National flag

South Korea has used the Taegeuk flag since 1883 (the late Joseon Dynasty). It continued to be used after the founding of the Republic of Korea. In 1949, the Korean Ministry of Culture and Education officially determined the current style of the Korean flag: a Tai Chi pattern in the center of the flag, surrounded by Bagua graphics. According to Korean official explanations, the red color in the Tai Chi Diagram represents Yang, the blue color represents Yin, and the unity of Yin and Yang represents the balance and harmony of the universe. Fire and water, day and night, darkness and light, construction and destruction, male and female, active and passive, hot and cold, positive and negative, etc., as two great forces in the universe, achieve harmony and balance through mutual opposition. .

With Taiji as the center, the four corner hexagrams respectively symbolize the harmony of yin and yang. The hexagram Qian represents the sky, the hexagram Kun represents the earth, the hexagram Kan represents the moon and water, and the hexagram Li represents the sun and fire. Each hexagram also symbolizes justice. , fertility, vitality and wisdom. According to South Korea's explanation, the flag's background color is white, symbolizing the purity and love of peace of the Korean people. The entire flag represents the ideal of the Korean people to always develop in harmony with the universe.

The Tai Chi and Bagua ideas of the Korean flag come from China's "Book of Changes". Principles such as harmony, symmetry, balance, circulation, and stability represent the Chinese nation’s profound thinking about the universe and life. The Korean Peninsula has long been influenced by Chinese culture, and the Korean flag is a reflection of this influence.

Language

The Korean Peninsula has a long history, but for a long time it was a country with only its own language but no national script. Around the 3rd century AD, Chinese characters were introduced to North Korea, and later the pronunciation and meaning of Chinese characters were used to record the Korean language, that is, "Liduwen". But due to the influence of the feudal social hierarchy concept. Those who can learn and use Chinese characters are mostly aristocrats, and it is difficult for ordinary people to have access to them. Moreover, some of the "official reading texts" created by combining Chinese characters are not suitable for the phonetic system and grammatical structure of Korean, so it is sometimes difficult to accurately mark the Korean language. Therefore, people at that time very much hoped to have a script that was suitable for the Korean phonetic system and grammatical structure and was easy to learn. From the perspective of the ruling class, in order to facilitate the people to implement their ruling policies, it is also necessary to invent a phonetic script that is easy for the people to master. In this way, under the active initiative of King Sejong of the fourth generation of the Joseon Dynasty, a group of outstanding scholars such as Zheng Linzhi, Shen Shuzhou, Cui Heng, and Cheng Sanwen, based on many years of research on the phonology of Korean and some foreign characters, came to The 28-letter Korean alphabet was created in 1444. During this period, Korean scholars came to Ming Dynasty China dozens of times to conduct research on phonology. In 1446, North Korea officially announced the creation of Korean characters, called "Hunminjeongyin", which means to teach the people the correct pronunciation of the characters. After the new writing was invented, King Sejong advocated the use of "Hunminjeongyin" in official documents and personal letters, and ordered the use of "Hunminjeongyin" to compose "Yongfeiyutiange". He also made "Hunmin Zhengyin" a required subject in the imperial examination for recruiting officials, and engraved "Hunmin Zhengyin" on coins. The creation of "Hunminjeongeum" provided good conditions for the development of Korean written language and the development of Korean literature.

"Hunminjeongeum" is one of the few characters in the world where it is known who created it and when exactly it was created. Therefore, it was designated as National Treasure No. 70 by South Korea and was designated by UNESCO in October 1997. The organization is listed as a world cultural heritage.

"Hunminjeongeum" is a phonetic script consisting of 17 consonants and 11 vowels. The 17 consonant characters are created according to the mouth shape and tongue position of the articulator. They are divided into dental, lingual, labial, dental, etc. according to different pronunciations. This is basically consistent with the classification of modern phonetics. According to the clearness and voicing of the sound, the consonants are divided into fully voiceless, sub-voiceless, fully voiced, and unclear and unvoiced; there are 3 basic vowels among the 11 vowels. They are based on the formation of the universe "heaven, earth, and man" as believed by the ancients. Created in sequence, other vowels are created based on these three basic vowels. After 560 years of development of these 28 letters, 3 consonants and 1 vowel have been eliminated. Currently, only 24 consonants and vowels are used in North and South Korea. With 24 consonants and vowels, 70,000 Korean characters can be formed, and these characters can form more than 700 million words. Such a vast ocean of words is inexhaustible.

