10 travel tips for South Korea

In the Taebaek Mountains on the east coast of the country there are many ski and snowboarding areas. From February 9th -25th Pyeongchang will host the 2018 Winter Games. It will mark the second time since the 1988 Summer Games that South Korea will host the Olympics.

Seoul is the throbbing, futuristic capital of South Korea, with some 10 million inhabitants. The latest attraction is the High-Line-Park Seoullo 7017 – a disused overpass now serving as an urban walkway with restaurants, cafés and exhibitions. But there is also lots of history to be discovered in Seoul, like the Hanok districts with traditional houses and palaces of the Joseon-Dynasty.

Buddhist architectural art can be admired in countless temples. Located in Gyeongju is the temple complex Bulguksa, which with its distinctive pagodas has been listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site sine 1995. The Bulguksa compound along with other Buddhist temples participate in the Templestay program — which gives people the opportunity to live and meditate with Buddhist monks.

The port city in south-east is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul. Its beaches and the annual Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), one of the most renowned in Asia, make it so popular.

The national park attracts tourists all year round, but the main season for Seoraksan is autumn because the colors in the area are considered to be among the most beautiful in Korea. The red and yellow forest is interrupted by rocks and small mountain streams. On well marked paths visitors can climb Daecheongbong Peak, which at 1,708 meters (5,604 ft.) is the highest mountain in the national park.

Those wishing to better understand the history of North and South Korea should visit Panmunjeom base in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two countries. The demarcation line, the border between North and South Korea, actually runs though the middle of the blue barracks. The barracks take turns in being accessible for visitors from both sides.

South Korea's coast is full of little islands. The biggest of these is the volcanic island Jeju, which is a listed UNESCO natural World Heritage Site. Haenyeo, or female divers, hunt for squid, sea urchins and other shellfish along the coast, which they catch for the tourists. These specially trained divers do not require any oxygen or diving equipment.

Most shopping districts in Seoul provide a wide choice of electronics, clothes and cosmetics. There are also many markets. At the Hongdae Free Market, art students sell their creations every weekend. Department store fans should seek out the Shinsegae Center is Busan — which at 14 storeys high is one of the biggest department stores in the world.

Traditional bath houses, or Jjimjilbang, are a popular place to relax for many Koreans. These bath houses, with different saunas, steam baths and pools are open 24-hours a day. Along with services like massages and peeling treatments, they often also offer sleeping rooms for overnight stays.

Korean food is varied and healthy. The most common dishes on offer at street stalls or in restaurants is fermented Chinese cabbage — Kimchi — as well as rice and soup variations. Korean barbecues involve cooking meat, fish and shellfish at a small table grill. All that remains to be said is: "Jal meokkesseumnida"! (Enjoy your meal)