Korean Job Discussion Forums

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

I have a friend of mine who is going to be visiting in June. She told me she really wants to see all the "neat" stuff of Korea. Okay, that sounds great, except that I've been mainly working and working since I arrived here, and I've seen very little of Korea other than Itaewon, Yongsan and maybe a few other strategic locations off of the subway system. To be honest, I haven't really been all that interested in exploring Korea since I've been here. Don't take that as a criticism of Korea, but I'm just not really the tourist type, and I never really found much that I was looking for when I first arrived, so I just fell into complacency mode.

Well, I know she's not going to be happy with a tour of the local Emart, so how about some advice on stuff that's interesting to explore with a friend who is more interested about the culture than I am? Please spare the flames. I don't hate Korea or anything like that. This isn't a criticism of Korea. I'm just older and don't tend to go exploring like I used to.

To be honest, I probably should be exploring a lot more myself, but I get really tired when I finally do get a day off that I rarely find myself wanting to do anything.

(I guess I should add that I'm in southeast Seoul near Gangnam)

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008

Palaces in Seoul are a must, The national museum is pretty cool...Gyongju is quite a traditional place, some good sites to see. You could hire a car and drive down the coast....quite a nice drive Smile

swigs · Joined: 20 Apr 2008

Get a Seoul tourist guide book, like lonely planet. It will be worth the 10,000 won to save you some embarrassment.

Coex is ultra Korean shopping at it's finest. Namdeamun is traditional Korean shopping at its finest.

jinks · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Location: Formerly: Lower North Island

Take a train out of Seoul and you can both have an 'adventure' together. I have traveled to a lot of places in Korea, but when my bro comes for a visit in August I'm keen to take him someplace I have wanted to visit, but haven't got to yet.

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Why not check in to a temple stay for your friend? That is something out of the ordinary and should make a memorable experience. There are several different temples that offer this in different parts of the country.

For something different in another area, ask around work for the nearest 'missy bar' where middle aged women go to pick up handsome young guys of easy virtue for a one-night stand. Very Happy

The Seoul Art Center near Gangnam always has something going on. The War Museum could also be something worth seeing if your friend is at all into that kind of thing. It would go along with the DMZ tour.

She 'has' to go to a temple, and probably the best one is Bulguksa in Kyoungju. Combine that with a drive up or down the east coast. That's very nice.

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

To be honest, temples are incredibly boring, and if my friend took me to one, I'd be disappointed.

PEOPLE! Go meet people! Yes, Emart is a great place, as she will meet 100s (perhaps 1000s) of Koreans pushing and shoving. Get on the Subway, ride around. Walk around streets.

Sightseeing doesn't mean you have to go to all the touristy places. I never do that when I go somewhere. I like to see what normal people do everyday.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Take her to Ichon for a traditional ceramics pottery lesson. Just think outside of the palaces. Gongju for Korea`s version of King Tut. Temple stay and Gyeongju is a must do.

omma · Joined: 07 May 2008

Try the Suwon Bus Tour & the Korean Folk Village.
Take the subway to Suwon. Outside the station you'll find the Suwon Tourist Centre. They've got 2 Suwon Bus Tour's running daily - at 10am & 2pm. You can also get the bus to the Korean Folk Village there. Fairly cheap attractions. Well worth the time.

petethebrick · Joined: 25 Jul 2006

Yeah, I agree with above advice - use your friends visit as an opportunity to see things yourself. Take a long weekend away. My recommendation would be Kyoungju, it will be lovely in June. You can see all the ancient sites and also fit in day time at the beach. Are you working when your friend is visiting? if so send him off on the DMZ tour one of the days.
Apart from that I'm sure a few palaces/temples here along with a good few nights out partying in Seoul (most important in my books ha) should be fine