Korea is one of the hidden treasures in Asia. SERIOUSLY. From personal experience, I went there with the intention of staying 6 months and I stayed for 5 years... from my perspective, it is the one of the most amazing countries I have ever lived and worked in.
While Thailand, Japan and China and other countries have long been in the spotlight for tourism in Asia, Korea remarkably has hidden quietly in the shadows. In most cases it isn't until work or a flight layover brings you to this amazing country that you begin to realise the incredible things that South Korea has to offer.
Top Five Reasons to Visit Korea
- Food - Korean food is SERIOUSLY good. There is such a huge variety as well. Whether you are looking for the strangeness of Asia with live octopus or live fish wriggling their way down your throat or silk work larvae that pop in your mouth or the mouth watering bulgogi, spicy dak kalbi, 300 different varieties of kimchi and the list goes on and on. I may not have touched on the most appetising culinary delights for your palate but I assure you, there is a lot to try and there are some super yummy foods for vegetarians and carnivores who love good food.
- Cultural Heritage - some of the best parts of Korea aren't in guidebooks but even if you just considered the UNESCO World Heritage listed sites, you could spend every day in a new cultural treasure and be blown away each day by what you see and explore. Whether you go to Gyeongju (Kyoungju or Kyungju) or you're just touring Seoul and checking out some of the palaces or the old walls or gates or bell towers there is a history here that is amazing. Sungkyunkwan University as an example was founded in 1398.
