Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Suwon23]

So... I told one of my Korean co-workers that I wanted to go to Gangwondo to get some fresh air, or maybe go to the beach or the mountains, but I was worried about the crowds, since Gangwondo in late July is pretty much shoulder-to-shoulder. He recommended Gwangju.

GWANGJU???

Yes, Gwangju.

So. If I want to hike in some pretty mountains and maybe see some coastal scenery, but I don't want to compete with millions of other people for oxygen, is Gwangju a good choice? (I also hear it;s cheaper)

[Smee]

I live in Jeollanam-do and like it here, and there are a ton of nice tourist attractions. But honestly Gwangju isn't anything special and there's nothing really worth making a special trip there to see. There are nearby tourist attractions---the Damyang bamboo forest, the Boseong tea fields, some of the islands off Yeosu---but I think you'd be better braving the crowds in Gangwon-do or trying to hit a place in or near Busan. If you're looking to go to Jeollanam-do, I'd instead aim for a place like Yeosu. A few beaches, some islands, some tourist attractions. Of course there will be people there, and it's not as attractive as Donghae or Busan, but may be worth a visit. Also consider some of the places in Gyeongsangnam-do: Jinhae, Tongyeong, and of course Busan. I'd rather spend a few days in either of those than Gwangju. Don't get me wrong, Gwangju is nice enough, but, yeah, certainly not worth the trip in and of itself.