South Korea travel guide

Knowledge 1: The best time to travel

South Korea has a temperate climate. Being able to watch the changing landscapes of the four seasons is one of the greatest pleasures of travel. Autumn is the best season for travel.

Spring: Spring lasts from March to May, with warm weather and flowers everywhere. At the end of March, the cherry blossoms bloomed first on Jeju Island, heralding the arrival of spring on the Korean Peninsula; in mid-April, Seoul was already in full bloom, with jasmine, azaleas, peach blossoms, and pear blossoms adorning the branches in Gyeongbokgung Palace. At this time, everything in South Korea can be said to be recovering, the wind is gentle and the sun is beautiful, and the spring scenery is infinitely beautiful. However, the warm and cold weather is not the most intoxicating time.

Summer: Summer lasts from June to September and is hot and humid. June to August is the rainy season, with rainfall accounting for one-half of the annual rainfall. The summer months of July and August are hot and humid, and most Koreans choose to go to high mountains or coastal areas, such as Haeundae in Busan, for summer vacation at this time.

Autumn: Autumn lasts from September to November, and the weather is mild, making it a good season for travel. "Autumn is crisp and clear, and the sky is clear" may be the most appropriate word to describe autumn in Korea. Autumn is also the best season for traveling. In early October, the maple leaves in Seoraksan Mountain turn red, and the fallen flowers are in full bloom. By early November, the ancient palace gardens in Seoul are already filled with red leaves, and autumn is in full bloom. The charming, shy and cosmos flowers add to the beauty of late autumn. Romantic interest.

Winter: Winter lasts from December to mid-March, and is very cold due to the influence of Siberian cold air. Blizzards in northeastern Korea provide optimal conditions for skiing. "Three cold days and four warm days" is a common winter scene in Korea, which means that after three consecutive days of severe cold, there will be four days of warm weather. Although the winter in South Korea is cold, it is still bearable, not to mention that in the mountainous areas you can also enjoy the most popular outdoor sport in winter - skiing.

Knowledge 2: Local Characteristics

Seoraksan Scenic Area

Seoraksan, a natural kingdom visited by tourists all year round, has majestic peaks, The waterfalls that cascade thousands of miles attract people to explore and visit; the East Coast, the historical embankment washed by the sea water, the East China Sea where the rising sun rises, and the ancient ruins surrounded by pine forests and immersed in tranquility, make people nostalgic. Seoraksan always meets the needs of tourists and provides maximum fun.

Seoraksan National Park is located in the northernmost part of South Korea. The main peak is Daecheongbong Peak (1,708 meters above sea level). You can enjoy the excitement of climbing the cliff and take a picnic. Surrounding Sokcho City are outer Seorak, with Odaesan National Park being the most famous; east of Chuncheon are inner Seorak; and Yangyang are south Seorak, with Naksansa Temple being the most famous. Each of these mountains presents a different beauty of mountains and valleys.

Transportation

Air: 50 minutes from Seoul to Sokcho.

By road: It takes about 5 hours and 10 minutes from Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Sokcho, and about 30 minutes from Sokcho Intercity Bus Station to Seorak-dong.

Hike Mount Seorak: Only by walking can you discover the true charm of Mount Seorak. Put on your sneakers and follow the hiking trails. There are English signs on the hiking trails, so don’t worry. Two routes are provided below for reference:

1. Jizuan Route (4 hours round trip from Seorakdong): Along the clear stream, you can visit Shenheungsa Temple, Naewonan Temple, Jizuan Temple, etc. Ancient temples such as Zu'an are the most frequently traveled route. Jizu'an and Shenxing Temple were built at the same time and were built using natural grottoes. When you get to Ulsan Rock, the mountain behind the temple, you can see the East China Sea and Sokcho City (it takes 2 hours round trip from Jejoam to Ulsan Rock).

2. Feilong Waterfall Route (4 hours round trip from Seorakdong): Located between the Qifeng Valley at the southern foot of Seoraksan Mountain, it is as famous as Cheonbuldong Cave and is one of the famous waterfalls of Seoraksan Mountain. On a clear day, you can see the Feilong Waterfall with a hanging rainbow, and the Liutan Waterfall that looks like an upside-down water ladle. The clear water is better than emerald. Touring the magnificent waterfalls is heart-pounding.

A hundred religions contend

South Korea’s constitution protects citizens’ religious freedom, so many religions in the world are active in the Republic of Korea. The oldest religions in Korea are shamanism (folk beliefs), Buddhism, and Confucianism. These religions played an important role in the development of the country's early culture and had a significant impact on people's thoughts and behaviors. Christianity was introduced to Korea about 200 years ago, but it has developed rapidly and is one of the religions with the largest number of believers. In addition, there are various minor religions that combine elements of these traditional religions.

Shamanism (folk belief): Worshiping gods or nature is the earliest belief of Koreans. Its origin has been lost in the original mystery and cannot be verified.

Buddhism: Buddhism (called Mahayana) was introduced to Korea from India and China by missionary monks in the fourth century. By the time of unified Silla, it had become the state religion. At this time, Buddhist art and temple architecture flourished, including Seokguram Grotto, a world cultural heritage site. During the Goryeo Dynasty that followed, Buddhist culture was still very strong with the strong support of the bereaved class.

