South Korea

Dates to keep in mind:

  • Nov 1st - lave tube on Jeju island re-opens.
  • “Too dry” national park closures expected Nov 15th - Dec 15th, check closer to the dates.
  • Nov 15th Busan fireworks

Decided:

WFH in Seoul (2 weeks?)

What we’ll see:

  • Hikes: Bukhansan Nationa Park hike from Seoul Hiking Tourism Center to Baegundae Peak - 750m up, 9k return.
  • Fortress: Seoul City Wall (18.6k wall walk).
  • Temples: Bongeunsa Temple (4.6 of 7,800), Jogyesa Temple (4.5 of 7,500), Gilsangsa Temple (4.6 of 3,000), hiking Samgaksan Doseonsa Temple (4.4 of 2,000).
  • Palaces: Gyeongbokgung Palace (4.6 of 44,000), Changdeokgung Palace (4.6 of 13,000), Unhyeongung Palace (4.4 of 3,000), Gyeonghuigung Palace (4.4 of 1,000).
  • Hanok Villages: Bukchon Hanok Village (4.4 of 20,700), Deoksugung Palace (4.6 of 19,700), Namsangol Hanok Village (4.4 of 10,000), Ikseon-dong Hanok Village (4.2 of 7,800), Seochon Hanok Village.
  • Modern art museums: National MMCA (4.6 of 3,600), MMCA Gwacheon (4.5 of 3,400), Leeum Museum of Art (4.6 of 2,700), SeMA Seoul Museum of Art (4.6 of 1,900),
  • Historic museums: National Museum of Korea (4.7 of 26,000), Korean Stone Art Museum (4.5 of 370)
  • Tombs: West Five Royal Tombs, Goyang Seooreung (4.5 of 1,600), Heolleung and Illeung Royal Tombs (4.3 of 900), Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs (4.6 of 700), Hongneung and Yureung Royal Tombs (4.5 of 660), Donggureung (4.4 of 300),

WFH in Gyeongju (1 weeks):

What we’ll see:

  • Historic museums: Gyeongju National Museum (4.6 of 12,500),
  • Tombs: Cheonmachong Tomb (4.4 of 4,200), Daereungwon Tomb Complex (4.5 of 3,400),
  • Palaces: Donggung Palace (4.5 of 19,700),

Jeju island:

What we’ll see:

  • Manjanggul Lava Tube (reopening Nov 1st?)
  • Hikes: Hallasan Volcano (1500m up, 19k return)
  • Temples: Gwaneumsa Temple Jeju (4.5 of 1,300), Yakcheonsa Temple (4.4 of 2,200)
  • Historic museums: Jeju Stone Park (4.4 of 1,700)
  • Forests: Bijarim Forest of Nutmeg (4.6 of 4,300),
  • Columnar basalt: Jusangjeollidae (4.4 of 11,000), Yongmeori Coast (4.4 of 4,900)
  • Windmill park: Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road (4.5 of 2,600)
  • Waterfalls.

Work required:

Industial sites - arrange what’s possible

DMZ - pick a tour

  • Ganghwa Peace Observatory (4.3 of 3,200). Nearby: Bomunsa temple (4.3 of 2,500), Gyodongdo Island Manghyangdae Observatory (4.0 of 348, but Lonely Planet says is good?), Ganghwa Bugeunri Jiseokmyo Dolmen (4.3 of 254) and Ganghwa Osang-ri Dolmen Cluster (4.1 of 54), Ganghwa Anglican Church (Slang really wants to see).
  • Odusan Unification Observation Deck (4.4 of 4,600). Nearby: Jangneung Tomb of King Injo & Queen Inyeol Tombs (4.2 of 145).
  • Tours from Imjingak Tourist Information Center - Third Infiltration Tunnel, Joint Security Area (JSA) room with blue line if available on the day, Unification Village (mandatory shopping). Nearby: Military Cemetery for North Korean Soldiers (4.4 of 16).
  • Tours from DMZ Ecological Peace Park Visitor Center - Second infiltration tunnel, Cheorwon Peace Observatory to see fake village through binoculars. Also tours to see cranes (birds) Nov-Feb. Nearby: pretty nature of Goseokjeong Pavilion (4.4 of 4,600).
  • Goseong Unification Observation Tower (4.3 of 7,400). Nearby: DMZ Museum (4.4 of 3,700)

DMZ hikes?

Picking required:

Pretty hikes:

