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Travelling to South Korea seemed underwhelming. Yet it’s misunderstood. Here’s how to see Korea and find the best of its tourism offering.
I had a multitude of reasons for going to South Korea.
Korea is a split peninsula. After being in North Korea, I wanted to visit South Korea to understand their differences.
South Korea always seemed unknown, a country that people rarely extensively travel outside the capital of Seoul and the beach town of Busan. I wanted to travel further.
South Korea is talked about in great detail by westerners who moved there. I wanted to see why.
South Korea remains a country marketed towards its regional neighbours who flock here because of the world-renowned K-Pop and K-Beauty. Only until the recent success of K Dramas like Parasite and Squid Game has South Korea been propelled further on the world stage. Pop culture is always a draw.
Altogether, South Korea can be tricky to unravel, harder to travel and harder to understand. Here’s why.
Contents
Travelling to Korea For the First Time?
Being in Korea will bring a lot of cultural and language barriers, coupled with the lack of tourism infrastructure, but as a visitor, you should adapt. As a modern country, the general infrastructure is great, so there’s no issue with getting around, navigating or finding accommodations whatever town or city you find yourself in.
Fairly quickly I realised I wasn’t overwhelmed by South Korea – which happens in some places. It’s not necessarily a bad thing; more a matter of personal opinion but I like to try and understand why.
I came to realise that South Korea is a destination that needs adequate time and dedication in getting to know and understand it. Especially when you look at its history of oppression.
Seoul is a city that needs a deeper dive to find its hotspots and then it clicks. As I passed through new towns, I realised that locals had told me things prior to my arrival which were filled with an abundance of beautiful pride, but which in reality for a tourist visitor were nothing more than just a residential town with one or two areas of interest. However, food enthusiasts will find smaller towns pack a punch when it comes to localised Korean cuisine.
You need to research heavily on where to go in South Korea and what the cultural highlights are. You have to work hard to find it.
Whilst certain parts of Korea did not live up to my initial expectations, my time there did come with some great memories times and very particular destinations that stand out. I do have a desire to return to see it differently, but more so to really spend some time in some of the country’s 22 National Parks and seven mountains. That kind of nature accolade is impressive, and I only scratched the surface of it.
After one month in the country, I pulled together this guide on how to travel to South Korea and make the most of it, alongside my top picks on where to visit for your first time there.
Travelling to South Korea? What Seems Underwhelming is Misunderstood.
Korea vs Japan? Don’t Do This. Ever
My biggest mistake was in visiting Japan first and the ongoing Korea or Japan debate is inevitable, but it’s also wrong.
Sure, Japan was incredible and after spending one month there and I was on a huge come down. Travel to South Korea felt less appealing in comparison – it wasn’t as ‘seemingly’ vibrant and eccentric as its neighbour. I missed Japan and its madness. South Korea feels much more relaxed and less hurried, so it just takes time to adjust to the different tempo.
Visiting Japan first is a hindrance to having a fresh perspective on Korea.
Especially when given the brutal history between the two countries, you can see how anti-Japanese sentiment is rife in Korea and it pays to have a better understanding of their differences.
Travel to South Korea – Understanding the Reality
This might be an alternative South Korea travel guide in that I’m not listing all that is wonderful and 100% perfect. Yet, we are all guilty of too easily dismissing travel to a destination without looking at its current state in context. In the case of Korea, this is important.
Japanese Colonial Rule
South Korea suffered under 35 years of Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945), which included ruthless military rule, censorship, discrimination and forced labour. It’s a part of the collective consciousness today.
The industrialisation of South Korea after Colonisation and the Korean War
Following the three year Korean War, which began in 1950 when the North invaded the South, the country was to grow into a major economy. That came after decades of invasion and colonisation of Korea by Japan during 1910–1945.
The country was destroyed, and after a long period of political instability, General Park Chung-hee’s military takeover in 1961 led to the formation of a new government. To many, he was seen as a ruthless dictator, whose rule saw many waves of abuse of human rights, yet the economy under him developed significantly, known as ‘The Miracle on the Han River’.
This term refers to the post-war industrialisation of Korea and the modern-day success story Korea is known for. A period which saw immense technological advancement, rapid urbanisation (including the Seoul subway system in use today), booming high standards of living and educational reforms, the hosting of huge sporting events including the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, as well as placing the country on the global stage with the formation of international companies including Samsung, Hyundai and LG.
Whilst many remain divided in opinion about his time in power, the country’s development is evident. South Korea is an economic miracle in its own right.
Cultural Customs of South Korea
Older generations in South Korea here have lived through the rapid change from the aftermath of war, creating a solid work ethic in all generations. Not only that, but locals informed me that culturally they are private people – community and family-focused – and do not need to take an outsider into their circle quickly.
Therefore, welcoming tourists in South Korea with open arms is not instant. And that’s ok too.
That doesn’t mean you won’t meet those who are an exception to the rule, who are so excited to see someone visit their hometown and want to show you every aspect of it. It’s just not an occurrence that happens in abundance.
Korean women in hanbok (traditional Korean clothing).
South Korea Tourism – Is it a Focus?
Tourism in Korea isn’t a core lifeline like how it is in, say, Thailand or Cambodia. South Korea rose from the ashes and became a strong and prosperous nation, albeit at great sacrifice. They are a nation of staunch hard workers; their children study all day (and most of the night). There’s huge pride in that.
Korea is Asia’s fourth-largest economy, with a high standard of living. Essentially, they don’t need tourism to thrive, so the notion of tourism is misunderstood and rests significantly on those wanting to visit the DMZ border.
READ MORE: Visit the DMZ in North Korea and South Korea – The Story of Both Sides
READ MORE: Travelling to North Korea – The Truth of Visiting the DPRK – My Experience
South Korean Guards at the DMZ.
Places to Visit in South Korea (on a first visit)
With all this in mind, I made it a personal mission to not immediately dismiss travel to South Korea and leave too early. I knew there were plenty of things to see and do in Korea emitting some level of cultural or adventurous interest and in each destination, I tried to find something positive, picturesque or historically relevant.
I didn’t have any particular South Korea itinerary, instead, I just landed in the capital ready for a sporadic adventure.
Seoul
I grew to love the arty side of Seoul, choosing the funky student-filled Hongdae as my base and enjoying the atmosphere of Itaewon and Gangnam that is best seen when the sun goes down.
