South Korea boasts abundant tourist attractions. Tourists can experience distinctive harmony between historical cultural heritage and modern culture. With these preserved local identities, tourists can also explore and enjoy local cultures, natural environments, and unique food.
Among popular tourist attractions in South Korea, modern values are often projected onto historic cultural heritage, or conversely, traditional elements are added to modern spaces. They serve not only as precious cultural heritage and vibrant living spaces for Koreans but also as a starting point for foreigners to visit Korea.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Village Located on the top of a hill, Bukchon Hanok Village commands a unique landscape where Korean traditional houses and modern structures harmonize together.
Jeonju Hanok Village
South Korea boasts of different types of hanok villages. Recently, a hanok village becomes more popular as a new tourist destination for visitors to experience an old village composed of traditional Korean wooden houses other than modern hanok architecture.
Located in the heart of Seoul teeming with high-rise buildings, Bukchon Hanok Village and Namsangol Hanok Village allow visitors to feel the coexistence of the past and the present. As the largest hanok district in South Korea, Jeonju Hanok Village consists of about 625 traditional tile-roofed houses in conjunction with modernized hanok architecture. This village is one of the most popular destinations for enthusiasts not just because it is a cultural product for sightseeing, but because it also serves as a venue for tourists to experience traditional experiences such as a tea ceremony and a hanji-making program.
In addition, Gongju Hanok Village located in Chungcheongnam-do, Gangneung Ojukheon Hanok Village in Gangwon-do, and Yeongam Gurim Hanok Village in Jeollanam-do are not as large as Jeonju Hanok Village, but they are large enough for visitors to enjoy Korean culture.
Located in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Seongyojang House, which was a typical upper-class residence during the Joseon dynasty, also allows visitors to experience traditional Korean houses, although not a hanok village. This 300-year-old traditional house is still inhabited by the descendants.
The Moonlight Tour at Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the most popular tour programs in South Korea.
A royal palace, which is an indispensable destination for Korean tourism, features distinctly different sentiments between day and night. Tourists flock to the palace during the day to experience a tranquil and relaxed atmosphere. When covered with a veil of darkness, the palace boasts of a different mood. The subtle lighting and mysterious acoustic effects add up different charms. As those attractive features are known through social networking services, royal palaces have recently emerged as new night attractions.
Among royal palaces that open at night are the four major palaces in Seoul (Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeok Palace, Changgyeong Palace, and Deoksugung Palace) and Hwaseong Haenggung Palace in Suwon. Whether tour programs are available depends on each royal palace, but if it is, reservations must be made on the website.
At night, Changdeokgung Palace becomes far more colorful and magical under the moonlight and lighting.
Sungnyemun Gate, unofficially known as Namdaemun Gate, was the gate on the south side of the Fortress Wall of Seoul among eight gates. As South Korea’s National Treasure No. 1, it is the largest extant castle gate stone structure. The ancient gate was destroyed in an arson attack in 2008. Following several years of restorative work, Sungnyemun Gate can now be enjoyed in all its glory.
Namdaemun Market is a large traditional market located on the east side of Sungnyemun Gate. Teeming with things to see, shop, and eat, this popular attraction is always crowded with shoppers and tourists. It features not only diverse products such as clothes, kitchenware, home appliances, and daily miscellaneous goods, all of which are available at low prices, but also well-known food alleys such as Galchi Jorim (stewed beltfish) Alley and Kalguksu (noodle soup) Alley.
Sungnyemun Gate
Seoul, the capital of the Joseon dynasty, was protected by a long stone wall with eight gates. Sungnyemun (Namdaemun or South Gate), literally meaning the “Gate of Exalted Ceremonies,” is the Korean National Treasure No. 1.
Heunginjimun Gate, unofficially known as Dongdaemun Gate, was the gate on the east side of the Fortress Wall of Seoul among eight gates. Near the gate is a massive commercial district, commonly referred to as Dongdaemun Market.
Dongdaemun Market encompasses Gwangjang Market, Pyeonghwa Market, Sinpyeonghwa Market, and Dongdaemun Shopping Complex. The term “Dongdaemun fashion” was coined because most of these markets deal with the sale of clothes. In addition, they operate in the form of wholesale markets at night and thus create new clothing culture and consumption, contributing greatly to market revitalization.
In 2014, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the world’s largest irregular architecture, opened in the vicinity of Dongdaemun Market. The futuristic design has somewhat changed the simple and common-class atmosphere of Dongdaemun Market into a modern one, expanding the main consumer base to young people and foreigners.
Heunginjimun Gate
Heunginjimun (Dongdaemun or East Gate) is the only one of the eight fortress gates protected by a semicircular gate-guard wall.
