The subway and bus systems are integrated, making transfers between transit lines simple. While the level of tension on the peninsula remains high, and the Foreign Office advises against trip to its northern neighbour, it maintains that South Korea is perfectly safe: “Around 140,000 British nationals visit South Korea every year. Visitor's Guide to Busan, South Korea Top Things to Do in Busan. 101 Best Things to Do in South Korea an interesting read for tour & travel, activities, experience and stay. The country also has 2,413 kilometres of seaside, with wide coastal plains to the west and south, and nearly 3,000 small uninhabited islands just offshore. In 2018, the government did take steps to shorten the average workweek, now allowing a maximum work week of 52 hours instead of the previous 68. I cannot figure out what side of the sidewalk to walk on, or how to turn aside appropriately when a Korean person is coming straight towards me. Love Land is said to owe its existence to Jejudo’s popularity as a honeymoon destination. This mystery is equally perplexing when someone on a bicycle, scooter, or motorbike is headed towards me, and they are as likely to be on the sidewalk as on the street. Some things would probably be cheaper if we bought them at a traditional market. There has been a big push from the Korean government to teach the Korean language (Hanguk-eo) around the world. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. This could place U.S. policy at odds with Seoul, however, as the national government currently favors deeper engagement with Kim Jong-un. We don’t think we are imagining that we get some stares, especially in crowded places like the subway. Last year, however, Seoul's metro network announced it would be banning plastic surgery adverts across its stations. (Expounding on my feelings about the motorbikes driving on crowded sidewalks would take more space than this post will allow!) I’ve written about some of this before, but I think it bears repeating. This definitely seems to be a more night-centric culture, as we have found anytime we go somewhere before 10am we are liable to have the place to ourselves. There are arrows at many crosswalks specifying which side goes left and which right, but almost no one observes them. Since the game launched in 1988, nearly half of all the games have been sold in South Korea. It’s not using magic. It’s not often that we can witness the marriage of state-of-the-art technology and reserved Confucius values, which makes the best things to do in South Korea very unique. Prices at the grocery store, however, are not so cheap. However, the majority of U.S. news in Korean media seems to focus on the impact of U.S. policies on North Korean/South Korean relations and Chinese trade agreements. It’s following science and common sense. 5. Dear People of Korea, you earned my deepest respect. Here are some of the things – both pleasant and unpleasant – that have surprised us during our first three months in South Korea (August-October 2020). A lot of it is improving my ear training as the Korean language is spoken really quickly, and many basic words sound similar to each other. We have reviews of the best places to see in South Korea. This is seen as a strategy to increase Korea’s cultural and economic influence in the world. 1. The country was judged to have the world’s fastest internet connection speed for the 12th consecutive quarter last year, according to Akamai - the content delivery network (CDN) responsible for serving between 15 and 30 per cent of all web traffic. These national treasures include royal palaces, tombs, shrines and well preserved hanok villages (hilly settlements packed with traditional Korean houses). I wondered if South Korea somehow had been able to “move on” from focusing so deeply COVID? This makes it extremely easy to travel around the city. The report showed South Korea’s average broadband adoption rate to be 26.1 megabits per second, putting it ahead of Norway, Sweden, Hong Kong and Switzerland. There are plenty of mountains, including eight that surround the capital. Such is the ongoing obsession that Incheon Airport was once reportedly considered installing a plastic surgery clinic in one of it terminals. For example, I am not a big lover of chips, but Peter is a chip connoisseur. Some of South Korea's largest companies include Hyundai, LG, and Samsung. The island soon became an unofficial centre for sex education, making the theme park entirely logical. Artful Seoul: Sites in the City and Around. The subway and bus systems are integrated, making transfers between transit lines simple. Things to Do in South Korea, Asia: See Tripadvisor's 843,680 traveller reviews and photos of South Korea tourist attractions. South Korea danced its way onto the world map with ‘Gangnam Style’ back in 2012. Everything else is allowed to stay open unless found to be unsafe. With few tourists to swell the existing numbers of foreign residents in South Korea, the number of non-Koreans we see is negligible. However, we have yet to encounter a food here we can’t eat due to spiciness, though some