From huge markets, old villages, historical palaces, entertainment districts and shopping plazas, there was always something new to try to seek out daily. The neighbourhoods are diverse, and that alone, alongside the array of cafes and coffee roasters, will keep you occupied in the capital.
READ MORE: Places to Visit in Seoul – The Soul Capital of South Korea
Day Trips and Tours in Seoul
- Enjoy a tour of Seoul by e-bike. learn about the city’s history, stop for Korean snacks and get to the best viewpoints.
- Get acquainted with the city on a half-day Seoul city highlights tour, including Gyeongbokgung Palace.
- Known for its abundance of nightlife, take a pub crawl tour of Seoul
- Visit Nami Island and the Garden of Morning Calm on this full-day trip.
- Visit the DMZ on a full-day tour with the option for a half-day trip.
Namdaemun Market in Seoul.
Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.
Andong & Hahoe Folk Village
I visited Andong with the purpose of checking out Hahoe Folk Village – one of Korea’s few ‘preserved villages’. While Andong itself doesn’t necessarily attract visitors, its historical points of interest, reached by various long bus routes, did not disappoint.
One of the traditional houses in the preserved Hahoe Folk Village near Andong.
Nature in South Korea, accessible from Andong.
Daegu
A local romanticised Daegu as a place full of old historical buildings and hidden picturesque spots – we sat for an hour marking key highlights on a map – but I was left deflated when I realised it was nothing more than a big city. However, it was an important insight into the different parts of the country and how the experiences of travelling in South Korea vary greatly.
Luckily, there is now a Daegu City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus so you can easily see the main attractions.
Often, overnight stops in local towns are a great way of breaking up a long journey.
Daegu town centre, South Korea.
Gyeongju Burial Mounds
The UNESCO Ancient Capital of Gyeongju is a highlight, with huge grassy tombs, temples and gorgeous parkland surrounded by mountains. One of the more interesting cities of former dynasty times, with a lot of ground to cover.
Day Trip – Visit Gyeongju from Busan.
The Gyeongju Burial Mounds – one of South Korea’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The grassy royal burial mounds in Gyeongju are one of the best places to visit in Korea.
Busan
Busan, with its lively beaches and mountainous terrain, was a refreshing and chilled break from the brash Seoul. I also got to check out Spa Land – one of Korea’s many ‘walk around completely naked’ spas and a rite of passage for any visitor to Korea!
Day Trips and Tours in Busan
- A compact city but with lots of highlights, consider a full-day Busan city tour to see it all.
- See Busan’s skyline from the water on a 90-minute sightseeing cruise.
- Day trip to Oedo Island for the lush nature and the longest cable car ride in Korea.
The mdoern coastline city of Busan, South Korea.
Busan beach city.
Yeosu
I had an incredible few days in the small harbour town of Yeosu, staying with a friend who was teaching there and taking random bus trips to start short treks in nature – like reaching the scenic viewpoint of the Geomosan Hyangilam temple I would have otherwise found hard to come by.
The colourful Geomosan Hyangilam temple in Yeosu overlooking the ocean.
Forest walks and temple treks in Yeosu, Korea.
Jeju Island
Jeju Island was hands down my favourite destination in Korea – a stunning domestic holiday spot with stunning beaches and a host of UNESCO sites, including lava caves, a mountain and incredible viewing points.
The ferry ride to get here is rough on the choppy waters, but it’s all a part of the adventure. And there’s a lot of adventuring to do in Jeju as a core pristine nature hotspot.
READ MORE: All the World Wonder of Nature Things to Do on Jeju Island, South Korea
Visiting Jeju Island’s Sunrise Peak.
Haenyo Female Diver Statue on Jeju Island, South Korea.
How to Enjoy a Trip to Korea
A key part of enjoying Korea is knowing the people who live there. I was lucky to visit friends in Seoul and Yeosu, which made a HUGE difference because they could also introduce me to their Korean friends. I lost count of the times I was told you could only really enjoy Korea when people could tell you or show you where to go.
Korea doesn’t shout about its beauty, and must-see spots can be hard to find. Knowing someone is key – take advantage of this if you consider visiting there. When I spent time with locals, I used every minute to get a deeper insight into the country. I have recently heard that things have changed a lot, and there’s much more information and guidance on how and where to find and access points of interest because tourism promotion has gained more steam.
Would I visit again? Absolutely. I would travel to Korea again. There are still parts of the country that I have yet to see, such as the National Parks, the mountainous areas with hiking trails and much further down the line, the smaller towns which will one day be more accessible to travellers, rather than to those living there who take months to uncover it as they call it home.
Life in the city of Seoul, South Korea.
South Korea Travel Tips
Land in South Korea and be travel ready with these mobile and transport cards and passes.
SIM Cards
Rather than scour the streets for a SIM card, pre-order the 4G LTE unlimited data SIM card and collect it from airport pick-up stations where you will get help loading and topping up your data. You’ll need to present your passport.
If landing at Incheon Aiport, pick up this handy SIM and public transport combo card – an unlimited 4G data sim and charge card for subways and buses.
Korea Rail Pass
The Korean rail network is extensive and makes travel around South Korea convenient, fast and cost-effective. Available only for foreign visitors, consider purchasing a Korea Rail Pass for unlimited use within two to five days on the following services:
- KTX and KTX-Sancheon high-speed trains
- ITX-Saemaeul, Saemaeul, Mugunhwa, Nuriro and ITX-Cheongchun main network trains
- The O-train, V-Train, S-Train, DMZ-Train, A-Train and Westgold-Train tourist trains
This pass also includes discounts on first-class tickets for certain journeys and free or discounted entry into museums country-wide.
Seoul metro and train station.
Guide Books and Further Reading
- The Korea Lonely Planet has recently been updated and is a great addition to travel throughout the country.
- Read ‘Korea: The Impossible Country’ for further insight into Korea’s substantial economic and political growth. This book charts the rise of Korea as one of the best success stories of the post-war period and how it rose from the ashes and out of the shadows of Japan and China.
- ‘The Two Koreas’ is a contemporary history book that focuses on the history of the Korean Peninsula from World War II to the present day.
- Are you a fan of K Pop and keen to know how Korean Pop became a worldwide sensation? ‘The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation Is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture’ is a fun look at how (to quote the book) “a really uncool country became cool”.
