Overview

South Korea, officially known as The Republic of Korea, is located at the south of the Korean peninsula in East Asia. Also known asthe Land of the Morning Calm, its neighbors are China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. The capital city of South Korea is Seoul, which is one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world. South Korea has a temperate climate, with the best often thought to be in spring. The spring season is also festival time - Buddha's birthday celebrations and picnics under the cherry blossom make this a popular season to visit, but autumn with its tree tints, blue skies and music concerts is also highly recommend.

Activities & Attractions

One of the most popular places to visit is the area on the border of North Korea; the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). You can get up close and actually see the North Korean border guards across the fence. The large city of Itaewon, near the Seoul Military Base, is another popular tourist attraction. There are many different shopping malls in Itaewon and it is a good place to pick up custom handmade clothing, especially for men.

Mt. Seoraksan and Odaesan National Park offer great hiking possibilities. For a more spiritual experience there are two prominent Buddhist temples, Woljeongsa and Sangwonsa, you can visit. The Korean Botanical Garden houses many native plants and orchids and is perfect for nature lovers. Another popular tourist attraction is the Naejangsan National Park. This mountainous ridge is shaped like an amphitheater and you can hike up the hill on the numerous trails or use a cable car. Naksan Provincial Park is a small coastal park famous for the Temple Naksan, which has a 15-meter white statue of Gwaneum, the Goddess of Mercy. Below the temple is the popular Naksan Beach, where you can go beach camping in July and August.

For a glimpse into early Korean art and culture you can visit the Korean Folk Village. It houses a large collection of thatched and traditional houses, a Confucian school, shrine, market store houses, and various household furnishings and tools.

Lodging

There are many different types of lodging available and the prices range from typical budget accommodations to expensive hotels. Some of the more popular hotels include Hotel Ibis Myeong-Dong, The Shilla, The JW Marriot, Hotel Sunbee, The Best Western, and the Grand Inter Continental Seoul Hotel. For more information on hotels in South Korea, use the links found in the resource section below.

Transportation

Local transportation can be found in the form of buses, trams, taxis, trains and subways. For long distance travel, you can go to the Seoul Express Bus Terminal. South Korea also has two domestic air carriers and an international airport to let you travel by air. You can also hire cars and motorcycles to drive around the city as you see fit. Regular ferries connect Incheon City with a dozen ports in China.