"Chinese characters" in the Korean writing reform

Traditional Korean vocabulary includes two categories: inherent words and loanwords. Intrinsic words refer to native words that originally existed in Korean; loanwords refer to words originating from other languages, of which nearly 70% originate from Chinese Chinese characters. These words can be written in Chinese characters in Korean. of.

After the Japanese imperialists implemented colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula in 1910, they aggressively suppressed the Korean language. In the 1940s, they intensified their efforts. People are not allowed to use Korean, and their surnames must be changed to Japanese surnames.

After the Korean Peninsula was restored on August 15, 1945, it was divided into the northern and southern parts of the peninsula, today's North Korea and South Korea. In order to standardize the use of characters, North Korea and South Korea respectively carried out reforms in the use of characters after establishing their political power.

One of the key points of the reform is how to treat Chinese characters. As mentioned earlier, the Korean peninsula has a very long history of using Chinese characters, so even after the invention of "Hunminjeongeum", Chinese characters are still in use. The writing of court documents of the Joseon Dynasty and the records of historical classics all have Chinese characters sandwiched in them (similar to today's Japanese). In response, North Korea has adopted reform measures to completely abolish Chinese characters, that is, all written characters will be written in Korean letters and no longer mixed with Chinese characters. In terms of vocabulary, North Korea also strictly limits the use of Chinese characters and tries to create as many new words as possible using North Korean inherent vocabulary.

South Korea is not that thorough.

Although South Korea promulgated the "Act for the Exclusive Use of Korean Language" in 1948, prohibiting the public use of Chinese characters, the use of Chinese characters has never completely stopped. Whether it is Chinese language education in schools or national writing, the use of Chinese characters is mixed is long-standing. The policy on the use of Chinese characters in Korean textbooks is also constantly changing. For example, a presidential decree in 1968 required the deletion of Chinese characters in primary and secondary school textbooks. However, in 1972, Chinese characters were made a compulsory course in junior high schools and included in the regular curriculum. In 1973, middle school textbooks stipulated the reuse of Chinese characters, and in 1995 it was changed to an elective course. In February 1999, the then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung signed a presidential decree approving the use of Chinese characters in government documents and road signs. The promulgation of this presidential decree broke the Korean government's ban on the use of Chinese characters for more than 50 years. At present, the number of "new common Chinese characters" promulgated by the Ministry of Education of South Korea for education is 1,800, and the number of "commonly used Chinese characters" for daily use is 1,300.

In fact, whether to abolish or use Chinese characters should be considered based on whether it is beneficial to the cultural development of the nation. The disadvantage of abolishing Chinese characters is that it makes it impossible for Koreans to study the original ancient historical classics, because the vast majority of Korean historical classics are written in Chinese characters. In addition, there are also some inconveniences in real life, because there are many homonyms with different meanings in Korean vocabulary. It is sometimes difficult to correctly understand the meaning of these characters just by looking at them, and it is easy to cause misunderstandings. Before the abolition of Chinese characters, These words can be represented by Chinese characters. Of course, there are benefits to abolishing Chinese characters, that is, it will facilitate the popularization of Korean characters and facilitate the spread of culture.

Split leads to differences in writing

Some friends may ask whether North Korea and South Korea also have dialects? Are there any differences in the writing between the two countries? Yes, like the languages ??of many countries, language There are always local differences. At present, North Korea uses the Pyongyang dialect as its standard pronunciation, called Bunhuahua, while South Korea uses the Gyeonggi-do dialect of Seoul as its standard pronunciation. There are differences in tone between the two sides. In terms of speaking habits, Koreans use more foreign words in their speech, especially English words.

Generally speaking, the grammar of Korean and Korean is the same. The differences are mainly reflected in the writing format of vocabulary and individual sentence patterns, as well as the spelling of some foreign words. North Korea and South Korea have different spellings on many words, and some are even so different that each other cannot correctly understand the meaning of each other's words.

In today's "computer age" where information is highly developed, the characters of many ethnic groups are difficult to process on computers, while Korean characters are the opposite.

Because when Korean characters are written, one consonant is written first, and then a vowel is written (or a consonant is written after the vowel), so the consonants and vowels with the same number are evenly arranged on the left and right operating parts of the computer keyboard, so that when typing, The left and right hands can be used almost the same number of times without any discomfort. I believe that the 560-year-old Korean script will also develop further in the information age.

