YEONGNEUNG ROYAL TOMB

This tomb is one of a total of 42 honoring the kings of the Joseon dynasty. This one happens to be that of the most famous and important king in Korean history, Sejong the Great and his wife Soheon. He was the most popular ruler in the country's history, thanks in no small part to his love for his people. Sejong was also the king who contributed most to the development of culture. During his reign, politics and the economy flourished. Keen to offer his people a writing system that was far easier and more accessible than Chinese ideograms, he promulgated thehunminjeongeum (훈민정음) in 1446. It was above all the creation of the Korean alphabet, hangeul, following this official document, that anchored the king in posterity more than anyone else. For the record, Hangeul is the only writing system in the world that can be dated with certainty.

Returning to this venerable sovereign's burial site, it's a large tumulus, typical of traditional Korean tombs. It's not overflowing with pomp, but its simplicity and uncluttered nature are what make it so powerful. It is laid out according to the principles of pungsu, a kind of Korean feng shui in which wind, water and earth harmonize. At the entrance to the tomb, a small museum informs visitors about the "inventions" that Koreans owe to this king. An absolute must-see if you're in Gyeonggi-do province!