  1. Seoraksan National Park hike 1 (570m up, 6k return), including Seoraksan Sinheungsa Temple (4.2 of 3,300); followed by hike 2 (300m up, 5k) from the same car park, including waterfalls. Nearby: Baekdamsa Temple (4.3 of 3,100), Naksansa Temple (4.5 of 10,400), Wondae-ri Birch Forest (4.3 of 2,100).
  2. Gyeryongsan National Park hike (670m up, 9.8k return), including Donghaksa Temple (4.3 of 2,000).
  3. Songnisan National Park hike (550m up, 11.2k return), including Beopjusa Temple (4.5 of 3,900) with old wooden structure.
  4. Woraksan National Park hike (actually here) (850m up, 8.8k return), including Deokjusa Temple temple (4.3 of 560). Nearby: Chungju Dam.
  5. Daedunsan Provincial Park hike (700m up, 9.2k return) from peak to blue roof temple. Hiking from the cable car 350m above car park, so the whole hike is up in the mountains.
  6. Mudeungsan National Park hike (830m up, 9.2k loop through rocas and more rocas). Nearby Gwangju city is very artsy, could spend a day or two there looking at museums and street art.
  7. Jirisan National Park - from country’s highest car park (Seongsamjae Service Area) to this pico (330m up, 5.2k return).
  8. Cheongnyangsan Provincial Park hike (500m up, 3.8k return) via Haneuldari Bridge and Cheongnyangsan Cheongnyangsa Temple (4.6 of 800).
  9. Juwangsan National Park hike (500m up, 6.2k return) to this bridge through rocas.
  10. Wolchulsan National Park hike via Weolchulsan Suspension Bridge (870m up, 6.6k return).

Caves:

  1. Gosu Cave (4.2 of 5,700) - most claustrophobic, must go. It isn’t just a flat raised path the brings you through different sized caverns. Instead, the cave is a 3D exploration experience wherein you climb up and down 3-story spiral staircases, through narrow openings and snake your way along the winding passages. Where most caves have big caverns lit up to show the true scale of its grand size, this cave is tight and complex. You can’t help but to brush against the walls. They give you gloves for free. Nearby: Wigly Road observation deck, Guinsa Temple (4.2 of 2,400).
  2. Hwanseongul Cave (4.5 of 1,900) (This is the largest cave in Asia!) and the smaller Daegeumgul Cave (4.5 of 1,600). At the entrance, you can buy ticket for one or both, no photos allowed in small cave. Ride the monorail to get to the cave entrance. People are angry about the monorail - because it’s either very expensive or doesn’t work.
  3. Seongnyugul Cave (4.3 of 2,300) - no blogs about it, but Google reviews and photos are great. Full of bats and huge fish. Nearby: Buseoksa Temple unesco (4.6 of 3,500).
  4. Hwaam Cave (4.5 of 500) - After the strange, acid trip which was Fantasy Land, we were floored by the final showcase - a massive cavern traversed by lamp-lit paths and filled with marvelous stalactites. blog

Fortress:

  1. Suwon Hwaseong Haenggung Palace (4.5 of 12,500) in Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (4.6 of 8,700) - 5.7k walk walk. Nearby: Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs (4.5 of 1,900).
  2. Namhansanseong Fortress Temporary Palace (4.4 of 1,700) in a fortress (4.4 of 2,200).
  3. Sangdang Sanseong Fortress (4.5 of 3,300). Nearby: pretty river.
  4. Gochangeupseong Fortress (4.4 of 3,300). Nearby: unesco Dolmens Gochang Dolmen Cluster (4.1 of 1,600) and Gochang Dolmen Cluster.

Other:

  • Chogok Yonggul Cave Chotdaebawi Rock Trail - we are going near here for SURPRISE 1.
  • Pohang University - we are going near here for SURPRISE 2.
  • Coast of salt and tea: tea land (4.4 of 4,400), Taepyeong Salt Farm (says closed?), National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage museum (4.6 of 800), Hwasun Dolmen Site (4.3 of 400), Nosong-dae rocas, birding at Suncheon Bay Nature Reserve (4.4 of 10,700) and Suncheon Bay Reed Field (4.5 of 2,000), unesco mud?. Also Boriam Temple (4.6 of 6,000), Hyangiram Hermitage Temple (4.5 of 6,000), Songgwangsa Temple (4.5 of 2,000).
  • Saryangdo Island by ferry.
  • Ulleungdo island - views like this and this, bridges like this and this. But long ferry.
  • Chungju Dam.
  • Ulsan Petroglyph Museum (4.4 of 600) surrounded by Petroglyphs of Bangudae Terrace in Daegok-ri (4.4 of 750) and Petroglyphs in Cheonjeon-ri (4.6 of 200). Nearby Tongdosa Temple (4.6 of 6,000).
  • Haeinsa Temple (4.6 of 4,000) - unesco because it has Tripitaka Koreana. Since the blocks are so precious yet so fragile, they have been off-limits to the general public for centuries. Since 2021, every Saturday and Sunday, a limited group of visitors can see the treasure at 10 a.m. as well as at 2 p.m. You can book a guided tour through the pre-booking tour system on the temple’s website http://haeinsa.or.kr/. Bookings are available until noon every Monday. Those who got a spot will receive a confirmation by text message to their cell phone. Reservations are limited to one spot per person.
  • Gangdong Hwaam Jusangjeolli pretty rocas.
  • Sejong - the new capital with crazy modern architecture.
  • Independence Hall of Korea (4.6 of 9,600) - Slang not much interested.
  • Chungju Lake cruise (4.1 of 2,900).
  • Slang’s favourite pagoda.
  • Pick one bamboo forest: Juknokwon bamboo forest (죽녹원) (4.4 of 11,000) or Ahopsan Forest (4.0 of 4,900) or Taehwagang Bamboo Forest in Taehwagang National Garden (4.6 of 5,400).