Only a few pieces remain of a grand 16th-century water clock that once announced the changing hours with the sound of bells, gongs, and drums.

This ancient Corinthian helmet is South Korea’s only national treasure of Western origin.

The site where the Emperor of Korea performed the long-forbidden "rite of heaven" to demonstrate his absolute sovereignty.

Tracking the 1,500-year history of Korea's star cabbage.

A small section in the Bank of Korea Museum dedicated to the many varieties of the Joseon dynasty’s iconic coinage.

Home to more than 13,000 pieces of war memorabilia and military equipment.

Plenty of old carney magic still haunts this photogenic amusement park.

The largest cluster of the Joseon dynasty’s royal tombs, home to the burial sites of 17 kings and queens.

Buy your fish and have it cooked to order in this bustling, eight-floor seafood market.

Throughout this South Korean village, homes and businesses are covered in fantastic handpainted murals.

This traditional home is a rare example of 19th-century Korean architecture.

South Korea's women of the sea have completely flipped their society's structure by becoming revered fisherwomen.

Collected from all around Seoul, thousands of secondhand books create this photogenic tunnel.

The headquarters of Korea’s provisional government later became the site of a prominent statesman's assassination.

A symbol of hope, survival, and national character, especially after it rose phoenix like from the flames.

The name of the only golden Buddhist temple in Korea translates as "the temple that protects the country."

The former home of a foreign correspondent who reported on Korea’s independence movement has been restored and is open to the public.

A chilling monument to Korean patriots who resisted the Japanese occupation.

Secret North Korean passage discovered below the world's most dangerous border.

The best place for scenic views of the DMZ and North Korea.

An arts and culture complex that was once a derelict American military installation in the civilian control zone of the DMZ.

A large visitor's complex and place of remembrance on the outskirts of the DMZ.

The site of the last royal wedding in Korea.

Its humdrum facade only adds to its electrifying appeal: a rooftop with panoramic views of a shapeshifting metropolis.