Book a Hotel in Korea
Don’t Want to Travel Korea Solo? Book a Small Group Tour
Not everyone wants to navigate a country solo, and the complexities of a South Korea trip are no exception to those who might not know the Asia travel circuit extensively. Despite Korea’s great infrastructure and various stopping points of interest, some like to have smaller details organised and travel in small groups for a big adventure. Plus, you will be with a local guide, and South Korea is best experienced with someone who knows it as home.
The G Adventures South Korea tour takes you through Korea’s highlights over eight days, covering most of what’s been mentioned in this article. The trip costs include a visit to the DMZ, city tours in Seoul and Busan, alongside cultural villages and temples, as well as accommodation in all destinations and transport in between.
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Jason says
The Korean travel industry is actually geared more to other Asians, as it should be. I just don’t think Europeans or Americans would want go there. Korean-Americans are the exception.
I mean just be logical, if westerners want beaches or a place for their honeymoon there are other more exotic people and places in Europe and Asia. Korea will never compete with Bali orThailand or Greece. And Korea and Koreans just aren’t exotic in that Oriental way that attracts Western tourists. Korea is actually attractive to other Asians in the way that Hollywood attracts tourists.
Also in terms of visiters Korea actually does reasonably well compared to Japan, China and Thailand. It could do better and spendings on infrastructure is increasing.
Becki says
Not every westerner wants to go to beaches and more tropical climates etc. Korea has things to do and see, it’s just not shouting about it enough or making it as accessible. It’s only now I am hearing more and more about the incredible nature and National Parks, for example.
I despise the term ‘exotic’ in the travel industry. It’s patronising, especially in relation to east and west and what the Western sees Asia as. And, ultimately, what Westeners ‘want’ Asians to be.
Korea, like every destination, has it’s own unique persona, or in more modern times how it has grown into a hub of pop culture, amongst other things. It’s just harder to really dig into, and even for friends who lived there, it still took them many years.
Becki says
I would post your comment but since you are being aggressive, threatening about me returning (also in your previous, longer comment) and unable to have a mature conversation (like the majority here in this thread which invite insightful discussion amongst travellers, Koreans and expats), it is futile to respond.
Mo says
Ok. If there’s any backpackers out there, let me try to change your perspective on travel a little. I am 37 and obviously more mature than your average backpacker, but i have been backpacking since my 20s and i feel i have something to contribute. I call this India and Nepal problem. I love Nepal and am trying to find a way to spend a few months every year here that’s my goal. The thing is i have friends who love India and i used to tell them I hate India. I travelled India in 2011 and i did not enjoy the place. Nepal seemed like a paradise in comparison. The people seemed rude and the place dirty. I have made up my mind. I hated India. My friends used to accuse me of close-mindedness. So this time i made an effort to learn a little Hindi to get to know the locals. How India has changed in 7 years! Also my Hindi made a big difference. The Indians embraced me as ‘bharatyi’ and they were ready to see me as one of them. Many backpackers have this attitude i am spending my cash so the locals should be like this or that. We are becoming cultural consumers. That is a very fake way to live this world. I was certainly guilty. But try to open your mind and let the travel change your ‘self’.
Becki says
I agree, especially that there is a similar situation with India and Nepal. India takes a while to get used to, whereas to many an affinity with Nepal ‘appears’ more instant. But once a country that you may have been slow to warm to, or which requires multiple returns to understand then clicks, it’s special. Meeting as many locals as possible is the best insight into a country you can ever have. I’m not going to blame just backpackers for any closed-minded attitudes as it comes from all manner of travellers; old and young; experienced or not. I’ve been travelling for 20 years too, but that doesn’t mean we can automatically take the high road. We just all have to find our way of adjusting and understanding as much as possible.
Tara says
Becki -a wonderful article. I certainly had a very different experience (in both North and South Korea) and found locals to be really helpful and friendly and interested in having visitors in their country. My mum and I must have looked super lost when we got off the metro in the city centre from the airport because a young guy came over to try and help us immediately. We had monks giving us free fruit on the beach, a man trying very hard to explain the history of a statue in Gyeongju (defo agree this is a highlight by the way!) and an old man who walked us a good 15 minutes to find our hostel.
I also think it’s interesting you mentioned about needing to know somewhere there…my first thought when I started reading this article was how it does strike me as one of those places you need to spend a really long time in to get under the skin of and understand so I was glad when you said the same.
Have you gone back to South Korea again?
Becki says
Not yet, but I would like to visit the National Parks and get deeper into the nature.
Bets says
Why every Koreans always have to blame Japan for what their country lacks. Not much temples = it was Japanese who destroyed them
Not many cultural and traditional places = blame the Japanese.
If your country was rich with culture you can always build again. Temples are not like Egyptian pyramids, construction wise.
I think it’s just you Koreans don’t embrace tradition as much as Japanese. Maybe Japanese don’t embrace it much either, but the thing is the culture is more varied in Japan than in Korea.
Just fyi, my country was also colonised by the Imperial Japanese, but we never blame them for whatever artifacts are lost or damaged whatsoever.
You just gotta admit, you’re too full yourself. Koreans are always too proud of their country to the point of looking down on others.
Athena says
I was a bit sad to read your article as I’ve developed a big interested in South Korea through my love of kbeauty and kdrama’s. I’ve always wanted to go to somewhere in Asia (I’ve never even travelled outside of Europe yet), and I kind of had my heart set on S. Korea. I love Asian food, and Korean food has so much history, I find it so interesting. The country also has so much history, it’s a shame so much of it was destroyed. I had hoped tourism was better developed than you said, after all, as someone who has never travelled that far, I fear I’d be walking around like a headless chicken not knowing what place to pick to visit. I love natural beauty too, from what I’ve seen on photos it looks beautiful, but is it perhaps not as impressive as I think? I’d love to socialize with actual Korean people, rather than expats, but I realise as a tourist that wouldn’t be easy. I had thought of maybe going there on honeymoon, just because I have such a passion for the country, but perhaps I’d underwhelm my boyfriend with this choice. I’m confused now!
Becki says
I have friends who have spent a lot of time in the huge National Parks in Korea and loved them, so you certainly won’t be limited when it comes to nature exploration. If I was to go back, I would like to factor in hiking. If you have a deep-rooted interest, all the better, but I would say to do a lot of research into where you want to go. There’s accommodation everywhere, so that side of things isn’t limited or difficult. But make a plan of key sites you want to see, and beautiful spots like Jeju Island.
Why not play by ear an book a flight to Korea, and if you feel underwhelmed or feel as if you have seen what you want to see, you can easily fly out and check out another Asia destination. The beauty of this region is that it is very well connected.
