South Korea

Quick Facts

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Local name

Daehan Minguk (대한민국)

Capital

Seoul

Government

Republic

Nationality

South Korean

Population

48,289,000

Religions

Buddhism, Christianity, Shamanism

Languages

Korean, English

Currency

Korean Won (KRW)

Calling Code

+82

Time Zone

UTC +9

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Introduction

Old Men

© All Rights Reserved almchenry

South Korea, the democratic half of Korea, is in many ways similair to its northern neighbour. They share history, culture and language. But for the obvious reason of its liberal government, South Korea is a much easier place to get to.

Its mountainous landscape is ideally suited to skiing, hiking and mountain bike riding - or just viewing with 'oohs' and 'aahs', if you're not quite so energetically inclined. South Korea counts to its name 20 national parks; interestingly, though the Japanese destroyed much of the country's natural environment while they occupied Korea during WWII, regrowth is happening vigorously fast. Economic regrowth is happening at a fast pace too, as is best seen at Seoul, where skyscrapers are charging up and modern development is marching ahead. What makes Seoul captivating for visitors, though, is its wealth of historical and cultural delights, including ancient temples, palaces and pleasure gardens.

Brief History

Geography

South Korea occupies the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, which juts out of the Asian continent. South Korea is a mountainous country bordering the Yellow Sea to the west and the East Sea to the east. The Southern tip of the country borders the Korea Strait and the East China Sea. South Korea is a mix of high mountain ranges, valleys, narrow coastal plains, river basins and rolling hills. The majority of the country is very mountainous making only 30% of the land arable. South Korea also has claims to over three thousands islands, most of which are small and uninhabited. The largest island is Jeju Do that is also the site of South Korea's highest point Hallasan, which is an extinct volcano that is 1,950 m (6,398 ft).

Regions

South Korea is divided into eight provinces (do), six metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi) and one "special city" (teukbyeolsi), which is Seoul.

Provinces (do):

• Chungcheongbuk (North Chungcheong)
• Chungcheongnam (South Chungcheong)
• Gangwon
• Gyeonggi
• Gyeongsangbuk (North Gyeongsang)
• Gyeongsangnam (South Gyeongsang)
• Jeollabuk (North Jeolla)
• Jeollanam (South Jeolla)
• Jeju - Special Autonomous Province

Metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi):

• Busan
• Daegu
• Daejeon
• Gwangju
• Incheon
• Ulsan

Cities

• Seoul - The nation's capital
• Busan
• Daegu
• Daejeon
• Incheon
• Gwangju
• Ulsan

Sights and Activities

Mount Seorakson

Mount Seorakson (설악산) is the highest mountain in the Taebaek Mountains and the third highest mountain in all of Korea. Located in a national park near the city Sokcho this mountain is one of the most visited tourist spots in all of South Korea. There are great hikes, stunning waterfalls and insightful Buddhist shrines to be enjoyed while visiting Mount Seorakson. The best time of year to visit is during the autumn in order to enjoy the wonderful yellow leaves.

Nightlife and Shopping in Seoul

If looking for a great night out or some new designer digs Seoul is the place to go. This Asian Tiger has shot up in the last decade as one of the hottest towns in the world for drinking and shopping. Start off a night in a tent drinking soju and eating Korean food then progress to one of the hot clubs, maybe even running into a Korean pop star along the way. After waking up with a massive hang over head out to the main shopping district and spend even more money then the previous night out on some high end cloths or electronics.

Taekwondo

Taekwondo (태권도) is a very popular martial art and the national sport of South Korea. It is also the most popular martial art in the world with the most practicers world wide. That means while travelling around South Korea remember that most people might have learned to kick some butt along the way. Taekwondo has vanished from Korean culture several times during its history but has always come back in some form or another. After the Japanese occupation ended taekwondo became really popular again because of its nationalistic appeal. Taking a couple of taekwondo classes on a trip to South Korea could be very worthwhile. Taekwondo is also an official Olympic sporting event.

Other Sights and Activities

• D.M.Z. Tours - Day trips to the demilitarized zone with North Korea can be arranged for foreign visitors to South Korea.
• Beaches - Enjoy one of many South Koreas wonderful beaches on a really hot Korean day.
• Kimchi Museum - Learn the history of kimchi at the Kimchi Museum in Seoul.
• Islands - Go off the beaten track and see some of Korea's islands that haven't changed much in 200 years.
• Gardens - Explore some of the traditional gardens in the palaces of Korea's royalty.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Korea is a small country and the weather tends to be the same everywhere. That being said the weather can be extreme in Korea. There are brutally hot summers that have a temperture range of 22 °C to 29 °C with very high humidity. This does make for nice beach weather, and the Korean beaches can get very crowded during the height of summer heat.

