Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Christinateacher]

My boyfriend is researching for an article and we're looking for good things to do in Korea, that are not necessarily in any guide book.

We're open to any suggestions from simple good food to try, to the complex cross country trips to see a temple or a waterfall. We are very interested in finding things off the beaten track.

Traditional Korean cultural experiences aswell as modern expat living experiences are welcome

Thanks

[moosehead]

I've heard good things about the temple stay program but for me getting up at 4 a.m. I need to have a pretty good reason (like sex).

just try and google temple stay, korea

whatever else you find, please go ahead and post and share.

[Fishead soup]

Ulleongdo Island. Take a bus to Pohong and take a ferry to the island. Beautiful island great scenery the ferry ride around the island is fantastic.

Hongo- Haksando Islands- Take a bus to Mokpo. Then take the ferry to one of these islands. You have to get to the ferry terminal early to get a ticket. Between 7-9 sometimes it is concelled if the weather is bad.
There is a fairy terminal next door that has a drive on service to Cheju-do.

Sockcho- Beach and fresh fish Sashimi market close to Suraksan mountain.

[cheeriocookie]

Tongdosa is a very pretty temple. It has a grandiose mountainous background, and some state of the art museums.

I suggest visiting if you haven't before.

[cheeriocookie]

Oh! also visit Tajeongdae in the south of Busan. The cliffs are fantastic, and there are lots of options for entertainment in that area.

[cheeriocookie]

One of my other favorite spots to visit is Beomosa temple. There is a great hike really close by, so you can see the temple after you see the mountain, or vice versa.

[Christinateacher]

Great suggestions, thank you.

[Stormy]

[sojusucks]

Oh, a temple stay requires silence from what I hear -- constant silence.

To start with, there are several productions in Seoul -- many of them Western. Many places around Seoul (good luck finding the places only speaking English but you might be able to find something on the web) host pansori events that can last up to 6-8 hours(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansori), which is traditional Korean music.

This might be in the guide book: Jeju Island has a world cultural heritage site (ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeju-do). Suwon also has the Hwaseong fortress (http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=309373).

Here's a site with brief info. about entertainment: http://www.marimari.com/cOnTENT/korea/entertainment/main.html

Lotte World in Seoul has a shooting range not far from the ice rink.

Archery is a big deal here as is break-dancing but I couldn't find anyplaces to learn from a five-minute websearch. I thought that I've seen such places in Seoul (at least for dance). You might also be able to find places that showcase traditional Korean dance.

There's tons of things to do but it's hard to find them without speaking Korean.

[smitchlovesfunk]

on the south coast is an island called namhae. it is very close to the main land, you drive over a bridge to get there.
there 4 or 5 beaches and some mountains to climb. also there are many small islands around the big island. i've only been to one of the beaches - sangju - and it was lovely. gets busy on a national holiday, but otherwise it's not that busy. anyway, behind the beach is a mountain with a buddist temple at the top that faces east, hence it is a very good place to watch the sunrise. the view is amazing. from the beach it take about 1hr30mins to get to the temple (30mins along the road to start of the hike and 1hr for the hike).

i don't have a korean guide book so i'm not sure if it is in there or not, but it's one of my favourite places that i've been to in korea so far.

the bus from seoul to namhae takes 4.5/5hrs, and a further 30mins from namhae to sangju.

hope this is of some help, if anyone want to go there and wants better info pm me.

[Tobias]

Got a month to kill?

Start from the Southwest and work clockwise around:

1. Mokpo. Great little city on the coast.
2. City where the mud festival happens. Can't remember the name.
3. Beyongbondo (?) and Naesosa Temple.
4. Seoul, Seoul, Seoul.
5. DMZ
6. Sokcho and Seoraksan.
7. Coastal highway 7. Good bus ride.
8. Pohang, the steel town.
9. Homigot.
10. KyoungJu, the capital of the ancient Silla kingdom.
11. Ulsan. HQ of Hyundai's car and ship building divisions.
12. Busan, Busan, Busan.
13. Changwon, home of the crappy HogWarts.
14. Tongyoung.
15. Namhae Island, the mountain temple, and the six bridges.
16. Yeosu.
17. Sancheon.
18. Stretch from Sancheon to Boseong. Great train ride. Along this way, one can see a college with a DC-9 in the front yard.
19. Boseong, home of a great green tea plantation.
20. Wolchulsan and Dogapsa Temple.

Those'll keep anybody busy for a good while, and these are just on the fringes. Take a month for these and another month for the interior. I've been to all these places and wonder why Koreans don't travel around more. I have 50+ year old Korean colleagues who've never been to cities only 80 miles away. If I lived here permanently, I'd import a small RV from the states just for travelling around. It'd be worth it.

[stonepepe1]

there are many websites that will help u in ur travels

[cmr]

[smitchlovesfunk]

yeah, it's a sandy beach. the only reason you'd need to wear sandals on this beach is if its so hot the sand burns your feet lol

[lorenchristopher]

I just got back from Damyang and Boseong this weekend and had a great time! Here are some pics:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2045330&l=1a9ea&id=50105898

The Bamboo Forest is in Damyang. Get a bus from Express Bus Terminal to Gwangju (they leave every 20 minutes), it's 22,400 won. Once you get off in Gwangju, transfer onto a bus to Damyang for like 6,000 won. All in all it will take you about 5 hours to get down there. The bamboo park is cool, and they have lots of bamboo products and crafts that you can buy, including the delicious bamboo soju. The city is fun to hang out and relax in also.

Boseong is where the green tea fields are, very picturesque. Buses run from Gwangju so you'd have to go back to get another bus to Boseong (at least that's what we did). Once in Boseong you can take the bus or taxi to "Nokcha pat" (green tea farm) and walk around. Restaraunts and green tea stuff are everywhere. Green tea riced bibimbap=delicious!

Has anyone ever been to Baengnyeong-do? It's an island off the west coast very close to N. Korea. If you could give any info I'd appreciate it, that's next on my list I think.