Drama series, K-Pop, variety show, handsome and beautiful ones. All uniqueness that belong to Korean. Because of that, many people from various countries want to know about Korea. Look at teenagers today, most of them have favourite Korean actress or actors for different reasons. So this affects the hairstyle, the clothes used up to the criteria of the ideal couple.
Talking about Korean will never end. Moreover, the beautiful nature that belongs to Korea makes foreigners interested in visiting this country. For you who want to vacation in Korean with the famous name Land of the Morning Calm, this is the recommended reference for you.
All Things You Must Know about Korean Tourism
Do not drama only whether you know about Korean, but Korean tourism also you have to know. Moreover, planning to enjoy a vacation in this country. Various information about natural tourism, religious tourism, and various other Korean icons you have to know. Here, there are a number of things you should know about Korean so that your vacation will be more excited and meaningful.
Geography of Korean Tourism
The highlands, mountains, and hills become the main reason tourists visit Korean. No wonder if there are so many different kinds of mountains to be found in the country with the famous Land of the Morning Calm. It’s the beauty, you feeling will be different every year because Korean has four seasons.
If you want to see the high mountains covered in snow, come from November to early March. But if you prefer a romantic atmosphere with reddish brown leaves you can visit Korean in September to October. Is it not enough? Take it easy because in mid-March until the end of April, you can enjoy a green and colourful earth. Cities that have the beauty of Sakura will be the main destinations in spring. Unlike the summer of May to August, you can use various beautiful beaches as a tourist destination in Korea.
South Korea
Korean drama and K pop make Korean famous in the world. Besides that, South Korean is also famous for rapid economic growth and charming natural beauty. It’s not enough to get there, various historical buildings left behind the nation’s past. It is because Korean is one of the famous nations with a very long royal history in the world. No wonder, if the legacy become a tourist attraction that you must visit.
1) Chiaksan National Park
This national park in Gangwon province, South Korean protects about 821 plant species and 2,364 species of animals including 34 species that are now endangered such as squirrels and bats. The total area of this national park is around 181.6 square kilometres with the highest peak of Birobong at an altitude of 1,200 meters. The total distance that must be taken to surround Chiaksan National Park is 20 km with a travel time of 9 hours. You do not need to worry about getting lost while going around this national park because there are so many signs of direction and writings that explain the level of difficulty of the various climbs.
2) Upo Marsh
The ecological park located in Changnyeong Gyeongsangnam province is called the living museum of natural history because the humus layer in this region is formed from the decomposition of organic material (plant and animal remnants). Upo Marsh has four zones namely Upo, Sajipo, Jjokjibeol and Mokpo. Each zone has an exploration route of 2-4 km with an average depth of swamps ranging from 1-2 meters but unique is the habitat of 1000 varieties of life. This area is also one of the favourite locations for tourists to take pictures because of its enchanting natural beauty.
3) Suncheonman Bay
Located in Jeollanam, South Korean, Suncheonman Bay is a place where plants and birds are the couple. This area consists of a stretch of beach and mud. The coastline stretches 39.8 km and its muddy area covers 22.6 sq km. Suncheonman Bay is overgrown with reeds that are taller than adult men. If the reeds sway in the wind, the scenery of this area is very amazing.
Suncheonman Bay Ecological Park is open from 9 am to sunset. The entrance ticket costs 1000 Won for children, 1,500 Won for teenagers and 2,000 Won for adults
4) Seoraksan
This highest peak of the Taebaek mountain range in Gangwon Province is frequented throughout the year, especially during autumn when the leaves are colourful. For hiking enthusiasts, make sure to try Ulsanbawi Rock.
5) Sado
Sado has interesting attractions, namely 4,000 traces of dinosaurs that once inhabited this island during the Cretaceous period. Even though the beach is not ideal for swimming, it doesn’t hurt to dip your feet in the clear water because there aren’t many tourists who come here.
6) Daedunsan
Mount Daedun is not enough to be explored in one day because of its vast territory and is divided into three areas, namely Geumsan which was once a battlefield against Japan, Nonsan which is famous for its forests, valleys and rivers, and Wanju which consists of a barrage of rock peaks.
See: Top South Korean Foods to Try
North Korea
Tourism place in the country of North Korea may not be as famous as a tourist place in South Korean because they are closely connected with the policies of the local government. The North Korea state is not as free as South Korea in allowing tourist visits to the country, but that does not mean they are completely closed.