Tourism Features

1) Seoul

The capital Seoul is located in the middle of the Korean Peninsula, not far from the west coast, with the Han River flowing through the city center. Seoul has a current population of about 12 million, accounting for about a quarter of the country's population. It is the political, economic and cultural center of South Korea. Rows of high-rise buildings stand behind elegant and tranquil ancient palaces. It is both a modern metropolis and an ancient cultural city with a long history. In the urban area and surrounding areas, there are many historical sites, cultural attractions, modern buildings, theme parks and other tourist attractions.

The main tourist attractions are:

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace

It is located at 1, Sejong-ro, Jongno-gu. It was the first main palace built in 1395 by Yi Chenggui, who founded the Joseon Dynasty. It covers an area of ??126,000 square meters (one square meter is about 3.3 square meters). There are more than 200 palaces and pavilions, which embody the ultimate wealth and splendor. It was destroyed by the Japanese and Japanese Rebellion in 1952, but the buildings that have survived to this day are Qinzheng Hall, where the king's enthronement ceremony and civil and military official court ceremonies were held, and the two-story Qinghui Building, which was used as a guesthouse.

2. Changdeokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace

It is located in Woryongdong 1, Jongno-gu. It was built as a palace for the Joseon Dynasty in 1405. It was completely destroyed during the Imjin Japanese Rebellion. After being rebuilt in 1609, it became the main palace of the dynasty for 300 years. , is the best-maintained building in the Forbidden City of Korea, maintaining the old style of the dynasty. Its main entrance, Dunhua Gate, is a wooden building that was fortunately not burned down. It stands proudly and has an extraordinary bearing. The Changgyeonggung Palace next to it is the third oldest royal palace in South Korea. It has existing buildings such as Honghwamun Gate and Myeongjeongjeon Hall. It was once the villa of King Sejong, the fourth generation leader of the Joseon Dynasty.

3． Jongmyo Shrine

Located in 1 Hoonjeong-dong, Jongno-gu, it is a world cultural heritage. It enshrines the shrines of the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. Jongmyo Shrine and Gyeongbokgung Palace were built at the same time, and the main hall and Yeongnyeongjeon were built in the broad hinterland, as well as a memorial hall displaying the relics of the late kings. This is also a leisure area for Seoul citizens to take a walk and cool off. There is a sky bridge leading to Changgyeonggung Palace. On the first Sunday of May every year, elegant music is played and the ancestral temple ceremony is held in a solemn atmosphere.

4. Daehan Life Insurance 63 Building

It is located in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu. With 60 floors above ground, 3 floors underground, and 264 meters high, it is known as the tallest building in South Korea and is a symbol of Seoul. The entire building uses double-reflective glass, which shines like a golden pagoda in the sun. Take the high-speed elevator up and down and climb to the observation deck, where you can overlook the 1988 Olympic Games venue and Gimpo Airport. On the first floor of the basement of the annex, there is an aquarium 63 Underwater World where you can watch 400 species of more than 20,000 fish. It also has an IMAX theater with a screen that is ten times larger than an ordinary movie theater. Dine in the rooftop restaurant, enjoy the intoxicating night view, and enjoy the extremely romantic atmosphere.

5. Sungnyemun (Nantianmen)

Located on Nandaemun Road, Central District. Built in 1398, it is the city gate of Hanyang (Seoul), the capital. It is the most typical example of the existing Joseon Dynasty architecture. It was connected to the original city wall. In 1908, the wall was demolished, leaving only the stone Sungnyemun Gate. The middle is arched, with a two-story wooden pavilion erected on it. Among the high-rise buildings and vast mansions, he looks majestic and looks proudly at the crowd.

6. Seoul Sports Complex

Located at Jamsil-dong 10, Songpa-gu, it was the main venue for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It includes five major competition venues including two gymnasiums, indoor swimming pools, and baseball fields, especially the open-air sports ground. It is praised for its design that emphasizes the beauty of curves. Visitors can visit inside. There is also an exhibition hall displaying gold, silver, bronze medals, Olympic uniforms and other items here.

7. Lotte World

It is located at 40-1, Jamsil-dong, Songseong-gu.

Lotte World is the world's largest indoor entertainment center. In addition to Lotte World Adventure and the Magic Island on the lake, there are also folk museums, hotels, cinemas, indoor swimming pools, indoor ice rinks, bowling alleys, membership-based sports clubs, department stores, Supermarkets, shopping malls, etc. are super large entertainment cities that combine entertainment and culture.

