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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How To Visit The The Cheorwon DMZ Area From Seoul, Korea
Most tourists that visit Seoul, Korea wonder if they can fit in a trip to the DMZ at some point. The areas that are open to tourists are centered around the tunnels that the North Koreans built as they tried to sneak into South Korea some decades ago. The most often visited by tourists and easiest to access is the DMZ area in the Paju region. While this is an easy spot to get to, it’s a bit too touristy for my liking. Though the trek to get to Cheorwon, Korea is a bit more tough, there is a completely different experience. Want to know how to visit the DMZ…
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Gyeongpo Beach: The Most Popular Beach On The East Coast Of Korea
When it’s summer in Seoul, it sometimes seems that the population in the city doubles with the arrival. People that had hidden inside from the cold are out and about and places that seemed like hidden gems are swarming with people. The entire city changes and comes to life and as it does, people also begin to travel far and wide to find places to cool off in Korea. Gangneung on the east coast of Korea in Gangwondo is one of those hot places that everyone wants to head to. This week a friend and I headed to Gyeongpo Beach (강릉 경포수욕장) in Gangneung, Korea to find a beach, eat…
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Gone to North Korea… in Namyangju
I’ve lived in Seoul for six and a half years and still haven’t made it to the DMZ. I’m not sure why, but I just haven’t felt the urge to get up there. That and it seems every few months North Korea does something to ruffle the feathers of South Korea and then I think, do I really want to go up there now? The answer was always no. However, some time back I read about an exact replica of Panmunjeom on a film set that was open to the public and that made it onto the list of must-sees. This past week, a friend and I decided to really…
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Dongrimsa Temple in Gimhae, South Korea
Sitting just 400 meters away from the more popular Eunhasa Temple on Sineosan Mountain, or Fish of the Gods Mountain, is Dongrimsa Temple (동림사). As it is smaller and was quieter without the people milling around on Lunar New Year, it felt as if we’d arrived to a shop afterhours. Also said to be from the time of King Suro in the Gaya Kingdom, it was supposedly established by King Suro’s wife’s, Heo Hwangok, brother, monk Jangyuhwasang. It features a tall statue of Jijang-bosal, the God of the Afterlife, in the courtyard surrounded by six smaller statues of Jijang-bosal that are the most telling feature of the temple. The statue is rather…
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Eunhasa Temple in Gimhae, South Korea
If you’re in Gimhae, Korea and looking for a beautiful quaint temple to visit, look no further than Eunhasa Temple. Enjoy a walk in the woods, hike up a mountain if you want, or take a drive up and come upon this beautiful Buddhist temple. Eunhasa Temple isn’t huge, but when I go hiking in Korea, I tend to enjoy having temples to stop off at or as a goal for the walk. There’s always a beautiful one to sit and enjoy on every mountain in Korea. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost…
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Jeju Island: Hiking Mount Hallasan by Eorimok Trail
It was definitely a trek, and we were on one of the easier shorter trails. But as the locals say, “Jeju is Mount Halla; and Mount Halla is Jeju.” As the tallest mountain in South Korea, a visit to Jeju Island would not be complete without a hike up to the summit or as far as one can go, of Mount Halla. Rising 1,950 meters above sea level, it can be seen from everywhere on the island, that is when the clouds aren’t surrounding the top. Do you NEED to visit Hallasan Mountain on Jeju Island? Yes, absolutely. And, you should add a whole day to your Jeju itinerary to…
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Jeongbang Waterfall: The Most Beautiful Place On Jeju Island
Jeju Island has some spectacular sites to see and the Jeongbang Waterfall (정방폭포) is most definitely one of the prettiest of them. There are a few waterfalls on Jeju Island, but this was my favorite of them all and it’s actually quite accessible. If you’re headed to Jeju Island, this is definitely a spot I’d check out. There are three popular waterfalls on Jeju Island but this one is one of those Instagrammable spots where you can get right up and personal and walk away with one of those islandy photos to prove it. Feel free to skip around and get all of the details: (This page contains affiliate links.…
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Jeju Island: Why You Should Visit Yakcheonsa Temple
There are many beautiful sites on Jeju Island to visit and among them is the gorgeous Yakcheonsa Temple (약천사). This beautiful Buddhist temple on Jeju Island is not old in any sense of the word though. Located on the south western coast of Jeju Island, surrounded by other tourist hot spots, it’s an easy addition to any Jeju itinerary and a great place to take a rest. If you’re staying in Seogwipo City, this is a must-see when you visit. Here is all of the information you need to visit Yakcheonsa Temple: (This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something, I will get…