North Korea still gives outsiders the opportunity to enter the country, travel, and look around, although the atmosphere is clearly different. Tourism place in North Korea is actually as amazing as those in other countries. some places can remind us of European countries.
1) Mount Paektu
North Korean’s next tourist attraction is a natural tourist spot. What we will visit is Mount Pektu. This mountain is located on the border between North Korea and mainland China. The mount standing at a height of 2,750 metres having lake ‘Chonji’ (meaning Heaven) is the deepest mountain lake in the world, descending to 384 metres and will be normally frozen from mid-October to the following June. There you can see the beautiful Rimyongsu falls with lake Chon never frozen in the depths of winter.
2) Mount Kumgang
Visiting North Korea as a tourism place, Kumgang is one of the destinations that must be on the tour list. It is because this mountain has a height of 1,638 m (5,374 ft) with a location on the east coast of Korean, south of Wonsan, and not far from the demarcation line with the South. If you visit there, you will see thousands of granite and diorite peaks gravelling, pebbling, cliffs, steep ravines, waterfalls and ancient Buddhist temples, Kumgangsan is an area with amazing beauty.
3) Taedong River
Taedong river having a 273-mile-long river flows from Mt. Rangrim standing in northwest Korean to the West Sea of Korean through the capital city Pyongyang. Because There are more than 130 kinds of fishes in the river, The bank of the picturesque River Taedong become a large artificial fish farm always witnesses many anglers. Another beauty, You can find There are many needle-leaf trees including fir and pine-nut trees and broad-leaved trees such as oak in the river basin.
Popular Tourist City in Korea
All cities in Korean have a variety of tours that you can visit and enjoy. it will make your vacation not just an ordinary vacation because in this country you will get a different scene
Seoul
Seoul is the capital of South Korean. This city having more than 10 million inhabitants is a special city in South Korean. As a centre of business, commerce and entertainment, Seoul is a very majestic city. No wonder many tourists are interested in visiting the city of pride in this ginseng country.
So, what are the tourism place in Seoul that must be visited? Here has summarized the list of the 10 most recommended tourism place in Seoul for you planning a vacation in the city. Don’t forget to list the following list!
1) Lotte World
2) Gyeongbokgung Palace
3) Seoraksan National Park
4) N Seoul Tower
5) Dongdaemun
6) Bukchon Hanok Village
7) Nami Island (Winter Sonata)
8) Changdeokgung
9) Ikseon-dong’s Hanok Village
10) Cheonggyecheon stream, etc.
Besides being able to enjoy various places in Seoul, you can buy some souvenirs also start from hanbok (traditional clothing), Hanji (traditional paper), traditional tea, pottery, etc. Not only it’s found in Seoul but also traditional market can you find there. Seoul has the first permanent market in Korean that sells local delicacies, silk, satin, and bed linen.
Busan
When visiting South Korean, Seoul is not the only place you can visit. There are still many others keeping a million charms, one of which is Busan. The city which has a population of around 3.5 million is an economic centre in the Korean region. Not only that, but Busan also has the busiest port in Korean and is included in the top 10 busiest ports in the world.
This second largest city has many attractions that you can visit. Example of Gamcheon Cultural Village, which presents the villagers’ homes with painted batteries and jewellery trinkets. There are many cool spots to visit and try by tourists like you. Apart from that, there are still many cities like Busan, which already have things to try in Busan.
1) Taejongdae Resort Park
2) Hur Shim Chung Spa
3) Gwangalli Beach
4) Sea life Busan Aquarium
5) Beomeosa Temple
6) Shinsegae Centum City
7) Oryukdo Skywalk
8) Gamcheon Culture Village
9) Haeundae Beach
10) BIFF Square
Feeling hungry and thirsty in Busan, you can visit the largest market in Korean, the Gukje Market. Wherever you will be able to find lots of food, clothing, electronics and more and also markets for Bupyeong Market and Kangtong Market, you can have a full day just to find the streets and shop.
Incheon
Not only Seoul is a tourism place that you must visit in South Korean, but also Incheon has a variety of tourism place that you must visit. Incheon is a special economic region called Incheon Free Economic Zone or better known as an International Airport in South Korean.
