Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Paji eh Wong]

I think more Korean's need to travel. I was in SE Asia for 3 months and I met 1 single solitary Korean. She came across as a little lost and confused. It was sweet.

Apparently, Koreans couldn't even get a passport until the late 80's. I guess things will change, given time.

Everything being equal, though, Korea isn't going to rival China or Japan as a destination. It's just too small and has suffered too many invasions.

[Thomas]

[Joe Thanks]

[dogbert]

For all of you with thoughts on Korean tourism, here is an opportunity to take part in a Korean tourism study being undertaken at Purdue University.

Travel Destionation Survey -- South Korea and North Korea

[Homer]

I think many areas in Korea are quite nice to visit and to go hiking in.
Backpackers coming here can have a good trip. They can get very affordable accomodations (yogmans, mimbaks), travel to places that are NOT yet swamped by tourists.
Korea is not the most vast country in the world but where does it say that space = good for everything?

Korea does have a few cool things: National Parks (Jiri-San, Sorak-San), some nice islands to visit (Cheju).
Also, for a backpacker, travel inside Korea is very affordable (compared to say Japan).
Seoul is worth a visit and it has all sort of hidden jewels and the Royal Palace which is worth a visit (In that respect, its got its own style, different from the imperial palace at Kyotobut good nevertheless).

Kyungju is also a nice visit and the hiking around the city is nice as are the temples and that Budha carved from the mountain side.

So, in my opinion Korea has some toursit attractions but is still a bit off the beaten track as far as travelers are concerned. Perhaps better tourism promition campaigns by the KR gov might help here.

[Thomas]

Joe Thanks:

I have a good drinking buddy here in New York at the American Legion who is a Korean War vet... he had a lot of problems dealing with the carnage and death he saw there. One night we got talking about Korea and it opened up a lot of bad memories for him. He asked so much about how Koreans are doing today and wept with happiness when he heard (and saw pictures) of how Korea has rebuilt and prospered. When he met my wife, they talked for a long time about Korea (He saw heavy action near her hometown) and it was a very intense thing for both of them: for him, he could open up about things he saw and did and then feel relieved for the accomplishment of Korea. For her, she finally heard first hand of the sacrifices American soldiers made for her country. She has since become quite a staunch US-supporter among her Korean colleagues. The most touching part was she hugged him and thanked him for his service to her country (I didn't hear the exact words but got the summary later... and saw the tears on both parts...)

[intergalactic]

In sophomore class today "Looking Back" chapter 8, the past tense.
"Where did you go on vacation?"
answers: Everland, Lotte World, some crappy local beach, KangWonDo (no disrespect to KWdo, I like it)
"What did you do there?"
Even though they had a long list of activities that 'Kerry' did on her vacation in the textbook in front of them, the only things they could come up with were "went shopping" "played go-stop" "take a picture".
How can Korea expect to market itself to foreign tourists when the locals don't know anything about what's really fun to do themselves?? What about rafting, camping, riding bikes, hiking, seeing temples...I know some of these things are beyond their English ability, but play go-stop?
I ASK YOU!!!

sorry, maybe that was a rant, maybe I was in bad-teacher mode today.