(2) Suburbs of Seoul and surrounding areas

1. Suwon

From Seoul Railway Station, you can take National Railway Line 1 to Suwon Station, or you can take a bus from Donghanseong Terminal in 50 minutes. Suwon is the seat of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office (provincial government) with a population of 760,000, and many cultural relics are preserved. The total length of the stone city wall built around the city is 5.5 kilometers. It has 4 magnificent tower gates, the Huahong Gate with 7 arched water gates, the elegant Hua Sui Liu Pavilion, and the Xijiang Terrace that overlooks the city. The architecture is beautiful. It complements the beauty of the scenery.

2. Incheon

Take the National Railway Line 1 from Seoul Railway Station to Dong-Incheon Station, and take the Suin Line from Suwon to Songdo Station. Incheon is the second largest port city in South Korea. There are tourist spots such as Wolmi Island Culture Street with many sculptures. If you take a cruise, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset on the sea and the dotted islands.

3． Panmunjom

It is the place where the Korean War Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953. Nationals can only visit Imjingak Pavilion, and foreigners are not allowed to visit privately. They must be organized by a travel agency. A 2-kilometer-wide unarmed isolation zone has been set up with the armistice line as the center, and a military armistice conference room is built in the middle. In addition, it can Let people deeply realize the preciousness of peace and unity.

4. Ganghwa Island

Departing from Sinchon Station, it takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to arrive. This is the origin of the myth of the founding of the Korean nation by Tanqun Wangjian. The ruins include city walls built to resist the invasion of the Mongolian army, and many historical sites such as fortresses built in the late Joseon Dynasty to deal with threats from foreign powers.

The Chengdeungsa Temple in the south of the city fully demonstrates the architectural style of the Goryeo Dynasty.

5. Yongin Everland

It is located in Daegukmyeon-ri, Yongin-gun, Gyeonggi-do. In Yongin Natural Farm, there is the newly built comprehensive theme park Everland, and in the amusement world there are more than 40 amusement facilities, in addition to a natural wildlife park. Among them is Caribbean Bay Paradise, where visitors can enjoy surfing on artificial waves.

6. Seoul Grand Park

It is located at 159-1 Mogye-dongsan, Gwacheon City, Gyeonggi-do. There are 3 wildlife parks, a greenhouse botanical garden with a collection of more than 1,166 species and about 19,667 plants, a modern amusement park Seoul Dongwon and the National Museum of Modern Art, etc.

7. Korean Folk Village

It is located at 107 Bularo-ri, Giheung-eup, Yongin-gun, Gyeonggi-do, with a total area of ??about 230,000 square meters. There are various farmhouses, private houses, temples, markets, yangban (nobles) residences and government offices on display here. There are 15 art workshops and traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies on site with demonstration performances of bamboo crafts, wood crafts, and traditional Chinese medicine treatments. Traditional wedding ceremonies, farm music, rope walking, etc. are also performed daily. Here you can personally experience the cultural atmosphere of Korean people's daily life back then.

8. Seoul Racecourse

It is located in Jeam-dong, Gwacheon City, Gyeonggi Province. The leading Seoul Racecourse is located between Cheonggyesan Mountain and Gwanaksan Mountain. The natural landscape is beautiful, and the modern racecourse on the 1st to 6th floors underground can accommodate more than 40,000 horse fans. Large-scale events in general and special events will be held every Saturday and Sunday. The lottery tickets are the same as those in Japan, divided into consecutive winning type, single winning type and repeated winning type. The night clubs opened from the end of July to the beginning of September make horse fans even crazier.

(3) Busan

Busan is the largest port in South Korea, located in the southeast corner of South Korea. It is the second largest city in South Korea, with a population of about 4 million. It takes 4 hours and 10 minutes to take the Shinsei train from Seoul; it takes about 5 hours and 20 minutes to take the expressway from Seoul; and it takes about 1 hour to fly to Busan from Seoul.

The main tourist attractions in Busan and its surrounding areas are:

1. Beomyu Temple

Built in 678 AD, it was the headquarters of Zen Buddhism. It originally had 36 large-scale temples, but unfortunately they were all destroyed during the Imjin Japanese Rebellion. The Daeungjeon, rebuilt in 1717, is exquisite and gorgeous, and can be called the masterpiece of Joseon Dynasty architecture. Other remaining buildings include 7 pavilions, 2 attics, 3 giant doors, 11 Jingxiu nunneries and 3-story stone pagodas.

