Korean Job Discussion Forums

[420trader]

I read through the forum rules here and I don't think I'm violating them by posting this. If there's another similar thread I'm sorry, but I just wanted a personalized thread. I'm beginning to plan out a motorcycle camping tour of the peninsula and I figured I'd share it on here and get some advice, tips and criticism. I don't have experience with long-distance riding or camping, but I've been researching a lot and plan on taking a few short trips before going off.

I guess I'm going to post my check list, route, stops, sights, etc. I know several other people here have already done similar trips so maybe they can chime in. I'm starting to get some supplies and will be getting a bike soon. It will be a 125cc and some advised against it and told me to go bigger but I think it's do-able, albeit more difficult. I don't know how much the bike can hold though so I will have to really double check my supplies/weight.

I'd like to go around the entire peninsula but also swing inside to the middle. I want to do volunteer work at 3-5 stops like orphanages, homeless, elderly and building homes - whatever I can.

The planning for this trip will take me a while and I think this will be a good record for me (I don't have a blog or anything either). I've been very excited for quite some time now!

[InDaGu]

Don't bite off more than you can chew, remember it's gonna take you twice as long (or more) to get places because you can't drive on the expressways.

[420trader]

[InDaGu]

[joesp]

I'm building up to what you want to do. Actually, if you are in Seoul like myself, an hour on a motorcycle to the south/southeast will help you get in the swing of things. I'm slowly extending the radius of places I've been. I just ride the bike for an hour and go to a town and eat or find a coffee shop and see what the town's like. I've never had to overnight anywhere, I just ride back to Seoul on the same day.

I've started riding for an hour and a half, stopping somewhere, then riding another hour and a half and stopping somewhere ... it's easy to leave early in the morning when there isn't any traffic and the weather is nice and cool. So, I rode a round-trip of 250 km today, it was very very nice. I left my house at 7 AM and came back by 2 PM. Someday I will stay out all day, but it's actually harder to stay away from Seoul for that long ... a little scary, for some reason, and unnecessary when I can easiliy go home and be comfortable instead of trying to sleep somewhere or spend all day outside on the road.

I think a 125cc will be fine, especially a new one. The roads with lots of cars everybody goes slower, down to your speed. Or, if there's 2 lanes and no cars, there's plenty of passing room. Just my 2 cents. This is Korea, you know, at least you are faster than those old guys picking up cardboard ...

[alljokingaside]

Question for the Busaners - how do you leave town via moto?

[Bibbitybop]

[Bibbitybop]

OP: Buy a road atlas at a major bookstore. Camp on beaches for free and legally, just spend time searching for some that aren't packed with people, businesses, and street lights. Save money for the nights in love motels where the beaches and weather sucks.

[420trader]

Thanks for all the comments guys. Unfortunately, I will not be able to do a motorcycle trip but I'm still going to do a tour of the country - on foot, bus and train. I've been hiking up a bunch of mountains close to me with a 70l pack trying to get used to it and build up my endurance. I really wanted to do the motorcycle tour but I'll have to do that back in the states. I'm still very excited to tour Korea with my pack (kind of a BOB pack). I'll be sleeping on beaches and woods/mountains where it's legal.

In addition to the hiking up mountains, I'm going to be test-camping off beaches. I've read a bunch of posts about a few nice places. I think my first trip will be to Deokjeok Do (?) off of Incheon. I would really like to hike up a mountain, set up a camp and sleep a night out there but it's illegal and you can get fined a shitload of money.