Korea – quick travel guide

Ultra-modern, super developed Asian country. Fun, great, hyper-stimulated environment.

On paper and to a Westerner, Korea could best be describe as another Japan…or like a cheaper, less-developed, less-cool version of Japan. And despite the hate you’d get from Japanese or Korean people for saying that, you wouldn’t be so unreasonable.

Both of these countries have been battling each other for a long time. With a feud debating events back as recent as 50 years ago to 2 millennia ago. Both with their own version of historic events. Both with their take on who was the aggressor. Fueling ultra-nationalistic pride in their citizens and even corporations. Whereas Japan has Sony & Panasonic, Korea has Samsung & LG. Japan has Toyota & Honda, Korea has Hyundai & Kia. And so forth and so forth. They even argue which one evolved from the other.

And as much as they’ve hated each other the years, there’s no denying that they are ultimately more alike each other than with any other nationality in the world. Korea is super safe and modern like Japan. Things are high-tech, clean, more expensive. Public spaces are visually over-stimulated and colorful.

But that’s where it ends. Whereas Japan has stayed very collective and by-the-rules, Koreans are developed their own sub-culture. More individual and unique. They stopped copying Japan things less and less and became more unique like the west. Their own TV shows and music, dancing and arts, are now worthy of being copied (ripped-off) by even Western/American industries. Korea is more unique if you know and appreciate where to look. They have their own food, culture, vibe, their own thing. They are not just a lesser version of Japan. Korea is super cool and worth seeing on its own unique merit.

1 week for just Seoul & maybe 3-5 days Busan, and another 3 days for Jeju Island. 1-2 days here and there for smaller towns. So at a minimum, 2 weeks for main spots and 1 month for comprehensive tour. One thing is for sure…you’ll probably wish you spent more time. Korea is a cool place to live, not just to see and leave.

General tips for traveling in Korea:

• VISA – do your online visa at https://www.k-eta.go.kr/ (check for the most recent rules)
• Public transportation – it’s really good! Use KakaoMap or Naver (in case KakaoMap doesn’t find something). I personally prefer Naver because it feels more in English. Take note of subway (called “trains”) line colors and their exit numbers. You can
  • Purchasing a T money card – go to any convenience store and buy a “T money card”. Fill it up with cash at any convenience store or also the metro station. Use this for all public transportation. You can also use these cards for small purchases at convenience stores.
  • Metro – scan (in & out) to use it.
  • Local buses – use T-money card or cash.
  • Cross-city Buses – Express Bus or Txbus should be able to take you around to other cities. Book reservations ahead of time online so you have more schedule and seat choices.
• Important apps:
  • One of the first things you’ll learn is that GoogleMaps doesn’t work.
  • Translation apps:
    • Naver Papago – useful translation app. Many businesses will use this to talk to you. Or you will see signs like “English available with Papago”, which basically means they don’t speak English but will use an app to do so. Papago almost always has better translation than Google Translate.
    • Naver Dictionary – not a translation app, but useful for actually learning Korean and all possible context of words.
• Rideshare apps – they use Kakao Taxi, UT, Tada, and some others. There’s no Uber. Kakao T is the biggest but there’s a movement of people trying to switch to others. Generally, you need a local mobile number to use Kakao T, which is easy to get for expats but not short-stay tourists. Perhaps you can ask around or look up alternate ways to get a local number.
• Mobile – you can go to certain stores to buy prepaid SIM. But the easiest for ESIM is to just do it online with LG U+ or KT Roaming. Enter your passport info, choose a plan, pay online, and you’re good to go in 2 minutes. Their plans are cheap enough and come with unlimited data (and decent coverage since Korea is very developed). I chose KT Roaming because I was able to type out my entire name whereas I couldn’t with LG U+. If you want even cheaper, use a 3rd-party ESIM vendor online.
• Tap water – drinkable but local people may look at you funny. Some people will insist that you at least boil it first, but I was fine even when I didn’t.
• Bus – buses (and bus stations) are usually pretty nice. Some are cramped but some are nice and spacious. It helps to book ahead of time and to pick the buses that have only 3 seats per row (2 on one side of the aisle, and 1 on the other) rather than 4 seats per row.
• Trains – probably the even more preferred way of traveling but some people prefer buses because the nice ones allow you to recline your seat back more. But trains have more space for you to get up and walk around. So it’s up to you! Locals love to just fly because it’s even faster and same price. But this might not work for tourists who have to pay extra for luggage.
  • Train site (KORAIL) – book early so they aren’t sold out and you get better seats. You probably can find tickets for the same day if you try to buy in the morning, but I really wouldn’t take that risk.
  • Try to avoid the 4-seat table setups, unless you really need a table. I found them awfully uncomfortable with your feet constantly hitting the person across from you.
• Map apps – you’ll need KakaoMap and/or Naver Map to get around, because Google Maps doesn’t work (you can see places but it can’t route you). I’d say Kakao is the better and more popular one but I prefer Naver since it has more things in English. Using Kakao would have you missing stops and spending more time trying to match Korean language symbols, but hey…maybe you want that for practicing to read Korean.
• ATM cash machines – be smart and use the official ones at the banks (that let you pull out 600k won for only 3500won fee). And not the 3rd-party ones outside convenience stores (that charge 4000won and only let you pull out 100k won at a time).