Confucianism: The influence in Korea is reflected in the systems of education, etiquette and civil administration. The establishment of an examination system modeled after China in the late tenth century greatly encouraged people to study Confucian classics and instilled Confucian values ??into the hearts of Koreans.

Missions from various Christian and Protestant denominations came in large numbers after the opening of South Korea's ports. These missionaries brought new knowledge in various fields, filling the gap of South Korea's isolation and eagerness to absorb, and realizing its long-awaited desire. modernization and maintenance of independence.

Top of Asia

In South Korea, football has a history of more than a hundred years and is one of the most popular sports among the people. It has qualified for the World Cup for four consecutive years in 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998. Its points are ranked first among the Asian powers. This shows that the strength of Korean football is enough to be proud of Asia.

In 1983, two professional football teams and three amateur teams participated in the Super Cup, which opened the prelude to the era of Korean football.

In 1987, five purely professional teams started playing, establishing the scale of the official professional game and thus establishing the beginning of professional football. Today, the strength of Korean football has exceeded the Asian circle and is enough to compete with the world's great powers.

Knowledge 3: Special Festivals

Like China, South Korea uses both the lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar, so its traditional festivals are similar to China, including Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Double Ninth Festival, etc. Among them, the "Dragon Boat Festival", which is listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, attracts special attention.

In addition, various festivals and traditional ceremonies held across the country are particularly eye-catching and worth watching. The unique style of dance, music, and technology is dazzling. The main cultural tourism festivals include: Snowflake Festival, Martial Arts Festival, Porcelain Festival, Mask Dance Festival, Matsutake Festival, Food Festival, etc.

Gangneung Dano Festival

Time: From March 20 in the lunar calendar when wine is offered to the gods to May 6 when the sacrifice ends

Place: Gangneung Namdaecheon The Dragon Boat Festival and other places nearby

History: A traditional Korean celebration held during the Dragon Boat Festival based on the sacrifice held by Daegwallyeong Seonghuang.

Activities: In addition to folk games and performances such as mask dancing, swinging, and wheel throwing, the Dragon Boat Festival also has experiential activities for tourists such as learning to sing and making masks. Dragon Boat Festival, like Spring Festival, is one of the important festivals in South Korea. On this day, people will dress up and go out. The Dragon Boat Festival sacrifice also means praying for a good agricultural harvest.

Daegwallyeong Snow Festival

Time: 1.26～1.30

Place: Pyeongchang County Government, Gangwon Province

Activities: Yes Large-scale ornamental sculptures, snow sculpture competition, traditional sled competition, Huangbingshan hunting activities, ski competition, winter fitness naked long-distance running competition, etc.

Chungju World Martial Arts Festival

Time: 09.30～10.08

Place: Tangeumdae Martial Arts Theme Park, Chigeumdong, Chungju City, Chungcheongbuk-do

Activities: traditional martial arts performances, excellent martial arts program exhibitions, free martial arts training, martial arts learning activities, children's martial arts summer camps, martial arts decathlon competitions, etc.

Icheon Ceramics Festival

Time: 9.23～10.8

Held: South Korea’s No. 1 Ceramic Village “Icheon”

Activities: This is a festival of earth and fire, where visitors can buy traditional and modern ceramic works by more than a hundred ceramic masters at a discount of 30 to 50%. Various exhibitions and ceramics teaching classes for tourists will also be held, and various activities such as the Grand Prix with the theme of "My Ceramics" will also be held at the same time.

Andong International Mask Dance Festival

Time: 10.6～10.15

Held: Andong

Activity: Appreciate local culture , oil sand chariots, Hahoe mask dance and other colorful folk art activities.

Yangyang Matsutake Festival

Time: September to October

Place: Yangyang County

Activities: Pine trees growing in the mountains The matsutake mushroom on the root is famous in places like Korea and Japan for its delicious flavor and rich nutrition. There are matsutake model exhibitions, pine collection competitions, matsutake direct sales activities, a snack street, cooking competitions, traditional Korean music concerts, and a variety of other activities.

Namdo Food Festival

Time: 10.18～10.23

Place: Nakan-seong-eup, Dongnae-ri, Nakan-myeon, Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do

Activities inside: It can be called the largest food culture festival in South Korea, hosting cultural activities such as a Korean traditional cuisine street, South Island traditional music performances, and traditional weddings.

Knowledge 4: Korean Food

Korea was an agricultural country in history, and rice has been the staple food since ancient times. Today's Korean cuisine includes a variety of vegetables, meats, seafood, etc., and fermented foods such as kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage), hoisin (marinated fish), and doenjang (fermented soybean products) have become the most representative foods in Korea. Foods that are also rich in nutritional value. The biggest feature of Korean table culture is that all dishes are served at once. According to tradition, the number of side dishes varies from 3 dishes for the lower class to 12 dishes for the emperor. The placement and layout of the dining table also vary greatly depending on the type of food. Because Koreans attach great importance to form, table setting etiquette has also been greatly developed. In addition, compared with neighboring China and Japan, spoons are used more frequently in Korea, especially when soup appears on the table.

Gimjang (Kimchi)

Gimjang refers to the Korean custom of pickling kimchi in winter, which has been preserved for many years. Since most vegetables are difficult to cultivate during the 3 to 4 months of winter, kimchi pickling is generally done in early winter.