South Korea – Part 1

Despite the incredible technical progress from the mid-eighties to the present, South Korea is still an extremely attractive and very safe destination with excellent food, many national parks and historic villages and towns where, along with simple hanoks, luxurious palaces are booming. Of course, we can also enjoy modern architecture that reflects the development of the country in recent decades.

Despite some shipping links with China and Japan, most visitors to South Korea arrive by plane. Seoul Airport, located in Incheon, is the busiest in South Korea and is among the 20 most busy in the world, and that's why we will start our exploration of South Korea here.

After landing at the airport and border formalities we head towards the Korean capital - Seoul, with over 10 million inhabitants on the surface of 600 km2. If we already have a booked hostel (in Seoul there are as many as 9 youth hostels that meet the IYHF standards and found here), the Google Maps app will give us the best way to get to the hostel. But attention - South Korea is one of the few countries where Google Maps operates with limited functionality, as we can only plan a journey through public transport. In any case, I advise you to buy one of the T-Money cards as the use of public transport is much simpler and cheaper, especially when switching from subway to bus and vice versa, or between bus lines. Among the cards that include the T-Money system, there is also DISCOVER SEOUL PASS, which includes a free visit to over 20 tourist sites.

Seoul - a metropolis with a soul

Seoul is a city that easily takes you, because it offers so many different attractions that everyone can find something for themselves. Certainly there are things that are common to all visitors and which we simply need to visit. The history of the city or the capital is connected with the Joseon dynasty and dates back to the late 14th century, when the city counted "only" 100,000 inhabitants, compared with today's over 10 million inhabitants or almost 26 million, taking into account the whole metropolitan area. It is also the second richest city in Asia according to GDP, immediately after the Japanese capital. The city divides the Han River, most of the attractions are located on the north or the right bank of the river.

I used the word hanok on several occasions, so it's a good idea to start exploring Seoul in the typical hanok settlement. Bukchon is located between the royal palace of Gyeongbokgung and the Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung palaces. Before we lose each other in the labyrinth of narrow streets, let's get to know the word "hanok". The word "hanok" is used for traditional Korean houses. These can be covered with brick or straw, and both are characteristic of being made from natural and environmentally friendly materials. In the past, houses with tiled roofs were mostly richer, while the poorer ones were with straw coverings. The Koreans still today, but very rarely, live in hanoks, but most of them have modern interior furnishings.

More information about hanoks and life in the past will be provided at the entrance to the settlement Bukchon, which, unlike many, is authentic and was not built as an open-air museum. Despite the fact that most hanoks still serve the basic purpose, you will find many traditional Korean cultures - from traditional crafts, to galleries, museums and teapots, and, of course, restaurants with delicious Korean food. Best of all, without a special plan to walk and lose in narrow streets and enjoy the Korean history. With a bit of luck, you will find yourself in front of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) and of course I recommend this visit if you are interested in such kind of art. In the immediate vicinity of the MMCA, there is the National Folk Museum of Korea, which I strongly recommend to everyone.

Seul palaces are among the main attractions and as many as three; Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung are located near the hanok village Bukchon. You can find so much information on the internet, so I want to just kindly invite you to visit each palace. When visiting the Changdeokgung Palace, I suggest you, in any case, join a group that will also visit the Huwon Secret Garden, which is the most beautiful part of the palaces listed and also in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Plan a visit to the royal palace of Gyeongbokgung in order to capture the pompous changing of the guard at the main entrance "Gwanghwamun". The fourth of the four main palaces is called Deoksugung, and also here you can see the changing of the guard, which is slightly less pompous than in front of the Royal palace. Deoksugung Palace is located near the town hall and is located about 2 kilometers from the main entrance to the Royal Palace, It’s a great chance to go on a walk around South-Korean capital through Gwanghwamun square. But we have to leave something for the next edition of the Globetrotter online magazine? I will reveal more in the next one.