Culture Station Seoul 284 (former Seoul Station)
The product of transforming former Seoul Station into a multipurpose arts and cultural complex
Gwanghwamun Square is a large square located in the middle of the road between Gwanghwamun Gate and Sejong-ro Junction. This public open space was opened in 2009 by renovating a roadway into a park.
Intended to return the central street of Seoul with 600-year history to its citizens, Gwanghwamun Square was completely reborn as a historical and cultural space for people. With the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-shin unveiled to the public, this was designed to provide a wonderful view of natural scenery including Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bugaksan Mountain.
Culture Station Seoul 284 is the product of transforming former Seoul Station into a multipurpose arts and cultural complex. To commemorate the historical significance of being the oldest railway station in South Korea, it preserves the same old appearance as that in 1925 when the station opened.
Seoullo 7017, built atop a former highway overpass, is an elevated public park for pedestrians. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul’s historic sites, including Culture Station Seoul 284, Namdaemun Gate, and Seoul Station.
To experience Korean food culture properly, one should visit traditional markets. In a cozy atmosphere, visitors feel free to enjoy Korean food loved by the locals.
Gwangjang Market in Jongno, Seoul, is historically meaningful as it is Korea’s first permanent market with over 100 years of history. The taste of finger-sized mini gimbap dipped in mustard sauce is so addictive that it is called mayak gimbap or drug gimbap, attracting people with its strong magnetism. Other famous dishes include beef tartare and mung bean pancakes.
Gwangjang Market
Gwangjang Market, South Korea’s first permanent market, is a paradise for people to enjoy ordinary food such as gimbap and mung bean pancakes.
Located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Tongin Market provides people with a unique experience that can’t be done anywhere while tasting various dishes. This is because of “yeopjeon dosirak.”
Dosirak literally means a lunch box. Yeopjeon is a Korean brass coin with a square cut in the middle and was used during the Joseon dynasty. The coin is not used in South Korea, but can be used as currency in Tongin Market. When the customer purchases yeopjeon, a lunch box is provided, which serves as a kind of wallet, and people can enjoy the different experience of exchanging yeopjeon for the food they want to buy while looking around the market.
The market offers different kinds of simple and plain food. They include rice and soup, the staple food of the Korean people, as well as side dishes such as spicy rice cakes, grilled rib patties, rice balls, and omelet rolls.
Tongin Market
Tongin Market allows visitors to enjoy a variety of dishes like a buffet, including the market’s signature dish, crispy pan-fried spicy rice cakes.
Jeonju Makgeolli
Jeonju Makgeolli Alleys are famous for the rich table setting, which allows visitors to experience the tastes of Jeonju and feel the warmth of South Koreans.
Jeonju is a city Koreans are also willing to visit to taste its dishes. This city has long developed its food culture thanks to fresh seafood acquired from the West and South Seas and crops harvested from the fertile land.
Jeonju-style bibimbap is a must-eat food in Jeonju. It is made by first cooking rice with Jeonju bean sprouts and then mixing the cooked rice with each handful of fresh ingredients, including egg yolk, gingko nut, pine nut, chestnut, walnut, and vegetables.
Jeonju Hanjeongsik (Korean table d’hote) is a menu with more than 30 side dishes, including soup, stew, seasoned vegetables, and salted seafood, all of which are set on a single table. This represents the generous hearts and minds of the Korean people.
Located in Samcheon-dong, Seosin-dong, and Gyeongwon-dong, Jeonju Makgeolli Alleys are waiting for their visitors to feel free to enjoy makgeolli (rice wine). Each order of a makgeolli kettle is served with 20 kinds of dishes and nibbles.
In addition, Jeonju also has its unique food culture called “gamaek,” which is a shorthand for “gagae (corner store) maekju (beer).” Jeonju is famous for smallcorner stores or kiosks equipped with several tables, where people can buy cold beer and drink it with some nibbles such as grilled dried squid, dried pollack fillet, and snacks served with Jeonju’s unique seasoning. Thanks to the growing popularity of gamaek, the Gamaek Festival has been held every year since 2015.
As a bustling port city on the east coast, Sokcho, Gangwon-do boasts of abundant seafood acquired from the East Sea, thus providing a variety of dishes made of fish, squid, and shrimp, and more.
The deep-fried shrimp alley near Daepohang Port is a must-see in Sokcho for tourists. Fresh shrimp are fried on the spot, and thus, the crispy taste is excellent.
In addition, visitors can enjoy diverse dishes such as sliced raw squid, stuffed squid, moray soup, spicy red snow crab, and grilled fish in the vicinity of Sokcho Tourist Fish Market, the dock for a raft-like platform boat called “gaetbae,” Daepohang Port, and Dongmyeonghang Port.