Loulou says
Some of the comments here mention that to enjoy Korea you have to be accompanied by Koreans. What if the traveller didn’t have any Korean friends?(I’m not talking about Becky)
That means South Korea is not suitable destination for solo traveller or honeymoon couple.
Moreover, Koreans are not only unfriendly with noisy rude white people but they also look down on South East Asians.
Becki says
1. I love trying new foods, I just didn’t really fully indulge in Korean food. Maybe except BBQ.
2. Good experiences come in trying to understand new cultures. Making sweeping statements such as “If you don’t understand you will not have a good experience” is closed-minded and simple.
3. I was also with a lot of Koreans, in every destination. I have also travelled with Koreans outside of Korea. Once again, a closed-minded “only with expats” statement
4. Happy to stay away from people like you, but happy to meet Koreans who want to show me more things, as many whom I have met have and discussed.
5. Everyone is a tourist. Even you.
P.s. Criticism is vital for intellectual exchange, if intellectual points are made, of which I did not garner from your comments. I’m not at all sad if you don’t read my work.
Byung says
As a local native Korean here, it is so interesting to read your post including 70% of comments (I will finish to read all though) I agree with your opinion that we’re in short of tourism infra because of historically suffered from our neighbors Japan, China, Mongolia. So many old spots were ruined through whole history and EVEN NOW because of the develomentalism… 🙁
Meanwhile I also agree with your posting about hanging out with friends. I can’t say we’re full of treasures on the whole land but can say you can enjoy many cultural things which fun enough to make you enjoy. Especially for the food adventurers while you said you’re not though.
Anyways, Thank you so much for your posting about my Home land.
P.S Koreans always welcome foreign tourists 🙂
Cynthia says
Thank you, I appreciate your honesty. We are all different and what may be exciting for others may not be for some. My family has booked to travel to South Korea this January and we are very excited. Because of your article, I have added Jeju Island in our itinerary. We are Americans living in Australia and since we are now closer to Asia, we will definitely explore the area. I have been to Taiwan and I agree it is a small fascinating country. I will definitely come back and stay longer. Japan is next and my husband promised that I will love it too.
korean says
totally agree.
I have visited Japan 5times, and live in China for few months.
and Japan was the best, is the best and will be the best ever!
I really don’t know where to recommend when my friends ask me some places to visit in korea.
i know they will be disappointed in few seconds.
Becki says
I always recommend Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island. Jeju was so beautiful.
Bri says
I’m considering between Taipei and Seoul. My dream trip would obviously be Japan thou, but it’s just too expensive for my salary right now. I wonder whether you have been to Taiwan? Could you please give me some suggestions on choosing Taipei or Seoul?
Becki says
I have articles on Taiwan so do check them out. I’m a huge fan and Taipei is a great place. Seoul is a beating heart of Korea too and a super fun city also. But Taiwan is a country I adore.
S says
I do appreciate your comments. There’s no use in being relentlessly positive!
Wandering Korean says
Seriously Yejin -.-I know that this is posted long time ago but still I am so shameful to see such comments by the Koreans who are full of PRIDE on their own country, Your comment might be the reason why Becki mentioned about the PROUD that every Koreans have on their own country. To start off, westerners have much more positive view on Japan over Korea. Japan is a well known first world country that has strong cultural influences over the whole world while Korea is more popular among young generations in neighboring Asian countries. Also just by looking at the city, you can tell that there is a huge gap between Japan and Korea. It is understandable the reason why she said Korean cities are ugly COMPARED to the Japanese ones. I would also like to mention that it isn’t a clever idea trying to input your biased thoughts on Korea to the foreigners, especially as a Korean. That won’t help them to like our country but instead it will make them to have even more negative view on Korea annd will recognise Koreans as people who have too much pride on their country 😉
Michelle says
Peter, you have to understand that Korea suffered 40 years of colonization under Japan who destroyed most of their cultural assets, buildings (even their language was outlawed for a time).. Then there was the Korean war which decimated the country side even more. They had absolutely nothing left but to try to rebuild their country as quickly as possible, surviving had more of an importance over trying to appeal to tourists, hence the lack of ‘cultural beauty’. It is unfair to compare cultures especially when one of those cultures was responsible for destroying their cultural heritage.
As for friendliness, it’s true Japanese are very friendly on the outside with their tatemae/honne way of speaking, Tatemae is like a mask of friendliness, even if they actually secretly hate you. Koreans don’t really have this ‘friendly on the outside’ mask, so people mistake them as cold, but they truly are a warm people when you bother to get to know them, and tend to be life-long friends.
Jaja says
I enjoyed reading your articles. I have visited Japan before and eager to plan another visit soon. My sister just came back from South Korean, visiting Jeju, Busan and Seoul. She said to me, Korea and Korean had let me down… why.. she was not feeling welcomed. The paragraph up there “so welcoming tourists with open arms is not something that will come naturally” was so true.
I told her to think about the positive vibe that she got from there, the unforeseen circumstances and glitched here and there were normal. That is your adventure and you gain experienced from the other culture
At the moment, for me, just enjoy their dramas and variety shows on tv
It is not fair to compare, but we tend to.. normally.
Kirsten says
This was an extremely interesting read! I’m currently backpacking around South Korea with my partner and our 2 friends. Currently in Sokcho on the east coast. Any advice on booking accommodation? We are finding it quite tricky on a budget!
Becki says
I used hostel booking websites. Took a couple of chances and had some not-so-nice places, but there were lots of great, centrally located and comfortable places. Might be worth also looking at couchsurfing.
Robert says
Hi Becki,
I enjoyed reading your article. However I would like to make a few points about the recent history of Korea.
I am not really convinced that South Korea has a “high standard of living”. The young people in the country call it “Hell Joseon” and all want to leave. Wages are still low compared to the western countries, the minimum wage is still a measly 6,300 won (around $5 an hour). South Korea is massively below all the other OECD countries in welfare to GDP spending and elderly poverty rates are the highest in the developed world. There is growing anger in South Korea over inequality and corruption among the government and corporate elites.
It is also worth mentioning that the South Korean economy has also slowed down considerably since the 1970s and 1980s. This is evident from failed economic projects, such as Lee Myung Bak’s much criticised Four River’s project, that were designed to bring Korea back to its economic glory days. A large part of South Korea’s more recent growth has been coming from mounting household debt as a way to hold back the inevitable slowing of their economy.
