Korean Job Discussion Forums

[420trader]

I read through the forum rules here and I don't think I'm violating them by posting this. If there's another similar thread I'm sorry, but I just wanted a personalized thread. I'm beginning to plan out a motorcycle camping tour of the peninsula and I figured I'd share it on here and get some advice, tips and criticism. I don't have experience with long-distance riding or camping, but I've been researching a lot and plan on taking a few short trips before going off.

I guess I'm going to post my check list, route, stops, sights, etc. I know several other people here have already done similar trips so maybe they can chime in. I'm starting to get some supplies and will be getting a bike soon. It will be a 125cc and some advised against it and told me to go bigger but I think it's do-able, albeit more difficult. I don't know how much the bike can hold though so I will have to really double check my supplies/weight.

I'd like to go around the entire peninsula but also swing inside to the middle. I want to do volunteer work at 3-5 stops like orphanages, homeless, elderly and building homes - whatever I can.

The planning for this trip will take me a while and I think this will be a good record for me (I don't have a blog or anything either). I've been very excited for quite some time now!

[InDaGu]

Don't bite off more than you can chew, remember it's gonna take you twice as long (or more) to get places because you can't drive on the expressways.

[420trader]

[InDaGu]

[joesp]

I'm building up to what you want to do. Actually, if you are in Seoul like myself, an hour on a motorcycle to the south/southeast will help you get in the swing of things. I'm slowly extending the radius of places I've been. I just ride the bike for an hour and go to a town and eat or find a coffee shop and see what the town's like. I've never had to overnight anywhere, I just ride back to Seoul on the same day.

I've started riding for an hour and a half, stopping somewhere, then riding another hour and a half and stopping somewhere ... it's easy to leave early in the morning when there isn't any traffic and the weather is nice and cool. So, I rode a round-trip of 250 km today, it was very very nice. I left my house at 7 AM and came back by 2 PM. Someday I will stay out all day, but it's actually harder to stay away from Seoul for that long ... a little scary, for some reason, and unnecessary when I can easiliy go home and be comfortable instead of trying to sleep somewhere or spend all day outside on the road.

I think a 125cc will be fine, especially a new one. The roads with lots of cars everybody goes slower, down to your speed. Or, if there's 2 lanes and no cars, there's plenty of passing room. Just my 2 cents. This is Korea, you know, at least you are faster than those old guys picking up cardboard ...

[alljokingaside]

Question for the Busaners - how do you leave town via moto?

[Bibbitybop]

[Bibbitybop]

OP: Buy a road atlas at a major bookstore. Camp on beaches for free and legally, just spend time searching for some that aren't packed with people, businesses, and street lights. Save money for the nights in love motels where the beaches and weather sucks.

[420trader]

Thanks for all the comments guys. Unfortunately, I will not be able to do a motorcycle trip but I'm still going to do a tour of the country - on foot, bus and train. I've been hiking up a bunch of mountains close to me with a 70l pack trying to get used to it and build up my endurance. I really wanted to do the motorcycle tour but I'll have to do that back in the states. I'm still very excited to tour Korea with my pack (kind of a BOB pack). I'll be sleeping on beaches and woods/mountains where it's legal.

In addition to the hiking up mountains, I'm going to be test-camping off beaches. I've read a bunch of posts about a few nice places. I think my first trip will be to Deokjeok Do (?) off of Incheon. I would really like to hike up a mountain, set up a camp and sleep a night out there but it's illegal and you can get fined a shitload of money.

[Italy37612]

Double Post

[Italy37612]

Monsoon season isn't a particularly good time to go on a motorcycle trip anyways.

But if you have the opportunity again, you should definitely take it. Last spring a buddy and I took the coastal roads all the way around the peninsula for 5 days. Went down to Busan on the east and came up back to Seoul on the west side. It was a lot of fun. Doing on a 150cc might be a bit slow though. Both of us have 600cc bikes.

Another option is to rent a car and drive it around for a few days. This isn't a cheap option though.

[420trader]

Yeah, I really want to bike across Korea but judging by my wallet, I decided to give that up. I'll tour the states on a bike when I'm back there.

I decided to tour Korea on foot, bus and train. Before I do a full tour I'm going to be taking weekend trips to certain areas just to get used to my backpacking gear and enjoy some relaxed, easy trips. I wanna head out to Deokjeok do and some other closer spots.

I'll probably be doing the country tour alone but anyone know how to meet people who like to go camping on weekends in Korea?

[AnsanAnswers]

[420trader]

[minos]

I did it. Did most of the coastline. Took about a week, but I stopped off in gangwon-do and returned to seoul much later

First tip. Bring a friend or have buddies along the way. There isn't much in terms of tourist attractions/nightlife/activities to keep you entertained when you settle down.

The southern coast line was my favorite part.

Crossing the Muju or gangwon-do mountain ranges will just make your trip 2x-3x longer and dangerous than it has to be. Drive around if possible. I don't suggest crossing gangwon do from pyeongchang to the coastline(donghae)...probaly scenic in spring, but it's slow going and very few towns so your screwed if your in trouble. Visibility at night in gangwon-do gets pitch black sometimes....on one lane mountain roads.

Buy a GPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Map books don't do squat and you WILL be lost at times. Busan in particular had me driving in circles.

Keep your stuff locked up
thieves are much more active in the countryside. I've been robbed more times than I can count of motorcycle equipment.....90% in the rural area.

Helmets, Leather jackets, gloves, etc.....gone within hours in the tiny rural towns. I bought a helmet during my trip and it was gone within a day.