A versatile country of high-tech and ancient traditions, big cities, green mountains and beaches, the wealthy South Korea has a great deal of things to see and do, from shopping to spas, beach holidays to trekking, and from golf to one of the last present scenes of Cold War. Although the modern South Korean society is dominated by technology, South Koreans still retain many of their ancient customs and traditions. Korean pop culture and Internet games have now become popular around the world.
Officially Republic of Korea, South Korea is situated in East Asia on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula between China and Japan. Bordered by the communist North Korea, South Korea is something very different from its neighbor. It is a highly developed country and a wealthy economic power with some leading science and technology in the world. South Korea is a very homogeneous country with great majority of people ethnically Korean. Densely populated South Korea is home to several large cities, including the capital and the second largest metropolitan city in the world, Seoul, and the big port city of Busan. South Korea may not be a world-famous tourism destination, but it is popular among the Japanese and Chinese visitors. There is also a significant amount of domestic tourism in South Korea.
Historical & nature attractions. The mountainous Gangwon province is an outdoor wonderland with trekking and skiing as well as historic sites, beaches, and golf courses. The third largest city in South Korea, Daegu is home to many ancient sights. The remote mountain temple complex of Guinsa is headquarters of the Cheontae Buddhist sect with spectacular mountain scenery, and the city of Suwon close to Seoul has a famous historic fortress. The many World Heritage Sites in South Korea include the Temple of Haeinsa, situated on Mount Kaya, where you can find the most extensive collection of old Buddhist texts, and the lava tubes of the volcanic island of Jeju, located South from the Korean mainland. Jeju is a popular tourism destination in South Korea that attracts people with its beautiful volcanic scenery, horseback riding, golf courses and beaches.
Travel to South Korea can be done by air or by boat. South Korea has eight international airports. The main one is situated in Incheon, close to Seoul, receiving flights to South Korea from all over the world. There are also international airports for example in Busan, Cheongju, Daegu and Jeju, mainly receiving flights from Japan and China. Frequent ferries to South Korea run from Japan and China, and there is also a weekly ferry from the Russian port of Vladivostok. The ferries from China arrive to Incheon near Seoul or to Busan, and the ferries from Japan all arrive to Busan.
Officially Republic of Korea, South Korea is situated in East Asia on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula between China and Japan. Bordered by the communist North Korea, South Korea is something very different from its neighbor. It is a highly developed country and a wealthy economic power with some leading science and technology in the world. South Korea is a very homogeneous country with great majority of people ethnically Korean. Densely populated South Korea is home to several large cities, including the capital and the second largest metropolitan city in the world, Seoul, and the big port city of Busan. South Korea may not be a world-famous tourism destination, but it is popular among the Japanese and Chinese visitors. There is also a significant amount of domestic tourism in South Korea.
Attractions of South Korea: temples, historic sites, mountains, nightlife & beaches
South Korea has plenty to offer its visitors, depending on what you are interested in. There are interesting historic, modern and natural sights to see, and you can shop, hike, play golf, dive, ski, or go to visit spas, museums or temples. Seoul, the capital of South Korea is a massive city with 600 years of history and plenty of modern miracles, high-tech shopping, nightlife and major concerts. Close to Seoul, the deserted village of Panmunjeom located between South and North Korea in the most heavily armed border in the world is a unique relic of the Cold War. Visits to here need to be arranged as part of an organized tour. The second largest city in South Korea, Busan is a big port city in the South coast with some nice beaches and trekking in nearby mountains.Historical & nature attractions. The mountainous Gangwon province is an outdoor wonderland with trekking and skiing as well as historic sites, beaches, and golf courses. The third largest city in South Korea, Daegu is home to many ancient sights. The remote mountain temple complex of Guinsa is headquarters of the Cheontae Buddhist sect with spectacular mountain scenery, and the city of Suwon close to Seoul has a famous historic fortress. The many World Heritage Sites in South Korea include the Temple of Haeinsa, situated on Mount Kaya, where you can find the most extensive collection of old Buddhist texts, and the lava tubes of the volcanic island of Jeju, located South from the Korean mainland. Jeju is a popular tourism destination in South Korea that attracts people with its beautiful volcanic scenery, horseback riding, golf courses and beaches.
South Korea travel tips and practical information
The climate in South Korea is temperate with four distinct seasons. There is a wet monsoon season during the hot summer, while winters are cold, dry and snowy, especially in inland areas. The southern coast of South Korea has milder winters and a possibility of typhoons during the late summer months. The island of Jeju has the warmest climate in South Korea. Thinking of weather, autumn and spring are the best times to visit South Korea.Travel to South Korea can be done by air or by boat. South Korea has eight international airports. The main one is situated in Incheon, close to Seoul, receiving flights to South Korea from all over the world. There are also international airports for example in Busan, Cheongju, Daegu and Jeju, mainly receiving flights from Japan and China. Frequent ferries to South Korea run from Japan and China, and there is also a weekly ferry from the Russian port of Vladivostok. The ferries from China arrive to Incheon near Seoul or to Busan, and the ferries from Japan all arrive to Busan.
Photo: hyku, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
It is possible to combine train and ferry tickets for inland travel to South Korea.
Getting around. South Korea is a fairly small country where you can get anywhere reasonably fast. There are domestic flights available, as well as fast and comfortable buses and trains between the South Korean cities. Subways have been built into most cities in South Korea, and public transport is also available with local buses, taxis, and shared taxis for long-distance journeys. South Korea has a well-maintained road network and rental cars are available, although driving is not recommended in big cities. There are also domestic boat connections from the mainland to many islands in South Korea.
Quality services. South Korea is generally an expensive destination, but still not as expensive as Japan, and there are many choices for accommodation and dining in all price categories. The prices in Seoul tend to be higher than elsewhere in South Korea. Motels and homestays are the cheapest forms of accommodation in South Korea, and hotels and nightlife can be found in all larger towns. Many types of Asian restaurants are widely available in South Korea.
Safety. South Korea is a very safe country where you can walk around safely at night. In general, crime is very rare in Korea. However, there is a possibility for theft or burglary in major cities, and pickpockets operate in tourist areas. Many people in South Korean cities speak some English, and street signs are often written also in English.
Short history of South Korea
Korea is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and the Korean Peninsula has been inhabited since 30,000 BC. The first kingdom in Korea was found in the 1st century AC. The three kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla dominated Korea for the next four centuries until they were unified into one Empire in 668 AC. Mongols arrived to Korea in the 13th century and destroyed many of the achievements of the Koreans during their short period of rule. Japan and China also invaded Korea during the 1500s and 1600s. Korea became a Chinese protectorate and closed its doors from outside influence until the 20th Century. Korea gained independence from China in 1895 but was invaded by and later annexed to Japan in 1910, finally ending the Korean Kingdom.After the WWII, USA occupied the southern half of Korea and Soviet Union the northern half, both of which formed independent states in 1948. In the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, China supported the invading North Korea and USA and United Nations fought for South Korea. After the war, the Korean Peninsula was split along a demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel. South Korea has enjoyed rapid economic growth and rising standards of living. The 32 years of military rule in South Korea ended in 1993 and today, South Korea is a modern democracy with one of the world’s highest rates of civil liberties and political rights.