The South Korean system of crony capitalism basically collapsed in 1997 after the Asian financial crisis. Since 1997 a series of measures have been implemented to keep the economy looking good on paper, while not targeting the real problems with the South Korean model’s unsustainable system of economic organisation- in the early 2000s Roh Moo-hyun initiated a short term boom when he deregulated household debt, there were also “reforms” in the mid 2000s that made it easier to hire and fire workers. This has created a large amount of “irregular” workers who are paid lower wages than their permanently employed counterparts and have less rights at work. I remember a few years back visiting the economics department of Seoul National university and discussing with academic staff how the South Korean economy is basically riding on the backs of a large and growing irregular workforce.
These methods of patching up South Korea’s sluggish economic growth is not going to last in the long term. In the end they can not go on deregulating finance forever, or giving tax breaks and government hand outs to the Chaebol, and there is also a limit to the extent to which they can continue to exploit low paid irregular workers.
Well, that is just my two cents. Good luck with everything and I hope you have lots of fun on your travels.
Edward says
Korea is hard to penetrate because it looks at outsiders with a skeptical eye. It’s been invaded constantly throughout its history. Japan is a lot easier to move around, but probably equally as hard to really penetrate because they have been marinating in the same stew for just a long as Koreans have. They appear more hospitable because they haven’t nearly been invaded as often as Korea.
Jaime says
Hi Becki – I’m so glad you wrote this article. I’m Korean myself and I think its really important for the country to accept this kind of criticism and make changes for the better. It really isn’t a foreigner-friendly place for travel, especially when compared to Tokyo or Hong Kong. Many of my friends come to me excited about their plans to spend a week in Seoul instead of Tokyo just based on the overly-positive and hyped travel reviews online.
Your comments about “Tourism not being a lifeline” and “rapid change, aftermath of war” – I could not put it better myself.
I am really proud to be Korean and I care for the country, and because of this I really hope more travellers like you can be honest about their experience and help the country change and become a more tourist-friendly city. Thanks Becki!
hoho says
As a korean it’s interesting ! I have been to OSAKA in Japan.
It was not the capital of japan. but surprisingly It was more big area that I expected.
I think .. It’s more arranged , the japan’s tourist sights than korean’s.
I think we have been so busy for economical improvement and also there were many bandalism of korean tradition culture by the japan (early in 20th century)
So tourist who want to see the arranged tourist sights, it could be not satisfied.
But I think living in south korea is more convenient than japan’s. and there are more !
We koreans alwasy say “Jung culture”(meaning close and sticky humanity) is more
active and dynamic than “Wha culture” of japan (Wha means making a harmony with others)
If you can got a chance to feel that difference. you may love korea.
Jazpo says
Both countries are interesting. Japan is of course much bigger, wealthier with a larger population, so you are not really comparing like-with-like, even though they are neighbours with somewhat similar cultures. I’m a foodie. A main reason for my travel is food and in both countries it will impress you, but I must say I loved the Korean food more. (I find Japanese food a little too sweet). Fiery hot chilli and garlic based food to incredible BBQ to mellow soups and noodles. K-food seriously knocked my socks off. (My socks stayed on with Japanese food).
As a result, now over 10 trips to Korea over the years, 4 to Japan. I can’t wait to go back to both… anytime.
Becki says
You had me at fiery hot chilli …
amdfanboy says
Japan’s western influence dates back much more into the past than Korea is.
It’s been trading with the Portuguese and the Dutch almost for ten centuries, whereas Korea only started modernizing after the end of the Korean war which was 1950s.
We are talking about 1000 years versus 60 years.
Korea was probably the last country in the whole world to be discovered by the West.
It’s been called “The Hermit Kingdom” until the end of the 19th century, and even fought off the French and the American ships requesting to open up the port, when Japan was already one of the major powers of the world.
So these two countries have a huge difference in terms of infrastructures and level of modernization.
When you talked about originality, if you were talking about a Disneyland of original + western tweak and technology, then Japan is more original.
But if you were talking about genuine creation by it’s own people, then it’s not.
Jiyeon Han says
It was really interesting to read your post Becki!
I am Korean student travelling around Europe now and I was just curious what foreign tourists think about Korea. That’s why I came to see your posting. 🙂
It’s so sad that Korean tourism still has much far way to go..
I totally agree that Korea doesn’t put a lot of effort to tourism industry.
But what I really want to say is that, if you come back to South Korea and meet some local friends
who can guide you to nice places that you haven’t visited yet, you’ll love it!
There are a lot of hidden places worth to travel but most of tourists just visit somewhere that local people will never go for travelling. hahaha
For your information, if you have another chance to visit Korea, I strongly recommend Damyang, Jeon-ra namdo. I think it takes quite long to go there from Seoul (about 3~4hours by bus) but really worth to go !!!! There’s really nice bamboo forest called Juknokwon!
I agree that Cheju Island is the most beautiful place in Korea though !
Becki says
Damyang, Jeon-ra namdo sounds interesting! I would certainly go back to Seoul, so great it is connectable from there!
Lisa says
Was scrolling through the comment section and happened to read your post. My family and I are planning a holiday to S.Korea and Japan and if you don’t mind, could you please recommend some places that would be great to visit?
Lili says
Aww.. You should have had korean friends 🙁 as a korean, it is not touristic country at all. Totally agreed! But if you have korean friends or can speak some korean, It would be totally diffrent. Japan is quite good to travel. I want to visit there someday!! But people.. They are very friendly at first. But only at first. And they are too quiet. It is well known thing to all asians. Koreans are kind of closed at first compared to japanese, but if you get at least a real friend, then you re gonna love this country. She will introduce you to her friends, and show you what real korea is, and how we enjoy our nightlife!! Have you tried Chi-mak at riverside? Or crazy noraebang time? If you haven’t, unfortunately, you didn’t see real korea. There is no touristic place to see in korea actually!!!! Especially compared to japan or china!
Anyway, it is too sad to hear that my country is on the second..????
Because every forigners who i know loves korea. But.. Actually they are not tourists. They are exchange students.
By the way, I hope you understand my words, because as you can see,My english is not that good
Becki says
I am sure I will be back again one day. Some of my best memories come from Seoul and Yeosu, where I have expat friends who showed me a deeper insight 🙂
Byung says
unfortunately, Drinking beer on riverside is banned from mayor now…. hah…
Jimmy says
I admire what you are doing and envious of you. But it is very sad to hear that you did not like my home country at all. I have been living outside Korea for last 10 years. I agree that there really is nothing to show for when it comes to tourism. But that is not what South Korea is about. I too traveled quite a number of countries, i try to take as is rather than what my eyes determine. Perfection is actually boring to me. That is why I never went to Japan. I hope the disappoints themselves were worth your time and your efforts to travel South Korea.
