Explore Korea (한국 탐험하기)
Top places to see in Korea. Where to go in Korea and what to do. Want to travel in Korea? See more outside of Seoul. (한국에서 볼 수 있는 최고의 장소. 한국에서 어디로 갈 것인지, 무엇을 할 것인지. 한국에서 여행하고 싶으세요? 서울 외곽에서 더 많이 보십시오.)
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The Jeju Haenyeo Museum: Preserving the Spirit of Jeju’s Sea Women
In recent years, something beautiful has been happening on Jeju Island in South Korea. More visitors are arriving not just for the beaches, oreums, and black pork barbecue, but specifically to learn about the haenyeo, Jeju’s legendary female free divers. As interest in sustainable travel, women’s history, and UNESCO cultural heritage grows, so too does curiosity about these remarkable sea women. The haenyeo culture of Jeju was inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and while the number of active divers has declined as the women age, awareness and appreciation from visitors helps keep their legacy alive. On the eastern side of Jeju Island, in the quiet coastal…
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The Udo Sora Festival: A Spring Seafood Party on the Island That Looks Like a Cow
If you’re coming to Jeju Island in the spring, let me put a fun event on your radar: The Udo Turban Shell Festival (우도소라축제), also called the Udo Sora Festival. I always recommend a daytrip to nearby Udo Island. Come to Jeju Island and then island hop to another island? Yes. Getting to Udo is super easy and going during this festival makes the visit even more fun. The festival is one of those very Jeju events where fresh seafood, local pride, and a breezy island atmosphere all collide. Open to everyone and free to enter, you just need to get yourself onto the island and you will have a…
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Jeju In Spring: Where To See Jeju’s Famous Canola Flowers
Most people think spring has arrived when the cherry blossoms bloom. But if you live in Jeju like I do, you know spring actually begins in a bath of vibrant yellow. Tiny golden blooms spill across farmlands, climb volcanic hills, and frame the sea and the oreums of Jeju Island in the most cinematic way. Every year from mid-February through the end of April, Jeju canola flowers bloom overlapping with the camellias of winter and the cherry blossoms of later spring. The canola flower blooming season lasts longer than cherry blossom season, much longer. If you’re planning a spring trip to Jeju Island, here are the places to find the…
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Inside Seongeup Folk Village: The 600-Year Old Fortress Town Still Lived In On Jeju Island
You might think Korea’s folk villages are frozen in time, preserved only for visitors, tourists, and school trips. But, did you know that some of them are still real neighborhoods where people wake up, cook meals, and go about daily life? Which may or may not include thatching their roof? If you’re looking for culture things to do in Jeju, Seongeup Folk Village (성읍민속마을) is one of the most unique historic attractions in Seogwipo. This isn’t a reenactment or a recreated set. It’s a living village that has been continuously inhabited for around 600 years. Behind lava stone walls and thatched roofs, residents still call these traditional Hanok home, and…
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Hundertwasser Park: The Surprising Homage to an Austrian Painter in Korea
Were we surprised to stumble upon an immersive tribute to an Austrian artist on Udo Island? Yes. Is it kind of the perfect place for it though? Again, yes. The Hundertwasser Park (훈데르트바서파크) pays tribute to Friedensreich Hundertwasser, an artist, architect, and environmental activist who believed humans were merely guests of nature. The park manages to fit beautifully, and somewhat improbably, on an island off the coast of Jeju Island. Udo Island makes for a great daytrip or weekend trip from Jeju Island, and this is just one reason why. The artist rejected straight lines, uniformity, and concrete-heavy modern architecture, so when you visit, you’ll find a world of fantastical…
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Inside Jeju’s Lemon Museum in Jeju: A Lemon Farm, Cafe, and Hands-On Experience
When people think of Jeju fruit, tangerines usually steal the spotlight. Winter photos of orange-filled baskets, roadside tangerines, and citrus-themed cafes are practically synonymous with the island. But farmers on this island in Korea have been branching out into other sweet crops including kiwi and lemon, oh and not so sweet but delicious olives too! And so we found our way to the Lemon Museum (레몬뮤지엄), not so much a museum in actuality, but a very friendly lemon farm that invites visitors to slow down, sip something zesty, and experience a different side of Jeju’s agriculture. Part cafe, part experience space, and part photo-friendly farm, the Lemon Museum is family-friendly…
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Hueree Nature Life Park: A Family-Friendly Place for Flowers, Photos, and Tangerine Picking
Visiting Jeju is all about getting into nature if you ask me. The island is gorgeous, but of course, if you’re traveling with children, it can be a bit more difficult to cover as much as you want. Hueree Nature Life Park (휴애리자연생활공원) is one of those family-friendly things to do in Jeju that is very purpose built with flower fields for beautiful photos, animals to feed, hands-on activities, and clear walking paths that make it easy to manage little legs. I wouldn’t call this a wild nature escape, but the curated and structured Hueree experience is great for visitors, especially families, traveling in Jeju who want colorful scenery, simple…
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A Taste of North Korea in Jeju: Eating at Daedonggang Chogyetang
You might not expect to find authentic North Korean cuisine all the way south on Jeju Island in South Korea, but there is a very authentic restaurant here and my husband is pretty happy that it’s just up the road because he is a Pyeongyang naengmyeon fiend. Daedonggang Chogyetang (대동강초계탕) in Pyoseon is run by a North Korean defector. We went looking for Pyeongyang naengmyeon and ended up devouring the chogyetang and more. This unexpected foodie find should definitely make your list of where to eat in Jeju. From cold soups to hearty meals, here’s what to eat at Daedong Chogyetang in Pyoseon: (This post contains affiliate links, which means…
