Let’s face it: most people don’t really know about Korea. All too often, a lot of tourists shrug it off and opt for the chance to explore China and Japan – two of its most famous neighbors. I’ll be honest: before I moved to Korea, I was one of those people who paid little to no attention to this unique little peninsula.
While Korea may not have made its way onto tourists’ “must visit” bucket lists quite yet, I imagine it will be within the next few years. With the popularity of its cuisine growing internationally, I’m under the impression more people will want to learn more about its unique and inspiring culture.
One of the best ways to learn about a new culture is by teaching English abroad. After going through a somewhat existential crisis in 2013, I decided to pack my bags and relocate from Chicago, USA, to Seoul, Korea and haven’t looked back since. Teaching English in Korea has been the most mind-blowing, rewarding and exciting experiences of my life. I’ve learned new skills, traversed new paths, discovered new aspects of myself and met some amazing people along the way.
If it were up to me, everyone would be granted this opportunity. With that said, I’ve made a list of my top 3 activities to do in Korea:
1. Go hiking
Since so much of Korea is covered in beauteous mountain ranges, one of the most popular activities among foreigners and locals alike is hiking on the weekends. Koreans wake up at the crack of dawn to conquer a mountain without hesitation nearly every weekend regardless of the weather. Two of my favorite hikes have been Seoraksan, the tallest mountain on Korea’s mainland and Hallasan, the tallest mountain in the country, located on Korea’s famous Jeju Island.
Seorakasan
Getting to Seoraksan from Seoul is quite simple; it just requires some planning and navigating the public transportation system. Located about three hours outside of Seoul, Seoraksan is an excellent mountain is an excellent choice for a crisp, autumn weekend. I did the hike in about 14 hours last October, which I absolutely recommend. It was perfect.
I chose to do Hallasan in January 2014. I do NOT recommend this. While the hike was scenic and gorgeous, the slopes were blanketed with thick snow – a feat far too difficult for my novice level. I’ve heard it’s best to hike Hallasan in the spring before the temperature rises!
2. Eat to your heart’s delight
Aside from the nation’s pungent yet delicious kimchi, not many people really knew too much about Korean fare. Within the past few years, all of the mystery surrounding Korean food seems to have been replaced with extreme interest from foodies across the globe. Traditional Korean food is not for the faint of heart; some of the more popular dishes include raw beef, live octopus and rotten fish. However, more popular dishes such as bibimbap (mixed vegetables with an egg on top) or Korean BBQ have stolen the hearts of many.
Bibimnangmyeon, one of my favorite dishes. A combination of cold buckwheat noodles, slices of radish and cucumber and topped with a hardboiled egg and, you guessed it – gochujang.
My favorite Korean dish is bibimnaengmyeon, also known as “Korean spicy noodles.” This dish is popular year-round and can be found at just about any Korean restaurant. This dish is my favorite because it’s generally pretty spicy, so beware!
3. Get to know Korean culture
Korea is fast-paced, confusing just as much as it is beautiful and calming. All too often, Korean people impress me with the kindness in their hearts and overall compassion for others. One tourist attraction that is not to be missed is Gyeongbokgung Palace. This stunning space holds strong significance to Korea’s history- it’s the exact spot the country’s language was developed! If interested, the tickets cost about $3.50 per adult. It’s personally one of my favorite places in Seoul, and I consider myself lucky to live close by.
Korea is definitely a beautiful place to visit, and there is much to see beyond what I’ve listed here. These are my favorite places within Seoul and I hope you find yourself exploring this gorgeous city and have as much fun as I do living here!
Laura Nalin is an American expat who has been living and working in Seoul since 2013. She’s a massive fan of pizza, Earth conservation, cooking and the band Phish. You can follow her travels on her blog, Willful and Wildhearted.