Although not seafood, glazed fried chicken bites called dak gangjeong are also representative food in Sokcho. This crispy and crunch dish is made by deepfrying bite-sized chicken, which is then smothered in a sweet or spicy sauce that has been boiled down to a thick consistency.
Busan is an optimized city for gourmet travel because of convenient public transportation and plenty of food everywhere.
Jagalchi Market, well-known for its catchphrase, “Oiso (Come), Boiso (See), and Saiso (Buy),” is the largest fish market in South Korea. It teems with sliced raw fish, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, shellfish, grilled fish, and other seafood. Its signature dishes, which are difficult to taste elsewhere, include whale meat and hagfish grilled over a briquette.
The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Square, the Gourmand Alley in Nampo-dong, and Gukje Market are street food paradises. It is recommended to try sugar-filled seeded griddlecake, fish cake skewers dipped in soup, and spicy glass noodles mixed with fresh vegetables.
Located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, Jeollanam-do is known for its delicious food thanks to the geographical condition, where the sea and land meet, and mild climate. As a port city located in the southwestern part of Jeollanam-do, Mokpo is home to the signature dishes of the Jeolla Province along with Jeonju.
Whiparm octopus is a specialty that is caught only off the coast of Mokpo. It is prepared into different dishes including sannakji (live octopus)—eating live octopus whole by rolling it up in wooden chopsticks—and octopus soup made by boiling octopus with vegetables.
The fermented skate has a sharp, pungent aroma and taste, so some people like it but others don’t. However, it is recommended to experience the taste at least once if you come to Mokpo.
Jeju Island, one of the most beloved destinations for Koreans, has developed unique local dishes because of its geographical condition—being far from the mainland. Rather than cooking with various ingredients or adding various spices, most of dishes are simply cooked to preserve the original flavors of the ingredients.
Typical folk foods include black pork grilled on charcoal to a chewy texture, oozing with juices; gulfweed soup made from pork broth and meat, gulfweed, and buckwheat flour; and omegi rice cake and omegi liquor made from glutinous millet, which used to be the staple food of Jeju people in the past.
Udo peanuts grown in the sea breeze of Udo Island are delicious even if eaten with the skin and also enjoyed as Udo peanut ice cream or Udo peanut makegolli.
Boseong is the largest tea-producing area in South Korea, boasting of 4,000 tea plantations, and it is a perfect place for tea lovers or those interested in traditional Korean tea culture. Most tea plantations host tea-related programs so that visitors can enjoy diverse experiences such as tasting green tea, picking tea leaves, and making green tea, including the Korean Tea Ceremony.
Otherwise, just savoring tea at a tea café inside the tea plantation and appreciating the beautiful scenery is sufficient to make a satisfying trip.
Squid on Jeju Island
Driving along the coastal road of Jeju Island, people can encounter the scenery of squid being dried on lines in the sea breeze.
Green Tea Plantations in Boseong The tea plantations in Boseong provide opportunities for visitors to taste green tea and experience Korean tea culture.
Grilled pork belly is one of Koreans’ favorite restaurant and home-cooked dishes. Grilled pork belly is a part of the pork ribs called samgyeopsal, meaning three alternate layers of lean flesh and fat in the pork belly that appear when cut. In the Western countries, they primarily process pork belly as cured bacon, but most Korean people favor grilled or roasted bellies. In addition, they are served with vegetables for wraps such as lettuce and perilla leaves, pickled onions, seasoned scallions, or dipping sauce such as ssamjang, a thick spicy paste made with Korean soybean paste.
Grilled pork belly is a popular dish, not a local specialty, so it can be tasted anywhere in the country.
Express service areas in South Korea are much loved as multipurpose spaces that provide more than just a short break on the road. Each service area reflects the unique culture depending on locations, serving as new tourist destinations.
For example, Andong Service Area in Andong, famous for its traditional crafts, has Andong Cultural Experience Center designed to display crafts. Yeoju Service Area in Yeoju, well-known for ceramics, has a pottery experience center where tourists are allowed to fire pottery. The food court is not just a place for satisfying one’s hunger, but it provides a variety of dishes intended to introduce the representative local food culture. This allows tourists to enjoy tasting the local specialties with comfort and ease.
Gangneung Service Area serves Chodang tofu and dried pollack hangover soup, which is made with the local food of Gangneung, Chodang tofu (tofu made with seawater). Cheongsong Service Area in Cheongsong, famous for apple plantations, offers pork cutlets with apple sauce. In Insam Land Service Area in Geumsan, people can have an opportunity to taste ginseng and short rib soup made from ginseng, a specialty of Geumsan.