Becki says
I never said ‘not at all’. My title says “But why I’m glad I gave it a chance” AND I list the places I like. I never see any country I have visited as a waste of time or efforts. If I disliked South Korea that much I could have left after a few days, except I stayed for over three weeks. Therefore I didn’t wholly dislike it. Many people seem to have washed over that factor, and the point that we can’t absolutely 100% love everywhere and everything. Neither have I professed to look for perfection, because that doesn’t exist.
Hana C says
Hi, Becki. I thank you a lot for your honest comments on S.Korea. I’m a Korean who traveled and had lived abroad for 10 years and came back about 3 years ago. When I came back, the first thing I decided to do was traveling around S.Korea “on foot” (well, not the cities) Because I might know about other countries but didn’t know much about S.Korea. Honestly, It was sooooooooo difficult going around S.Korea even for me.
I believe that the beauty of Korea is outside of cities. I honestly think that major Korean cities are not so much attractive. For someone who loves shopping and city life, Seoul and Busan must be fascinating but for me not at all.(Maybe because I’m a nature lover)
After all, I decided to set up a company that can show the hidden beauty of Korea. I want to make more places are accessible to foreign tourists at low cost. and “Camping” as the way to see it. (Not yet in service..) Next time, when you visit, I hope Korea can give you better impression.
Ethan Nuguid says
Though Korea was not really part of my plan as one of the countries i wanted to visit when I grew up, but after seeing your photos, I think its a mistake of mine not to include this country. It’s very beautiful and there are a lot of places to visit and activities to do. I’m hoping that I could visit this country as well when i grew up. Thank you for sharing this with us and i’m looking forward on seeing more of your adventure!!!!
Janey says
Wow. I fall in love with Korea every time I visit the country. But I do understand why you feel this why. I have never been to Japan so I cannot compare, but I agree that Busan has a lot more character than Seoul. Surprisingly though, what I really loved about Korea is the people! They’ve always been nice to me when I visited, even going out of their way to help me navigate the streets when I get lost. I encounter locals who brushed me off in my other travels, but I encountered none in Korea. Hmmmmm.
But thank you for this interesting post. I’d love to check out the places you did find interesting! 🙂
Lisa says
Great article! I am currently living and working in South Korea. Working on my third year…YIKES! I agree with you on several points. The biggest thing about living in Korea is isolation from the culture and language. If you are not of Korean decent you will always be looked at as an outsider, even if you know the culture and language. It makes it hard at times. I do have to say though that South Koreans are great people, as I am sure you experienced while there. 🙂
Moon says
I don’t know how I came across this post, but I absolutely agree with you on this post. It was a nice touch to give a historical background on why Korea is like that.
As a Korean American with a more impartial stance, I can say that Korea is not really a tourist destination unless you are absolutely invested with Korea to begin with. Most people visit Korea because they are obsessed with Korean culture or K-pop scenes. But those tourists will be happy being in Korea regardless.
Tourism is improving, but still has a long way to go. There are meaningful cultural events and experience in Korea, but they are not accessible to tourists or even most Koreans. Popular spots and tourist events are bland and meaningless. Sure with expanding economy, Korea is becoming more clean and aesthetically pleasing. However it is still missing display of its own, unique culture in general level. Due to fast growth and imitating Western culture, Koreans themselves rarely experience their own culture. Until Koreans appreciate and celebrate its ways more, Korea won’t be a good destination to travel.
Jeronimo says
Hello, i was a firsttimer in South-Korea and before I left I bumped into your post. You got some points, at first sight there seems not really much really interesting about Korean towns, cities and nature.
But lucky for me I didn’t share your expierence, I loved the way those cities like Seoul and Busan are infinite. I loved seeing hardly any Western Tourists. I loved to be in a highly develloped country in Asia for the first time. I really liked the cleanness of everything, the technology, and off course the food luckily! I agree the sceneries maybe be not that breathtaking like some real world wonders of nature, but still: even just an ordinary windowview can be the most amazing view you ever had depending on the contex thow you lived that moment 😉
OLSIE says
I’ve been to South Korea before I went to Japan and yes it doesn’t help to compare the two. I was asked by friends which country I like better- my answer is I LOVE SOUTH KOREA. I would still prefer to go back to South Korea first before Japan. We travel for various reasons and each places we go to will give us different impressions, memories and touch us differently. Saranghaeyo South Korea 😉
Brian Kim says
I lived in Korea for 6 years as a child, and visited every now and then. Now I’m in in my mid-30’s and i can tell you that it’s not all that interesting unless you know someone there to hang out with you. I’m not going to bother what Korea was like when I was a child, but I can tell you that if you’re a teenager or in early 20’s, you’ll love the night life there in Seoul. But again, it’s practically required that you know someone in Korea to really participate in Korean night life, which is a bit sad. As for “touristy” destinations there isn’t much after the Japanese occupation. They destroyed much of Korean culture and stole many artifacts during the war, notably potteries. My favorite is Jeju island as well but the night markets or fish markets are very fun. I got to see a live octopus crawling on the floor with various merchants bidding during an auction. Rows of rows of food vendors offering satisfying meals. Of course you get to see all kinds of fish. Most interesting fish I saw was Sun fish. HUGE! Sadly, there was whale meat as well. I wish someone would put those fishermen in jail.
So, is it worth visiting S. Korea? Depends on each individual in my opinion really. But between Korean and Japan, I’d personally choose Japan. This is coming from Korean American that lived there before.
Becki says
I made it very clear that it was difficult going to Japan first and then Korea. I never said they should be compared 🙂 Tokyo is an entity in its own right, which I don’t think can be compared to anywhere.
Becki says
My posts would be incredibly long if I were to detail every step of historical fact. My point is that South Korea grew very quickly, and with vast industrial and economic growth comes vast expansion, sometimes at the cost of beauty. Although in Korea it’s there but more hidden. I’m not shocked i felt that way when I visited Japan first. Hard comparison.