2. Yongdusan Park

When you climb Yongdusan Mountain, you can overlook the streets of Busan’s bustling area and the nearby seaside. When the weather is clear, you can see Tsushima Island in the distance. There is a bronze statue of General Yi Sun-shin, the hero who saved the country during the Imjin Japanese Rebellion, in the park, and the 120-meter-high Busan Tower is the crosshair of the entire urban area

3. Hanryeo Marine National Park

It takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes from Busan Coastal Ferry Station (Podong Subway Station) to Yeosu.

From Hansan Island at the western end of Busan to Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, there is a zigzag-shaped coast with continuous beautiful scenery. Many small islands and cliffs form a natural screen, which is best viewed from a boat. Tourists take the Angel flying boat from Busan to Yeosu and shuttle between the islands, which is faster than traveling by land. On the way, they pass by Chungmu and Samcheonpo, which are famous for their rich historical sites. You can also disembark at Nanhai Jinshan.

To visit the beautiful sceneries of Geoje Island - Haegeum, you only need to take a boat from Busan to Jangseungpo (it takes about 1 hour), and then take a yacht from Jangseungpo.

4. Tongdu Temple

A famous temple dedicated to the relics of the Buddha. The interior is painted with elegant patterns and murals. It was founded in 646 AD by Master Ci Zang, who brought back the relics of the Buddha from the Tang Dynasty in China. It is one of the three most famous temples in Korea. It was burned down during the Japanese Rebellion during the reign of Imjin, and was later restored and rebuilt in 1601 and 1641. Because it only enshrined the relics of the Buddha, there was no Buddha statue. However, there are various drums, cloud tablets, wooden fish, etc. in the Beomhong Pavilion. Fanzhong et al. In addition, there are 35 buildings and works of art, including the exquisitely decorated Daeungden Hall, the Fujimon Gate, and the 1,300-year-old stone reliefs of the Daiguangmingden Hall.

5. Tongyeong

It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes by boat from Busan and about 2 hours from Busan West Bus Station. During the Imjin Japanese Rebellion, General Yi Sun-shin, the hero of national salvation, used Tongyeong as his base to fight against the Japanese general Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The large-scale Army Washing Hall and the Martyrs' Shrine, which houses the general's memorial tablet, were built in 1603 to commemorate the general's great achievements. There is a bronze statue of General Lee in Nanwang Park at the end of the port. It is also a good place to enjoy the sea view of the port and islands.

(4) Gyeongju

Gyeongju is the capital of the Silla Dynasty and the cradle of ancient Korean civilization. It has a current population of 280,000 and is a peaceful city. There are royal tombs, stone pagodas, Buddhist statues, and temple ruins all over the mountains and valleys. If you don’t go to the museum to explore the past, just visiting the ancient capital of Gyeongju is equivalent to exploring the relics of ancient splendid culture. Therefore, Gyeongju?quot; without walls Museum.

It takes about 4 hours to get from Seoul to Gyeongju by taking the Gyeongbu Line or Jungang Line Shinsei train or taking the expressway.

Main tourist attractions in Gyeongju:

1. Kofun Park

It is about a 5-minute walk from Gyeongju Train Station. In addition to the Cheonmachong Tomb in the park (more than 12,000 burial objects were unearthed), there are seven huge tombs of Silla kings as the center, surrounded by 23 ancient tombs, surrounded by stone walls, covering an area of ??more than 38,000 square meters.

2. Cheomseongdae

It is a 5-minute walk from Gyeongju Railway Station and Kofun Park. In the early 7th century, it was built with 366 stones. It is speculated that at that time, the water mirror at the bottom and the light reflected from the windows were used to observe astronomical weather and determine state affairs and farming based on the stars.

3． Gyeongju Folk Craft Village

It takes 10 minutes by car from Bulguksa Temple and 15 minutes by car from Bomun Lake.

Located on the way from Bulguksa Temple to Bomun Lake, there are 18 handicraft workshops producing lacquerware, Silla earthenware, Buddhist paintings, embroidery, metal crafts, paper crafts, bamboo weaving, etc. Visitors can not only observe the production process of handicrafts, You can also buy your favorite works on-site to give as gifts.

4． Anap Pond

It is about a 15-minute walk from Gyeongju Train Station. The Anapji Pond, used for hosting banquets for state guests, was built by King Munmu of Silla in 674 AD to commemorate the unification of the Three Kingdoms. Only a quarter of the size of the Imhaejeon and the gardens around the lotus pond remain today.