Service Area Snacks
Sotteok-sotteok, sausage and rice cake skewers, is the representative snack provided in most service areas.
There is a cluster of about 30 coffee shops called Gangneung Coffee Street or Anmok Coffee Street near Anmok Beach in Gangneung. Since 2000, Gangneung has become a mecca of coffee as the first generation of baristas who had led the South Korean coffee culture began to settle in Gangneung. Most of them are roastery cafés. They directly roast beans, offering a variety of the aroma and tastes of fresh coffee differentiated from franchise coffee shops. As this is on everyone’s tongue, Gangneung has been truly recognized as a coffee city.
In addition to Gangneung Coffee Street, Gangneung has been developing a wide range of coffee-related content, including a coffee museum, a coffee factory, and a barista academy.
Gangneung Coffee
Anmok Beach in Gangneung
Spring scenery in the Jirisan National Park
South Korea has designated and operated national parks to preserve the natural ecosystems and natural and cultural wonders.
As the designation requirements are demanding, the national park is an assorted gift set of healing benefits that allow visitors to enjoy natural ecosystems, natural landscapes, and cultural wonders at once. National parks are a repository of natural ecosystems, home to 45% of Korean native species and 65% of endangered species. In addition, they are tourist destinations for 733 designated cultural properties representing South Korea, including scenic points and prestigious temples.
A total of 22 national parks across the country are loved by the Korean people as spaces for relaxation, including Naejangsan National Park, Odaesan National Park, Jirisan National Park, and Hallasan National Park.
Yumyeongsan Recreational Forest with beautiful woods and clean valleys
Namhae Recreational Cypress Forest dense with hinoki cypress trees
Recreational forests are optimized places for people to heal their bodies and minds in a clean nature. There are 170 recreational forests across the country. They are popular among summer vacationers because of diverse valleys. They are also well-equipped with facilities such as forest parks, hiking trails, walking trails, auto campgrounds, and water parks. Thus, people can enjoy a comfortable overnight stay
Located in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do, Yumyeongsan Recreational Forest is the first recreational forest in South Korea and has contributed to people’s physical or psychological revitalization for 30 years. With easy access from the Seoul metropolitan area and well-equipped facilities, it has the largest number of visitors among the national recreational forests. A forest commentary program is operated to provide visitors with knowledge of forests and the natural environment and to guide them to the right experience in forests.
Located in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do, Jungmisan Recreational Forest is also accessible to the Seoul metropolitan area and has well-established trails. Jungmisan Observatory, located within the Jungmisan Recreational Forest, allows visitors to enjoy the stars at night.
Located in Hoengseong, Gangwon-do, Cheongtaesan Recreational Forest is a forest park packed with large conifers such as nut pine trees. Along with a leisurely forest bathing trip while breathing in phytoncide released by these trees, people can appreciate the beautiful snowy landscape in winter.
Located in Namhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, Namhae Recreational Cypress Forest is a lush forest with hinoki cypress trees. Overlooking the southern coastal waters, it allows visitors to enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery and observe rare animals and plants.
Located in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyemyeongsan Recreational Forest is at the northern foot of Gyemyeongsan Mountain. It is also located east of Chungju Lake, which includes Woraksan National Park. No wonder these recreational forests are very popular as tourist destinations.
Namsan Seoul Tower (Seoul’s landmark) sits atop Namsan Park.
Located in Jung-gu, Seoul, Namsan Park is considered a must-see in Seoul for tourists along with Myeong-dong, but it is more like a neighborhood park for Seoul citizens and nearby office workers. This is because the park is a recreation area where people can take a walk during their free time such as weekends and lunchtime to relax or stay healthy. Recently, it has been designated as an urban forest park, so its value is further increasing as a green area and recreation area as well.
Namsan Park allows visitors to realize the importance of nature and the delight of walking. Namsan Mountain standing 265 m above sea level, it takes one hour to reach its top on foot along the trail from the entrance to the park. Atop the mountain sits Namsan Seoul Tower (Seoul’s landmark) and an octagonal pavilion. The National Theater of Korea, the Seoul Metropolitan Library, and Namsangol Hanok Village are located at the foot of the mountain, so people can get some rest if they feel tired while taking a leisurely walk. One of the easy and fast ways to go up to the area nearby the summit is to take an eco-friendly circulation bus or cable car.
Just as there is Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London, there is Seoul Forest in Seoul. Seoul Forest, formerly an amusement park, was reborn as an enormous forest and theme park for the citizens in 2005 through the redevelopment project. Consequently, Seoul citizens have a greener space and thus can enjoy nature downtown without having to go far away.
