planning a trip to
South Korea
Here is what you need to know: South Korea Travel Guide
Our time in South Korea was brief but we had a really great time. We were living in China and had visited Japan and found that even if different, South Korea was closer to China then Japan.
Seoul is an incredible city to visit, it has both modern building and skyscraper but old and historical monument as well. The royal palace is super cool and the guard wearing the traditional clothes are amazing.
We believe that south Korea has much more to offers and we keep it on our bucket list!
About
South Korea land is 100 363 km² making it the 107th biggest country in the world. Its population raises to 52 million people, making it the 27th most populous country in the world.
Its capital, Seoul is home to half of the population. Seoul is also the 4th largest metropolitan economy in the world.
South Korea is a highly developed country. It has the fastest internet connection speeds and the densest high-speed railway network in the world.
In 2020 the UN (United Nation) declared it the 2nd best country to raise a child.
White represents lightness and purity.
The “taegeuk” (circle) represents the yin and yang, symbol of the balance in the universe. The red portion of the circle symbolizes the positive cosmic forces, while the blue denotes the negative cosmic forces.
The four trigrams that encompass the circle stand for the process of yin and yang undergoing a continuous cycle of change and growth. The upper left line represents sky (Geon), the upper right one represents water (Gam), the lower right one represents earth (Gon) and the one on the lower left represent fire (Ri).
Hanbok is traditional Korean clothe. It was commonly wore until a hundred years ago. Nowadays it is only wear by the palace guards and one some special occasions and holidays.
The Hanbok cannot be found another else in the world.
South Korea was a dynasty until 1910 when Japan formally annexed the Korean land.
Gyeongbokgung was the main royal palace from its construction in 1395. It was later abandoned for over two centuries before being restored in the 19th century.
Located in Seoul, it’s one of the top attractions. It has over 7 700 rooms, 500 rooms and 40 hectares of land.
The Korean conflict is an ongoing conflict between the north and the south. Both claiming to be the legitimate government and state of all Korea.
It all started at the end of WWII when Korea was shared between USA and Russia. Then later the cold war separated the Allied forces and Russia and the US became enemy. The same happened for Korea.
What to expect?
Language: The official language is Korean. It’s the same for North and South Korea.
Food: Korean cuisine is unique and must be tried. But be aware that some traditional dishes are spicy and hot!
Transportation: In Seoul, the Metro is a great way to get around. But the high-speed train stand the best mean of transportation within the city.
Money: The currency in South Korea is the Won. Rates changes, but at the time we were there 1€ was worth 1365 won. Finding an ATM is easy and credit card are accepted.
Plugs: The plugs in South Korea are type C (Euro). The standard voltage is 220V with a frequency of 50hz.
Safety: The crime rate is really low, you will be safe as a solo traveller, couple, families, friends…. Petty crime can happen from time to time. But generally the country is safe.