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Best Time To Visit South Korea: My Honest Take After Living Here For 20 Years
You might expect me to say the best time to visit South Korea is just spring or autumn and call it a day. Those are beautiful seasons to be sure what with the cherry blossoms and foliage, but after living in Korea for almost two decades, I’ve learned that every season has its own magic… and it’s own challenges. And, if you only get time off in winter, well, that’s when you’re coming, isn’t it? Winters are cold and bright, summers are hot and sticky, and the shoulder seasons are gorgeous but busy. If you know what to expect, plan around the weather, and pick the things to do, you…
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Gwangju Kimchi Festival: A Delicious Dive Into Jeolla’s Boldest Flavors
When it comes to foodie celebrations, Korea has a ton and the townie fun that they entail is worth making the trip when you hear about one. One of the most popular food festivals in Korea is of course in celebration of that iconic side dish known as kimchi. You might think you already know all there is to know about kimchi, but visit the Gwangju Kimchi Festival (광주김치축제) and you’ll not only get to taste Korea’s most iconic fermented dish, but you’ll also get to celebrate the cabbage concoction that graces every table in the country at meal time. Head to Gwangju Korea in the autumn and you will…
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Korea In December: The Weather, Travel Tips, Flowers and Things To Do
December in Korea always feels a little big magical to me. The air turns crisp, the cities start to sparkle, and suddenly everyone seems to be moving a bit slower, savoring the last moments of the year. It can get cold, of course, but December isn’t the deep-freeze kind of winter that January sometimes brings. It’s that in-between season where you can still wander comfortably as long as you’ve got a good coat and something warm in your hands. After nearly twenty years of living here, I’ve noticed that December is when Korea really leans into atmosphere. Streets glow with holiday lights, mountains get their first dusting of snow, and…
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Bunker des Lumières: From Secret Bunker to Immersive Art Space in Jeju
Always on the hunt to find the amazing regenerated spaces in Korea, I saw an article about Bunker des Lumières (빛의 벙커), a former military bunker turned arts and culture space just down the road and knew we had to visit. The thing with Jeju Island though is that when the weather is nice, all you want to do is spend time outside. So, we waited for the first rainy day, the kind where outdoor plans wash away fast, and headed to the bunker. Instead of staying cooped up, we were underground in a world of moving colors, mesmerizing sounds, and beautiful light. This once secret state communications bunker is…
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Naejangsan National Park: Korea’s Most Famous Fall Foliage Destination
Fall foliage in Korea with those vibrant reds, warm oranges, and dazzling yellows is a sight and when it comes to getting out to see it and there is one spot in Korea that Koreans flock to year after year. Naejangsan National Park (내장산국립공원) is where Korea truly shows off her colors. Every November in Korea, this mountain in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do, turns into a living painting of red maples, golden ginkgoes, and deep orange oaks. There are some great hiking trails in Naejangsan, but it also has one of the most family-friendly trails in Korea as well. It’s a perfect spot to be immersed in fall foliage without strenuous hiking…
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Korea In November: The Weather, Travel Tips, Flowers and Things To Do
November in Korea is the gateway to winter, but it still holds onto the last golden moments of autumn. That doesn’t mean it’s all chilly winds and bare trees. Not at all. November can be cozy and warm in its own way, especially if you’re prepared to embrace the changing season. After years of experiencing November here, I’ve come to love its quiet charm. The crowds thin out, the foliage lingers in the south, and it’s the perfect time for a peaceful getaway. Layer up, grab a warm drink, and enjoy Korea’s scenic trails, historic sites, and the start of its festive winter lights. Will you be traveling to Korea…
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Urban Regeneration in Korea: Factories, Bunkers, and Parks Turn Arts & Culture Hubs
You might think trash plants and bunkers don’t belong on your travel list, but in Korea they make for some of the coolest arts and culture spaces around. Over the past decade, cities around Korea have turned oil depots, rail stations, and military sites into cafes, galleries, playgrounds, and performance halls. If you want to travel like a local, see urban regeneration in Korea, and visit some truly inspiring art spaces, these regenerated spaces from Seoul to the DMZ, Jeonju, Daegu, and Incheon should be highlights you look for. Check out this guide to how Korea is reusing spaces to create thriving cultural hubs: (This post contains affiliate links, which…
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Korea In October: The Weather, Travel Tips, Flowers and Things To Do
October in Korea is peak autumn, and it’s every bit as magical as it sounds. The days are cool but not cold, and the skies are often a brilliant blue. That doesn’t mean it’s all crisp air and falling leaves just yet. Not at all. October has an energy that combines the best of summer’s warmth and autumn’s charm. Having spent years exploring Korea in October, I can confidently say it’s one of the best times to visit. The foliage is breathtaking, with fiery reds and golden yellows in every direction, and the air is perfect for hiking, strolling, or just sitting back with a warm drink. Whether you’re here…
