On most people's lists of places to visit are some Asian countries with the top two being Japan and China. Japan boasts of being a fashion forward and tech-savy country while China is a roaring lion of industry with historical sites like the Great Wall. Or maybe other Asian beach hotspots top the list like Bali or Thailand. Very few list the country of South Korea. To be honest, few people could probably even point it out on a map.
Despite its low profile, it is actually quite a nice place to check out. It's low profile is actually a benefit as it means there are no high tourist seasons to avoid and prices are stable all year round. If one has a chance to add a short layover on your itinerary across Asia, one should.
Reason 1: Diversity. Don't laugh. Yes, the people of Korea are quite homogeneous as they are of the same race, nationality, and speak the same language. Inside its metropolitan areas are lots of expats from other countries that add some flavor to the cities. There are areas that cater to the Chinese, Russian, Filipinos, and a melting pot of an area known as Itaewon.
Reason 2: Historical Sites. There are several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country and warrant a visit. Temples, palaces, and grottos to just name a few.
Reason 3: Food. While Korean food is a unique journey for the foreign tongue, it should be traversed. Koreans use things like ginseng and a fermented cabbage called kimchi which gives its food a strong and unique flavor.
Reason 4: Foreigner Friendly. Seoul in particular has done a great job of having a plethora of information available for foreigners in English, Chinese, and Japanese. This includes subway maps, websites, and even some buses. Besides language, public transportation is easy to navigate and cheap to use.
Reason 5: It's Safe. For solo female travelers this is important. Very little violent crime occurs in the country. School children are often out alone until 11pm, and one is never alone in this highly populated country that never sleeps.
These are just a few reasons to add Korea onto your next jaunt across the globe. If you know of more, feel free to make a comment.
I was discussing this with some people last week... Korea is often overlooked, as people opt to go to Japan instead. And the Philippines is often overlooked as people opt to go to Thailand instead. But as someone who has been to all of those countries, I think Korea is just as good as Japan (and I think I would definitely prefer living in Korea to living in Japan), and the Philippines is just as good (actually I like it better!) than Thailand. But people just pass over Korea and the Philippines which is truly unfortunate as both have a lot to offer - and for cheaper, in most cases!
ReplyDeleteAnd let's not forget South Korea's most fabulous export, K-Dramas! ^_^
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