This area is located in kilometre 65 of the capital city of South Korean, Seoul. You only need to spend around 45 minutes to an hour to reach Incheon from Seoul. This area is also referred to as the modern “new city” and is the main destination for MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention, Exhibition). One of the famous MICE places is Aurance. The place can accommodate up to 6,000 people. The distance is also quite close to the airport, only 20 minutes away. Many tourism places you can spend your time in:
1) Incheon Grand Park
2) Spasis
3) Eurwangni Beach
4) Jeondeungsa Temple
5) Wolmido Island
6) Chinatown
7) Buam Galbi
8) Korean Traditional Cultural Experience Centre
If you want to visit this place, it’s best to do it in spring, summer and autumn. Don’t go there in winter because the air will be really cold and unfortunately there is no snow there. One thing that you don’t miss is tasting the typical South Korean black noodles. The noodles come from Incheon, besides that there is also Dakgangjeong, chicken processed with spicy and sweet taste.
Gyeongju
Trips to Gyeongju can be done when travelling from Seoul to Busan because the city is located in between. Gyeongju was the capital of the Shilla Nation in 57 BC, so many historical relics are here and the city is also the first city proposed by the Korean government to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
The city is also a shooting location for Korean dramas/films set in the past. Gyeongju is famous for its past heritage, unique nature and villages, and modern architecture. This article will discuss the first. So, what are the places to visit?
1) Buddhist architecture
2) Woljeonggyo Bridge
3) Gyeongju Traditional Village
4) Gyeongju National Museum
5) Golgulsa Temple
6) Mount Namsan
7) Shilla Millennium Park
8) Gyeongju Bird Park
9) Gyeongju Spring Dome.
10) Gyeongju Teddy Bear Museum
Visiting Gyeongju never forget to mention the small wheel of goods known as Gyeongju bread. That said the name that has existed since the Silla Dynasty where the outer skin was carrying and which was complete with red beans that made the food needed. The amount of taking that sells bread makes you confused about choosing the most delicious one, but taking bread that is recommended for you, namely Hwangnam Bread.
Boseong
One of the best tea plantations in Korean is Boseong. This plantation is located on the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula, precisely in Jeollanam Province. The climate is ideal as a place for green tea cultivation. Founded in 1957 with hills reaching a height of 350 meters. These green plantations cover hillsides like emerald blankets. If you are lucky, you can see the morning mist hanging on the hillside and give a very romantic view. In terms of tea production, about 40 per cent of Korean tea is produced in Boseong.
East of Boseon on the road to Suncheon there is the village of Beolgyo. Beolgyo is the village that is the main setting of the novel entitled The Taeback Mountains by Jo Jung Rae. The novel was then filmed by Im Kwon-Taek in 1994. Some of the things Jo has told him in his novel – and also the film – can still be found in Beolgyo until now. There are still Namdo Inn inns, Japanese banks and Sohwa bridges. This village is often visited by tourists read the novel.
Suwon
Learning the unique city of Suwon is one of the interesting activities. As the only city surrounded by a fortress, Suwon cannot be separated from the existence of the Hwaseong fortress and the Haenggung palace which are all recorded beautifully in the Suwon Hwaseong Museum.
Visiting the city of Suwon located in Gyeonggi Province (Gyeonggi-do) is highly recommended when you are in South Korea. If observed well based on the map, it turns out that Seoul is located in the Gyeonggi-do region. But since 1946 it has been administratively separated because Seoul was made the capital of South Korea. Because of the consideration of the location that is not so far from Seoul, you can visit 2 (two) famous tourist attractions in the city, namely Hwaseong Fortress and KBS Suwon Studio. Others tourism place are:
1) Paldalmun gate
2) Hwaseong Haenggung Palace
3) Archery at Yeonmundae
4) Suwon Hwaong Museum
5) The Toilet Museum
6) Yungnung Royal Tombs
Pyongyang, North Korea
Kumsusan Palace of the Sun is a magnificent building located on the outskirts of Pyongyang. This building was originally built by Kim Il-sung for himself and his son, Kim Jong-il in 1976. But when Kim Il-sung passed away in 1994, the building changed its function as a mausoleum. Kim Jong-il remodelled the entire building to look more majestic and could surpass the world-famous mausoleum, the Taj Mahal.
If you come to this place, enjoy the beautiful architecture. In addition, this place is not open every day for general citizens or foreign tourists. So when there was an opening announcement, all North Koreans would flock to offer to his eternal president. To North Korean without taking a photo in front of the sun palace it feels less amazing.