5. Ohneung

It takes about 20 minutes by taxi from Gyeongju Railway Station. The tombs of Park Hyuk Ju-se and his wife, the legendary founders of the Silla Dynasty, as well as 5 other tombs of the second, third and fifth generation kings are listed here. The pine forest here is hidden and quiet. Viewed from different angles, the number and shape of the tombs seem to change.

6． Bulguksa Temple

It is a 30-minute walk from Gyeongju Train Station. Bulguksa Temple, a world cultural heritage, was built in AD 535. During its heyday, the temple was expanded to about 10 times its size. Unfortunately, it was burned down during the Imjin Japanese Rebellion. It was later restored and rebuilt into the current building. , and only those stone parts are truly intact, which can also show the prosperity of Silla culture.

7. Gialeung

It only takes 10 minutes by car from Bulguksa Temple. It is the only complete ancient tomb among the royal tombs of the Unified Silla era. From the morphological point of view, it can be speculated that it is the tomb of the Yuansheng King at the end of the 8th century. Among the pine trees, there are stone statues of warriors, stone statues of scholars and two pairs of stone lion statues that look like Persians. There are also 12 half-animal and half-human stone statues on the earthen platform of the ancient tomb behind them.

8. Seokguram Grotto

It takes about 20 minutes by bus from Bulguksa Bus Stop. It was declared a world cultural heritage together with Bulguksa Temple. In 751 AD, it was built by Jin Dacheng, the prime minister at that time, in memory of his parents. It is an auxiliary building of Shifo Temple. There are no temples at present, only the man-made grotto discovered in the back mountain in 1909 and the seated statue of Sakyamuni Tathagata, which is a masterpiece in the history of Buddhist art, are preserved.

9． Namsan Mountain

Located at the southern end of Gyeongju, it is 468 meters high. There were more than 100 temples in the Silla era, which shows the prosperity of Buddhist culture at that time. Today, only No. 55 temple site, 59 stone Buddhas and 38 temples remain. Stone Tower. If tourists don’t have enough time to visit Nanshan Mountain, they might as well take a ride to the foot of Nanshan Mountain to visit the three stone Buddha statues of Bali and experience the cultural atmosphere of the Silla era.

It takes about 3 hours by train from Gyeongju to Andong, where there are leisure spots and mask dance performances where the atmosphere of an ancient capital and modern civilization coexist.

(5) Jeju Island

Jeju Island, known as the Fantasy Island, is the largest island in South Korea, covering an area of ??1,825 square kilometers. It is about 100 kilometers away from the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula. There is Hangyeong, the highest peak in South Korea, is 1,950 meters above sea level. Due to the influence of the warm current flowing through the offshore sea, Jeju Island has a warm and subtropical climate. It is an important tourist resort in South Korea.

In ancient times, Jeju Island had an independent country called Tamna Kingdom. Therefore, the island has its own unique customs, dialects and cultural characteristics, as well as a landscape that is different from other places in Korea. Because there are no thieves or beggars, there is no door in the houses on the island, and people live a quiet and comfortable life.

Jeju City, the largest city on the island, is located in the north of the island and is the seat of the provincial government; Seogwipo City, the second largest city, is located in the south of the island. There are many transportation lines between the two cities. Regular sightseeing bus tours can be divided into west loop and east loop, and the journey of each route is 2 days. Most of the sightseeing on the island is done on foot, so tourists are advised to wear casual clothes and casual shoes.

It takes about 1 hour to fly from Seoul Gimpo Airport to Jeju Island, and about 45 minutes to fly from Busan to Jeju Island. If you take a boat, it takes about 5 and a half hours from Mokpo, and 12 hours from Busan. half an hour.

The main tourist spots in Jeju Island are:

1. Yongduam Rock

It takes about 15 minutes on foot from Jungang-ro, Jeju City.

It is a rock shaped like a dragon's head, which was formed by lava erupted from the crater of Hana volcano and condensed on the sea. According to legend, the dragon turned into rock because it offended the gods.

2. Manjanggul Cave

It takes about 50 minutes by car from Jeju City. The lava cave formed by the erupted lava of Han Na has a total length of 13.4 kilometers, which is known as the longest in the world, but the range open to tourists is only about 1 kilometer. It takes about an hour to see the strange rocks formed by the molten bank. The dark cave is very mysterious.

