South Korea

Globe Trekker Video. Globe Trekker Ian Wright starts his journey in the South Korean capital, Seoul. He takes in the delights of the Gyeong-dong market and tries his hand at Tae Kwon-Do with the national team. After a night out in Seoul, Ian heads north to the North-South Korean Border to experience military power at it most dramatic at the DMZ. Ian's journey then takes him south to Jinbu, where he seeks solace and serenity with the Buddha at the Woljeongsa temple. Next he visits the village of Hahoe and Busan, Korea's second largest city where he visits the Jagalchi fish market. From Busan he travels to Jeju Island, famous for the Haenyo, women free divers who hunt for fresh fish and sea life everyday.

DVD. Bennett-Watt Productions. Featuring Seoul, shopping districts, historic palaces, Korean Folk Village, Gyeongju historic region, Busan's Jagalchi Fish Market, Jefu Island, commercial fishing, aquaculture, Jamsu women divers, Seogwipo Submarine & lava sculptor.

DVD. 7 Days. 52 Minutes. South Korea is a land of ancient tradition and contemporary life, a fascinating world with 5,000 years of history. Seoul is the country's economic and cultural centre, a metropolis of 12 million inhabitants who are proud of their ancient culture. The War Museum is a reminder of the Forgotten War when the United States of America and 20 other countries took part in a United Nations military operation to support South Korea against the forces North Korea and China. 30 kilometers south of Seoul is the fortress town of Suwon where at the end of the 18th century the Hwaseong Fortress was built, now a World Heritage Site. South Korea's most famous monastery is located in the Gaya-San National Park. Today the complex and its 90 buildings have become one of the main Buddhist centers in the East. Tumuli Park is situated in the centre of Kyong Ju, former capital of the Silla Kingdom and contains 23 royal tombs that look from the outside like large green hills. A huge number of valuable finds were made here thus the National Museum was created in which more than 150,000 exhibits from prehistoric times right up to the Joseon Dynasty are on display. Jeju island is a unique holiday paradise, a volcanic island with temples, waterfalls, tea plantations and several leisure facilities. For Koreans as well as the Japanese, Jeju Island has, due to its tropical climate, become a very popular honeymoon destination. When during dinner a volcano erupts and laser gods battle against each other, the Korean people are reminded of the fact that they have withstood invasion by the Mongols, Chinese and Japanese. At the climax of the show a fiery dragon appears: his sole task to protect glorious South Korea!

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, boasts one of the country's most important and splendid historic landmarks, the majestic Changdok-Kung Palace that was once the private domain of the Korean royal family which, along with the older Gyeongbokgung Palace, was the centre of power of the legendary Joseon Dynasty. The palace area consists of three sections, administrative, residential and parkland and although most of what can be seen today is not the original, the character of the palace has been faithfully restored. Beyond the entrance to Huwon, the `Secret Garden', is an enchanting, idyllic world that contains several small pagodas and pavilions. Indeed, the peaceful remoteness of the Huwon makes it easy to forget that it is situated within the huge and bustling metropolis of Seoul. The strong sense of tradition of the South Korean people and their rich, historic legacy is most certainly reflected by the magnificent buildings of the Changdok-Kung.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. This idyllic sanctuary of Chongmyo in the heart of the South Korean capital of Seoul is a place of peaceful meditation and for almost the entire year the ancient shrine is deserted, its buildings and courtyards silent, little indicating the unique importance of this sacred building. Chongmyo was built in 1395 as an ancestral shrine in order to commemorate the spirits of the deceased kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. Great festivities once took place in Chongmyo and today the sanctuary often fills with life and each first Sunday in May is set aside for a regal ceremony of ancestral worship. It is then that the shrines and their ancestral plates become the centre of dignified festivities. As in days of old, in the Hall Of Eternal Peace the deceased Korean monarchs of the Joseon Dynasty are entertained with music and sacrifices. Although the Joseon Dynasty hasn't ruled here for more than a hundred years, the traditions and rituals of Chongmyo continue to play an important role in the cultural life of the Korean people.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments. Surrounded by the wonderful wilderness of Kaya Mountain is one of the most beautiful temple complexes in South Korea, the Haeinsa Temple. Indeed, the unique value of the Haeinsa Temple and its many treasures has now been recognised by UNESCO who have designated it as a World Heritage Sight. The most precious treasure of the sanctuary is located in a special section of the complex. The Tripitaka Koreana is the largest, oldest and most well preserved collection of Buddhist text in the whole of East Asia and for several centuries its eighty thousand wooden printing plates have been stored in the temple complex. Traditional drum ceremonies play an important part in the daily life of Haeinsa's religious community and it is more than likely that the resonance of the drums will always fill the most famous Buddhist sanctuary in South Korea with their historic sounds.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. No other building demonstrates the power of the great Joseon Dynasty more impressively than does the Gyeongbok-Kung Palace in Seoul. The palace is a place of calm amid the hustle and bustle of South Korea's capital city. Yet the history of the Yeongbok-Kung, meaning Palace Of Happiness, was quite often far from being a place of peace and contentment as it suffered many devastating fires caused by the Japanese. Fortunately, most of the palace buildings have now been completely rebuilt. A total of three hundred and thirty buildings were reconstructed within the forty hectare area of the palace grounds and the palace architects managed to unite Chinese influence with traditional Joseon architecture in a most harmonious way. The Gyeongbok-Kung continues to attract sightseers as it is, without a doubt, a fine example of the architecture of the Joseon Dynasty.

