Suseok, 奇石.水石.수석 , Suiseki, Qishi

Korea is abundant in Suseok resources as it has many mountains, valleys, rivers and streams, long coastlines. Suseok means natural rock of ornamental and antiquarian value which is shaped after being washed by water for a long time. Korea has formed the Suseok association, a permanent body of the central committee of the Korean General Federation of Science and Technology in order to make an efficient use of Suseok resources. Suseok of particular value have been found in the basins of the River Ryesong in Kumchon county, North Hwanghae Province, and the River Rimjin in Poptong county, Kangwon Province.
Pyongyang Suseok Exhibition Hall - Tel: 850-2-1811, 381-8507 - Fax: 850-2-3814529

Yongduk Suseok are very famous among stone collectors throughout the country, for they have unusual figures abraded along many streams including Oshipchon, Songchon, and Dokeichon River. The marvelous shape and color of the stone is naturally formed. The Apricot Blossom Stone contains the natural color of purple or pink along with the vivid shape of the flower. The Peacock Stone shows the elegant tail of a peacock, while the Rose Stone unfolds the figure of a red rose on a gray ground. Flowers on the sunflower stone and the peony stone are so real that they seem to be cut out from photographs. The Landscape Stone reminds you a picture painted by a leading artist. In a word, the beauty and delicacy of Yongduk Susok is beyond description. There are some shops that sell Susok in and around Yongduk - checkout the link above.
Location: The Oshipchon river in Yongduk-gun, Kyongsangbuk-do

The Viewing Stone - Suseok History
Korean appreciation for Suseok began around the time that such stones were first introduced from China with Taoism, between B.C. 100 to A.D. 1300. At this time Korea was known as "Kokurea".

Due to this Chinese influence, most prized and collected stones during this period were upright stones that contained perforations and grooves on their surface. This preference continued during the middle period of Korean history from 1300-1950.

Recent Suseok history has been deeply influenced by Japan. Additionally, cultural changes in Korea during this time caused collectors to turn from traditional stone preferences to more "subdued" stones such as those revered by the Japanese. Although there was a significant increase in Suseok collecting in Korea after the Korean war (1950-1953), the closing of many prime collecting areas in recent years has caused the number of collectors to again decrease. Dr. Byung Ju Lee estimates that there were about a million collectors in Korea only 5 years ago but this number is going down.
This link also covers Korean stone classification and a glossary

The Korean Suseok by Dr. Byung Ju Lee - This website has some great information in English about the history of Korean Suseok, there classification and collecting places in Korea.

Korea Rock Collection Association - information about Suseok (in Korean)

SuseokWorld - Lots of pictures of Suseok (in Korean)

Suseoksite - Lots of pictures, displays, exhibitions, etc. (in Korean)

Suseok.net - lots of information about Suseok (in Korean & English)

suseok.com.ne.kr - information about Suseok and maybe club info. (in Korean)

Susok - Chewon-gun area - Susok have been found in the upstream of the Namhan River and Mt. Wolak area, which is well known as the home of the unusual or pleasing shaped and colored rocks.

Jamdu Suseok (Ornamental Stone) Garden restaurant - Muju-gun
The restaurant features about 1,000 ornamental stones inside and outside, including hopiseoks, which are common in this region. - Located at: 1191-1, Yongpo-ri, Muju-eup, Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do Tel: 063-322-7745/4644

Gyung-Bo Museum of Palaeontology - Yongduk
It exhibits more than 1,500 pieces of fossil collected from 20-odd countries including Korea. The Museum also contains a Susok (Suiseki) artistic natural stone pavilion
Location: Wonchok-ri, Namjong-myon, Yongduk-gun, Kyongsangbuk-do

inochisuiseki.org - A large Suseok website

Korean Flower Stones
The Cheongsong rhyolites are very valuable for research and preservation because of their rarity, beauty and diversity.

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