Korean Job Discussion Forums

[plato's republic]

I've got 10 days vacation coming up in early August and I'm planning to spend a few days on the south coast. So far I'm looking at Geoje-do and Oedo, but beyond that I'm not too sure where to visit. I've already been to Busan so I don't have any desire to return there. I want to visit some places I've never been to before.

Ideally, I would like to come up with a list of *must see* places in Gyeongsangnam-do. This is where your advice would come in handy. What are the must see places in this region? Furthermore, are there any yeogwans/minbaks that you would recommend?

Thanks in advance.

[Louis VI]

The stunning beauty of rural Gyeongsangnamdo:

* go to Oedo by ferry from Jangseungpo or Hakdong (get the Haegeumgang islet tour route)
* rent a car and drive the eastern coastal road of Geoje (from Okpo, down and around the south). You will NOT forget it! Stop to take pictures, to eat lunch, to walk on beaches.
* eat traditional style gimbap along the bay of Tongyeong's downtown harbour, walking the turtle ship then hiking up the surrounding hills to walk down the artist-painted walkways of the old alleyways; then drive around Tongyeong, crossing the bridge to the science centre road to the south of the city
* visit the hilltop castle fortress (no castle, just wall and park and museum and killer views) in Jinju
* drive around Namhae Island, stopping at Sangju beach for at least an hour or two or more, hiking the nearby peak (just ask locals, can't recall the name, really worth it)
* go to Hadong and stand on the hilltop park overseeing the old downtown for killer views (utterly amazing) then local bus it to Hwaegae, basically ask for the Sang-gye-sa temple, visit it (only Gyeongju has a more impressive temple site imo) and better: there's Bul-po, a wonderful trek to a waterful behind the temple that takes half an hour to an hour. You will NOT regret it if you're in shape for the hike.

If these sites don't convince you that Gyeongsangnamdo is God's country then nothing will! (Just stay out of Masan whatever you do!)

[bossface]

Jinju and Samseong-gung. went there last summer:

http://sportsthatareright.blogspot.com/2010/08/korea-vacation-photoblog.html

[Enigma]

I second Namhae Island mentioned by Louis VI above. I spent a weekend there last year in March and really enjoyed it. It's a really laidback island with some nice scenery. The peak he mentioned is called Geumsan and it's popular for the temple, Boriam, at the top and if the weather's clear there are great views out over the ocean and Sangju Beach. The town area has several restaurants and there seemed to be several cheap hotels.

[plato's republic]

Thanks for the replies. Lots of good suggestions there. I'll have to rely on public transport/taxis but hopefully it shouldn't be too much of a problem. If I hit Geoje first, then Namhae, and then up to Jinju, would that be the best plan?

[Louis VI]

Renting a car is highly recommended. But I bused it around Gyeongsangnamdo for seven years before buying a car so I guess your own wheels isn't indispensible, it just doubles one's opportunities.

[plato's republic]

I'll try and follow your recommendations. I'm looking forward to heading down there.

[bossface]

don't sleep on Samseong-gung. it was probably the most unique place i've ever seen in Korea, unlike every other temple and palace here. if you go to Hadong, it's an hour by bus to get there, via Samcheok-dong. Hadong itself sucks, so Jinju is the best jumping-off point so far as hotels go. check the pics at my previous link.

[plato's republic]

So if I base myself in Jinju, would I be able to visit Namhae/Sanggyesa/Samseong-gung as day trips? Or would I need to spend a night somewhere much closer, such as Hadong?

[bossface]

i did Samseong-gung as a a day trip from Jinju. it's an hour from Jinju to Hadong, then another hour to Cheonghak dong, which is the jump off point for Samseung-gung. it's kind of a haul, but Hadong didn't seem like it had a lot going on. Jinju has far more dining and lodging options, plus it's a cute town in its own right. i dug Jinju fortress, and I thought Jinju Bibimbap was tastier than its more famous Jeonju cousin.

i didn't commute from Jinju to Namhae, but it probably would be doable. i stayed at Sangju Beach in southern Namhae.

[Louis VI]

[D.D.]

I had to live in jinju for two years and the thought of people wasting time there for travel make me laugh like a crazy man. for f..sakes that place sucks.

[plato's republic]

Thanks again for the informative replies.

I forgot to ask about the boat tours of the islands. I plan to take a tour from Jangseungpo port on Geoje-do. I think a previous poster (Louis VI) mentioned the Heagumgang tour.

Do I need to book a ticket in advance, and if so, how far in advance? I plan to head down there this coming Sunday or Monday.

Do they only accept cash, or can I pay by debit card as well?

How long do these tours last, and are you actually given some time to get off the boat and roam some of these islands, at least for a short while?

I'm just going to wing it for the most part with my apallingly bad Korean language ability, and hope for the best. I expect there to be a hiccup or two along the way, but that's the beauty of travel.

[plato's republic]

Just got back from my trip. Thanks for all the useful tips. I visited Geoje-do, Tongyeong, Jinju and Cheonghakdong Samseonggung. No time for Namhae, but I might pay it a visit another time.

For future reference, there is a direct bus from Jinju Intercity bus terminal to Cheonghakdong at 7.10am. So there's no need to go to Hadong first and then change to another bus. Buses back to Jinju leave from the spot where it drops you off, at 4.40pm and 6.00pm. I was lucky in that a Korean couple offered me a ride to Hadong bus terminal, thus saving me a two hour wait at Cheonghakdong. All things considered, it was a pleasant trip apart from the rain.

Cheers.