DMZ, North Korea
If tourism in a city like Pyongyang does not make you feel challenged, try visiting DMZ (Korean Demilitarized Zone). In a sense, the DMZ is a national boundary created after the Korean War ended. This limit divides the Korean peninsula into two equally large through 38 strict guard panels. This area is known to be very “hot” because it contains soldiers who guard both countries super tightly.
The atmosphere in the DMZ is very quiet. There should be no noise there. Because if there are sounds of gunfire, it can happen. The DMZ is like a battlefield that is undergoing a ceasefire. Although it is very tense and awful this place can be used for thrilling tourist choices. Don’t worry, there are souvenirs that you can go home as a sign that you have visited the DMZ.
See: Things to Know Before Traveling to Korea
Transportation in Korea
The progress of a country in empowering its people can be seen in how the country’s public transportation works. For decades the Korean state has built its country, one of their main concerns is how to provide the best service to the community.
This was very clearly seen from the good Korean public transportation from the City to the rural areas. Affordability in every region is the most important thing in this country until finally it can be said that Korean is one of the developed countries with the best public transportation in the World.
Bus
Buses operating in Korean can be divided into City buses that operate around the city, then out-of-town buses and express buses that operate out of town. The city bus itself is divided into several types of buses, namely the local bus that connects the community’s residence with the underground station, city bus and feeder that connects places in the city, as well as metropolitan buses that connect the city with the area around the city.
Each of these buses is distinguished by special colours. The regional bus with a light green colour, the main bus in blue, feeder bus in green, and last busy metropolitan in red. In 2015 the cost of one bus ride was 900 Won, the main bus and feeder were 1,200 Won, and the metropolitan bus was 2,300 Won.
Meanwhile, for out-of-town or express buses, which connect between cities over long distances, from Seoul, you can take the express bus through two terminals, namely the Seoul Express Bus Terminal that serves the Gyeongbu / Yeongdong lines and the Central City Express Bus Terminal serving lines Honam Line. Then if you want to take an inter-city bus that connects smaller cities in Korea, you can take a bus from Seoul Nambu Terminal and Sangbong Terminal.
Taxi
In Korean, taxis are divided into regular taxis and exclusive taxis. Exclusive taxis have the inscription 모범 (Mobeom) on their crown so they are easy to distinguish. The advantage of exclusive taxis alone is that in addition to a wider taxi space, these taxis are more comfortable for passengers. The cost of a regular taxi in Seoul is 3000 Won for the first 2 kilometres and every 144 meters or 35 seconds is subject to 100 Won. Then for exclusive taxis is 5,000 Won for the first 3 kilometres and every 164 meters or 39 seconds is subject to an additional 200 Won. In addition to regular taxis and exclusive taxis, there are also jumbo taxis, jumbo taxis in Korea are intended for large numbers of passengers, jumbo taxis themselves usually use van cars.
Subway
There are many types of trains operating in Korea. One of the most famous is certainly the Subway or 지하철 (Jihacheol). Korean subways operate in 6 major cities, Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Inchon, Gwangju and Daejeon. The basic cost of boarding the subway is 1,250 Won with an additional cost of rarely 10-40 kilometres, 5 kilometres per 100 Won and a distance of more than 40 kilometres per 100 kilometres 100 won. Meanwhile, for intercity trains, there are several long-distance trains operating, namely KTX or Korean Train Espress, ITX-Saemaeul, Mugunghwa, and Super Rapid Train or SRT.
KTX is the fastest train in Korean, connecting Seoul and Busan which used to take 5 hours, now only 3 hours. ITX-Saemaeul is quite fast, operating between three regions in Korean, namely Gyeongbu, Honam and Gyeongjeon. Mugunghwa is the oldest train transportation facility in Korean, established in 1960 and is a train that stops more often at small stations. Then the last is the SRT, which operates through the Gyeongbu and Honam special lines from Suseo Station.
Ferry
Although Korea (especially South Korea) has a land area that is larger than the sea, sea transportation from this country is very complete. If you want to travel from Korean to nearby countries, you can go to China, Japan and Russia by sea using a Ferry. If you want to go to China, you can go to two ports in Korea, namely Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal and Pyeongtaek International Ferry Terminal. If you want to go to Japan, you can go to two ports as well, namely Busan Port International Passenger Terminal and Donghae Port International Passengger Terminal. Then the last, if you want to go to Russia from Korean, you can also go there via Donghae Port International Passengger Terminal.
