Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sadsac]

My wife and I had the opportunity to visit Guemgangsan on October 13/14/15. Yes, just after the test. Unfortunately I wasn't willing to throw away nigh on a million won, as a refund wasn't available through Korail who organised this particular tour. Ladies and gentlemen, don't even consider going, it's the pits. We spent 14 hours getting there, on arrival we hiked for 2.5 hours, aside from the hiking trails you could not take any photographs. All the food was South Korean, all the stores were South Korean, Family Mart and Nyonghup. The hotel was a container park with shared facilities. Our stay at Guemgansang was from 11.00am Saturday until 10.30am Sunday when we had a 15 hour journey to get home. There was absolutely nothing about the area that made you even remotely suspect you were in North Korea except for the soldier's different uniforms. Sorak, Jiri, in my mind are as if not more beautiful than Geumgansan. The air pollution was just like being in South Korea as well. For the life of me, I now cannot understand why South Koreans would want to go there. Save your money folks, Guemgangsan is just an area of North Korea that has been ceded to South Korea for the sake of providing them with cash.

[crazylemongirl]

I imagine it's like going to gitmo and saying you've visited cuba!

[shevek]

[shevek]

Serious question though, sadsac...I'm going there next month.
Will I need a re-entry permit for SK?
Assuming of course you're not from the US and have one of these babies already.

[Lizara]

I went to Geumgangsan with Adventure Korea, which was much cheaper and gave us more time than it sounds like you had. I thought it was totally worthwhile.

and no, shevek, you don't need a re-entry permit.

[Natebomb]

ljljkl

[shevek]