Korean Job Discussion Forums

[koreaking]

I have travelled throughout Asia a bit and just curious as to what you guys think about this. I mean, there are tons of packpackers and tourists that go to Japan then China and totally overlook Korea. Is it the history or lack of culture that people dont find interesting and therefore dont come here? Of course comparing Korea to say Thailand is unfair since Thailand is a tourist based country basically. But lets compare just China, Japan and Korea. Of many of the people I have met on my journies, it seems many could care less about coming here for a short visit and the country sometimes doesnt even cross their minds. Most of the foreigners in this country are mostly English teachers working here. I hardly ever see backpackers on the streets like in other Asian countries. Many travellers seem to hit Japan then China while passing Korea by.

Is it the lack of appeal towards Korea? Its strange in a way. I mean, the country has a very long history etc. But then again, there isnt a WHOLE lot to do here if one was to stay a lenthy period of time and it doesnt have the tropical weather that many tourists enjoy

Anyway, just wondering what you guys think/reasons

[jlb]

A couple reasons: it's expensive. Significantly more than China.

It's not exactly a tourist destination. Seriously, how much is there to really see in Korea compared to Japan or China? Not much and what there is, is pretty mediocre. Everland is the best amusement park? Jeju island has the best beaches? Bulgulksa is the best temple? Lotte World is the best mall? Kind of a joke in my opinion.

I've had 2 friends come visit over the years and while they were happy to see me I think, they weren't overly impressed with Korea and said they wouldn't come back. You know, garbage on the streets, the overdose of kimchi and such.

It's a decent place to live...just not visit.

[atomic42]

The risk of fan death is simply too high here for most backpackers.

[koreaking]

[bellum99]

LACK OF ENGLISH. The serious lack of English would make any backpacker stop and question. You need to have large base of Korean to move around this country. No way a backpacker could come here and be okay with no Korean help.
It is very poor quality with a high price.

[koreaking]

[normalcyispasse]

Yeah, and why don't those people who travel across the United States stop in Kansas? What's up with that?

[Boodleheimer]

not much to see (the Japanese destroyed a whole lot of stuff that would have been awesome to see)

it's very far to go to see such a small, homogenous country

[indytrucks]

[crazylemongirl]

because like it or not travel is a lot about branding. Korea is a generic no-brand sneaker situated between nike and reebok.

[VanIslander]

[pest2]

Maybe they pass on Korea because they read this forum about Korea.

[kiwiliz]

[VanIslander]

[SPINOZA]

Part of the reason not mentioned yet why Korea has such astoundingly low tourism is the bad reputation it has for eating dog. It could be just stupid Brits who say this, but back home when I told people I was going to live and work in Korea, people grimaced, because the image people have of Korea is of dogs in tiny cages on full view.

Japan is also only #26, which, whilst certainly an improvement on Korea's failure to even register an entry, is not great. China is quite high up there and perhaps a helluva lot of that is in Hong Kong, which rich European and North American travelers view as more palatable because it's a former British colony. The Far East, to most Westerners in my opinion, is seen as strict, humorless and cruel to animals. Buddhists, Japan Manga geeks and hippy Asiaphiles are the minority.