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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A Guide to Gwangju’s Art Scene: Museums, Studios & Public Art Beyond the Biennale
Gwangju is a city in Korea with an immensely important history when it comes to democracy in South Korea, but when I sat down to write the Gwangju travel guide, I realized that there’s one side of the city for some travelers, and there’s another side that is for a different traveler. It’s great to mix and match to be sure, but an art lover could travel to Gwangju and easily fill an entire weekend on a whimsical artistically inspiring adventure. This guide is for those people that are looking to visit Gwangju and be inspired artistically. My main Gwangju guide covers the bigger picture, the May 18 history (which…
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Gwangju Travel Guide: Democracy, Art & Kimchi in One of Korea’s Most Overlooked Cities
You might think of Seoul for palaces, Busan for beaches, and Jeju for nature, but what comes to mind when you think of Gwangju? For a lot of international visitors, the answer is probably not much, and that’s exactly why I think Gwangju deserves more attention. If you live in Korea like I do, you’ve probably heard of their heroic democratization movement, but aside from that, what is actually there? I’ve now visited Gwangju a few times, and every trip has revealed another layer of the city. This is one of the most important cities in Korea for understanding the country’s modern democracy, but it’s also an incredibly creative place…
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The 5.18 Democratization Movement Archives In Gwangju: A Complete Visitor Guide To Korea’s Democracy Museum
I came to Korea 20 years ago, and over those years I had heard pieces of the story of May 18. I knew about the Gwangju Democratization Movement, called the Gwangju Uprising more often in those early years after I’d arrived, had read bits of the history, and understood that it was an important moment in Korea’s fight for democracy. But learning about what happened while actually standing in Gwangju hits different. The events of May 1980 are really not such a distant history and this was made especially clear to me when martial law was declared in South Korea in December of 2024. One of my first thoughts was…
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Jeju Stone Park: The Complete Guide by a Local (Hours, Museums, and the Seolmundae Halmang Myth)
Honestly, the name Jeju Stone Park just doesn’t tell you enough about what you’ll be able to learn and take away from a visit here. You might go thinking you’ll see a collection of interesting volcanic rocks, maybe some dol hareubang statues, but the park is far more than that. Officially called the Jeju Stone Culture Park (제주돌박물관), it showcases the relationship between Jeju’s landscape, people, mythology, and history and after visiting three times, I can tell you, it’s a must visit. Jeju is often called the “Island of Stones,” but that phrase means much more after a visit here. Lava stone has formed the island’s fields, walls, homes, graves,…
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Dolcori Forest Jeju: Hours, Tickets, and What to Really Expect at Korea’s New Cat Park
When the cats are meowing, my daughter will find them. A new cat-themed park and tourist site opened up on Jeju Island recently so of course, as cat lovers, we had to go check it out. Not real cats mind you, but a whole experience built around five feline characters. It’s called Dolcori Forest (돌코리숲), and it opened in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, at the end of April, 2026. The park was built by Smilegate, the gaming company behind titles like Lost Ark, through its subsidiary Cat Park Museum, and it’s the company’s first major offline entertainment project. It’s cute, it’s quirky, and if you love cats as much as my daughter…
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The Statue of Peace in Korea: Who Is The Girl You Keep Seeing?
You might walk past her without realizing it. Maybe you’re heading to Gyeongbokgung Palace or Insadong when you notice a small bronze girl sitting quietly on a chair, barefoot, fists clenched, staring straight ahead. Maybe you’re visiting a temple in Gunsan and see a barefoot girl standing alone. Or perhaps you’re on a DMZ tour at Imjingak when your guide points out a pair of girls. I’ve lived in Korea for many years and have passed these statues in parks, visited museums dedicated to this history, attended the Wednesday Demonstrations, and even met some of the women these statues are devoted to. More recently, though, I’ve noticed how many visitors…
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Jeju Green Tea Fields: A Local’s Complete Guide To OSULLOC and Beyond!
