The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty form a collection of 40 tombs scattered over 18 locations. Built over five centuries, from 1408 to 1966, the tombs honoured the memory of ancestors, showed respect for their achievements, asserted royal authority, protected ancestral spirits from evil and provided protection from vandalism. The roads to the royal tombs lead travelers to an auspicious place. The sites of the royal tombs were carefully selected by Feng Shui experts, and the landscape, structures, and architecture surrounding the tombs combined to produce the highest art form of the time. The premises of the royal tombs are surrounded by mountains, bodies of water, and grass lawns and covered by old pine trees. Not only have they been preserved perfectly for 600 years, but the memorial rites from then are still practiced today. The royal tombs of the Joseon dynasty are the ultimate icons of Joseon history and culture that have continued to today.

credit: KOREA.NET – Official page of the Republic of Korea

The Arirang Mass Games are performed only in Pyongyang, DPRK. The last Mass Games were held in Pyongyang between 22 July and 30 September 2013. The show were run 4 times a week. Since 1946, North Korea has regularly staged mass gymnastics games or performances that have grown ever grander and more lavish over the years. The Arirang Mass Games is meant to capture scenes from Korea’s modern history, beginning with the Japanese occupation, the division of the country into North and South, through to current day with the North rising as an independent nation.

credit: (stephan)

Promotional Korean girls at Seoul Motor Show are really cute. It seems, that Korea has more to offer than just luxury cars.

credit: KRWonders

The fountain installed at Banpo Bridge in Seoul is 1,140-meter-long ( 570 meters on each side). It holds Guinness world record for the Longest bridge fountain. It has 10000 led nozzles which spout 190 tons of water per minute some 20 meters out from the bridge and into the Han River. It uses the water from the river. LED nozzles were installed to the bridge in September 2009. The Bridge connects the Seocho and Yongsan districts. The construction of the bridge was completed in 1982.

credit: st.solaris