3. The tiger never leaves

It takes about 40 minutes to take the No. 1 cross-country bus from Jeju City to reach this scenic spot. There is a typical volcano crater for Han with a circumference of about 2 kilometers. There are more than 420 species of temperate plants clustered near the crater. These temperate zone plants and alpine plants are of great academic research value.

4． Jeongbang Falls

It is located in Seogwipo City, about a 10-minute walk from the city center. The two waterfalls that plunge directly into the ocean are 23 meters high and form a majestic landscape with the cliffs on the coast. The scenery can be seen from the coast above or below the waterfall, or from the sea by boat.

5. Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes by bus from Seogwipo City or Jeju City. It is one of the 360 ??sub-volcanoes in Hallasan Mountain and is known as the world's largest volcanic crater protruding from the coast. The top of the mountain is an open pasture, which can be reached in about 30 minutes of climbing. Watching the sunrise from here is breathtaking. There are sightseeing boats and motorboats that circle around Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. There are conch and abalone breeding farms on the west coast, where you can watch divers diving and collecting haenyeo.

6． Hallasan National Park

With a height of 1,950 meters, it is the highest peak in South Korea. The reason why tourists cannot feel its height is mainly due to the extension, slope and relaxation of the seabed. Jeju Island was also formed during the eruption of Mount Halla. More than 1,800 species of subtropical and cold zone plants and wild insects grow on the mountain. Rhododendrons in spring, alpine plants in summer, red leaves in autumn and snow scenes in winter constitute the four-season picture of Halla Mountain.

If tourists want to climb mountains, it is best to make some corresponding preparations. The first and second cross-roads can reach the entrance of the climbing road. The best time for climbing is May or October when the climate is stable.

7. Jungmun Recreation Area

It takes about 1 hour from Jeju City by Seogwipo City and about 20 minutes from Seogwipo City. It is a resort developed by the Korea Tourism Organization. The meeting between Halla Mountain and the coast was held here, and many tourists come here every year.

The amusement area has well-equipped hotels and tourist attractions with various entertainment facilities, such as Jeju Tourist Botanical Garden-Yumiji, Cheonjeyeon Falls, Jungmun Golf Course, Jungmun Beach, Royal Ocean Park, and Tourist Fishing Village wait.

(1) Central Region

The central region of South Korea is mostly plains. Railways and various roads are like spider webs, but they are well organized. The main cities here include Daejeon, Chungju, Cheongju, etc. . Daejeon, which hosted the 1993 World Expo, is only a 2-hour drive from Seoul. It is the only way to get to Gyeryongsan Mountain and Songnisan National Park. It is a central tourist city in the central region, and is also a hub for Gyeongbu, Gyeongbu, and The hub of Hunan's two reds.

Gongju and Buyeo, the capitals of the Baekje Dynasty, preserve rich cultural heritage left over from ancient times. In addition to the ancient city, in the area surrounding Daejeon, there are hot springs such as Yuseong and Onyang, and national parks such as Naejangsan Mountain, Deokyusan Mountain, and Songrisan Mountain.

(2) Northeastern Region

The Northeastern region has many ski resorts and historical sites, as well as waterfalls, caves, hot spring baths, sea bathing beaches, national parks and coastal fishing villages. Landscapes, among which Seoraksan National Park is second to none. Granite peaks, lush valleys, dense woods, mysterious temples, cascading waterfalls, crystal clear streams... constitute the beautiful scenery of this area

Folk customs

1. Surnames and Folk Concepts

Most Korean names have three characters, and a few have two characters.

The first character is the surname, the second and third characters are the given name, and one of them represents the clan generation. This character is usually attached to the man's name, and it is different for each generation. It can be placed in the second or third character at will. On the position of the third character. According to the "Supplementary Documents Preparation" at the end of the Lee Dynasty, there were 496 surnames in Korea, but a survey in 1960 found that there were only 411. Among them, the top 10 surnames were: Kim (accounting for about 21.7%), Lee ( Accounting for approximately 14.8), Pu (accounting for approximately 8·5), Cui, Zheng, Jiang, Zhao, Yin, Zhang, and Lin. Most of them have single surnames, and a few have compound surnames, such as Xianyu, Amamiya, Okada, Hasegawa, etc. The law stipulates that people with the same place of origin and the same surname cannot marry. If a marriage is forced without authorization, not only will the parents not recognize the marriage, but the political authorities will also not handle the marriage registration procedures. However, in recent years, there have been strong calls to abolish this rule.