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Around a hundred kilometres off South Korea's southern coast and lapped by the waves of the East China Sea is Jeju Island, an extraordinary holiday paradise situated on a volcanic island with temples, waterfalls, tee plantations and several leisure facilities. In the middle of the north coast is Jeju-Si, the island's capital city. The first thing that catches the eye is Yongduam Rock that is situated on the city's western periphery. It is an unusual lava formation that resembles a dragon's head. The National Museum features the island's history and culture including the clothing of the first settlers and the boats that first brought them to the island. The nearby fishing village of Haenyed boasts a special attraction, the island's famous female divers. For generations these courageous women have dived to a depth of twenty metres for shells and seaweed without breathing apparatus and go for two minutes without breathing. On the western heights of the south coast is the Songaksan Crater, an extinct volcano whose slopes are covered with green vegetation. The steep coast and rocky bay indicate that powerful eruptions once took place there and perhaps the volcano's benign appearance may only be a momentary lapse in the geological history of the island. Jeju Island is a remarkable place and well worth a visit!

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. At the foot of Mount Tohamsan in the region of Gyeong-Ju is South Korea's impressive Pulguk-Sa Temple. In the middle of the eighth century while under the rule of Silla monarch, King Gyeongdeok, the sanctuary was enlarged with various fine buildings. In 774 A.D. the beautifully decorated temple was given its name of Pulguk-Sa, the Temple Of Buddha's Land. During the five hundred years of the Goryeo Dynasty several kings influenced the buildings of the Pulguk-Sa Temple, thus its architecture is something of a mixture. In the first courtyard of the temple complex there are some fine stone pagodas particularly the three storey high Dabotap Pagoda. The original beauty of the buildings has withstood the often violent history of South Korea and Pulguk-Sa is still regarded both as a masterpiece of Buddhist art and the home of many of Korea's national treasures.

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Founded in 1394 Seoul is both the cultural and economic centre of South Korea and with twelve million inhabitants it is also the fifth largest city in the world. A huge monument commemorates the Korean War during which between 1950 and 1953 around four hundred thousand people were killed. At that time the United States of America and twenty other countries took part in a United Nations military operation to support South Korea against the forces of North Korea and China. In 1988 the twenty fourth Olympic Games took place in Seoul and for this the Olympic Park was created, a huge area with a monument at its entrance and two hundred sculptures that adorn various paths, designed to highlight Korea's global connection with the rest of the world. At the end of the eighteenth century the Hwaseong Fortress was built, now a World Heritage Sight. The fortress extends for a hundred and thirty hectares and the distance from one main gate to the other is such that a dragon train is available for those who prefer not to walk. In 1969 the N Seoul Television Tower was built to provide South Korea with TV and radio signals. Seoul's main landmark is two hundred and thirty six metres high and is equipped with several high speed elevators as well as an observation platform and observatory. Historic buildings, palaces, shrines and bridges all serve to underline the ultra modern appearance of Seoul, a mega city in the Land Of The Silent Morning.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. The Hwaseong Fortress is the most famous historic site in South Korea and the centre of Suwon, a city with a population of around a million, is dominated by the impressive looking fortress. The twenty-second monarch of the Korean Joseon Dynasty, King Jeongjo, ordered the construction of the complex in 1794. It is like a large open air museum and measures a hundred and thirty hectares, its walls extending for five kilometres. Indeed, the unique value of the fortress has been recognised by Unesco who have designated it as a World Heritage Site. A walk through the fortress could take several hours but it is well worth making the time to enjoy the splendour of the buildings. The majestic towers of Hwaseong continue to rise proudly into the sky above Suwon as a noble landmark of the city and also the Joseon Dynasty.