As seen through its massive area of 430,000 m2 , this forest consists of various spaces by theme, such as Seoul Forest Plaza, Culture and Art Park, Educational Experience Park, Eco-forest Park, and Riverside Park, and more.
The experience programs, such as feeding roe deer along with amusement facilities, attract a large number of family visitors, while well-managed trails are also popular among couples. There are many groups of bikers riding on the road in spring and fall.
Located in the mid-slope of Namsan Park, Baekbeom Plaza provides wide lawns and trails.
Seoul Forest is a large urban park where people can feel the breath of nature in the heart of the city
Jeju Island is the most beloved destination and largest island in South Korea. It is about 90 km south of the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula, offering different views of nature from those on land. Its attractive features are largely caused by natural factors, including the clear and transparent emerald sea, Hallasan Mountain with scenic beauty, parasitic cones produced by volcanic eruptions, strange rocks and bizarre stones created by wind and waves, and tangerine farms. Thanks to those charms, this island has recently become popular as a global recreation area for foreign tourists from China, Japan, and others.
Jeju Island, which was formed through volcanic activity, boasts of so diverse and unique volcanic landforms that the entire island can be called a huge volcano museum. There are 368 large and small parasitic cones on the ground, and 160 lava caves below the land are scattered all over the island.
Recognized for such geographical features and value, Jeju Island was designated as a biosphere reserve in 2002. It was listed as a World Natural Heritage site in 2007 and certified as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2010.
Hallasan Mountain is the representative tourist destination of Jeju Island. This is because it is the highest mountain in South Korea and allows people to heal their bodies and minds while feeling the breath of nature. In addition, this mountain has a variety of volcanic landforms such as steep rocks including Yeongsil Rocks, 40 parasitic cones, and Baengnokdam Crater Lake, a crater lake that sits on top of Hallasan Mountain. The mountain is mostly covered with basalt rocks.
In addition, Halla Mountain shows a unique ecosystem and biodiversity. Depending on the elevations, various plants are distributed from plants of warm climates at low elevations to alpine plants at high elevations. Another representative tourist destination is Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone. Located east of Jeju Island, this 182 m–high tuff cone crater was designated as a natural monument in 2000. At the top of it, people can enjoy the spacious crater and a magnificent panoramic view of the sea unfolded before their eyes. This bowl-like crater is home to more than 200 species of plants and animals including silver grass. Sunrise from the summit is so spectacular that it is called Sunrise Peak. In addition, the Seongsan Sunrise Festival is held on December 31 every year.
There is an island seen south of Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone. It is another volcanic island, Udo, which is also called a small Jeju island. Its numerous sensuous charms allow visitors to feel the wonders of nature, such as Seobinbaeksa Beach, a white pebble beach with dazzling beauty, sea caves around the rocks, and the Udo coastal road, well-known for a scooter tour among tourists.
Seongsan Ilchulbong
Tuff Cone on Jeju Island A parasitic cone formed by hydrovolcanic activity upon a shallow seabed
Baengnokdam Crater Lake of Hallasan Mountain
A cauldron-shaped volcanic crater (108 m in depth and 1,720 m in circumference) atop Hallasan Mountain
Dokdo Island (Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do)
Dokdo Island consists of two rocky islets, Dongdo and Seodo, situated about 150 m apart, and 89 rocky islets around them.
A lava tube is one of the unique tourist attractions of Jeju Island. There are more than 160 lava tubes formed by flowing lava beneath the surface of a lava flow. Many tourists visit Manjanggul Cave, Gimnyeonggul Cave, Bengdwigul Cave, and more to experience the mystery of nature. The 2.5 km–long Yongcheon Cave is considered an unprecedented rare cave in the world as it has the characteristics of lava tubes and limestone caves together. Unfortunately, the lava tube cannot be accessed by the public to prevent any damage.
Gotjawal, meaning a forest in Jeju language, is nicknamed “Fantasy Forest.” It has a unique, bumpy terrain formed by the split of lava emitted by volcanic eruptions into large and small lumps of rock. Most of all, the Gotjawal is a rare forest in the world where the tropical northern limit plants and the polar southern limit plants coexist. It is also called the lungs of Jeju Island because of the dense primeval forests and well-preserved ecosystems.
Designed to explore pristine nature and cultural properties, Jeju Olle is a series of walking trails that are 425 km long in total with 26 routes. Although the routes can be freely chosen depending on the walkers’ physical strength and preferences, it is recommended to select one route a day. Jeju Olle consists of walking along the beach, climbing up parasitic cones, passing by falls, farms, and salterns, and more. Depending on the routes, there are also wheelchair accessible areas.