Miscellaneous tips:

• Package delivery – Korea is really hard to ship to. Many little numbers and details required, PCC, AWB, etc. Super annoying!
• Big building elevators – sometimes they separate elevators for ODD vs EVEN floors. You may notice your floor button won’t stay lit when you press it.
• US Embassy – if you have to make a new passport in Asia, I found the Seoul office to be super fast and efficient, and with many appointments available. I think it’s because the country is modern and has great relations with the US, but at the same time less popular and not as travelled like say Japan or China (especially during cold months). The other option I found to be fast and super helpful was in Hanoi, Vietnam.
• Towels – for some reason, Korea loves to use small towels for bathing. What would be considered a hand towel at best in the US is what you get in Korea. They give you 2 of those per day and that’s it.
• Mosquitos – although you don’t think of Korea as a mosquito country, it most certainly is! Be careful when opening your windows during mosquito season.

Safety tips:

• Crime – is almost non-existent. It’s super safe and seems people just don’t even steal. It’s a highly developed (and highly civilized) country and with strong collective pack culture.

Customs:

• Public transportation – don’t talk loudly on public transportation, like trains and metro.

Foods to try:

• korean BBQ
• soups – tofu soup, hangover soup, seafood, beef, ox, pork, etc
• teukbokki (rice cake) – DIY cook yourself chain restaurant, or street food
• chicken restaurants – most chains are chicken & beer restaurants where they sell amazing fried chicken. I highly suggest chicken with cheese flavor.
• cafe thing
• fish bread dessert
• lamb skewers
• dagalbi
• street food – can find from streets or markets
• pizza – korea actually makes pretty good pizza and with ingredients you would never expect on a pizza.

Korean food is good and good fun!

Korea cities (* = recommended, ** = must see):

• Seoul** – you kinda have to go here. It’s like the big New York or Tokyo of Korea. Everything you’ve seen in the media…you’ll find it here. Beautiful, vibrant, and many many things to do. 5 days for a taste, 1 week to 1 month is better.
  • Incheon – most people would say there’s no point visiting. It’s already an extension of Seoul and easily accessed via public transpo, so you don’t even have to switch accommodations from Seoul to visit it. If you do go, 2 days is enough (1 is too short) but the better option if you’re going to explore outside of Seoul…is to go elsewhere entirely and might as well see a different side of the country (like Busan which is only 3 hrs away).
  • Sokcho* – nice beachside town. Beautiful, small but with several areas and has city comforts. Definitely don’t go here when it’s raining. 2 days.
  • Nami Island – supposed to be a cute little town with nice trees (good for that autumn leaves photo op).
• Busan* – great city and kind of overlooked since it seems Seoul has everything. Busan is great for tourists because it’s really nice, has beaches and nightlife, easy to get around, people are more friendly, great seafood (you have to try it). But for a longer stay and having more activities available, Seoul probably wins. Some people say Busan is small and boring and I completely disagree. 3 days for a taste, 5 to 7 days is much better. Busan is underrated huge, I’d argue it has more touristy things to see than Seoul. So many different neighborhoods and everything is far and isolated on different islands.
  • Daegu –
  • Pohang – considered boring
  • Gwangju* – considered one of the most beautiful places in South Korea and with many cultural and random tourist things to do.
• Jeju (island)* – classic island place to go for Korea.

Nearby countries:

• North Korea – I don’t know much about it and never went. But I hear there’s all kinds of DMZ tours and depending on which country you’re from, you can go there. I think it’s an interesting visit. They’ll be opening to tourism soon, I heard.
• Japan** – yeahhhh…in many ways, you can consider Japan to be a cooler and even more modern/evolved version of Korea. Also has its own culture and food and historic sites (much more picturesque than Korean ones).
• China** – yeah because it’s China. So much culture, so much to see, and a whole other world entirely.
• Taiwan* – I really enjoyed Taiwan. Somewhat of a cheap, small, English-friendly version of China.

Unfiltered notes:

• 51 Wonderful Places to Go in Korea – The Tiny Tumbleweed