South Korea

South Korea :

Destination overview

Travel alert (FCO - last updated: 4 January 2012):
There is currently no increased risk or danger due to North Korean leader Kim Jong II's death and British nationals are advised to continue as normal. In early 2011, multiple cases of H5N1 Avian Influenza were detected in Yeongcheon city and if travelling to the south eastern Gyeongsangbuk Province, British nationals should comply with the instructions of the local authorities.

Wedged between China in the west and Japan in the east, the "land of the morning calm" is still quite mysterious for travellers. Social relations may be grounded in ancient Confucianism, but South Korea is most decidedly a forward-thinking country with an insatiable appetite for technological advancement and an up-and-up attitude. This country is rich with cultural assets: Buddhist heritage, preserved beaches, mountains and natural parks constitute the many aspects of a country that just begs to be explored, beginning with the capital, Seoul, a megalopolis of almost 12 million inhabitants, offering an astonishing mixture of modernity and tradition.

pros

A trip to Korea can easily be combined with a stay in Japan, which is quite near.
Korean culture is particularly interesting, and the Korean sense of welcome makes it easily accessible.

cons

A trip to Korea is expensive: the destination is far away, the cost of living there is high, hotels are not cheap, and Seoul is amongst the 10 most expensive capitals in the world.
The country's difficult climate only provides few opportunities for a visit under pleasant conditions.
Koreans speak little English.

South Korea Travel guide

Holidays in South Korea, All you need to know!

Our Editorial team's advice

Visit the DMZ (demilitarised zone) at Panmunjeom, north of Seoul. This is where the two Koreas have confronted each other militarily since the 1953 armistice (perhaps not for much longer, as the two sides have opened negotiations).
In Seoul: do not miss the charming district of Insa-dong and its traditional tea houses, with tiny birds flying free inside them.
In the region of the south-east, stop at the town of Gyeongju, the old capital of the kingdom of Silla, which has preserved numerous historical remains. We particularly enjoyed the temple of Bulguksa and the Seokguram grotto, both classified by Unesco as world heritage.