Detail

Scenic Postage Stamps Travelling and sightseeing enriches our bodies and minds. Korea, as called `The land of beautiful scenery` and as it has created the brilliant civiliation from old times, has many tourist potentials merged into the framework of ancient culture and infiltrated into historical tradition yielding picturesque landscape and well-preserved antiquities. In sightseeing, it is most efficient to admire many scenic places in priority. In order to recommend to sightseers at home and abroad each one of outstanding scenic places selected from all the respective provinces, this Administration issues, for the first time, in its kind, the first series of scenic postage stamp in ten kinds on May 25, 1964. Secret Garden Belonging to Changdok Palace, this was a typical royal garden built in Yi Dynasty. The extensive garden with its ancient pavilions, cathedrals and lotus pond surrounded by dense trees and all varieties of flowers forms a fairy-land. Changdok Palace was built in 1405 as an Imperial villa of Yi Dynasty and was sometimes used as a palace. In those days this garden was the walking place forbidden to any visitor, and now it is the most favorate scenic place in Seoul opened to tourist. Surrounded by thick pine trees, there are many architectures such as Yongwhadang built as a place for pubilc service examination in late Yi Dynasty, Buyong Pavilion, Soyo Pavilion and many other remains of Yi Dynasty. Whahong Gate The Whahong Gate in Suwon city, Kyonggi-do is consisted of seven sluices symbolizing the seven colors of rainbow. On the seven sluices there is a small charming pavilion that contrasts beautifully with its surroundings composed of bush and thousand-year old trees. In the east side of this gate is Bangwhasuryu Pavilion which was built on the occasion of transfering the capital to Suwon in 1794. The architectural beauti of this pavilion is the symbol of modern art of architecture. In addition to these attractions, there are a famous lake named Western Lake, Paldal Gate, Whasanyongju Temple and many other historic remains. Uisang Pavilion Uisang Pavilion located in Yangyang-gun, Kangwon-do is one of the `Eight Best Sceneries of Kwandong` together with neighbouring Naksan Temple. This is a noted pavilion located by the highway from the Mt. Sorak toward Kyongpo Pavilion in the East Coast resort area. It is said that Saint Uisang prayed for seven days on the present site of the Pavilion and finally saw an image of Buddha rising out of the sea. Uisang Pavilion was built in the memory of Saint Uisang on the same place where he had prayed to become a Buddha. Besides this pavilion, there are many temples and pavilions in the East Coast; Chukso Pavilion, Kyongpo Pavilion, Chongkan Pavilion, etc. Mt. Songni Mt. Songni located in Chungchong-pukdo is often called as the second Mt. Diamond in Korea for its scenic beauties from ancient times. Along the beautiful path leading to the Bopju Temple in this mountain there stands many hundreds-year old forest trees high up in the sky. Bopju Temple on the foot of this mountain was built by the famous priest Uisindaisa in Silla period. Palsangjon of Bopju Temple, pagoda-like five-storeyed wooden building is 32.3 meters in height. Colossal 23 meters tall Maitreya Buddha is one of the largest stone image of Buddha in the world. Especially in the autumn, ever-tranquil temple in this mountain is crowed by both domestic and foreign tourists seeking fresh and autumn tints. Paekma River The Paekma River is running around Puyo, the ancient capital city of Paekjae Dynasty. By the bank of this river stands an exquisite hill named the `Rock of Falling Flowers` which contains a pathetic legend. Shortly before the Paekjae Kingdom was sieged by foreign forces, some three thousands of court ladies serving for King Uiza rushed to the top hill of river side. On the hill they fell into the river in order to keep themselves from the violation of chastity by the invaders. Famed places in this resort area include Paekwha Pavilion located on the top of the `Rock of Falling Flowers`, Koran Temple, Paekjae Pagoda and many other historic remains. Anab Pond Anab Pond is located on the way to Bulguk Temple in Kyongju, the ancient capital city of Silla Dynasty. Upon unification of three Kingdoms in the Korean peninsular by the Silla Dynasty, built in commemoration of this unification were majestic palace called Imhae Palace and a gigantic artificial pond named Anab Pond. In the past thousand and some years the sumptuous palace was destroyed by foreign invaders and now this famous pond remains alone with those footing stones of the old palace. These historic traces covered with reed and bush-clover tell good old days. Although the scenery of 12 artificial Musan hills cannot be found, Bunwhang-sa Tower and Myeungwhalsan Castle show their figures far over the bush of reed. Choksok Pavilion Choksok Pavilion located in Chinju, Kyongsang-namdo is the symbol of this historical city. A legend remembered by most of Korean people is the story of Nonkae: when the Japanese forces invaded this country a keesaeng girl served the country at the sacrifice of her life to kill a Japanese general who was leading the invading troops. When the Japanese general reveled at the pavilion after surrendering the Chinju Castle in 1592, a charming keesaeng girl named Nonkae made up her mind to kill the general and she fell into water of the Nam River with him in her arms. Afterwards the citizens of this city built an exquisite shrine in her memory and placed portrait there in. Kwanghan Pavilion It is known that the Kwanghan Pavilion which connected Rhee Mong Ryong and Sung Choon Hyang who were hosts of Choon Hyang biography was built by Namwon Governor Min Yeo Kong in King Sae Jong`s lifetime in Yi Dynasty. There is a nice lake filled of Yo Chun clean water in front of the belvedere and Ojak Bridge was layed in the west side of the lake. On this bridge they met and took walks for their love. The Ojak bridge, meaning literally the bridge of clows and magpies, was named after a legend that clows and magpies fly side by side across the Milky Way on July 7th in lunar calendar every year in order to keep a rendezvous with the man-star, Altair, and the woman-star, Vega. In Kwanghan Pavilion there is the virtuous woman, Choon Hyang`s shrine where we can see Choon Hayng`s portrait. Whaom Temple Whaom Temple located in Mt. Chiri is famous not only for its size but also for the architectural beauty of the eaves bending towards the sky. In Silla Dynasty, Saint Uisang propagandyzed at Whaom Temple which was built by Yeon Kee in A.D. 544. There are two Silla towers: one was built for Yeon Kee, the other one is called Lion Tower for its distinguishing figure with lions. Also noted in the temple ground are beautiful stone-towers and stone-lanterns. Chonjeyon Falls Chonjeyon Falls is located in Soguipo, Cheju-do which is tratitionally known as the island of `Too many rocks, too many women and too much wind`. This is one of the largest waterfalls in Korea, 33 meters in height and 6 meters in width. Especially the beautiful scenery of the ravine along the stream which flows from linn, is noted together with the landscape of volcanic features around Soguipo. It has the legend that fairies in the heaven were attracted by such beauty that they would descend from the sky to bathe in the water of pond formed by the falls. In the pond beneath the falls, you can see thousands of sweetfish jumping out of water. This looks like a picture. In addition to the Chonjeyon Falls there are many other waterfalls in the ruggedly splendid Mt. Halla.