Jeju Island grows tea all over, a lot more places than most tourists visiting the island ever realize anyway. When I see everyone’s Jeju itinerary, I almost always spot a full day centered on the most popular Korean green tea brand OSULLOC (오설록). OSULLOC built the museum and the marketing that made Jeju green tea fields famous worldwide, and it has absolutely earned the reputation it has. But OSULLOC is only one option when you’re looking for Jeju green tea fields. Across the island there are tea fields with mazes for kids, one with a volcanic cave you can visit, and others that are maybe just a bit more pleasant…
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The OSULLOC Tea Factory In Jeju: A Quieter Green Tea Experience
When most people think of visiting OSULLOC in Jeju, they picture the famous Tea Museum on the island’s west side. It has become one of Jeju’s best-known attractions, with tour buses arriving throughout the day and visitors lining up for green tea ice cream and souvenirs. But there’s now another OSULLOC destination, one on the east side of the island. It’s new, it’s open, and most people don’t know it exists yet. There are far more tea fields on Jeju Island than most visitors realize, so it’s no surprise that the Hannam area remains off the radar. The Hannam Tea Fields in southeastern Jeju are now home to the new…
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The Underwater Tomb of King Munmu and the Yangnam Columnar Joints: A Gyeongju Add-On
Most people heading to Gyeongju are going for the tombs, the relics, the sites with history from 1,000 years ago, but there is a coastal stretch of Gyeongju that I like to add whenever there’s time and a part of it has history dating back millions of years! Worth the Gyeongju detour are: the underwater tomb of King Munmu (경주 문무대왕릉), a submerged royal burial site believed to hold the remains of Silla’s 30th king, and the columnar joints in Yangnam (양남주상절리군), a series of hexagonal volcanic rock formations formed millions of years ago as lava cooled and cracked. Neither site takes long to see, but a trip to the…
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Gamcheon Culture Village: A Guide to Busan’s Rainbow Hillside
If you’ve ever searched for things to do in Busan, Korea, you’ve undoubtedly seen photos of a hillside of homes in pastel colors. Covered in murals, the Gamcheon Culture Village (감천문화마을) has blown up over the last decade into one of the most touristed places on the southern coast. Cute, quirky, colorful. It’s a stop that will make you smile as you wander thanks to the artistic flare that’s been added over the years, but it will also make you sweat, so be prepared. Beyond the light blues, pinks, and yellows, what actually makes Gamcheon different from a lot of Korea’s “Instagram famous” spots is that it’s not a manufactured…
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Bulguksa Temple: The Heart of Korean Buddhism in Gyeongju
Bulguksa Temple (불국사) in Gyeongju is the most famous Buddhist temple in Korea. I first visited Bulguksa in 2006, the year I arrived in Korea. I had no real context for what I was seeing then, just a sense that this place was extraordinary. I’ve been back twice since, and each visit has given me something new. The more you understand about Korean history and Buddhism, the richer every detail becomes. Bulguksa Temple sits on the western slopes of Mt. Tohamsan in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom. Along with the nearby Seokguram Grotto, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, one of the most…
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Korean Folk Village in Yongin: The Perfect Day Trip from Seoul into the Joseon Dynasty
There are two types of folk villages in Korea, authentic, lived-in villages where some residents still call the old homes their own, and recreated villages built specifically for visitors to learn, engage with, and experience Korean history and culture. One is not better than the other; they are just different and offer different things. I bring this up because one of the most well-known examples you’ll come across when searching is the Korean Folk Village (한국민속촌). Broadly and simply named, it is exactly what it says it is, but for history lovers, it might not quite be what they’re looking for. The Korean Folk Village in Yongin is a recreation…
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Sammilsa Temple: What To Find in the Hidden Mountain Hermitage Above Jinhae
You might think Jinhae is just a cherry blossom town. And yes, in the spring it puts on one of the most spectacular floral displays in all of Korea. But nearby above the city in the slopes of Jangboksan Mountain, there’s a quiet little temple that has nothing to do with petals or festivals but it’s worth taking a detour for. Whenever I travel in Korea, I always look up what temples are in the area. Often they sit on nearby mountains with great views and that’s how I found Sammilsa (삼밀사). Not only were the views what pulled me in, but the faces of 500 stone statues beckoned as…
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Hyundai Motor Studio Goyang: The Best Indoor Activity Near Seoul for Kids (and Car Lovers)
You might think a car showroom sounds like the last place you’d take your family for a fun day out. I wouldn’t call myself a car lover by any means, but I’m telling you Hyundai Motor Studio Goyang (현대모터스튜디오 고양) is very cool and fascinating. This is one of those places where kids are captivated, adults are impressed, and everyone walks out having learned something they didn’t expect, we did anyway. It’s a theme park for car lovers and an approachable glimpse into mechanics. If you’re planning a day trip or looking for a rainy-day indoor activity, this one belongs at the top of your list. Located near KINTEX in…
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Is Hello Kitty Island In Jeju Worth Visiting? (An Honest Review)
Let me be upfront with you: Hello Kitty Island in Jeju (헬로키티아일랜드) is really for two types of visitors: die-hard Hello Kitty and Sanrio fans, and families with young children who adore the characters and want a dedicated indoor play area to burn off energy. If you don’t fall into one of those camps, you’ll likely find it a bit light on substance. At its core, this is a photo-op experience dressed up as a museum, and there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you’re signing up for. Spanning three floors of Hello Kitty themed exhibits, a pink café, and a gift shop, it’s great if…
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Where To Stay in Gyeongju: The Best Hotels and Hanoks For Every Budget
You might think Gyeongju is just another stop on the Korea itinerary, a quick day trip from Busan, a tick on the UNESCO checklist. But spend a night here, like I have numerous times over the past twenty years, and you understand why the city known as the “museum without walls” is special. The tomb mounds catch the last light. Wolji Pond goes golden at dusk. A thousand years of Silla history settle quietly around you, and suddenly a single day feels like nowhere near enough time. If you’re still planning, my full guide to Gyeongju and the things to see there is worth reading. Where you base yourself in…