Merry says
It’s not really a minor detail, though…. Japan colonized Korea for 40 years, destroyed their culture, forced their women into sexual slavery, forced Koreans to change their names…. Koreans weren’t allowed to form intellectual groups or publish their own newspapers. They were forced to join the Japanese military and work on Japanese farms. I’m sure you don’t mean any harm and maybe you didn’t even know that this had happened in history – but in my opinion it is really hurtful to compare Korea to Japan like that. Japan crushed their culture not long ago and now gets to enjoy the popularity of its own culture.
Owen says
Well, I visited South Korea twice and I have to agree the points that people are not that friendly towards foreigners. I guess it is because of language barrier but i met a young dude who helped me big time when i got lost in Seoul bus station. It would be a much better experience if you know someone there.
Kayla says
I love your honesty with this post. I think the hardest thing for writers these days is to admit to not liking something for fear of people thinking they are just negative people or that they “didn’t give it enough of a chance”. We’re living in Korea now and having a really hard time learning to love it. There are lots of frustrations among the amazing things (mostly food!). We read a million posts before coming here where people praised South Korea to no end- needless to say, we were pretty disappointed when we arrived, It seemed to all be smoke and mirrors. Thanks for putting some truth out there!
Becki says
Thank you. I think you are pretty lucky if you like everywhere you come across! There’s a lot of great stuff in Korea, but it just wasn’t somewhere that got me really excited. I would still be interested in re-visiting a few years though to see what changed and opened up. I’m sorry to hear you are disappointed and that you couldn’t find that much hard-truth on it before you arrived. It does have its frustrations and a lot of my expats friends there told me the same – it took them a while too. For some it eventually clicked (although it was also to do with friendship base etc), and they’ve been there for years, others banked the good money and left. Good luck and looking forward to hearing your thoughts over time.
Sungtae boo says
I’m a korean, 39 and have been to japan. You guys are totally missing the real beauty spots of this country including dishes. It’s better for you to check up local attractions beforehand. I know you did but as I told you, you missed the real spots. Check out rural areas more specifically and also in japan, urban areas do not give much impression. For example, in Wando, jeon-ra namdo is a fantastic view – A beach of marbles composed of medium or big size of marbles over 2 or 3 km – I saw some Germans there.and into the smaller islands of Wando, there is a beach of small size of cute marbles. And into the deep valleys and forest – Keumgang mountain – its cataracts gives you kinds of awe.
Yang says
This post expresses perfectly how I feel about South Korea! I’m one of those closet Kpop/Kdrama loving girls and was so excited to go but when I got there it was extremely underwhelming. It helped a lot that we had friends there who introduced us to their friends and they were so nice to take us to restuarants and places that foreigners would not be able to find. The best memories were made hanging out with them. I’m going back but but I think the reason I am going is definitely different from the first time around. Happy travels!
Steph says
Hi Becki,
I think S.Korea has started their tourism campaign ages ago through their so called Hallyu. I live in Indonesia and most of young people here are mesmerized by the Kdrama, and they tend to go to s.korea because of what they watch.. -.- e. If it hadn’t been for the drama, nobody would ever think about going there.
Taylor says
I have lived in Korea for 6 years and have visited Japan about ~10 times, with the longest visit being about 3 weeks. I would have to say that I prefer Korea hands down, but as you say, Korea is not known for its tourism infrastructure. If you know the place, it’s spectacular.. the mountain hikes are gorgeous and the temples are quite nice. It would help a lot if you know the history and language. One problem is that what Korea puts out as objects for tourism are not necessarily the stuff that is really interesting. Also, Koreans make much more loyal long term friends… the Japanese are quite friendly at first, but much colder in the long run.
julien says
on the www theirs a humorous article filthy shades of grey I discussed this with the young lady at the job agency she worked in South Korea and she holds similar views to you I asked her about this, why does the place look so grey and are they serious about making it more attractive , she thinks not they have other priorities ie making money /eating. In Albania they did some fantastic things with their soviet era cities ie paint, artworks trees etc I’m sure they could do the same
Matt says
South Korea is a little like what China is becoming into. They care more about boosting the national GDP to such an extent their country is almost too business minded as oppose to becoming a attractive cultural hotbed. It might be a lot to do with their history because just under 40 years ago, these two countries were dirt poor and they would hate to see a repeat of that so its a “security and basic needs first policy” for them, at the expense of tradition and culture.
Reine says
You put into words what I was trying to process about my time in Korea. I was there in September and felt exactly the same. I was really excited to be able to visit since I never thought I’d get there, and it held a certain mystery that I thought would be exciting to explore. I found it underwhelming in the end. Like you said, it doesn’t enthral like other Asian cities/countries. I would go back to explore parts that I haven’t seen, but again, only if it’s en route to somewhere else.
Becki says
I’m really keen to see the nature and national parks, because I most definitely did not see enough of that side of things. I constantly hear about the mountain trails and those off-beat rural spots, so I definitely think that would be an interesting other side to the country for sure.
Danielle says
Love your honesty Becki. It must be hard to write about the things you don’t really like . My boyfriend and I are planning our own RTW trip and we both have friends in South Korea, should we spend the extra $$ and give it a go or save it for Japan?
Becki says
I think if you have friends there already then you will have a much better experience – my best times were with friends who had the local knowledge and insight to show me things I might otherwise had not found yourself. I can’t say to people “go or don’t go” as we all have different tastes, but I think you already have an advantage with being able to visit people.
Jessica says
Interesting thoughts! I definitely feel like I always read about South Korea from the perspective of expats, rather than travelers. We’re in Japan now, so we often talk about checking out South Korea since it’s so close. I feel like there’s something interesting in every country, but there are also a lot of countries that call to me far more than South Korea does.
Tammy says
You can’t always like everything Becki. I wasn’t too keen on Vietnam for example, but then I have only been to the South and it might be different in the North. People were well too greedy for my liking (which surprised me in a communist country), and they constantly tried to rip us off. I am still glad I went though, as the country, i.e. scenery itself was stunning. Just wasn’t too keen on the people I met.
Becki says
I’ve heard a lot of negative feedback from Vietnam. I went years ago and loved it but am scared to go back in case I dislike a lot of it too. But, it’s true – you can’t love everywhere – as much as we all want to!
chelsea says
oh goodness, i can so agree with this. even though i love korea and have been living here for almost three years, i completely understand why visitors don’t love it. i always tell family and friends that we will visit them somewhere else. because although korea is awesome to live(otherwise we wouldn’t have stayed so long!) in because of pay and being a great jumping board for other countries, it isn’t high on the tourism. if you ever do come back though, definitely head for the national parks, my favorite has been the ever so popular seoraksan and the views are sure not to disappoint!
