South Korea: Art, Culture and Technology

Morning flight from the U.S. to Seoul.

Arrive today at Incheon Airport and transfer to our hotel. Incheon Airport is ranked in the top ten airports worldwide and was granted the title ‘Best Airport in the World’ by Global Traveler for four consecutive years. Welcome dinner. (4 Nights)

Morning stop to dress in a traditional hanbok (rental is provided) and visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace Built in 1395, with your hanbok. The palace is considered one of the most beautiful palaces in Seoul. Next, we will visit the War Memorial of Korea Museum. Gather in the evening to enjoy a Korean BBQ dinner.

Curator-led tour of the National Museum of Korea. Visitors will receive an in-depth lecture on and beauty of Korean culture and how it evolved. Have lunch at the Bukchon Hanok Village. Surrounded by Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village is home to hundreds of traditional houses, called hanoks, that date back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392- 1910 AD.) You can even go “hanok hopping” and do a gold leaf imprinting workshop or have tea at a hanok.

Depart on a day excursion to the Demilitarized Zone where the armistice was signed in 1953, ending the 3- year-long Korean War. Learn more about the conflict at the DMZ theater before visiting the tunnel discovered in 1978, dug by North Korea to invade South Korea. End the field study visit at Dora Observatory located within the DMZ where one can view the civilian life of North Korea such as farmlands, soldiers, and a propaganda village. On the return stop for Lunch at the Heyri Art Valley and meet and discuss with North Korean Defectors. Next, visit the newly opened and technologically advanced National Folk Museum located in the Heyri Art Valley.

Today depart to the Gyeongju via high-speed rail to visit The Silla Tombs, ancient tombs of kings and noblemen of the Silla Dynasty in Tumuli Park. There are twenty-three large tombs located here, the most famous tomb being Cheonmachong & Hwangnamdaechong. There are 11,526 remains and crowns inside the Cheonmachong tomb showing the lavish lifestyle of the king. Hwangnamdaechong tomb houses the bodies of both king and queen and has over 30 thousand relics and gold accessories. In Hwangnamdaechong the queen's tomb has more luxurious accessories. Next, we walk next door to the Gyeongju National Museum which houses the Silla Tombs Ancient Art & Artifacts. This includes magnificent gold crowns, Buddhist artifacts, stone sculptures, earthenware, and the Emille Bell (the largest ancient bell in South Korea) (2 Nights).

Visit the UNESCO Heritage site Bulguksa temple. The hundred-year-old Bulguksa Temple is a repository for some of the country’s most important treasures. It is Korea’s most famous temple because of its restoration and magnificent Silla-era art & architecture. Next, enjoy a small hike and visit the UNESCO Heritage site Seokguram Grotto, an artificial cave grotto fashioned in the hills above Bulguksa temple. The chapel as a whole is unequaled in the art of the Far East. Lastly, have the opportunity to ring a twelve- foot-high Korean replica bell.

Today return to Seoul stopping en route to visit the Icheon Ceramics Village & Haegang Ceramic Museum. Here see the full process of making pottery, meet the artisans, and buy their ceramic art creations. (2 Nights)

Morning tour of the National Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art, Seoul. MMCA Seoul opened in November 2013. MMCA Seoul is an art and culture complex. Next, we have lunch at Samcheondong Street. Its charm remains intact to this day, an oasis of shops, restaurants, bars, and art galleries. Visit the Samsung Innovation Museum a great museum to know about the technology from the past, present, and future. Private visit to SK Innovation, an energy and chemical company, independently pursuing batteries and oil exploration and production. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner.

Breakfast and morning at leisure. Then transfer to the Incheon International Airport for return flights to the U.S. or continue onto the JEJU extension.

Jeju Island is located off the southern coast of South Korea. The Island is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites known as the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes. In the spring the island is covered in cherry blossoms, fuchsia azaleas, and later with blooming hydrangeas. Jeju is known for its balmy temperatures, volcanic landscapes, sandy beaches, and cultural history.