The dangerously cold winters are not better than the summers with a temperature range of -7 °C to 1 °C. Due to the cold here there tends to be a lot of snow fall, especially in the northern parts of Korea. This makes for some pretty good skiing in Korea. Other than that walking around Korea in the winter time can be a very chilly experience.

Weatherwise, the best times to visit Korea are spring and autumn. The weather is mild and enjoyable April through May and September through October. In April, gorgeous flowers abound, especially cherry blossoms, azaleas, and lilacs. In the fall, the brilliant hues of red, orange, and yellow can be seen all around in the trees.

Getting there

Due to North Korea not allowing any people to cross its border with South Korea has caused an interesting situation. It has made this peninsula country really into an Island. With no overland borders that will let anyone cross them South Korea has had to developed an island like transport system with heavy reliance on air and sea travel.

By Plane

Incheon International Airport (ICN) not far from the capital Seoul is the main hub for international flights to and from South Korea with the main international carrier being Korean Air. Korean Air serves dozens of destinations in Japan and China, as well as other cities and countries in Asia. It also has connections to about a dozen cities in North America and even more to European cities. It has flights to Australia, Sao Paulo and Pacific destinations like Fiji and Guam on top of that.

Another big airlines is Asiana Airlines with just slightly less destinations further away but even more in both China and Japan.

Other international airports:

• Gimhae International Airport
• Gimpo International Airport
• Jeju International Airport
• Muan International Airport
• Yangyang International Airport

By Train

The South Korean government built a railroad all the way to the border of North Korea. The North Koreans have not finished it yet or are just going to ignore it. Therefore at the present time it is impossible to get in and out of Korea by train.

By Bus

Other then day trips to one mountain in North Korea it is impossible to take a bus in and out of Korea.

By Boat

There are several ferries linking different Korean cities to other countries. It is possible to take ferries from Busan and Incheon to Osaka, Tianjin and Shanghai. Usually the boats have several different classes and the lowest class is usually filled with Chinese migrant workers while the highest class is private rooms with wonderful views.

• South Korea - Japan vv

There are dozens of sailings on an almost daily or twice daily basis between Japan and South Korea. For example with Korea Ferry to and from Busan. Mirajet has high speed ferries between Busan and Fukuoka, taking only 3 hours. Japan based JR Beetle offers the same service.
The Camellia-line ferry service is much slower (15 hours) but almost twice as cheap.
The most popular and cheapest route is between Busan and Shimonoseki. The Kampur Ferry Service's vessels Kampu or Pukwan leave Busan at 6pm and arrive in Shimonoseki at 8.30am the next morning on a daily basis.

• South Korea - China vv

There are many options of travelling by boat between China and South Korea.
Huadong sails between Incheon and Shi Dao, while http://www.weidong.com/english|Weidong]] travels between Incheon and Qingdao. Dandong Ferry plies the route between Incheon and Dandong and Musung has boats between Busan and Yantai.
Other possible connections to and from the South Korean port city of Incheon include those to and from the Chinese cities of Yantai, Dalian, Shanghai, Tianjin and Weihai. These cities can be reached from Busan as well, including Yingkou.

• South Korea - Russia vv

Dong Chun Ferry runs two trips a week in winter and three in summer between Sokcho in South Korea and Zarubina (south of Vladivostok) in Russia.

Getting Around

By Plane

Asiana Airlines, Korean Air and Jeju Air are the main carriers and together have an extensive domestic networks. Cities served include Seoul, Incheon, Cheongju, Gwangju, Jeju, Gimhae, Daegu, Seoul Gimpo, Wonju, Gunsan, Phang, Ulsan, Sacheon, Mokpo and Yeosu.

By Train

Korean National Railroads has a fast reliable network of domestic services.
There are three types of trains. The Korea Train Express (KTX) is the country's high-speed train line going east to Busan and west to Mokpo (check route). It has both first and second class carriages. Then there are Saemaeul trains which are express, first class trains and Mugunghwa trains are more of the local and second class type.
There are railpasses of 3,5,7, or 10 days with unlimited service on all lines.

