South Korea Travel Guide

Yet another country in the East Asia, South Korea is the other half of North Korea. It has been divided with the Demilitarized zone and remains as popular as it did before. There are thousands of tourists who throng to visit this place, since they are curious to know more and wish to learn about the differences between the countries.

People who are obsessed with nature, and make sure to not affect their surroundins, South Koreans are very humble and down to earth. They make sure everyone is comfortable and then take care of their own needs, being self less at times.

When visiting South Korea on a holiday, make sure to keep this list of five things ready on hand, so you don’t miss out on the must see sights that this beautiful country has in store.

TOP 10 South Korea Travel Destinations

1. Gangwon

Gangwon is said to be the most popular destination by the Korean government and it is located in the northern east region in South Korea. It is blessed with beautiful mountains (Seoraksan, Chiaksan, Odaesan and Taebaeksan), which cover nearly ¾th of the land is mountainous. And it has two regions each with its own identity.

The Eastern runs along the coast which has clean beaches that offer some of the best sceneries and vacation spots. The western faces Seoul and southern part is the inlands. This is where one begins their climb on the Diamond Mountains and to the Mt Baekdusan which lies in North Korea. This place is beautiful in winter, with snow covering the mountains and there is white snow everywhere. It is heaven for winter sports enthusiasts.

The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in Gangwon-do.

2. Seongnamsa

Seongnamsa is a temple that should be visited and it is regarded as a masterpiece. A walk along the 800 meter stone path leads to the park entrance and thereon to the temple. Once you reach there, take a minute to admire the pagoda at the top of the temple, and the various bamboo tress around it.

3. Dogong

Dodong Mineral Spring park is another popular tourist destination. To catch the beautiful sunset and become one with nature, it is best to come to this mineral spring park. The geysers and the park are a visual treat for anyone coming here. There are stories surrounding this park that if one where to drink the water from this mineral spring, it could cure their ailments, since it has medicinal benefits as well.

4. Gyeongbokgung Palace

Built in 1394 under orders of King Taejo, the first king and founder of the Joseon Dynasty. The Gyeongbokgung Palace houses the National Folk Museum and the National Palace Museum of Korea. The palace is composed of several buildings including the Gangnyeongjeon (Gangnyeongjeon Hall), which was used as the King’s main sleeping and living quarters. It is arguably the most beautiful of it’s four sister palaces, which are all in Seoul. The Gyeongbokgung Palace was originally a massive complex of 330 buildings and 5,792 rooms. Many of the buildings were destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1920-1945). Since 1989, the Korean government is in the process of rebuilding the structures that were destroyed.5

5. Korean Folk Village

The Korean Folk Village is a living museum and it occupies an area of about 243 acres in a natural environment located at Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province. There are more than 260 houses reproducing tradional Korean homes from the late Joseon Dinasty. Many types of buildings are included, representing all the social classes and different regions of South Korea. Within the village there are also traditional restaurants a traditional market and various workshops showcasing all the traditional Korean crafts, including metalwork, woodwork, fans, musical instruments and a lot more. The Korean Folk Village also includes a Folk Museum, an Art Museum, performances of traditional dance, as well as an amusement park with rides, games and recreational activities for all the family.

6. Demilitarized Zone DMZ

There is no doubt that the DMZ is one of the key experiences of any visit to Korea, and a great insight into the ethos and emotion that plays a key role in a culture that many regards as divided in half spiritually as well as politically. It is also the closest you are likely to get to North Korea, unless the border situation changes. The DMZ is actually a buffer zone between the two countries, and most tours involve staring across no mans land towards the heavily guarded North Korean border posts. The land in between is actually about as heavily militarized as any area of land in the world, lending the name an ironic air, but it is also a stangely beautiful natural sight, having become home to a host of wildlife.

7. Haeinsa Temple

The Temple of Haeinsa, on Mount Kaya, is home to the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, engraved on 80,000 woodblocks between 1237 and 1248. The buildings of Janggyeong Pangeon, which date from the 15th century, were constructed to house the woodblocks, which are also revered as exceptional works of art. As the oldest depository of the Tripitaka, they reveal an astonishing mastery of the invention and implementation of the conservation techniques used to preserve these woodblocks.

8. Jejudo

Jejudo or Jeju Island, also known as the “Island of the Gods” is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and many international tourists. It remains one of the top honeymoon destinations for Korean newlyweds. The island’s mixture of volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, make it very similar to the Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. The iland offers visitors a wide range of activities: hiking on Halla-san (South Korea’s highest peak), catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, viewing majestic waterfalls and lava tubes, Jeju Loveland, riding horses, or just lying around on the sandy beaches.

9. Namdaemun Market

Named for its nearby namesake of Namdaemun (Great South Gate) and located near the downtown area, one of Korea’s largest wholesale markets covers over 10 acres. It is filled with over 1,000 shops, stalls, retailers, street vendors, and has several department stores nearby. Here you can find clothes, shoes, fabrics, tableware, flowers, vegetables, ginseng products, toys, and watches. Under Namdaemun-no (the main street to the north of the market) is an extensive underground arcade.

10. Busan Haeundae Beach

Busan is a seaport surrounded by several beaches. The most beautiful of them is the Haeundae-beach. At about 1.5 kilometers in length, it is well worth visiting in the summer as well as the winter. During wintertime, it is a beautiful place to go for a walk, with packs of seagulls overhead. In the summer, the beach is hardly detectable due to all the sunscreens. You can rent boats there and all possible kinds of water sports are catered for in beach proximity. The Busan Aquarium is directly on the beach, and the Yachting Center is close proximity. In addition, there are many modern hotels as the beach, as well as clubs, bars and so on.

Appreciating the diverse charms of South Korea

I hope you find these famous tourist attractions in Korea are interested to you. If you have more time in Korea, you in fact have lot of things to do at the local level, for example explore the authentic Korea BBQ, indulge in local street delights, experience the night club and night life there, shopping etc. Plan your next trip to visit and enjoy South Korea now. If you are interested, here are some of the best deal Korea ->HERE.