have tested us a bit. Things to Do in South Korea, Asia: See Tripadvisor's 843,722 traveller reviews and photos of South Korea tourist attractions. A land of beauty, largely untouched, South Korea is a true treasure to visit. Get a group of friends together, rent a karaoke room, order food, order drinks, and grab the mic! Young newlyweds would arrive knowing next to nothing about the birds and the bees so some hotel employees offered to share their expertise. The photos below were all taken in our neighborhood, typically after the vehicle pictured had just hurtled past me on the sidewalk. The National Museum of Korea is the largest museum in the country as well as being one of the largest museums in all of Asia. We spotted these signs near a military zone in Anmyeondo. South Korea gets stuck between the U.S., an important military ally, and China, an important trade partner. The December Edition. South Korea will not be unscathed by this pandemic, but it is weathering it far better than most. Although statistics vary, it seems that most Koreans report sleeping fewer than 6 hours/night, and Korean students have reported getting even less sleep. Busan (부산) is a ‘must-visit’ for all travelers to South Korea! I have it on his good authority that Doritos in Korea are not the same as the U.S. version. Seeing sunset on Busan’s beaches is one of the most romantic things to do in South Korea. There are lots of American flags displayed at these protests. The streets of Gangnam, the capital’s upmarket financial district located south of the Han River which bisects the city, house several cosmetic clinics while the city’s metro stations are filled with giant advertisements for cosmetic surgery showing women with the ‘perfect’ face. Most visits are trouble-free.”. Digital addicts will be relieved to know they’ll never have to wait too long for their internet fix in South Korea. South Korea is an East Asian country that is known for having a combination of highly populated, modern cities like Seoul as well as ancient temples and rural fishing villages. Mostly, I try to find someone walking ahead of me and follow them as closely as I can without being weird! Maybe because we live in Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, we regularly see political action in the form of public protests. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. Haeundae Beach is one of South Korea's most famous stretches of sand. We’d heard that in Seoul especially, we’d likely encounter lots of Koreans who spoke good English and would want to practice their English rather than expecting us to speak Korean. However, by 2040 it is anticipated that nearly 7% of South Korea’s population may be non-Korean. One Of The Best Of South Korea. In 2011 Jejudo was named among the “New7Wonders of Nature”, though there were accusations that its selection was down not just to its beauty, but also the readiness of tourism and marketing organisations to stump up cash – including taxpayers’ money – to support its campaign. The transit signs are mostly in both Korean and English, although on some lines we have sometimes found that signs and announcements for stops are in Korean only. Visit ancient temples, explore beautiful beaches, and sample delicious local cuisine...it's all available in South Korea! Here is a cultural norm I cannot figure out, so if you’re a person who can shed light please leave a comment! One of the best things about our little apartment is that there are stations for two different subway lines within a five-minute walk. Actually, we’ve been more surprised that the level of sweetness in many foods is greater than expected. Check out top ten weirdest facts about South Korea! The pond itself is an artificial pond that is surrounded by landscaped gardens and reconstructed pavilions. It is less rich, more sweet, and more waxy than the European version. South Korea boasts an impressive transportation network making every area available for exploring and you can access all corners of the country on a day trip from Seoul. There are so many exciting things to see and do here, but here are our top itinerary recommendations for your trip. We’ve been pleasantly surprised about the food prices here when eating out. Korean karaoke is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. What’s happening with COVID-19 in South Korea? There were a staggering 64,991 departures between these two airports in 2017 – that works out at around 178 a day. To fit in with the culture you need to show interest in the language. I started learning to read Hangeul and to memorize some basic vocabulary long before we knew for certain we would be able to come to Seoul for the year. Similarly, we have had a hard time finding really good chocolate here. But Jejudo also has a dark side. About 6% of the 2.5 million were classified as Americans. Beyond the skyscrapers, South Korea boasts a spectacular natural landscape, 64 per cent of which is covered in forest. More than you’d pay for a fast food meal out, but great value for the quality and quantity of food. 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