2024 kicked off, Monday, marking the Year of the Blue Dragon in the sexagenary cycle. As a symbol of strength, prosperity and success, the dragon, the fifth sign and the only mythical creature among the 12 Oriental zodiac signs, has long been cherished as a guardian creature for the Korean people.

According to the National Geographic Information Institute, Korea has 1,261 regions that have dragon, or “yong” in Korean, in their names, stemming from folklore associated with the legendary creatures.

Here are some of the best dragon-themed travel destinations recommended by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO).

A sunrise view at Haedong Yonggung Temple in Busan / Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization

Make a wish at Busan's Yonggung Temple

Located at the coast in Busan's northeast, Haedong Yonggung Temple is arguably the most beautiful temple in Korea.

The temple's name translates to “Dragon Palace Temple,” referring to the royal residence where the Dragon King, or “Yongwang” in Korean, lives under the sea.

According to the temple's foundational legend, the sea king appeared to monk Naong in a dream and told him to build a seaside temple at the edge of Mount Bongrae, where he should pray to alleviate hardships and bring people happiness when the nation was suffering from drought. Thus, the temple was established by the monk in 1376.

Haedong Yonggung Temple sits on the shoulder of a dragon-shaped mountain in Busan. Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization

The temple is surrounded by shoreline rocks and a small mountain that form the shape of a dragon. At the entrance of the temple stand statues of the 12 zodiac animals, believed to protect 12 directions of the land from evil spirits and offer blessings to humanity.

Today, the temple is a popular sunrise spot, swarmed by local and international visitors throughout all four seasons.

The temple is known to have a miraculous power to make visitors' wishes come true — as the motto of the temple says, “At least one of your wishes will be answered here through your heartfelt prayers.”

The temple opens to visitors at 4:30 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

A statue of a dragon ascending to heaven stands along the path of Mirumaru-gil in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization

Blue dragon's stairway to heaven in Goheung

Mirumaru-gil in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, is a walking path along a picturesque coastal rocky cliff, where a blue dragon is believed to have soared to heaven.

The name of the road is a combination of the old Korean terms “miru” and “maru,” which each mean dragon and sky.

Local legend says a blue dragon and a black dragon were fighting each other in a race to heaven and to obtain a Yeouiju, a magic pearl with supernatural powers that grants all wishes.

One day, a village archer named Ryu Shi-in had a dream of a gray-haired wise man telling him to prevent misfortune to the village by shooting one of the dragons with an arrow and ending their fight.

A seaside path along the rocky cliff in Mirumaru-gil, where local legends say a blue dragon soared to heaven / Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization

His arrow hit the black dragon. The blue dragon, while on his way to heaven, stepped along the 120-meter-high rocky cliff and left a five-meter-long footstep, which is still visible today in colors that are different from the rest of the rocky layers.

The walking path spans over 4 kilometer and offers picturesque, panoramic views of the ocean along the rocky cliff.

At the end of the road is the Goheung Space Launch Observatory, which offers the best view to the trajectory of the rocket launched from the Naro Space Center and Korea Aerospace Research Institute that exhibits the history of Korea's space development.

A panoramic view from Mount Yongma in eastern Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization

Panoramic sunrise view at Mount Yongma

The peak of Mount Yongma in eastern Seoul offers one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the capital.

Standing 348 meters high, it is the highest peak of Mount Acha, featuring a night hiking course that beginners can enjoy and an observatory famous for its breathtaking sunrises as well as great nightview scenery, featuring views of landmarks such as Lotte World Tower, Mount Nam and bridges over the Han River.

According to local legend, an ordinary couple living on the mountain had a baby that had extraordinary powers to jump over shelves and climb over rooftops.

An octagonal pavillion at eastern Seoul's Mount Yongma / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization

However, the villagers feared the baby's uncommon powers and killed the infant, fearing it would grow up to plot treason against the country.

On the night of the baby's death, a winged dragon horse, or “Yongma,” was waiting for its owner, the baby. The baby never came and the dragon horse flew away from the mountaintop after making a long howl to mourn the baby's death.

Near the summit of the mountain is Yongma Falls Park, home to three artificial waterfalls built on a rocky cliff that operates from May to August.

The park also features a climbing stadium, also known as a filming location for the 2019 Korean disaster action blockbuster “Exit.”

A sunrise view from Yongyang Peak in Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization

Urban night view from Yongyang Peak

Yongyangbong Jejeong Park near the southern shore of the Han River in Seoul has become the city's newest hotspot for sunset and nighttime views since opening in April 2021.

The park was named after a temporary palace nearby, where King Jeongjo, the 22nd ruler of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, used to stop by and rest on his way to visit his father's grave in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

The king himself named the palace after the scenery, which he thought resembled a dragon soaring to the sky with its head held up high in its mix of mountain peaks and the neighboring river.

The picturesque view of the mountains that the king saw is now gone but the venue presents an unhampered view of the city that never sleeps, filled with skyscrapers.

A night view from Yongyangbong Jejeong Park in Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization