Visiting Jeju Island

If you ever get the chance to go to Jeju island, by all means take it. The whole experience of being on the island will make you feel as if you are on a different world altogether. The island boasts the excellent facilities and infrastructure and other tourist accommodations. A lot of newlyweds or honeymooners go to the island to spend the time of their lives. Landscaping is no longer needed as bright yellow flowers spread throughout the island provide natural beauty at its best. The sand of the Jeju island beaches seem to be made out of gold. You will not run out of things to do while on this island. There are coastal waterfalls which plunge straight into the sea. This has allowed for scuba diving and fishing to be most alluring. Also, there are hot springs that will soothe the most stressed and exhausted body. The National Museum on the island as well as Folkcraft should be included in your itinerary. Also worth visiting is the Jeju Folk Village Museum. To top all of this, the island is home to Mt. Hallasan, the tallest mountain in the country. A beautiful Crater Lake must not be missed by any tourist.

What's Up Busan?

Busan shows how important waterways have been to the Koreans living here. It is primarily a port city and the second largest metropolis in Korea. If you would like to have a view from the top of this city, you have to go to Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park. Many tourists visit the U.N. Cemetery here. Soldiers of the Korean War find this as their final resting place. Yet another tourist attraction is Geumgand Park. From Busan city, one can easily go to another great tourist spot which is Jeju island.

Beauty of Korea

It is not surprising that tourists from all over the world are flocking to South Korea because of its wonderful mixture of the traditional and the modern and the sheer beauty of nature infused with the most advanced engineering marvels of the 21st century. The Korean peninsula will never be seen the same way again as it has firmly been placed in tourist maps and has become one of the most desirable places to visit in Asia.

The following are some of the more popular sites which are really worth visiting in South Korea:
Andong is the town which used to be where the aristocrats and their old ways of life have flourished. Antiques and relics of Korean culture are showcased in the Andong village and the Folk Museum located in the town. There are restaurants within the vicinity which serve traditional Korean food. The famous Confucian Institute, Dosan Seowon, is located north of Andong. The Hahoe Maeul Folk Village is located west of Andong. It is in this village where the Mask Dance Festival is held every autumn. This show is simply a must-see for any tourist.

South Korea Shopping: I like!

South Korea has now become a shopper's paradise because it has a multitude of shops which provide duty-free prices for tourists or foreigners. If you are looking for fashion, medicine, herbs, antiques, electronic devices, clothes or anything under the sun, the shops of Korea will most likely have these. In Namdaemun, the best shopping districts are located. The largest general wholesale market can be found in Namdaemun. If you are looking for good bargains, Tongdaemun is the place to be.

If you are a die-hard fashionista, Myongdong will satisfy your fashion needs. For those who like antiques and art, Insadong is a treasure waiting to be unlocked. In addition, there is Changanp-yong which is one of the largest markets in the Far East. Popular among tourists is Itaewon where there are modern shopping districts.

If you like seafood, you have to go to Noryargjin. The largest electronics market in Korea is in Yongsan. For those after Korean oriental medicine, spices and herbs, Koyndang is the place to go to. If you are the type who like second-hand shopping, Hwangkhak-dong will provide a satisfying experience. For the wedding stuff enthusiast, Ahyon-dong aka "wedding street" features over 120 wedding shops. If you are young and hip, Shinch-on will give you all the right accessories and fashion.

Great South Gate

The Great South Gate, which is the symbol of Seoul, was the main city gate back in the 15th century. If you like to see a lot of people then Pagoda Park is a must see. The park was the site of the Korean Declaration of Independence. The Seoul Tower provides a scenic view of city panoramas as it sits on top of a wonderfully landscaped Namsan Mountain right in the heart of the city.

National Museum of Korea

South Korea is known for infusing the old with the modern and the Museum of Modern Arts, which is within the grounds of Toksukung Palace, presents a stark but beautiful contrast with the towering skyscrapers surrounding it. The most impressive palace, however, is the Kyongbokkung Palace. The historical site dates back in part to 1394. Within its grounds lie the National Folk Museum which is a tourist attraction. Also within the palace grounds is the National Museum of Korea which is altogether a tourist's haven.

Seoul Searching in Korea Part 1

If you are looking the most number of tourist spots in South Korea, then Seoul is the place to go to. It has excellent transportation links and thus is the easiest place from which to embark on a tour of the whole country. Retaining a lot of its cultural and historical heritage, the capital city of Seoul since 1394 is now a busy metropolis full of commercial centers. It is the royal residences,however, that draw the most number of tourists. Some of the sites are even UNESCO-listed. For instance, enclosed in beautiful Secret Gardens, the Changdokkung Palace will always satisfy the curious tourist. In a nearby area full of lush greenery stands the Chongmyo Shrine which contains the ancestral tablets of the Kings of Joseon Dynasty. During the first Sunday of May, a wonderful Confucian ceremony is held here.

The Korean Wave

In Asia and even all over the world, Korean pop culture has had a considerable impact hence, the name Hallyu which means "Korean wave." For example, in Japan and other Asian countries like the Philippines, Korean boybands like TVXQ and television dramas like Winter Sonata were received quite well and have found success. Rain, the Korean pop icon, has been recognized in Asia and has began to make waves in the American market. Korean movies like Dragon wars, Oldboy, Oasis, and My Sassy Girl have also received International recognition.

It is technology which has dominated the Korean modern way of life. From top-of-the-line cellular phones, and the latest on-line games, Koreans have had much to spend their time and money on. Korea has one of the highest number of households which have very fast internet access. Computer games are serious business in South Korea. These are regarded like a major sport where there are professional commentators, professional players and major sponsors.

Starcraft, for instance, is one of the most popular games in Korea. There are over five million gamers and actually has two television channels that broadcast games and up-to-the minute updates on winners, games and other on-line gaming features. This pop culture has created professional gamers like Lim Yo-Hwan aka "SlayerS 'Boxer' who earned as much as $300,000 at the prime of his career.

More About Sports in Korea

South Korea and Japan were the joint hosts for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and South Korea was the first Asian team to successfully reach the semi-finals. The Korean football team known as the "Taeguk Warriors" have played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany for their sixth consecutive World Cup appearance.

South Korea was also the venue for a cycling competition called the Tour de Korea in 2007. After 10 years, this was the first international cycling competition held in South Korea. It is indeed a feat for South Korea to be the host for the 2010 Formula One race which will be held in the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam.

Korean Sports

..continuation...

The most popular spectator sport, however, is not on-lime gaming but baseball. The beloved American past time was first introduced to Korea in 1905. Koreans took the sport to a whole new level when they formed the first professional baseball league which was the Korea Baseball Organization which was established in 1982. The South Korean baseball team reached the semi-finals during the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

The 1988 Summer Olympics were hosted in Seoul, South Korea. Not to be outdone by their Asian counterparts, South Koreans have competed in various Olympic sports like archery, shooting, table tennis, short track speed skating, handball, freestyle wrestling, judo, taekwondo, and football. The Asian games of 1986 and 2002 were also held in South Korea.

Sports in Korea

The famous martial art, Taekwondo, originated in Korea. Modern rules were standardized in the 1950 and in the 1960s and the martial became an official Olympic sport in 2000. In the South Korean military, Taekwondo is an integral part of the training. There are other less popluar Korean martial arts like subak and taekkyeon.

Yet another Korean martial art is Haidong kumdo. This form utilizes swords and allows students to perform moves in increasing difficulty in order to advance through higher belt levels. This particular sport has become very popular in Australia and in a few places in the United States.

...to be continued.

South Korean Cuisine

In terms of traditions and customs that are centuries-old, South Koreans have retained much of these in the form of their cuisine, ancestor worship and the ideals of Confucius. World-renowned Korean food will always satisfy any avid culinary aficionado. Staples of the Korean diet include Kimchi, Bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables) , Treokbokki (seasoned beef), Japchae (boiled sweet potato) Doenjang jjigae (soybean), Mandu (dumplings), Kimbap (rice roll wrapped in seaweed), Bulgogi (Korean beef barbeque) and steamed rice. Kimchi is the most popular spicy dish of the Koreans which is made of cabbage and various seasonings.

A Glimpse into the Korean Culture

South Koreans have a lot in common with North Koreans in terms of culture. However, since the division of the two Koreas in 1945, South Koreans and North Koreans have developed rather different modern ways of life. In South Korea for example, traditional arts are emphasized through government funding and education programs by the South Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Various forms of Korean ceramics, paintings, sculptures and metalwork have spread all over the Korean Peninsula. Nowadays, Western influences, American in particular, have had obvious impact in the Koreans' everyday life. After the Japanese occupation, the government banned all imports from Japan until 1999. Today, trading between Korea and Japan has increased. But there is still a strong sense of anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea.

The City of Daegue

Every county has an industrial capital that contributes most to the booming economy. In South Korea, it is the city of Ulsan. Tourists can begin to understand why Korea has such an amazing and rapid economic growth.

Halfway between Seoul and Pusan lies the city of Daegue, which is the educational capita of the South Korea. This city has the most number of English-speaking citizens. Gyeongju, has the most historical sites in the whole of South Korea. Tourists will not run out of places to go to: temples, palaces, graves, ruins, etc. There is also a wonderful amusement park near the beautiful Bomun Lake. These are the more popular attractions in South Korea.

The Korean Way of Life

Culture and history form a large part of the Korean way of life. It is no surprise, therefore, that there are a lot of historical sites outside the capital city of Seoul. Two cities in particular, Pusan and Gyeongju, have to be in any tourist's itinerary because the richness of the Korean culture and history can be experienced in these places. If time and money permit it, tourists should also go to Daegue, Gwangu and Mokpo.

If transportation is a concern, Korean public transport will put to shame other public transportation services. There are high speed trains that bring people between and across cities. An extensive bus network also guarantees an efficient and safe way to move around the county.
For those seafood lovers, the city of Pusan which is a harbor city provides the freshest seafood. The city also offers a lot of wonderful sites. For short but satisfying trips, the islands of Manono and Apolima are a must-see for any tourist.

For more information on Korea, visit www.worknplay.co.kr
*image from flickr

Shopping in Korea

For those who like the night-life, South Korea will prove to be a haven. There are a lot of restaurants and bars filled with people even long after working hours. Seoul has two major divisions: the North of the Han River, which is called Kang Buk. This part of the Seoul has a lot of historical tourist spots and shopping areas. The other division south of the Han River, is called Kang Nam. This place offers the high-class city life luxuries, expensive shopping districts and restaurants. In a place called Apgujoung-dong, people can expect the fad from the young and the hip Koreans.

If shopping is the name of the game, Dongdaemun is the place to be. Other shopping centers include Doota and Pyungwa Sijang. From clothes to food, one can buy all sorts of things at affordable prices all night long. Insadong is the place to go to for Korean souvenirs. The small shops that line narrow streets make Insadong famous.

For more information about Korea, you may visit www.worknplay.co.kr
*Image from Flickr

History Continuation

It was Korean dictator Park Junghee, who was assassinated by a close aide in 1979 who began what was to become the glorious rise of the nation of South Korea. He was a strong and passionate leader who was also a notorious dictator but he started the reconstruction and the development of the nation. When he died, his legacy was a steadfast and growing economy.
Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, can be viewed as a shining example of Park Junghee's legacy. The city is a large, booming but traditionally-rooted economy. Like Japan, the people of Korea value the old: temples are well-maintained and visited by locals as well as tourists. Palaces of former rulers are a constant reminder of the past. However, it is obvious that the city has also turned into a busy metropolis with a lot of traffic and air pollution.

Tourists who want to be convinced if the country is worth going to can be assured that the city of Seoul, for instance, is very safe. It has been considered as one of the safest cities in the world. This is because the government does not allow people to own guns.

For more information about Korea, you may visit www.worknplay.co.kr

Short History of Korea

After the Korean war from 1950 to 1953, Korea was split into two: the communist North and the South. Since then, South Korea has grown into an economic powerhouse, ranking 10th in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product. Amazingly, South Korea has become one of the riches countries in the Asia. In addition, the country has kept its booming economic growth, compelling some to compare it with other Asian economic tigers like Japan.

How was this great nation formed? The following is a little piece of Korean history. During the 10th century B.C., the first Korean dynasty was formed. It was called the Gojosun dynasty and was located in the northern part of the Korean peninsula. After this dynasty, the 3 Kingdoms followed. This was called the Goguryo-Baikje-Shinra, or the Three Nations Era and this lasted for 4-6 centuries. Unification of the Korean peninsula was the next major event and this happened during AD 668 to 936. Shinra, Koryo (the root of the the present name "Korea") and Chosun were the kingdoms that followed. It was in 1910 that Korea came under Japanese rule. Only after 1945 did Korea gain independence. After three years, a gruesome and bloody battle began and the country only started to pick up and reconstruct everything from scratch due to the damage done by the war.

For more information about Korea, you may visit www.worknplay.co.kr

I Heart Korea

Hi! My name is Emily and I'll be blogging about Korea. Here's just my first post so watch out for more blog entries from me.

I'll be blogging about lots of stuff about life in Korea. I'll tell you why I♥KOREA.