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Home / Discover Asia

South Korea


Located on a peninsula between China and Japan, South Korea is a relative newcomer to the Asian tourism industry, but its stunning countryside, busting cities, warm welcome and unique culture and traditions have already ensured its position as one of the must see destinations in the region. It is only in recent years that South Korea has emerged from its relatively isolated position in the world – ruled for centuries by the successive dynasties, then occupied by the Japanese for 35 years, and then shattered by the Korean War after that, South Korea has weathered the storm well, and is now more than ready for business! There are UNESCO World Heritage palaces, fortresses and temples to explore, a coastline dotted with stunning beaches, and some spectacular mountain regions. But any visitor’s journey will start in the shimmering city of Seoul, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, and rapidly becoming a powerful economic centre in the Far East. 


Cities and places within South Korea
Fast Facts
Capital City: Seoul
Population: 49 million of which around 10.3 million live in Seoul.
Area: 38,345 sq miles (excluding the DMZ (demilitarized zone) between North and South Korea)
Geography: South Korea is on a peninsula, shared with the demilitarized zone separating it from North Korea, and beyond that North Korea. To the east of South Korea is the Sea of Japan, to south is the Korea Strait, and to the west is the Yellow Sea. Most of South Korea is comprised of mountains and hills, with most of the population and agriculture concentrated in the 30% of the land that is flat. 
Climate: South Korea has a moderate climate with four distinct seasons. It is hottest between July and August, which is also the rainy season, and coldest between December and February. The best times to visit are in the spring and autumn.
Language: Korean, and English is taught as a first foreign language.
Currency: Korean Won Current rate £1 = KRW1857.86
Time: GMT+9 hours
Visa Requirements:  British visitors to South Korea do not need a visa, though they must in in possession of an outbound ticket.


Getting To South Korea
By Air
South Korea has two national airlines, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, both of which operate direct flights from the UK to Seoul. The journey time is around 11 hours.   Other airlines operating non-direct flights to Seoul include: Lufthansa, Emirates, Air China, Alitalia, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airline, China Airlines (Taiwan), China Eastern Airlines, Japan Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airways.
 
Seoul’s Incheon International Airport is 25 miles west of the city, and there are buses, taxis and coaches that make the 1 hour 30 minute journey into the city centre. Other airports in South Korea include Seoul Gimpo Airport, which is mainly a domestic terminal but does receive a few international flights, mainly from Hong Kong; Busan, in the south of the country, which is served by flights from Japan; and Jeju, on Jeju Island, which is purely for domestic flights.
 
By Boat
South Korea’s main ports are at Busan, in the south of the country, Jeju and Incheon (west of Seoul and where the main international airport is located). You can get the ferry to Japan from Busan, and to China from Incheon.
 
By Rail
There are currently no train services between North and South Korea (you can only get into North Korea from China). You can get travel passes which include ferry travel between South Korea and Japan/China as well as train travel in South Korea – contact your travel agent of the tourist board for more information.


Getting Around South Korea
By Air
Domestic Airlines Korean Air and Asiana Air have a good network of flights around South Korea
 
By Boat
Ferries link various ports around South Korea and the outlying islands to the mainland. You can catch a ferry from Busan to Jeju Island – car ferries are also available.
 
By Rail
There is a good network of trains in South Korea, linking all the major centres. Signs are usually in English, making travelling around much easier than in some neighbouring countries. Rail passes are available, for 3,5,7 or 10 days and can be purchased in the UK in advance. The Korea Rail Pack includes train travel and accommodation and sightseeing, and is available for 2,3 or 5 days.
 
By Road
The major cities in Korea are linked by an excellent motorway network, and road signs are generally in Korean and English. However, traffic is pretty heavy and the road systems can be complex for visitors, so car hire is generally not recommended, though you can hire a car with a driver. There are good buses linking the major towns and these are generally inexpensive, though can be very crowded. Taxis are quite cheap, though visitors should ensure they have their destination written down in Korean as drivers generally will not understand English.


Top Ten Things to Do and See in South Korea
  1. SEOUL
Seoul is a vibrant, happening city, with great shopping made all the more attractive by the duty free prices that foreigners receive. Shopping malls and markets aside, there is plenty of interest to see and do in Seoul – on the must see list are Changdeokung, a stunningly beautiful Joseon palace, complete with enchanting secret gardens; Jongmyo Shrine; the massive National Museum of Korea; the War Memorial and Museum; the Olympic and World Cup Parks; and the Korean folk village which tells the story of Korean life centuries ago. And if you like theme parks, which certainly lots of South Koreans seem to, then head for the Everland Leisure Complex and Lotte World.
 
