South Korea Airfares

South Korea Overview

There are two sides to the coin when visiting South Korea. On one hand, it can be one of the most fascinating and educational trips ever, on the other, it can be one huge headache if you are not aware of how the country and culture works.

Mountain and scenic lovers be prepared! Backpackers and hikers love heading to Soraksan National Park where they can hike and take panoramic photos from the top of the mountain.

Downtown Seoul has a lot to offer visitors and locals, such as the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art and other art exhibitions.

My advice: If you are a traveling newbie, stick to downtown Seoul where most Koreans speak English there.

Traditional values still exist in Korea even though westernization has tried to take its hold. You might remember Korea through a great grandparent that was stationed there in the 80’s, or through the hit army comedy MASH, but it is completely different from what our imagination conjures. One thing a visitor should be aware of is that in Korea, there is no respect for personal space. People move through the subways and buses, pushing and shoving. This is probably one of the only places you will see a little old lady tackle people to get through a crowd.

My advice: Wear protective padding!

Some visitors might leave Korea with the wrong impression if they do not get to know the people. Koreans are known to be very generous and sometimes will race you to pay the bill at a restaurant. Don’t let the hustle and bustle fool you into thinking Koreans do not like foreigners or are rude. Visitors should also be aware that all Koreans don’t necessarily speak the English language.

My advice: Get a Korean phrase book and make a little effort to meet and greet with South Koreans. When speaking with a South Korean person in English, speak slower than the native pace. Go!

Geopolitical experiment gone wild
South Korea is so small, you can drive from one end to the other in a few hours, so taking a day trip down to Pusan on the southern tip is very easy to do.

Seoul is the epicenter of Asian hyper-capitalism and culture. One should check out the Apkujong shopping district to get hit over head with blown-out commercialism and beautiful girls. The bars and clubs are strangely psychedelic and post modern (I don't know how else to describe it, its weird and cool). The city life is incredibly vibrant and its easy to navigate as all the signs are doubled in Korean and English.

Just north of Seoul is the DMZ, the no man's land between the North and South. There are coin-operated telescopes on the mountain road along the DMZ, so you can pull over an view the empty condos on the other side.
By Asianman