Korean people have a strong sense of "blood ties" and "nativeness", and their kinship network is particularly developed. Even distant relatives are relatively close to each other, and people from the same hometown are often familiar with each other. Political relations are also affected by regional perceptions, with voters generally only supporting candidates from their own region. The strong local concept has also caused some negative effects. For example, there are regional conflicts between Gyeongsang North and South Province and Jeolla North and South Province. More than a thousand years ago, Gyeongsang-do was the birthplace of the ancient Silla country, and Geumra-do was the seat of the ancient Baekje country. Later, Silla destroyed Baekje and unified the country. Due to historical reasons, most of the people who have ruled South Korea from ancient times to the present are Gyeongsang Taoists, four presidents including Park Chung-hee, Kim Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo and Kim Young-sam, the big chaebols Lee Byung-chul (Samsung), Koo In-hue (Gold Star), Kim Woo-jung (large characters) and 70 -80% of senior military generals were born in Gyeongsang Province. Kim Dae-jung, the most famous leader of the opposition party, and Kim Ji-ha, the famous poet who opposed the dictatorship, were both born in Jeolla Province. The Gwangju anti-government riots in 1980 also occurred in Jeolla Province.

2. Etiquette and taboos

(1) Etiquette

South Korea is deeply influenced by Confucian education. The etiquette is characterized by the emphasis on status, seniority, age, etc. There are differences between young and old. People with high status and seniority, elders and men must be respected. When speaking, you must use honorifics (the grammatical form held by Korean). When meeting, you must greet first. When walking together, give way and cannot walk. in front of them. In the family, men are superior to women, with men taking charge of the outside world and women taking charge of the house. The promotion of "good wives and mothers" means that almost all housework falls on women. Men and women over 7 years old cannot sit together. In families with better economic conditions, most women do not work after marriage. Even if they do work, their pay is lower than that of men. In recent years, the feminist movement has developed, striving for equality between men and women, equal pay for equal work, and demanding that the retirement age for female civil servants be changed from 43 to 50.

1. Greeting people you know. When you meet, you must greet each other. Depending on your status, you can nod, bow, shake hands or hug.

2. When introducing guests to the home, parents and guests should salute each other, then introduce the identity and title of each guest to their children, and ask their children to bow or kneel to the guests. If you are in a workplace, introduce people from your workplace to the visiting guests first.

3. Koreans are very hospitable when entertaining guests. When entertaining guests, they often try their best to bring out the best food in the house. Guests should drink and eat as much as possible. The more they eat, the more they show off. The depth of emotion. Korean men generally like to drink jijiu, and they drink a lot. They toast each other, talk and sing while drinking, which is very lively. The Chinese history book "The Biography of Wei Shi Dongyi" records Korean customs of drinking, singing and dancing. According to a 1981 survey by the World Health Organization (WHO), the average amount of liquor consumed by each person in South Korea is 9.2 liters per year, ranking first in the world. When drinking, sit down according to status and generation, and pour the wine in turn. The person with the highest position raises his glass first, followed by others in turn. People with a big difference in status cannot drink at the same table. When circumstances have to force it, people with lower status should drink with their faces turned away. When clinking glasses with each other, the person with a lower status should touch the rim of the glass against the other person's glass body. Do not touch the glass flatly, otherwise it is rude. When a person of low status needs to toast to a person of high status, he should obtain his consent. When he comes forward to toast, he should bow first and say some words of congratulations. He should hold the bottle in his right hand and hold the bottom of the bottle in his left hand. It should be noted that the toaster only pours the wine and does not accompany the drink. He should also bow when leaving. The person receiving the toast should say some words of thanks.

When people of similar status toast each other, they should pour wine to each other and clink glasses to drink.

4. Offering cigarettes to guests is also a habit that Koreans have had since ancient times. However, generally speaking, people with low status cannot smoke in front of people with high status. Children must not smoke in front of their parents, let alone borrow or pick up a fire from them.

5. Pay attention to wearing socks. You must take off your shoes when entering Korean homes, and you must also take off your shoes when eating in Korean restaurants, so be sure to wear clean socks. Socks that are dirty or have holes are considered rude and are considered uneducated. When taking a seat, both guests and hosts must sit cross-legged on the floor. They cannot straighten their legs, let alone spread them apart.

(2) Taboos

Korean people generally taboo the word "four". Because of Korea