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Pyochungsa Temple In The Yeongnam Alps
Pyochungsa Temple has been renamed several times but has not lost its luster. Though the paint was cracking it was pleasant to see a temple that showed its age. The temple is located on Jaeyaksan, a mountain in the Yeongnam Alps range that runs through the districts of Ulsan, Miryang and Cheongdo in Gyeongsangnam-do in the south of the country. This particular mountain offers sights ranging from waterfalls to temples and even has an Ice Valley, though I haven’t seen it. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your…
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Yongchu Temple and the Waterfall To Find There
I had headed down to Geochang, Korea to visit a friend for a few days and while there are plenty of things to do in Geochang, we wanted to take a motorbike ride and explore another area. We hopped on my friend’s motorbike and set our sights on Yongchu Temple (용추사) and Yongchu waterfall (용추폭포) just 45 minutes away. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.) Basic Information Address: 962 Sangwon-ri Ahnae-myeon Hamyang-gun Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도 함양군 안의면 상원리 962) The Water Falls In Hamyang Set up in the…
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The Neverending Story Secret In Geochang, Korea: Suseungdae
Geochang, Korea is off the beaten path yet full of hidden gems and Suseungdae is one of them. This is the main tourist spot in Geochang and famous for very historical reasons, but if you grew up watching the Neverending Story like I did, then you’ll love this stop for another reason. With locals, it’s a popular summer spot as it features a large stream where you can splash around in and enjoy natural rock slides. Ready for the fun? Let’s dive in! Ready to go to Suseungdae? (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no…
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Namhansanseong Park and Fortress: Hiking In Seoul
Looking for a great place to go hiking in Korea that’s not so difficult, great hiking for families near Seoul, and fun? Have you heard of Namhansanseong Fortress (남한산성도립공원)? While the Seoul Fortress Wall is long and can be rather mountainous in sections, Namhansanseong Fortress Wall is really pretty easy to get around and isn’t nearly as long as Seoul Fortress Wall. It’s a great spot to hike in winter near Seoul and great in the summer too. The wall is worth a visit in any season and even in winter the paths are relatively easy to walk along as there aren’t too many steep inclines. The restaurants inside the…
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Seonnyeo Rock Beach: A Weekend Getaway From Seoul
Just around the bend from the more famous Eurwangli Beach and Wangsan Beach in Incheon, Korea, sits the pleasantly quiet Seonnyeo Rock Beach (선녀바위해수욕장). Saying it is rocky is no joke. There is a small, but nicely sandy area in the center flanked on either side with rocks, rocks and more rocks. If you’re looking for a quieter beach near Seoul, this might be the one for you. Can you take a trip to the beach from Seoul? Yes, you sure can. Get ready for a trip to Seonnyeo Rock Beach in Incheon: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you…
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Daytrips From Seoul: The Popular Nami Island
Nami Island is one of the most popular destinations to get away from Seoul, Korea for a day trip. It’s easy to get to Nami Island from Seoul with multiple transportation options and tours and quite a bit to do. The island was made even more famous when Winter Sonata was filmed there. Whether you’re looking for the perfect day trip from Seoul, a K-drama filming location, or just a fun artistic spot with activities to partake in for adults and children, this is definitely an island in Korea that should be on the list. What’s better, it’s a great destination from winter to summer. Each season offers a slightly…
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The Icheon Sansuyu Festival: A Guide
Getting into the spring flower madness that takes over Korea, a group of friends and I headed out to Icheon this past weekend to take advantage of the Icheon Baeksa Sansuyu Flower Festival (이천백사 산수유꽃축제). There are flower festivals throughout the spring in Korea and we were excited to head to one. Icheon is a city a bit south of Seoul and is a great spot to see sansuyu flowers in the spring. If you’re looking for a place to getaway from Seoul or where to see sansuyu flowers near Seoul, this is the spot for you. There is a larger spring festival known for sanusyu flowers in Korea in…
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Guinsa Temple’s Unique Buildings in Danyang, Korea
There are Buddhist temples across the country of Korea and Guinsa Temple (구인사) in Danyang is definitely one of the most beautiful to see in person. Guinsa Temple is one of the most unique temples in Korea as it towers above visitors walking up the mountain paths to see it. And, if you’re one of those people that says, “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,” you are most definitely wrong. Go to this beautiful temple in Korea, see it from bottom to top and back down again and if you have the time, join their temple stay program and learn about Korean Buddhism and culture. Plan your trip…
