planning a trip to
South Korea
Here is what you need to know:
Our time in South Korea was brief, but we had an amazing experience. While living in China, we had already visited Japan, and we found that even though they are different, South Korea felt closer to China than Japan in many ways.
Seoul is an incredible city to visit, offering a perfect blend of modern skyscrapers and historical monuments. The royal palace is a must-see, with its stunning architecture, and the traditional attire worn by the guards is an absolute highlight, adding a vibrant touch to the experience.
We truly believe South Korea has much more to offer, and we’ve kept it on our bucket list to return and explore even further!
About
South Korea, located in Asia, spans a land area of 100,363 km², making it the 107th largest country in the world. With a population of 52 million people, it ranks as the 27th most populous country globally.
The capital, Seoul, is home to nearly half of the country’s population. It is also the 4th largest metropolitan economy in the world, showcasing the country’s remarkable economic development.
South Korea is a highly advanced nation, known for having the fastest internet speeds and the densest high-speed railway networkworldwide.
In 2020, the UN (United Nations) declared South Korea as the 2nd best country to raise a child, a testament to its excellent living standards and quality of life.
White represents lightness and purity.
The “taegeuk” (circle) symbolizes yin and yang, representing the balance of forces in the universe. The red portion of the circle signifies the positive cosmic forces, while the blue portion represents the negative cosmic forces.
The four trigrams surrounding the circle symbolize the continuous cycle of change and growth within yin and yang. The upper left linerepresents sky (Geon), the upper right line represents water (Gam), the lower right line represents earth (Gon), and the lower left linerepresents fire (Ri).
Hanbok is traditional Korean clothing that was commonly worn until about a hundred years ago. Today, it is mainly worn by palace guards and during special occasions and holidays.
The Hanbok is unique to Korea and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
South Korea was a dynasty until 1910 when Japan formally annexed the Korean Peninsula.
Gyeongbokgung was the main royal palace from its construction in 1395. It was abandoned for over two centuries before being restored in the 19th century.
Located in Seoul, it’s one of the top attractions, featuring over 7,700 rooms, 500 buildings, and covering 40 hectares of land.
The Korean conflict is an ongoing struggle between North Korea and South Korea, with both claiming to be the legitimate government and state of all of Korea.
It all began at the end of World War II, when Korea was divided between the USA and Russia. As the Cold War intensified, the rivalry between the Allied forces and Russia also deepened, leading to the division of Korea into two separate states.
What to expect?
Language: The official language in South Korea is Korean, which is the same for both North and South Korea.
Food: Korean cuisine is unique and absolutely worth trying. Be aware, however, that some traditional dishes can be quite spicy and hot!
Transportation: In Seoul, the Metro is a convenient and efficient way to get around. However, for traveling between cities, the high-speed train (KTX) is the best mode of transportation.
Money: The currency used in South Korea is the Won (KRW). Rates can fluctuate, but at the time of our visit, 1€ was worth about 1365 KRW. Finding an ATM is easy, and credit cards are widely accepted.
Plugs: The plugs in South Korea are Type C (Euro standard). The standard voltage is 220V with a frequency of 50Hz.
Safety: South Korea is a very safe country with a low crime rate. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, with friends, or with family, you’ll feel secure. While petty crime can occasionally happen, the overall safety is high.
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