Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SeoulSnapper]

I'm teaching English in Seoul. My folks will probably visit me next year (their first trip to Korea). I have two questions:

1) Which do you think would be the better time for them to come - April or June?

2) Where outside of Seoul (but not too far away) is worth checking out (places good for nature and cultural stuff). I've heard recommendations for Jeju Island and Gyeongju, but I'm looking for something closer to the capital.

Thanks (in advance) for your thoughts,

[Bread]

Culture stuff close to Seoul, how about the Korean Folk Village in Yongin?

[ChopChaeJoe]

A walk along the Suwon fortress wall is pleasant if the weather is good.

[victorology]

[pidgin]

I've compiled a list from a few of these threads and posters contributions for an impending visit of my own.

Here it is:

Fancy restaurant in Gangnam (or other)
Traditional restaurant at Yuldong park (Bundang)
Cheap eats (kimbab shop)
sam gyup sahl/ kalbi/ dok kalbi
raw tuna restaurant
(sam gye tang)

dvd bang
norae bang

tower rest. (seoul)
DMZ tour


City Hall and surrounding palaces (Deoksugung, Gyenogbokgung)
-Leeum Samsung Art Gallery
-Insadong and surrounding area (Jongno 3-ga)
-Dongdaemun market
-Gangnam, Coex Mall
-Hongdae
-Apkujeong for nice cafes and architecture



In Seoul, when you are working, send them on the Seoul City Bus Tour. It's cheap, easy and has different routes for different tastes.

Take a cab through the Bugaksan skyway, though don't let him go if you stop as no cabs are up there.

Take them to Samcheong-dong.

Take them on a 1 hour night cruise on the Han River. A few different ports to choose from, I always go to Yeoinaru.

Take them to odd/unique bars in Hongdae like the Ice Bar, the Gr8 hookah bar, Nabi or Tin Pan II.

If you want to get out of Seoul, get to Gyeongju, the former kingdom capital. I hit up Busan for a day and a night and Gyeongju for a day when my mom visited. She loved it.


A bus ride down to the Folk Village may be ok, though there is a smaller, closer one called Hanok Village at Chungmuro Station.

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I took my dad to the observatory over the Imjin up the Freedom Freeway, then a drive through the northern countryside beyond Munsan.
He went to the War museum also Namsan Tower.
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Korean Folk Village 9-5pm

http://www.koreanfolk.co.kr/folk/english/index.htm
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DMZ:


The US Army USO does tours. We took one last January. Sadly, I wasn't impressed with the Korean tour guides English. Luckily, they have to ditch him at a certain point, and an American soldier takes over (Koreans aren't allowed past a certain point unless they're soldiers serving in that area).

http://www.uso.org/Korea/default.cfm?contentid=347


Ji Yeon is the name of the USO girl I booked through online ([email protected]). She answers mail pretty quick, and you can pay in cash on the morning of the tour. I booked for November 12th 2 days ago so there still might be places on that tour. She sends a map/times etc, and from what I have heard, USO offers the best tour. Starts at 7am from USO office in Yongsan.


http://www.koreanfolk.co.kr/folk/english/index.htm


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Deoksugung Palace in Seoul

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Deoksugung%20palace&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

http://pictures.nicolas.delerue.org/korea/20041029_Korea_Seoul_Deoksugung_Palace/
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Gyeongbokgung palace

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/South_Korea/Soul_tukpyolsi/Seoul-1058426/Things_To_Do-Seoul-Gyeongbokgung_Palace-BR-1.html

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Gyeongbokgung%20palace&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
------------------------------------------------


Leeum Samsung Art Gallery

Leeum Samsung Museum of Modern Art
Ho-Am Art Gallery . JoongAng Ilbo Bldg
7 Sunhwa-dong, Jung-gu
100-759 Seoul
South Korea

Phone: +82-2 . 7507877

www.leeum.org/eng/main.asp
[email protected]

opening hours:
Tue-Sun 10-18

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Hanok Village was on the Jeonju River-side outside West Gate, which is near present-day Daga-dong.

http://hanok.jeonju.go.kr/FLSite/ContentView.aspx?menuID=1&subID=4
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Again, I quoted a few posters (above) sorry I didn't save your nicknames. You know who you are

[pidgin]

After cherry picking the above (I plan to have pics for them to choose from after they arrive), we're heading to Seok Cho and staying here:

http://www.sorakpension.com/

[justaguy]

I would suggest taking them to a nice spa outside of Seoul. There are some new ones that have recently opened. Some of them are very big and they are virtually empty on the week days. Many of them have shuttle bus service to and from Seoul.

Have your Korean friend check the internet for you. There are lots of discounts available especially during the off season which is when your folks are planning to be here.

[rumdiary]

If you don't want to go to far I would go to Chuncheon. You can spend a day taking a ferry over the lake and hiking to the temple (easy hike) and then be back in town to hit up dukbulki street for dinner and then head home the next day.

[komtengi]

namhee island not far from Seoul,
or kangpyung