Korea

Upon arrival in Seoul, transfer to our hotel, located on the site of the Hwangudan Altar that was destroyed in 1913 by the Japanese. The Hwangudan Altar, built in 1897, was Seoul’s equivalent of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, where the Emperor would perform the rites of heaven. Meet fellow travelers at a welcome dinner this evening.

Begin today in the historic Jongno District at Changdeokgung Palace, making our way to a secret garden to meander the footpaths that stretch through wooded and hilly terrain past ponds and pavilions and over small bridges. After lunch, explore some of Seoul’s hanoks and learn about efforts to preserve these historic residential areas. Continue to the Seoul Museum of Craft Art to take in a special exhibit on Korean embroidery and bojagi, or wrapping cloths. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

Drive to the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) and the Joint security Area (JSA) to see and learn firsthand of the reality of two countries that have been at odds with each other for so many years. Begin at Imjingak Park, the location of the Bridge of Freedom, which South Koreans and refugees crossed when they left North Korea. The bridge was also the site of the exchange of POWs from the Korean War. Next, visit the DMZ Museum, where a special exhibit focuses on the ecology of this vast area where civilian entry has been forbidden for more than five decades. Continue to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel and stop at the Dorasan Observation Platform where we may see North Korean military personnel. Stop for lunch in Paju Book City, a giant cultural complex that belongs to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and is home to over 250 publishers, before returning to Seoul for an evening at leisure.

Depart Seoul this morning for Gwangju. Make a stop in Cheonan to see Independence Hall where dioramas, models, and images bring the armed resistance and independence movements to life. Next, visit Gongju, former capital of the Baekje Kingdom, one of Korea's ancient Three Kingdoms. Learn how this inland city made use of nearby river systems to establish trade routes and diplomatic ties with China and Japan, becoming a bridge of East Asian civilization. After lunch, we take a cable car ride in Naejangsan National Park. Look out over the surrounding peaks, awash in color during the spring when cherry blossoms and azalea bushes are in bloom. Continue to Gwangju and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Known for its historical tradition of art and culture and designated a UNESCO Creative City of Media, Gwangju is also the heart of the democratic revolution for the 5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement—the May 1980 uprising against the military dictatorship that laid the foundation for South Korea’s transformation into a democracy. Visit various sites connected to the tragic events of May 18 and meet with staff from The May 18 Memorial Foundation, dedicated to commemorating the spirit of struggle and solidarity. After lunch, visit Lee Jang-woo's House, a beautiful example of traditional Korean architecture. Constructed in 1899, the house is now named after the prominent philanthropist and education advocate who lived there in the 1960s. End the day at Daein Market, a traditional market that was transformed into a cultural haven filled with artist studios and galleries.

This morning, drive to Daegu, stopping en route at Haeinsa Temple. Set in the thickly forested foothills of Gaya Mountain National Park, the temple is one of the greatest centers of Buddhist scholarship in east Asia. We have a special meeting with some of the monks and then enjoy a lunch prepared by Mrs. Kim, who makes the dwenjang and gochujang (stews) for the monks in the temple. Later this afternoon, we have the chance to learn and practice the art of woodblock printing. Return to Daegu and explore the Herbal Medicine market, Korea’s oldest medicine market and still one of its largest.

Depart Daegu this morning and drive north to Hahoe Village. Continuously inhabited for over 600 years, picturesque Hahoe is one of the best-preserved Joseon villages in the nation. Stop for a traditional bulgogi lunch served with 24 side dishes, then visit the nearby open-air Andong Folk Museum. Continue to Gyeongju, former capital of the Silla Kingdom and known as the “museum without walls” for the many burial tombs, tiered pagodas, fortress ruins, relief sculptures, and palace grounds that dot the city and surrounding valley. Late this afternoon, visit Seokkuram, a major pilgrimage site for practitioners and students of Buddhism and Buddhist art.

Spend the morning at Tumuli Park, where we wander among the tombs of 1,000 years of kings and queens. Go inside Cheonmachong, a massive tomb measuring 154 feet in diameter. Next, visit the Gyeongju National Museum, where we see some of the finest objects unearthed from excavations of the park. End the day at the studio of Park Dae-sung, a well-known contemporary ink painter famous for works representing monumental mountains.

This morning, we return to Seoul and visit the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art located in the heart of Itaewon, the city’s commercial district. Three renowned European architects, Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas were commissioned to design the different buildings that make up the museum. We focus our attention in Museum Two, which showcases modern art from both foreign and domestic artists, each displayed in rusted stainless steel exhibition boxes along a glass wall. After lunch at a local restaurant, check in to our hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Spend the morning exploring Gangnam, Seoul’s most hip district, filled with gleaming office towers and tech start-ups, cutting-edge fashion houses, global K-pop agencies, and a dizzying number of plastic surgery clinics. The name translates to “south of the river” and refers to the Han River that divides old and new Seoul. Visit the 8th-century Bongeunsa Temple, which sits in juxtaposition next to the contemporary COEX Center, and stop in the Starfield Library where bookshelves reach 13 meters to a cathedral-like ceiling. Return to the hotel after lunch, stopping to visit the National Museum with its enormous collection of artifacts showcasing Korean history and art. This evening, gather for a special farewell dinner.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights returning home.