[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Escape without leaving: 4 exotic destinations right here in Korea

Luxurious destinations in Korea offer a taste of international travel without leaving the country. From a desert island to a Chinese garden, these unique attractions provide an exotic experience close to home.

Oedo-Botania in Geoje, South Gyeongsang is a Western-style botanical garden that gives off a Mediterranean ambiance through the white pillars and the well-trimmed non-native flower gardens. [OEDO-BOTANIA]

"Now or never" is a common statement quoted among overseas travelers who sign up for a once-in-a-lifetime trip abroad.

The trip may accompany hopes of showering them with a life-changing epiphany. However, the major deal-breakers — the time constraint and the tight budget — discourage many of us from investing in an overseas trip that may cost us months of frugality to make it happen.

If you have been itching to travel outside Korea but restrained from blasting a few hundred million won at once, why not try a plot twist and visit the rarest spaces in Korea that may partially cover your zeal for an overseas trip while you save up?

From sand dunes to a miniature replica of a European city, explore these four exotic scenes found throughout Korea.

Daecheong Island, Okjookdong Dune 대청도 옥죽동 해안사구

Okjookdong Dune in Daecheong Island, Incheon is called the Korean Sahara. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Daecheong Island stands nearly 200 kilometers (124 miles) from northwestern Incheon, spanning 12.6 square kilometers (3,119 acres). It takes a three-and-a-half-hour trip on a cruise ferry from the Incheon Port to get to the spot, one of the five islands on the Yellow Sea. The island houses Mount Samgak, where many visitors go on a hike and where the peak reveals an exquisite view of the Nongyeo beach.

The seemingly ordinary scene, which one might expect to encounter on any typical island in Korea, takes a remarkable turn when heading north. Here, a high coastal sand dune emerges, completely altering the landscape. Named Okjookdong Dune, this unique natural space stretches 1.6 kilometers in length and 600 meters in width. It is also often referred to as the Korean Sahara Desert.

The sand dune rises 40 meters above sea level and changes its shape as seasons change since the wind changes directions. Some thirty years ago, a cluster of pine trees was planted to function as windbreak trees against the sandy wind. A pair of two-hump camels stand in the middle of the dune, man-made objects that mark this unique part of the island.

If you are interested in exploring miniature deserts in Korea, you can also visit the Sinduri coastal sand dune in Taean County, South Chungcheong.

Daecheong-ri, Daecheong-myeon, Ongjin County, Incheon(인천 옹진군 대청면 대청리)

Wolhwawon효원공원 월화원

Wolhwawon in Suwon, Gyeonggi, is a Chinese-style garden with an artificial lake, a waterfall and Chinese-style architecture. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Wolhwawon or Yuhuayuan — meaning Guangdong Chinese garden — encapsulates the traditional Guangdong Chinese garden style in the tranquil Hyowon Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi. This southern Chinese mountain water garden is a creation of the Guangdong Province, which was initiated by the agreement of joint statements between the two provinces, Guangdong and Gyeonggi in October 2003. The Gyeonggi Province also created a Korean-style garden in Guangdong in exchange.

The garden has appeared in historical dramas as well, one famous example being "Scarlet Heart: Ryeo," (2016) starring singer and actor Lee Ji-eun. Inheriting Chinese architectural features, Wolhwawon is different from typical Korean-style gardens. Rather than disclosing a broad field with an open view, the garden reveals hidden spaces under the shade as the paths tend to be curvy and unexpected. The wooden structures are painted dark chocolate, an unusual shade compared to the natural colors of Korean-style ones.

The 6,026 square meters-wide garden incorporates a man-made hill, an artificial lake and a waterfall, not to mention a small pavilion inspired by the shape of a ship whose edges of the roof curl up. Bamboo, pine and Japanese apricot trees surround the pavilion, adding Chinese-style elements. Although the garden may not be in the scale as sizable as the large ones in Guangdong, the beauty of the exotic architecture and the unique designs do not fail to impress the visitors. The view grows more impressive once the sun sets, as the lanterns turn on and the lake surface reflects the lights.

1117 Ingye-dong, Paldal District, Suwon, Gyeonggi(경기도 수원시 팔달구 인계동 1117)Operation hours: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Free admissionPhone number: 1899-3300

Oedo-Botania외도 보타니아

Oedo-Botania in Geoje, South Gyeongsang, is home to 1,000 species of non-native floras. The cafe in the island, Oedo Nursery, is also full of plants. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang, the second-largest island after Jeju, is four kilometers away from a Western-style botanical garden, Oedo-Botania, or Oe Island. Nearly 1,000 species of non-native flora, like palm trees and bamboo, create an exotic ambiance in this garden on the sea, aligning with the origin of its name, "botani" and "utopia" combined.

Open since April 1995, Oedo-Botania is a private island owned and recreated by a couple. The owners transformed an aloof and untamed land into a Western-style garden over three to four decades. So far, over 20 million visitors have stopped by the island. The island gained some fame after the last episode of "Winter Sonata," (2002) a mega-hit melodrama that aired on KBS, was shot on the island.

White walls and red brick roofs are the key players of the Western-style atmosphere of Oedo-Botania. Starting from the front gate, you can stride by the main square and some multiple themed gardens, a small church and a cafe that overlooks the island. One of the main gardens not to be missed is the Venus Garden, where a large monumental structure stands on pillars. You can get a whiff of the well-groomed Mediterranean vibe from the buildings and the surrounding sculptures, with the vast greenery streamlining the paths.

Admission is limited to two hours.

@oedobotania17 Oedo-gil Irun-myeon, Geoje, South Gyeongsang(경상남도 거제시 일운면 외도길 17)Operation hours:8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Summer season8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Winter seasonAdmission fee: 11,000 won ($8) for adults, 8,000 won for adolescents and those in the military service Phone number: 055-681-4541Website: http://www.oedobotania.com/

The Venice Land베니스랜드

The Venice Land in Seogwipo City, Jeju [THE VENICE LAND]

The Venice Land is a theme park in Seogwipo City, Jeju. Easily judged by its name, the entire park was built as an homage to the floating city of Venice in Italy. Canals, gondolas, Italian-style buildings and monuments catch the eyes of the visitors.

World Ethnic Museum, a Venice-themed gallery, dining areas and a cafe add a touristic vibe to the theme park. If you sign up for a gondola ride, where you row yourself, you can also feed the carp swimming in the water.

The ticket covers the admission, the access to the gallery and the museum, but if you want a package deal that also covers the gondola ride, you should pay an additional 7,000 won if you are aged 18 and above.

2575 Nansan-ri, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo City, Jeju Island(제주 서귀포시 성산읍 난산리 2575)Operation hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission fee: 12,000 won for adults above age 18, 8,000 won for adolescents (middle and high school students) and 12,000 for children up to elementary school students Phone number: 064-784-6565Website: http://theveniceland.com/m/index.php Learn more about Korean university life on K-campus.

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]