Ulleungdo Island is a volcanic island that represents South Korea along with Jeju Island. Other than Ulleungdo Island, there are Dokdo Island, Jukdo Island, and Gwaneumdo Island (uninhabited).
Ulleungdo Island is 130 km east of the land, where nature has been kept intact from time immemorial. It is filled with natural wonders that cannot be seen on the land, such as the clean sea, superb coastal scenery created by sheer cliffs, Nari Basin, and the unique primeval forest. The distinct village structure is also spectacular. The valleys run down in different directions from Seonginbong Peak. Because of the rugged terrain, straight roads are rare and villages are formed around the island. Located 87.4 km to the southeast of Ulleungdo Island, Dokdo Island is located in the far east of South Korea. As seen by the fact that the island itself is designated as Natural Monument No. 336, it boasts of magnificent views and unique natural scenery such as columnar joints. At present, Korean guards and residents inhabit this island.
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a symbol of a cease-fire on the Korean Peninsula. As the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953 to end the Korean War, the Military Demarcation Line (DML) was drawn between the two Koreas. A 4 km–wide strip of land, extending 2 km north and 2 km south of the MDL, was designated as the DMZ. There is a village called Tae Sung Freedom Village inhabited by civilians, which lies within the Korean DMZ. Public access is usually prohibited but only allowed with permission from the military authorities. Foreign tourists can also visit there. The natural environment of the Korean DMZ is perfectly preserved, as human access to the area has been strictly restricted for more than six decades since the end of the war. It is in the spotlight as an ecological axis of the Korean Peninsula and a repository of animal diversity. It is also now an important subject of academic research worldwide.
In terms of nature and ecology, the DMZ is largely divided into three zones: a mountainous zone composed of high mountains and dense forests, an inland zone encompassing plains and rivers, and a brackish water zone with large wetlands and mudflats. These three forms of nature reveal ever-changing primordial energy, and the zones adjacent to the DMZ incorporate excellent vegetation and rare plant habitats. A total of 30% of the animals and plants on the Korean Peninsula live here, including 82 species of endangered species.
Dodong Port of Ulleungdo
A volcanic island in the East Sea
The DMZ has pristine, primeval forests.
Suncheonman Bay is a coastal wetland located on the southern coast of South Korea. This bay incorporates river topography such as natural mudflats, salt marshes, natural levees, floodplains, and back marshes. It is well-known for the phenomenal views of its S-shaped waterway and the vast reed field on the endless mudflat.
The 5.4 km2 reed field is the widest and best preserved one in South Korea. In autumn, many tourists come to see the reed beds in autumn colors swaying in the wind.
Suncheonman National Garden is the first national garden in South Korea. It was created in 2013 when Suncheonman International Garden Expo was held. It consists of various themes such as an arboretum, a water garden, and a medicinal herb garden.
In 2023, Suncheonman International Garden Expo 2023 will be held in Suncheonman National Garden and the Suncheon area.
Hwadam Botanic Garden, located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, has recently emerged as a new natural and ecological tourist destination. Opened in 2013 with the aim of protecting the ecosystem, this garden is intended to collect and exhibit 4,000 species of endangered animals and plants.
The forest of pine trees and maple trees in harmony continues along the valleys and the foot of the mountain, and low-slope trails run gently around it. This allows visitors to enjoy a leisurely stroll. The largest Pine Tree Garden and the unique Moss Garden are the pride of Hwadam Botanic Garden. Riding an electrically powered eco-friendly monorail helps visitors reach the top more easily.
Suncheonman Bay reed beds, the largest reed field in South Korea
Hwadam Botanic Garden engaged in preserving the pristine forest
The Hangang Bike Path adjacent to the Hangang Park
Riding a bicycle
Bicycle paths are well maintained throughout the country. Each city is well equipped with public bicycles, so there is no problem enjoying riding a bicycle. Although rental charges vary slightly depending on regions, public bicycles can be easily used at an affordable price of around KRW 1,000 per hour. A number of cities operate public bicycles under different names: Ttareungi in Seoul, Fifteen in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, Tashu in Daejeon, and Eoulling in Sejong.
The Hangang Bike Path is a typical riding route, stretching almost along the riverside of the Hangang River in Seoul. Starting from Nanji Hangang Park (Nanji Camping Site), this path is the longest riding route that runs through Mapo Bridge, Banpo Bridge, and Seoul Forest to Gwangjin Bridge. It is loved by many Seoul citizens and tourists because it connects Seoul to satellite cities and is also located adjacent to Hangang Park.
