Seoul is a bustling city that has been at the heart of Korean politics and commerce for almost1000 years. The DMZ is bordered by two of the most heavily militarized areas in the world.

South Korea, following the ravages of the Korean War, was underdeveloped and debt-ridden and today is a first world nation on an upward trajectory. South Korea is a major player economically, politically and militarily in East Asia and has recently become known to more and more tourists as a potential holiday destination with more to offer than the generic stories of political tension between North and South that dominate the western news cycle on South Korea.

South Korea is appealing because it is a highly developed country that has thoroughly embraced the western world, yet at the same time is has stayed true to its own unique culture and has many historical tourist sights, making it a fascinating destination with a difference.

There is the bustling, rapidly expanding and super-paced capital, Seoul. This city was the ancient capital of South Korea as far back as the 14th century and has been the capital of South Korea since the 1950’s (though the South Korea government would doubtless see no difference). It is a modern city with interesting reminders of its heritage such as the 4 ancient palaces that are located here due to the city’s origins as the heart of a kingdom.

       Gyeongbok-gung – the grandest of Joseon-era palaces and the seat of imperial power until the 16th century.

     Changdeok-gung – used throughout the 16th to 18th centuries, recent restoration and remodeling have had the building listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

       Deoksu-gung – an interesting fusion of western and Korean architecture.

       Changgyeong-gung – built in 1104 as a summer palace it became a centre of power during the Joseon Dynasty and is unique in that it directly connects to a shrine that was a holy place for kings and queens.

Then there is also the more modern tourist attraction of the DMZ (De-militarized zone), a no man’s land between the two Koreas, and the piece of land that these two immense countries are best known for.

Panmunjeom – this is a small village that lies on the border between the two Koreas, and it was the place at which hostilities between the two countries ceased. The war was never declared over though, and officially speaking North and South Korea remain at war. The areas on either side of this village are therefore the most heavily militarized in the world with well over a million soldiers on standby to attack each other at any moment. It’s a fascinating place to visit and see the physical manifestation of the last place on earth where the Cold War refuses to die. Tourists can only come here as part of an organized tour.

Seoraksan National Park – this the South Korea equivalent to Britain’s Lake District or America’s Yellowstone. It is a national park adored by most South Koreas for its value to wildlife, its scenery and its intense range of species. It is located in the Seoraksan Mountains and has an outer side with rivers and mild hiking trails, and an inner part which is by far the most beautiful, an amazing, vivid display of flora and fauna. In addition there are different walking and climbing trails and cultural artifacts in each valley making it a gem to explore.

Andong – this is the spiritual capital of the country, a city charged with keeping the ancient traditions and culture of Korea alive in times of encroaching modernity and western dominance. It has been doing this for the past 2000 years and there are over 280 cultural assets, museums, historical buildings, landmarks etc located around the city.

Guinsa or kuinsa – a huge temple complex in the remote North Chungcheong region of South Korea. This is the headquarters of the Cheontae, a school of Buddism that was once the most powerful of the 18 in Korea. The temple is a striking location, surrounded as it is by mountains on every side, as it is squezzed into the bottom of a valley. But, it is also a remarkable place to visit to see and feel the continuation of thousands of years of tradition. There are rail links to the nearby town of Danyang, which is a 30 minute bus ride from Guinsa. Arrive as early as possible as tourists will need several hours to explore the complex spread throughout the valley.

Getting to Korea

Incheon International Airport is the main international airport of the seven in South Korea, it is also the largest and has been considered by many experts to be one of the best run airports in the world. It is extremely well connected to the rest of the world with Korean Air and Asiana providing links from most major cities across the world.

Other airlines providing flights to Incheon are:

Air France

KLM

Lufthansa

Finnair

Aeroflot

Turkish Airlines

From the United States tourists to South Korea can travel with United-Continental, Delta or Northwest Airlines.

Once in Korea, there are a number of travel options for getting into the city by taxi, bus, or public transport as the airport has a rail link to nearby Gimbo airport, from which tourists can then get the subway into the city.

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