The Korea Foundation has published “Korean Journeys: Heartland of Culture and History,” which provides readers with practical information about a variety of noteworthy destinations across Korea.
A large majority of visitors to Korea, as well as foreigners residing here on a long-term basis, end up spending much of their time within the confines of Seoul, Korea’s capital, which might not seem to be especially distinctive, as compared to other big cities in Asia and around the world.
The provincial areas outside of Seoul offer an abundance of wonderful destinations that reflect the real essence of Korea through the beauty of picturesque landscape and various wonders, both natural and man-made. The destinations described in this book reveal the truly unique lifestyles, cuisine, folklore, history, and cultural heritages that can only be found in Korea’s outlying regions. As such, the content of this book provides a glimpse into the diverse character of the Korean people and their regional cultures.

The book is a compilation and update of selected “On the Road” articles that have been featured in Koreana, a quarterly magazine about Korean art and culture, published by the Foundation. By general geographical location, individual articles are grouped into five chapters: Seoul and its Periphery, Central and Western Regions, Southwestern Region, Southeastern Region, and Gangwon Province.
Areas of interest include Yeosu, host city of the 2012 World Expo; Gyeongju, a treasure trove of ancient Korean culture; and Pyeongchang, a haven of winter sports and candidate for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Since the articles are written in a narrative style, rather than the kind of format associated with a commercial travel guide, much attention is paid to identifying the unique aspects of local lifestyle and cultural traditions of each destination.

‘Gold Crowns of Silla: Treasures from a Brilliant Age’

“Gold Crowns of Silla: Treasures from a Brilliant Age” is the third and the latest in a series of the Korea Foundation's publications highlighting Korea's cultural masterpieces. The book introduces the gold crowns and ornaments of Silla (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), which exemplify the cultural brilliance of the Three Kingdoms period of Korea’s ancient history.

The city of Gyeongju’s historic areas, which have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, feature a number of cultural resources from the Silla era. A notable example is the royal tomb clusters that reflect Silla’s thriving culture and arts in the fifth and sixth centuries.

The book features the gold crowns, ornaments, and related s excavated from five royal tombs in Gyeongju, the old capital of Silla: the Great Tomb at Hwangnam, Heavenly Horse Tomb, Gold Crown Tomb, Auspicious Phoenix Tomb, and Gold Bell Tomb. The descriptions are accompanied by a wealth of photographs and related details. The design motifs and symbols of the crowns express the aspirations and dreams that the Silla royalty maintained for the preservation of their kingdom. In fact, this style of gold crown is unique to a particular period of Silla and was not continued after its adoption of Buddhism as the state religion.

The three insightful essays included in this book are by professors Lee Han-sang of Daejeon University, Ju Bo-don of Kyungpook National University, and Sarah Nelson of the University of Denver; they explain the gold crafts of Silla, the symbolic significance of Silla gold crowns, and the historical background of Silla’s cultural flowering. The book was edited by Professor Lee Han-sang, a specialist on Silla’s gold culture, and translated into English by Lee Jung-hee, a professor of art history at Portland State University in the United States.

The two eariler books in the series are: “Fragrance of Korea” (2005), about the gilt-bronze incense burner of Baekje; and “Eternal Images of Sakyamuni” (2008), about two gilt-bronze Maitreya Bodhisattva images.