Thanks to the recent “Newtro” craze, the riding path within the Gyeongchun Line Forest Park is drawing attention from young people. This park was once an unused railway line, but through a major restoration project, the sections of the Gyeongchun Railway and all 12 of the original bridges have been restored. A wellpaved bicycle path stretches out along the railway.
The Bukhangang Bike Path connecting Seoul to Chuncheon passes through beautiful lakes and mountains such as Cheongpyeong Lake and Uiam Lake. Cyclists can enjoy beautiful landscapes while cycling comfortably.
Gyeongin Ara Waterway is the first canal in South Korea connecting the Hangang River to the waters off Incheon. The bike paths on both sides of the waterway are connected to the Hangang Bike Path, which allows cyclists to ride their bikes from Seoul to the West Sea.
Auto Camping
As a growing number of South Koreans are participating in camping, the number of campers has increased by 33.9% in the last two years. The exponentially increased demand has resulted in an increasing number of campgrounds, with camping experiences being diversified. In South Korea, camping can be enjoyed in diverse ways depending on one’s preferences, such as auto camping, glamping, caravanning, car camping, and backpacking.
There are more than 2,300 auto campgrounds in South Korea. Most of all, campgrounds located in the national recreational forests are preferred by many campers because of higher cost-effectiveness. Reservations are available via the Korea National Park Service website on the 1st and 15th of each month. Note that the campgrounds are so popular that they are all booked in half a day soon after reservations open.
There is also intense competition for reserving campgrounds located in the city. Examples include Nanji Campground and Noeul Campground in Seoul, and Jaraseom Auto Campground in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do. Campgrounds on the beach are also popular because of their proximity to the sea during summer vacation. Recently, more and more campgrounds are operating activity zones such as water parks and water leisure parks.
Hangang Park Campground
Campgrounds, including Nanji Campground, located in Hangang Park are always popular.
Water Activities
Since a surfing boom began in Korea in 2015, more tourist attractions have been available for water activities in South Korea. In particular, the number of surfers is on the rise as surfing allows them to appreciate the beautiful sea while enjoying both a big thrill and a sense of freedom given by the sea.
The top three surfing destinations in South Korea include Yangyang in Gangwon-do, Busan, and Jeju Island. Well-equipped with surfing environments, all of them attract many surfers from beginners to masters. Jukdo Beach in Yangyang is one of the surfing meccas featuring the low depth of water and waves suitable for surfing. Others include Songjeong Beach in Busan, Jungmun Saekdal Beach on Jeju Island, and Mallipo Beach in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do.
Canoeing and kayaking are activities that allow people to savor nature at leisure. Recently, a clear kayak tour becomes more popular. It is an experience of kayaking using a kayak with a clear or transparent bottom or hull, allowing them to see underwater. Kayaking in a transparent boat is available in most parts of Jeju Island. Examples include Pyoseon Beach, Handam Beach, Woljeongri Beach, and Soesokkak Estuary where the freshwater meets the ocean.
Located in Samcheok, Gangwon-do, Janghohang Port is called the Naples of South Korea because of its magnificent scenery, including strange rocks and bizarre stones and the emerald ocean. It features the development of marine activities such as kayaking with a clear kayak and snorkeling thanks to the clean and shallow waters. Cheongpung Lake in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk, is another destination for kayaking.
Activities intended to explore the sea such as snorkeling and scuba diving are consistently popular. The representative snorkeling destinations include Panpo Port on Jeju Island, Bongpo Beach in Goseong, Gangwon-do, and Namae Beach in Yangyang, Gangwon-do.
Yangyang, Gangwon-do
Many surfers flock to Yangyang to enjoy surfing.
Soesokkak Estuary, Jeju Island
Soesokkak Estuary allows people to enjoy a clear kayak tour while appreciating the natural beauty of Jeju Island.
Luge
A luge is a fun-filled adventure activity of racing down the sloped track in an unpowered wheeled sled. It was first introduced in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnamdo, in 2017. Skyline Luge Tongyeong has become a must-visit tourist spot in the southern coast of South Korea after causing a sensation on social networking services. Ganghwado Island in Incheon is also attracting tourists with the longest luge track in the East.
Tongyeong is emerging as a new mecca for activity tourism as the luge becomes more popular.
Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley
In recent years, Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley have been in the spotlight as a popular place favored by young Koreans. Most of the alleys are so narrow that it is difficult to park or walk with more than three people side by side. This space, which was for working or living, has been reconstructed with modern accents into a space for new cultural consumption, providing unusual enjoyment.
