RAS to host Independence Day excursion
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Hyeonchungsa, located in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, is a shrine complex dedicated to 16th-century naval hero, Admiral Yi Sun-sin. / Korea Times
By John Redmond
The Royal Asiatic Society (Korean Branch) will present an Independence Day excursion to Hyeonchungsa, the Onyang Folk Museum and the Independence Hall of Korea on March 1.
The tour will take guests south to the historic town of Onyang, where the first stop will be Hyeonchungsa, a shrine complex set in landscaped gardens, dedicated to Korea’s great 16th-century naval hero, admiral Yi Sun-sin.
In addition to the shrine itself, the group will be able see his house and a museum containing his war diaries and other personal artifacts. It is expected to take about an hour to explore the complex.
Next, tourists will visit the Onyang Folk Museum, a privately owned museum established in 1978, which has more than 14,000 folk artifacts on display, depicting the life and traditions of the Korean people.
While the National Folk Museum in Seoul mainly uses diorama displays to depict Korean folk life, this museum exhibits a vast array of beautiful and priceless antiques that are more representative of Korean folk life as a whole.
Household articles, work utensils, religious, recreational and scholastic items, displays relating to marriage, death, agriculture, fishing, woodworking and medicine are among the many aspects of Korean life depicted in the four exhibition rooms.
All articles are well displayed and great attention has been paid to accuracy and detail, making it the best folk museum in Korea.
The final stop will be at the Independence Hall of Korea. Built in 1987, this hall is dedicated to all those who struggled for independence during the Japanese colonial period. The Memorial Hall contains artifacts, historical references, paintings and displays related to the struggle for freedom that took place during that period. This tour will be an excellent experience to understand Korean history.
The bus will leave from the left side of Yongsan post office which is located on subway blue line Sinyongsan Station, exit 1 at 8 a.m. and will return at about 8 p.m.
The cost is 42,000 won for members and 50,000 won for non-members, and covers transportation only.
Please bring some extra money for entrance fees (about 3,500 won), and don’t forget a packed lunch. A Korean style lunch will be available at the rest stop. won and includes a sandwich and drinks.
RSVP by sending your name and contact details to Choi Hee-hyeon at yeol400@hanmail.net.