By Car

Many international as well as local companies offer rental cars at major airports and cities. You need to be 21 years of age and have an international driver's licence as well as at least one year of driving experience. Roads are generally in a good conditions and signs are often in both Korean and English. Still, driving can be chaotic and you might want to hire a car with a driver if you feel the need.

By Bus

There are both intercity as well as local bus services. The aircon express buses are fast and comfortable buses opertaing between all major cities and are a good alternative for trains. Local buses are sometimes a bit crowded and slower but can be of use for travelling to smaller places.

By Boat

Port cities with ferry terminals are Incheon, Gyeokpo, Mokpo, Yeosu, Jeju, Gunsan, Wando, Tongyeong, Geoje, Donghae and Boryeong. Most of them have connections with either eachother or to some of the smaller islands. Ferries connect Busan with Jeju Island and there are also car ferries operating this route.

Red Tape

Nationals from most countries are exempted from having to apply for a visa for a visit of up to 180 days.^[1][2]

• 180 days: Canada.
• 90 days: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela.
• 60 days: Lesotho, Portugal.
• 30 days: Andorra, Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, Honduras, Fiji, Guam, Guyana, Kiribati, Kuwait, Macau, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, New Caledonia, Oman, Palau, Paraguay, Qatar, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Solomon Islands, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City, Yemen.

Money

See also: Money Matters

The Korean unit of currency is the "Won" (ISO: KRW) with the symbol "₩".

• Coins: ₩1, ₩5, ₩10, ₩50, ₩100, ₩500
• Banknotes: ₩1000, ₩5000, ₩10000

(US$1 = ₩1000 approx.)

Work

Study

Language

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Green Tea

References to the "calming and stimulating' effects of drinking Green Tea in Korea date back to between the 2nd to the 4th centuries. By the 6th and 7th centuries, Buddhist monks had a tradition of tea rituals (Cha-rye) and since then they have been the custodians of the 'Way of Tea' throughout Korean history. A revival in recent times of the drinking of Green Tea was sparked by the liberation of the Korea from the Japanese in 1945.

Although tea has been made differently in places such as China and Japan, in Korea it has traditionally been processed in six steps; first, the top 3 leaves of the new shoots are 'Picked' early in the morning, ideally on the eve of a full moon; the leaves are then 'withered' by resting them outside overnight and bathing the picked leaves in moonlight; next, the leaves are 'Steamed' at very high temperatures until they have wilted, preventing fermentation; then 'rolling' or rubbing leaves against a coir mat, which adds flavour to the finished product; 'drying' to reduce the moisture in the leaves; and finally, 'roasting' the leaves slowly for 2-3 hours, often with grains such as brown rice, barley or wheat.

Korean Green tea leaves are divided into categories based on when the leaves are picked. The first leaves, called Ujeon, are picked in the middle of the third lunar month (sometime in April). The second harvest of leaves picked is called Gogu, followed by Sejak and Jungjak. Ujeon is considered the highest quality amongst the types of green tea and it is the most fragrant.

The revival of green tea consumption by the general public has been fueled by the 'well being' movement which took off in South Korea in the 1990's and as a result of the drinking of green tea reputedly having major health benefits. One of the major Green Tea attractions can be found at the Boseong Tea Plantation and surrounds in the South Jeolla Province.

Soju

Along with beer (Mekju), Soju (much like Japanese sake) is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in South Korea. This popularity is probably due to its great taste, many different varieties, an alcohol content between 10% to 20%, ready availability and its great overall value for money.

Soju is traditionally drank from small shot glasses then someone should always makes a toast before drinking. Most of the time the drinker finishes the drink in one go. Because of these customs it is very easy to get extremely drunk within in a few minutes while drinking with Koreans. A traveller can tell how much damage someone has done to their body in one night easily by counting the number of empty little green soju bottles are on the table. The count of bottles goes up much quicker then you would think because soju does not have a strong taste therefore be careful on a heavy soju night.

Health

See also: Travel Health

Korea has a great health care system. With some of the best hospitals in the world getting sick or injured in Korea is no issue to worry about. Remember that in many hospitals the doctors will be able to speak English but the staff may not be able to.

Safety

See also: Travel Safety

One of the advantages of Korea is its extremely low crime rate. One can expect to feel very safe in Korea, even in the mega-metropolis of Seoul. As with any city, use common sense--don't leave valuable items unattended, but you will find you feel very safe among the kind and gentle people of Korea.

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