Located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley has been designated as the oldest hanok village and last hanok district in Seoul. In recent years, old hanoks have been renovated into restaurants, cafés, and cute prop shops throughout the maze-like alleys. As this hanok village is widely publicized through social networking services, it is a must-visit attraction in Seoul.
Ikseon-dong consists of maze-like alleys lined with modernized hanoks which have been renovated into cafés and restaurants with a unique atmosphere.
Seongsu-dong, located in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, had been known as a Seongsugu Handmade Shoe Street since the 1970s. Since the 2010s, a series of unique emotional cafés and trendy fashion shops have opened in this neighborhood, with more and more digital nomads and couples visiting here for working and dating, respectively. Now it is recognized as a popular attraction.
Nowadays, as famous fashion shows and cultural exhibitions are held in Seongsu-dong, with more pop-up stores opening, the Seongsu-dong street has rapidly emerged as a mecca of fashion and culture.
Seongsu-dong, a handmade shoe factory zone in the past, has been transformed into a popular cultural space for young artists.
Euljiro Street
Euljiro Street, located in Jung-gu, Seoul, was thought of as a desolate neighborhood a few years ago. This is because it was packed with shabby shops such as print shops and hardware stores, which are symbols of the old industry. Recently, however, this street has emerged as a new cultural space. In particular, the desolateness of Euljiro where time seems to stand still has rather stimulated analogue sentiments and memories due to the recent “Newtro” craze. This serves as a driving force for the transformation of the obsolete space into a new cultural product. Cafés, pubs, and culture complexes targeting young people’s tastes are combined with the old print shops and hardware stores, thereby creating a heterogeneous but unique aura.
Euljiro and Jongno, largely composed of long-established shops and stores, attract young office workers and students, triggering their retro sensibility.
Korea Information - Tourism
Each region of South Korea has its own unique identity. This is because they have different traditions, specialties, and natural environments. To further strengthen and widely promote regional content, its local festivals are revitalized. Therefore, one of the effective ways to learn Korean culture and enjoy sightseeing at once is to participate in local festivals.
Festivals are held all year round due to the climatic characteristics for each season. The most famous spring festival is the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, which is held every April in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do when cherry blossoms are in bloom. Held in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do, the Boryeong Mud Festival is a summer festival, also recognized as the largest foreigner-participating festival. The Andong Mask Dance Festival is a famous autumn festival, which is an exciting dance festival mainly focusing on various masks from around the world. It is held every September in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. When it comes to the winter festival, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is a well-known festival, which is held every January.
To experience traditional Korean culture, it is recommended to participate in the Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival, Jeonju Bibimbap Festival, and Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival. Recently, other different festivals combined with modern culture are also gaining popularity, including Jarasum Jazz Festival, Jecheon International Music and Film Festival, Chuncheon International Mime Festival, and more.
Andong Mask Dance Festival
This festival allows people to enjoy the culture related to the mask, a universal language of cultures around the world, including hahoe byeolsingut talnori which has been established as the world-class mask dance as well as traditional Korean mask dance.
Boryeong Mud Festival
Held in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do, this festival is filled with mud-related hands-on activities.
South Korea boasts world-class medical services. Gangnam in Seoul is a mecca of medical tourism, with the number of medical tourists reaching more than 130,000 (as of 2019). Based on excellent medical technology, manpower, and high-tech facilities, Gangnam provides the best medical services, featuring the even distribution of medical institutions such as general hospitals, medical centers, clinics, and others, all of which are engaged in a wide range of disciplines such as cosmetic surgery and dermatology.
The street from Apgujeong Station to Eulji Hospital Sageori (intersection) intensively consists of a cluster of medical institutions involved in cosmetic surgery and dermatology. The growing interest in K-beauty, as well as in the Korean Wave, has contributed to the increasing number of medical tourists who visit this zone for plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures.
Gangnam Medical Tour Center provides a total medical tourism-related service for medical tourists. Specifically, it offers concierge services for medical tourism that support the entire process: entry into Korea, information on medical institutions, hotel reservations, sightseeing, and interpreting and other language services.
In particular, as therapy based on natural ingredients rather than chemicals has attracted global attention, treatments by traditional Korean herbal medicine have drawn global attention, which have in turn revitalized medical tourism related to oriental medicine. As a result, more and more medical tourists involved visit South Korea every year.
Daegu has been a hub of the distribution of medicinal herbs around the world for over 300 years. In recent years, it has been visited by more tourists from China and Southeast Asia to be treated for respiratory diseases caused by fine dust.
The Herbal Medical Experience Town operates different experience programs, through which people can experience not only oriental medicine through the acupoints acupressure thermotherapy bed and body composition analysis, but also aesthetic medicine through diagnoses of skin aging and scalp conditions and other services.