  1.  BUSAN
Take the high speed TKX Train from Seoul to Busan, travelling at around 186 miles per hour. Once in the busy port city of Busan, visit the atmospheric Jagakhi Fish Market, Busan Tower and Beomeosa Temple. Also, near Busan is Gyeongju, a living museum and listed by UNESCO as one of the world’s ten most historically significant sites. Gyeongju was the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom for 1000 years and is brimming with history and Buddhist culture.
 
  1. NATIONAL PARKS
South Korea has more than its fair share of national parks, and hiking is a popular pastime in most of them. Chuwangsan, Odaesan and Seoraksan National Parks are all in easy reach of the East Coast highway. Seoraksan National Park, the most northerly of the three is reputed to have the most stunning scenery in the country. Not far from Seoul is the Bukhansan National Park, which boasts numerous relics, temples and fortresses in its mountain setting, and which again is popular with hikers. West of Daegu is Mount Gayasan National Park, which as Haeinsa at its centre, where you will find Korea’s best known temple, which is home to the UNESCO listed Tripitaka Koreana (a set of 80,000 printing blocks, carved from wood, which bear the engravings of the complete Buddhist scriptures – it took 16 years to complete back in 1252 and is still in pristine condition! 
 
  1. BUDDHIST TEMPLES
South Korea is littered with Buddhist temples – over 10,000 of them, with twice that number of monks. It is even possible to stay at some of these temples, and get a chance to experience the overwhelming serenity that they invoke. You can practise meditation, tea ceremonies, lantern making and other elements of the Buddhist faity. Bulguksa Temple is a fine example – a large wooden temple, from which you can visit the Seokguram Grotto, home to a huge granite Buddha.
 
  1. WAR TOURS
The Korean War obviously is never far from your thoughts when travelling around this area, and it is possible to tour the DMZ (demilitarized zone) and the truce village of Panmunjeom on an official tour. The town is just a one hour journey from Seoul, right on the border with North Korea, and is where the armistice negotiations of 1953 occurred.
 
  1. BEACHES AND ISLANDS
Like everywhere in Asia, South Korea has some great beaches to offer the visitor, as well as some stunningly beautiful islands. Amongst the favourite are Jungmun Beach, on Jeju-do, which is long and has very fine white sand and is good for watersports such as windsurfing; Hongdo Island, which is actually part of an archipelago of around 20 islands, and which is a Natural Preserved Area, thanks to its wide variety of flora and fauna, and beautiful scenery; Oedo Paradise Island, located within the Hallyeo Maritime National Park, which is home to some wonderful landscaped gardens with a massive range of flowers, both native and imported; and Geojedu Island, the second largest island in South Korea and home to some of the country’s best tourist attractions. 
 
  1. HOT SPRINGS
South Korea boasts numerous naturally occurring hot springs, which are popular with Koreans and visitors alike. Some of the most recommended hot springs include Yuseong Hot Springs, in the centre of Daejeon, famous for its healing properties, where the concentration of minerals is supposed to be particularly good for easing pain, especially amongst the elderly; Bukok Hot Springs, at the foot of Mt Deokamsan, was made into a tourist resort in the 1970s and is one of the best hot spring complexes in the country. The water here has a high sulphur content, making it good for a wide variety of ailments. The complex contains numerous hotels and recreation facilities; and Osaek Hot Springs, which was supposedly discovered by a monk. It is renowned for its skin care properties, and is also called the beauty hot springs.
 
  1. JEJU-DO
Off South Korea’s south west coast is the island of Jeju-do, famous within Korea as “the” place to go on your honeymoon. It is home to Mount Hallasan, the highest mountain in the country, as well as the famous “stone grandfather” statues, formed from the black lava rock that is all over the island. There are also some great waterfalls, and some amazing volcanic scenery at the Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak
 
  1. SKIING
It may come as a surprise but South Korea boasts some excellent skiing, and there are 13 different resorts, all within five hour of Seoul. Pyeongchang is home to Dragon Valley, and has tried (unsuccessfully) to bid for the Winter Olympics twice in recent years. There are also ski resorts within the Odaesan National Park.
 
  1. CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
Like so many other Asian nations, culture and traditions have an important place in Korean life, and it is possible to either watch or join in on many of these. Taekondo is the main martial art that is practised in the country, and a great place to watch it is at the Gyeonghuigung Palace in Seoul. South Korea is also home to a number of folk villages which give visitors a taste of Korean life and culture over the years, the best example of which is the Korean Folk Village, easily accessible from Seoul, and which features nearly 300 traditional Korean homes modelled on those that existed in the late Joseon dynasty.




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