Discovering Hidden Gems: A Guide to Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel in South Korea
The fact that South Korea hasn't seen a lot of tourists is one of the best reasons to visit there and nearby. Many tourists seem to be intimidated by traveling to countries where they don’t know the language, and Korea is one of them. It’s new to the map, and there is so much more to see and explore outside of just Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.Click here to connect with other solo travelers who want to share costs and experiences while traveling to South Korea
South Korea in 2 Weeks: A Comprehensive Itinerary for the Perfect Trip
I would definitely say two weeks; however, I always say do what you can manage. Not everyone is lucky enough to take two weeks off, and others have the opportunity to travel for months. The ideal 2-week itinerary for traveling to South Korea for me would be:
Incheon - 1-2 Days
Seoul - 3 Days
Gangneung - 2 Days
Gyeongju - 3 Days
Busan - 3 Days
Jeonju - 1 Day
Jeju - 3 Days
Discovering the Charm of Geoje: A Guide to the Best Beach Town in South Korea
Some of my favorite places to travel in South Korea are off the beaten path. I absolutely love traveling to Geoje during the summer months. It’s a small little beach town fairly close to Busan, where we drive. We love coming here to swim, eat local seafood, and get away from the bigger cities and tourist crowds.
Other places I would recommend would be Jeju, Danyang, Paju, Gyeongju, and Gangneung. If you have time, I would also suggest taking a trip down to Jeonju. They have a beautiful old hanok village there where you can rent hanboks and take photos. It’s a popular destination to visit and be immersed in the culture.
Seeing South Korea's Cultural Sites Without Breaking the Bank
A lot of the palaces and temples are affordable. The temples are free to see and the palaces are around $3 entrance fees. They are very affordable and you can find a temple in almost every area in South Korea.
I suggest taking public transportation. It's quite cheap and taking the long-distance buses will take longer but save you a lot more money than taking the train to each destination.
Top Neighborhoods for Budget-Friendly Backpackers
The best areas to stay for backpackers planning a long-term trip honestly depend. I would start off in Myeongdong or Hongdae.
If you like to party, Hongdae and Itaewon are great locations to grab drinks and food.
Itaewon is a foreigner-friendly location to drink.
Myeongdong is centrally located and perfect for shopping.
South Korea's Shoulder Seasons: Why Spring and Fall Offer the Best of Both Worlds
The best time to travel to South Korea would be during the Spring or fall. In the springtime, you can see some amazing and beautiful cherry blossoms.
During the fall you can see the colors of the leaves turn and the pretty pink muhly. The weather is usually best during these times of the year.
The summer is way too hot, humid, and rainy to visit and the winter can be too cold for some people, but still doable.
Safety Tips for Travelers to South Korea: Staying Safe and Aware
Overall, South Korea is quite a safe country, however, in any country, you may face difficulties with the locals. There will always be good and bad people.
For people of color, especially black people, you may encounter people who will want to touch your hair. This is mainly because South Korea is a homogenous country. They don’t have much experience with black people other than tourists and the occasional English teacher in South Korea.
Be careful not to start any fights, use profanity, or talk badly about anyone. These are all considered illegal in South Korea. When it comes to fighting, even if you fight to protect yourself, you can still be arrested and get into trouble. There are no laws on self-defense.
Meet locals in South Korea and go on trips with them
Visa-Free Entry to South Korea: Countries and Requirements
It depends on which country you are traveling from.
Many people from the United States and Europe will have an easy time traveling to South Korea.
It is unfortunately difficult for those from Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Unfortunately, South Korea has a problem with many citizens from these countries overstaying their permitted visa time, which makes it more difficult for them. However, it is possible if you take the time to look into what your country’s visa requirements are.
Transportation Options To Get Around In South Korea
Public transportation hands down. South Korea has some of the best public transportation in the world, including buses, trains, planes, and subways.
However, you can easily rent a car there if you have an international license. Having a car in Korea would be good to see some of the things that are in the countryside and difficult to get to or may take more time than some of the public transportation.
From Street Food to Fine Dining: Exploring the Diverse Flavors of South Korea
This one is a tough one. There are so many delicious food options in South Korea, and it really depends on your palate.
Traditional Korean Food
● Korean BBQ - Galbi, Pork Belly (samgyupsal), Bulgogi
● Korean Fried Chicken
● Kimchi Jjigae
● Soon DuBu Jjigae
● Tteokguk
● Buddae Jjigae
● Manduguk
● Bibimbap
Traditional Korean Street Food
● Kimbap 김밥 – Dried Seaweed Rice Roll
● Eomuk (Korean Word) or Odeng (Japanese Borrowed Word) – Fish Cake
● Tteokbokki – Spicy Rice Cake
● Mandu 만두
● Dried Squid 오징어
● Pajeon – Scallion Pancakes
● Kimchi Pancake 김치전
● Roasted Chestnuts
● Sweet Potatoes
● Japchae – Glass noodles with veggies and meat
● Sundae – Korean Blood Sausage
● Bindaetteok – Mungbean Pancakes
Korean Street Food Desserts
● Hotteok
● Bungeoppang 붕어빵
● Waffles 생크림 와플
● Strawberries on a stick 딸기
● Dalgona (Modern Name) or Ppopgi (Korean Traditional Name)
● Tteok – Korean Rice Cake sometimes filled with red beans
● Bingsu
● Sikhye Sweet Rice Drink
● Kkwabaegi 꽈배기
● Manju 만주
Unique and Fun Things to Do in South Korea
There honestly are so many. You can find something to do in every city that you visit.
There are tons of cafes, tons of places to take photos, and tons of beaches.
You can go parasailing in Danyang, visit temples, drive a motorbike along the island of Udo near Jeju, and so much more. Honestly, I cannot even decide on one of my favorite experiences in South Korea. There are so many.
Requirements for Teaching English in South Korea
I taught English in South Korea for over 3 years.
When it comes to teaching English in South Korea, you do have to have a few things in mind, especially for a visa.
You have to be from one of seven English-speaking countries in order to get a visa to teach English in South Korea.
Those countries are the USA, Canada, the UK, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Second, you have to have at least a bachelor’s degree. It doesn’t have to be in English, but you have to have a college degree.
Finally, you have to have a TESOL or TEFL certification. This is necessary to teach English in South Korea.
Other helpful travel tips from the pros!
