho Central Market in Sokcho, Gangwon-do; exploring Gyodongdo Island off the coast of Incheon, where parts of the hit Netflix series “Squid Game” were filmed; and seeking inner peace at the garden Sayuwon in Daegu.
Another 14 are longstanding fixtures on the list like Seoul’s five palaces, which were selected for the seventh straight time, Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province.
In the first half of the year, the release of a “traveler’s passport” containing the 100 sites will be accompanied by a stamp-collecting tour covering the country’s travel destinations.
More information on these events is available on the official website of the tourism campaign “Visit Every Corner of Korea” (korean.visitkorea.or.kr) and the list’s Instagram account (@visitkorea 100).
Samcheok Jeongwol Daeboreum Festival ran from Feb. 14 to 16. This local festival celebrates Jeongwol Daeboreum, a Korean holiday that falls on Jan. 15 of the lunar calendar. Observed on the first full moon of the lunar year, the holiday reflects hopes for good fortune and a bountiful harvest for all villages. Traditionally, Samcheok has marked the occasion with the “Samcheok Gi-tug-of-war,” a unique form of tug-of-war that serves as both a game and a prayer for peace and prosperity across the country.
Extra events were planned for this year’s festival, which fell on the tenth anniversary of the Samcheok Gi-tug-of-war’s designation as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. The indispensable tug-of-war game has gotten attention both inside and outside Korea for its massive rope and large number of contestants.
Numerous booths were also set up to give visitors a taste of traditional culture, including old-fashioned activities such as “moon house” burning and mangwol nori—a fire-spinning activity symbolizing the warding off of evil spirits and the welcoming of good fortune. Visitors also got to sample alcohol once consumed on the holiday to drive away evil spirits, traditional teas such as floral infusions and traditional foods like five-grain rice. The good times continued at a folk painting exhibition, lovely photo spots set up around Samcheok, concerts and performances.
© TongRo Images Inc.
The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival, one of the highlights of winter in Korea, wrapped up in Hwacheon, Gangwon-do Province, on Feb. 2. Festival goers tried their hand at catching and tasting sancheoneo, a variety of salmon said to only inhabit pristine waterways. There was also a range of winter-related sports and programs.
The festival’s most popular program was sancheoneo fishing, with three options available to merrymakers. There was ice fishing, which is the easiest way for beginners to bag some sancheoneo. Then there was lure fishing, which involves using professional fishing gear. As a final option, visitors could try grabbing the slippery fish with their bare hands and pulling them out of the water. All three programs had their own unique charm and were a big hit with visitors of all ages.
The festival grounds also included a restaurant that grilled or steamed sancheoneo caught by visitors or sliced them up raw, depending on their culinary preferences. Even visitors who weren’t up for fishing or eating sancheoneo could still choose from a range of winter recreational activities, such as bobsledding on the ice. Other delightful attractions included an ethereal exhibition of illuminated ice sculptures and sancheoneo lanterns strung up through downtown Hwacheon.
Click to Visit: 2025 Calendar of Festivals in Korea
© HWACHEON SANCHEONEO ICE FESTIVAL.
