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cmxc
Joined: 19 May 2008
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 Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:09 am Post subject: The Shameful Reality of Tourism in Korea |
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| The number of tourists to Korea has risen exponentially in recent years, fueled by Hallyu, or the Korean Wave. However, 40% of all tourists choose to not return to Korea. This report investigates the issue, and searches for some solutions. |
But, but, don't all foreigners love K-po(o)p stars/idols and Korean world class cuisine?
The Shameful Reality of Tourism in Korea
http://www.koreabang.com/2014/stories/the-shameful-reality-of-tourism-in-korea.html |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 1:34 am Post subject: |
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| 40% of all tourists choose to not return to Korea. |
Once you realise it's not like your favourite soap opera, there isn't really enough to see or do to warrant a second trip. Tourists get ripped off to a much greater extent in other countries. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 2:20 am Post subject: |
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I hate to say it, but after living in Japan, Korea just doesn't have that many interesting things. I was really big into visiting temples and getting their individual temple stamps in Japan. Korea's temples are extremely bland by comparison. There are no interesting things like that in the temples here.
Their noraebangs are kind of disappointing as well. None of them have the digital interfaces and song selection that I was used to from the karaoke in Japan. You would think with such a huge noraebang culture here, that they would have better facilities. Maybe it's just because I don't live in Seoul though.
After you have visited Seoul and seen the DMZ, there really isn't much here. Especially, for someone who probably traveled from North America. Granted there are many nature spots to check out and visiting Jeju Island would be fun, but that wouldn't warrant a second trip for someone outside of Korea. |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:21 am Post subject: |
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You have to fight with any and every taxi driver at Incheon airport to get them to put on the meter. Many refuse to take you anywhere if you insist.
Try to get directions from passers by? Either they ignore you or they don't know where anything is.
Even taxi drivers don't know where stuff is. Even if you clearly mark it on a map for them. In korean. Utterly clueless.
And the pestering salespeople everytime you go shopping! And everything without a price on it!
Most people would need a holiday elsewhere to get over their holiday in korea. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| Chaparrastique wrote: |
You have to fight with any and every taxi driver at Incheon airport to get them to put on the meter. Many refuse to take you anywhere if you insist.
Try to get directions from passers by? Either they ignore you or they don't know where anything is.
Even taxi drivers don't know where stuff is. Even if you clearly mark it on a map for them. In korean. Utterly clueless.
And the pestering salespeople everytime you go shopping! And everything without a price on it!
Most people would need a holiday elsewhere to get over their holiday in korea. |
The salespeople really grind my gears. Most of the time they have no idea about the products. They just try to sell you anything that is on sale. If you ask them about the specs, they will look at you like, "what??" I even asked a lady why this was good and she said because it's on sale.... |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 6:49 am Post subject: |
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Not sure what I'd prefer, being cheated by a Korean taxi driver? Or being robbed by 3 gypsy kids in Rome?
Not saying that it's happened to me...  |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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^^It's sort of funny because 3 Gypsy kids in Rome tried to rob me right outside the Coliseum. Well I swung and clocked the closest guy to me, and they all stood around stunned while I picked my camera of the ground and walked off.
Of course, not a cop in sight. That city was 3rd world. I was glad to leave. [I went next to Vienna, totally 1st class!] |
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Cave Dweller
Joined: 17 Aug 2014
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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I'd punch a sneak thief in the face if I had a chance. Good solution. 3 cheers for vigilantism.
Korea has a lot to do here despite being a small country. However, the 'must-see' attractions can all be done in a matter of 3-4 days, and then there's not a lot of reason to come back.
I remembering seeing Old Boy so many years ago, and I liked one part of the movie. It showed Seoul like a dreary, Soviet-esque architectural city. Most movies paint Korea as some sort of paradise with clean sidewalks, wide roads, polite people, and very bright colours and lots of trees and grass.
Given there are many beautiful and clean parts of Korea, but they are in the minority. Tourists stray off the path and see the crap. They are disappointed. They don't come back. |
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Smithington
Joined: 14 Dec 2011
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Cave Dweller wrote: |
| Given there are many beautiful and clean parts of Korea, but they are in the minority. Tourists stray off the path and see the crap. They are disappointed. They don't come back. |
LOL. There are beautiful places in the country, but I've yet to visit even a rural town that I'd consider "cean" by any standard. The cities, as a rule, are fillthy. |
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KimchiNinja
Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Cave Dweller wrote: |
| Tourists stray off the path... |
Well, most tourists rarely "stray off the path".
The fact is Korea isn't about tourism, there's no reason why anyone would come here for that, and that's fine. |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| KimchiNinja wrote: |
| Cave Dweller wrote: |
| Tourists stray off the path... |
Well, most tourists rarely "stray off the path".
The fact is Korea isn't about tourism, there's no reason why anyone would come here for that, and that's fine. |
Yes, Korea is mostly all work and no play which is why Ji Soo is always so stressed and wants to "take a rest."
But the other fact is that tourism is an economic driver and the powers that be want that tourism cash.
One problem is that if you've seen one festival, temple, mountain, or performance you've pretty much seen them all. |
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KimchiNinja
Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| atwood wrote: |
| KimchiNinja wrote: |
| Cave Dweller wrote: |
| Tourists stray off the path... |
Well, most tourists rarely "stray off the path".
The fact is Korea isn't about tourism, there's no reason why anyone would come here for that, and that's fine. |
Yes, Korea is mostly all work and no play... |
Atwood in the house!! 
You always go too far man. Korea is a "work hard play harder" culture. Do you never go outside? Koreans party every night man. When my friends come here that's what we do, nightlife playtime. There's nothing else to do. |
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Cave Dweller
Joined: 17 Aug 2014
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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To Smithington, there are clean parts. Maybe you need to get out of the city. That is including the rural cities, which in my experience, are even uglier than the big cities.
When I say stray off the path, that's not just out of the city. It includes away from the tourist areas. Imagine a tourist going around Gyengbokgung, Dongdaemoon Market, Namsan, Gangnam High Street, and then....Guro. Imagine the shock.
| KimchiNinja wrote: |
| Cave Dweller wrote: |
| Tourists stray off the path... |
Well, most tourists rarely "stray off the path".
The fact is Korea isn't about tourism, there's no reason why anyone would come here for that, and that's fine. |
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KimchiNinja
Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Cave Dweller wrote: |
| Imagine a tourist going around Gyengbokgung, Dongdaemoon Market, Namsan, Gangnam High Street, and then....Guro. Imagine the shock. |
But I don't understand why they would be shocked? Go to the Manila if you want to be shocked. |
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Cave Dweller
Joined: 17 Aug 2014
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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Because they have been painted a rosy picture. They go to the main tourist spots and they are fairly nice. Dongdaemoon is a hole but at least it's interesting. Then they stray out of the tourist zone and see how the average Korean really lives.
I don't think Manila paints itself as a clean, safe, and modern city. or if it does, it doesn't do a good job of it.
| KimchiNinja wrote: |
| Cave Dweller wrote: |
| Imagine a tourist going around Gyengbokgung, Dongdaemoon Market, Namsan, Gangnam High Street, and then....Guro. Imagine the shock. |
But I don't understand why they would be shocked? Go to the Manila if you want to be shocked. |
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