South Korea

What an amazing place South Korea is, It occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula that lies between the Yellow Sea and the East Sea (Sea of Japan). It is bordered to the north by North Korea, and Japan lies across the Korea Strait to the southeast.

South Korea is a very homogeneous country, with nearly all inhabitants identifying themselves as ethnically Korean and speaking the Korean language.

Best Time to Visit

Spring is a great time of year to be in Korea. The temperatures are warm but not hot and there's not too much rain either.

Summer starts with a dreary rainy season in June and turns into a steam-bath in July-August, with extreme humidity and the temperature heading as high as 40°C. Best avoided.

Fall, starting in September, is perhaps the best time to be in Korea. Temperatures and humidity become more tolerable, fair days are common and the justly renowned fall colors make their appearance.

Winter is a good time to go skiing or hot-spring hopping, and the Korean invention of ondol (floor heating) helps defrost any parts that froze outside.

Take Care of Yourself

Although South Korea is a relatively safe country, theft, assault and hotel burglary are more common in major cities such as Busan or Seoul. Rape has also been reported. Take care especially in known tourist areas. Use only legitimate taxis. Illegitimate taxis run even from the airport, and their safety and honesty cannot be guaranteed.

Understanding the Culture

Korea is a land of strict Confucian hierarchy and etiquette. As a visitor you will not be expected know every nuance, but making an effort will certainly be appreciated.

When Koreans greet, they bow to each other to show their respect.

When picking something up or taking something from somebody older always use two hands. If you have to reach to get it and this is not possible, you can simply support your right arm with your left hand. Likewise, when shaking hands with somebody older support your right arm with your left hand.

What To See and Do

Korea is the ginseng capital of the world. Medicinal herbs are often sold in mountain resorts. Traditional clothing, dishes, gimcracks are readily available. Insadong in Seoul has Buddhist supplies. Postcards are sold in some locations, though not the variety one would find in the west. Try Insadong for souvenirs and crafts in general.

Korea's traditional holidays follow the lunar calendar, so they fall on different days each year. The big ones are family holidays and entail everybody returning to their hometowns en masse, meaning that all forms of transport are absolutely packed.

Seollal

Is on the 1st day of the 1st month in the lunar calendar, is also known as "Korean New Year". Families gather together to eat traditional foods and perform an ancestral service.

Chuseok

Is often dubbed "Korean Thanksgiving", is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the year (usually August-September). Koreans celebrate by eating traditional foods, notably a rice cake called songpyeon and playing folk games.

Guinsa

Are spectacular mountain headquarters of the Buddhist Cheondae sect

Seoraksan National Park

Panmunjeom

Is the only tourist site in the world where the Cold War is still reality

Jogye

Is Korea's largest Buddhist sect, runs a popular Temple Stay program where visitors get to spend 24 hours living at a Buddhist temple. Korean ability helps but is not necessary at some temples, but you will be expected to work at the temple and get up at 3 or 4 AM to participate in Morning Prayer. In exchange for three meals and a basic bed for the night, a "donation" of W50,000-80,000 is expected. Reservations are necessary and can be made at the Temple Stay site

Taekwondo

If you're interested in martial arts, you should learn Taekwondo. Taekwondo is originally from Korea, and you can study at any of the numerous schools all over the country.

Chang or Pansori

If you like music, this will be good for you. It's a unique traditional Korean form of singing. If you want to learn about Pansori through film, "Seo Pyen Je" would be an excellent choice.

Korean Traditional Dance

You will wear "Han Bok" - Korean traditional cloths.

Baduk

Korean name for the ancient board game called Go in English. Many Koreans play the game, and among them are some of the world's finest players. There are even schools that specialize in Baduk