The village has examples of traditional peasants', farmers' and civil officials' housing styles from all over the country, as well as artisans' workshops, a brewery, a Confucian school, a Buddhist temple and a market place. This is a real village, not just a tourist show - the people you'll see working here live here all the time. There are regular dance performances and parades held every day. Buses go here every 20 minutes from Seoul. Near the DMZ on the east coast, this is a land of high craggy peaks, lush forests, tremendous waterfalls, boulder-strewn white water rivers, beaches and ancient temples.
Autumn is the best time to visit, when the changing leaves make the mountains a riot of colour.
Being so gorgeous, the park is, of course, outrageously popular - don't expect a solitary wilderness experience. The best way to escape the crush is to carry a tent and hike for a few days into Inner Sorak, in the west of the park. For those who prefer a quick fix of nature with a dash of luxury, try the Osaek Hot Springs in South Sorak. If you want to stay in quieter Inner Sorak you'll probably need to carry a tent, but if you don't have one you can rough it in the park's few shelters. Direct buses run between Seoul and Sorak-dong. back to top Kyongju For 1000 years, up until the 10th century, Kyongju was the capital of the Silla Dynasty.