Airport
There are 15 major airports operating in Korea with Incheon Airport as the largest and grandest airport in Korea as well as in the world. You can reach big cities or Jeju Island in Korea using planes.
National Holiday in Korea
In Korea, there are five national holidays determined by the government: the Independence Movement Day (Samiljeol, March 1, 1919) which commemorates the March 1 Movement. Samiljeol was one of the first popular movements against Japanese occupation in Korean. Constitutional Day (Jeheonjeol, July 17, 1948) which commemorates the day of the proclamation of the Constitution of the Republic of Korean.
Independence Day (Gwangbokjeol, August 15, 1945), is Korean’s independence day from the rule of Imperial Japan; National Establishment Day marked by the founding of Gojoseon, Korean’s first state, on October 3, 2333 BC; and Language Day (Hangeullal, October 9) which commemorates the discovery and inauguration of the Korean writing system in 1446. These five national holidays are official holidays except Constitutional Day.
Some Favorite Food in Korea
You have to try various food in Korea when you are travelling. The food is:
Kimchi
Kimchi for South Koreans, enjoying everything without kimchi is like eating vegetables without salt. Kimchi is a fermented vegetable pickled type that is spicy.
Bibimbap
It is as a lover of all things related to South Korea, you might memorize this menu correctly or even try it. Bibimbap is a mixed rice from the country of Gingseng.
Jjajangmyeon
The next good food in South Korea is jjajangmyeon. The culinary noodles are popular because this black soybean sauce actually comes from China. Jjajangmyeon which contains pieces of meat or seafood.
Tangsuyuk
South Koreans usually enjoy jjajangmyeon along with Tangsuyuk. Tangsuyuk is fried meat served with sweet and sour sauce. The meat used can be in the form of pork or beef. Crispy meat combined with this sauce is guaranteed to make your tongue shake.
Naengmyeon
Usually, noodles are served when it’s still warm. But, if Naengmyeon is served with a cold broth. This unique cuisine is usually served during the summer to refresh the body. The contents of naengmyeon are soft noodles, pieces of eggs, pears, cucumbers, kimchi and ice cubes.
Korean Souvenirs
Spending a vacation in Korea, don’t forget to bring souvenirs for loved ones. You can get a variety of souvenirs ranging from snacks, dry and wet foods, accessories and much more.
Ginseng
As the name suggests, a gift that is very typical of Korea is ginseng. In Korea alone, there are 3 types of ginseng, namely Susam, Baeksam and Hongsam. However, the price of ginseng is not cheap even if you buy from your own country. If you want to save the budget, you can buy fruit in the form of food, medicine, or drinks made from ginseng.
Hanbok
Well, this typical Korean souvenir is a bit expensive. However, Hanbok is a gift that strongly reflects the country’s ginseng culture. Therefore, there is no harm if you want to buy Korean traditional clothes for loved ones.
Snacks
Have you ever heard of instant noodles that have a very spicy taste from Korea? Instant noodles are sold in Indonesia. In addition to spicy instant noodles, there are also well-known banana milk products from Korea. A variety of online shops are busy selling food and soft drink products from Korea.
Pillow
Next, we find traditional Korean-style pillows. This pillow can only be found in Korean. This pillow is in the form of a small block and contains wheat seeds. This traditional pillow is claimed to be very good for health because the grain in it can support the neck and head better than kapok. With this Korean Pillow guaranteed you can have better sleep quality.
Tea
Korean has several types of tea with a very unique taste. Buy some types of authentic Korean tea for family and friends in Indonesia. This type of Korean tea includes green tea which is native to Jeju Island, five-flavour tea (Omija), and tea processed with rice.
See: 7 Top Attractions in Jeju Island – South Korea that You Must Visit
Korean Culture
Every country has a unique tradition and culture that attracts tourists to visit the country. South Korea has a special interest in traditions and distinctive cultures to lure tourists from outside to travel to this country of ginseng. The following are the unique characteristics of South Korea’s distinctive traditions and culture that are interesting to observe, as follows:
• Take your shoes off when entering a Korean home
• Soju is drinking culture
• Rice is almost every meal
• Beware of elbows
• Hiking is the national pastime
Not only drama series, K-Pop, variety show, handsome and beautiful one that you have to know but also many tourist attraction have to. There are many places is recommended for you to visit in the country having nickname Land of the Morning Calm. Because Korean has four different seasons you can enjoy your holiday with something different. And don’t forget to taste traditional Korean foods that you can get it easily.
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