Tom says
Ahhhhh I can’t believe you didn’t like Daegu! I wish you’d have asked me about it before you went, I lived there for almost 3 years – you do NOT go to that city if you want to see sights. It has none. Daegu’s downtown area is known for its shopping, cafes and amazing nightlife (the best outside Seoul – sorry, Busan). I can see why it would disappoint you if you went seeking sights. I didn’t even know it had a cathedral.
Andong is one of those towns that the Korean tourism boards talk up but really, it’s boring as hell. Not surprised you describe it as ‘bland’. It took a while for me to get to grips with Seoul, too. I used to despise it, but now it’s one of my favourite cities in the world, but again you need to know where to look. Your closing paragraph is so true. If you went there without knowing anybody, it’d be a lot more difficult. Like you say, tourism isn’t a big priority in Korea, and ohmygod the Korean tourism board is SO bad – they direct people to some of the most boring places possible and do little to talk up things like areas with great food or nightlife where you can get more of a feel for the culture.
Obviously I heart Korea and always will, and I’m sad that it left you feeling a little ‘blah’, but I do get what you mean with this post. If you do go back, make sure you head to Gangwon-do (the rural northeast) and take my tips about Daegu on board!
Becki says
I was hoping you would respond, since I know you UNDERSTAND and have a special place in your heart for Korea. Sadly, it really is about drawing as much information as possible from people. Books are useless and locals are very, very proud. If I ever go back, I will be sure to either meet you there, or spend hours noting down your expert knowledge.
Tom says
How could I NOT respond to this post? I really like how it’s written though, and glad you don’t trash-talk Korea – then we’d be having some issues 😉
If you ever make it back, I’d love to give you some more tips. And force you to return to Daegu for cocktails in a bag (go to Gogo Vinyl [NOT Viniroo] – they’re worried they don’t make it strong enough and will add more alcohol for free), all-you-can-eat sushi for £7, and amazing BBQ pork. This is assuming the former two places are still open if you do choose to revisit someday in the distant future.
Aaaanyway, I think expats who have been in Korea a little while are often more useful than local Koreans, who can, as you write, have an often romanticised view of things, or misunderstand the kind of thing that backpacker-type people are looking for. Give me a funky café or a market with awesome street food over a reconstructed ‘historic’ building any day of the week.
Becki says
It might be a FEW years, but I will co-ordinate and hire Waegook Tom as my tour guide 😉 You know me, I would never openly dismiss a place without valid points or discussion.
Steph says
Totally agree that you just can’t love everywhere you visit, but the odds of you enjoying a place are exponentially increased if your own interests send you there. It’s for that very reason that even though we were so close, my husband & I elected to skip Korea at least for now. We both realized that we just weren’t that interested in it (or the food… a huge motivating factor for us when planning trips!) and figured we’d wait for the day when we have a genuine curiosity about the country that we just have to sate.
Also, I think that any place coming from Japan would face stiff competition! 🙂
Julie says
I studied abroad in South Korea during college and it will always have a specific place in my heart but I’ve definitely felt what you did when traveling to other countries. I’ve never been to Japan and certainly can’t compare it to South Korea but I feel in the United States, South Korea is definitely the tourist “underdog” when compared with Japan and China, the two Asian countries more frequently visited by American tourists.
Andong for me was also “meh” but I adored Gyeongju. it was such a welcome respite from the craziness of Seoul (where I studied).
Becki says
I find that expats really are the true believers in the country – which is great. Jeju Island really saved it for me though.
Gilles Barbier says
Hi Becki,
Courageous post, my respect! I can remember harsh criticism when I wrote that I did not enjoy Chile as much as Argentina…
And impressive that you acknowledge that we all tend to compare the incomparable, because we are used to it (were taught to do so?)
My question is: do you think it was an advantage or a disadvantage to know expats? In my experience, expats are much more negative about the place they live than other people (I am basically an expat myself, even though I love the place I chose)
Cheers
Gilles
Becki says
I found expats in Korea were very positive and they actually provided better insight into the country and its culture. I think, when living there, they have to work much harder to find the hot spots and make a place for themselves, and when they do it’s so much more rewarding. Better than the expats in Cambodia, who start to diss you if you don’t speak enough of the language or be negative about tiny things!
Rashaad says
I spent four days in Seoul roughly three years ago, and I enjoyed my time. I cant say I love the country because I only saw the capital city. But after my time in Seoul, I felt that there were many similarities between Japan and South Korea.
Becki says
I think they are completely different… But… I did learn to enjoy a lot of what Seoul had to offer.
Stephen says
Being a native Korean and also a Japanophile, I have to agree that Japan is amazingly more interesting. Everything from the Shinto temples to Akihabara to the countryside is very Japanese and it gives you an Oriental feel. I felt like you weren’t able to enjoy Korea fully however, because of how important knowing hangul well and being Korean is to enjoying your stay in Korea. Korea isn’t NOT welcome to tourists. That being said, Korea isn’t the most tourist-friendly place there. I completely understand!
Lola says
I’m American, but I live in Seoul now (for work), I have to be honest, I don’t like it here — I don’t really understand why so many people hype Korea (Seoul) up so much. They say it’s a city that never sleeps, from my understanding, that’s a tittle earned by my native New York, and it shouldn’t be given to a place where almost everything closes at 9 or 10 o’clock and the rest of things still available are for drinking. I am very disillusioned with this country, specially having so many expectations when I first came here like four years ago.
I haven’t found any other posts similar to this one, thank you for sharing your experience. At least I feel like I’m not alone in my opinions.
Becki says
I think Seoul takes a LOT of digging around and a lot of time. I’m glad I didn’t pass through it in a day or two and I also had a friend living there (still does) who knew a loot o great places and made some headway in finding cool things to do. Living there, I am sure it is a different manner because travelling for a few days is a different perception. However, I would say the coffee scene and coffee shops were some of my most favourite things.
Arpan says
I agree with some of the points but I had a great time in South Korea! I absolutely loved it.. Maybe because i havent been to Japan yet! 😛
Jonathan sweeney says
Ha. Funny. Japan didn’t do it for me. Maybe it was all the hype I’d heard about it before I visited.
I found it very bland and underwhelming.
Becki says
Interesting indeed, and for sure, not everywhere does it for us. Did you also visit Korea too?