Anyone been to South Korea?

[Sid C]

Thinking of going next year. I’m wondering what it’s like in the winter? Where else is there to visit other than Seoul? Do most people speak English?

TIA.

Hi GDM. One of my lads girlfriend is South Korean so I asked her about the weather. She went home in January and it was minus 20 although that was fairly unusual, in January and February the temp is normally below freezing. She also said the weather in the winter is better than the summer as it gets unbearably hot. Not sure if that helps tbh. :)

 

[rushts]

Please post reviews once you've been - in the planning stages of a 2-3 week whirlwind trip to (a bit of) Japan and South Korea.

One of my motivations for visiting South Korea is the food (not dogs).

In terms of other places to visit, a popular one is the DMZ where you can (sort of) step into North Korea. There are official tours I think.

Alternatively I believe Busan and Jeju Island are supposed to be worth a visit from the research I've done so far.

Don't get the last train to Busan, it's fucking mental.

 

[Bill Walker]

Alternatively I believe Busan and Jeju Island are supposed to be worth a visit from the research I've done so far.

I was in Busan last year in June , it was about 27C, nice weather, also went to Incheon, both great places, very different, people there are lovely, most seem to speak English.
Busan is a great place, had lots of Street markets and Street food which was delicious, very clean country. Incheon was very futuristic with lots of new skyscrapers.
We went there after Beijing, it was like chalk & cheese, Beijing was grey with pollution, the people are unfriendly dont seem to like tourists, S Korea was the opposite, warm friendly & colourful.

 

[discopop]

Spent 3 months in Ulsan on business a while ago and it was cold, very cold however sat in the roadside eating tents with the heater on sipping Soju until I could barely feel the cold was a great laugh and the food was very good, saw a little of Seoul when occasionally flying back to Hong Kong and it was very much the modern city, think I preferred the port city but that is mainly due to the fact I spent so much time there it felt like a home. People were also very helpful when they could be.

 

[cucumberman]

Went there 2012 so wont be much help.

Clean place, extremely polite people, amazingly safe. Great food except for the live squid you wrestle into your throat. Cheap souvenirs.

Stayed at the heart of Seoul, walked to Itaewon and that market strip next to the Seoul tower. A country with many things to do that warrants return trips.

I had the opportunity to go there 3 years ago for work, but turned it down. Was supposed to stay at a secluded resort south of the country and my colleagues came back with great pictures and envious stories.

 

[cucumberman]

Also, my colleagues during said trip were having dinner in a restaurant that had perfectly clean glass windows and doors. A korean parked his car outside and proceeded to walk into the restaurant but instead he walked face first onto the clean door because it was so clean. It left a stain on the glass - a print of his face. My colleagues said the guy then walked away to his car and after a few minutes came back with a bucket of water and a piece of cloth, then started cleaning the stain and the glass immediately around it. He then went back to his car and then came back into the restaurant and ordered his food.

During the same trip, a colleague left her phone in the public toilet, and realised that she had lost it when she came back to her hotel. She called her number and a Korean answered. The korean then offered to meet her and give her back her phone. And the korean came to the hotel lobby to do just that.

During my own trip I met a lot of friendly and helpful koreans, to be honest I have never been to a country more welcoming than Korea and I’ve travelled to many places. The streets are just so clean.

 

[Pell]

I've been, its a dog eat dog world.

 

[Cheesy]

Don't get the last train to Busan, it's fucking mental.

I think that may go over a lot of heads :)

 

[CarlosTevez'sEnglishTutor]

Hi all, has anyone got any tips for Seoul or South Korea in general?

Me and a mate are thinking of going somewhere a bit further afield next year. We've discussed Japan and South Korea, and are both leaning towards the latter.

Thank you.

 

[Bill Walker]

Also, my colleagues during said trip were having dinner in a restaurant that had perfectly clean glass windows and doors. A korean parked his car outside and proceeded to walk into the restaurant but instead he walked face first onto the clean door because it was so clean. It left a stain on the glass - a print of his face. My colleagues said the guy then walked away to his car and after a few minutes came back with a bucket of water and a piece of cloth, then started cleaning the stain and the glass immediately around it. He then went back to his car and then came back into the restaurant and ordered his food.

During the same trip, a colleague left her phone in the public toilet, and realised that she had lost it when she came back to her hotel. She called her number and a Korean answered. The korean then offered to meet her and give her back her phone. And the korean came to the hotel lobby to do just that.

During my own trip I met a lot of friendly and helpful koreans, to be honest I have never been to a country more welcoming than Korea and I’ve travelled to many places. The streets are just so clean.

Yes none of that surprises me. Like Japan, It's in their culture to look after things and clean everything. I'm a bit of a clean freak myself so I love it. Leaving a mess is something to be ashamed of and isn't cooperating with other citizens.
After Japan the country I would most like to live in is S Korea. Such lovely people and the street food is to die for.
I absolutely loved Busan.