Food Heritage and Culture Travel

THE SOLO DRIFTER | South Korea Winter 2018: Connecting arts, technology and history

By on Wednesday, December 26, 2018

I would like to greet everyone a happy new year. Thank you for following my blog posts. It has been a great year for me – I visited four countries this year. The last one is South Korea. I had a two-day Asia-Pacific audit methodology workshop so I used this opportunity to go around South Korea.

December is winter season in South Korea. In this article, I will share suggested winter itinerary, budget and guide.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOUTH KOREA

General Information

  1. The name Korea derives from the name Goryeo, first used by the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo in the fifth century as a shortened form of its name.
  2. Korean is the official language of South Korea.
  3. Korean uses an indigenous writing system called Hangul.
  4. Suicide in South Korea is a serious and widespread problem and the country ranks poorly on world happiness reports for a high-income state.
  5. Nuclear power in South Korea supplies 45% of electricity production.
  6. The country ranks first among the most innovative countries in the Bloomberg Innovation Index.
  7. Korean cuisine, hanguk yori, is largely based on rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables, fish and meats.
  8. Soups, known as guk, are also a common part of a Korean meal and are served as part of the main course rather than at the beginning or the end of the meal.

Religion

  1. According to the results of the census of 2015 more than half of the South Korean population (56.9%) declared themselves not affiliated with any religious organizations.
  2. Korean shamanism (also known as Sindo or Muism) is the native religion of the Koreans, and it may represent a large part of the unaffiliated.
  3. There are approximately 13.5 million Christians in South Korea today; about two thirds of them belonging to Protestant churches, and the rest to the Roman Catholic Church.
  4. Buddhism was introduced to Korea in the 4th century and became soon a dominant religion in the southeastern kingdom of Silla, the region that hitherto hosts the strongest concentration of Buddhists in South Korea.

Military

  1. South Korea has the world’s seventh largest number of active troops, the world’s highest number of reserve troops and the tenth largest defense budget.
  2. All South Korean males are constitutionally required (voluntary from 18, mandatory 20 to 38 years of age) to serve in the military, typically 21 months.

Korean War

  1. War between North Korea (with the support of China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (with the principal support of the United States).
  2. The fighting ended on 27 July 1953, when an armistice was signed. The agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone to separate North and South Korea. However, no peace treaty was ever signed.
  3. In April 2018, the leaders of North and South Korea met at the demilitarized zone and agreed to sign a treaty by the end of the year to formally end the Korean War.

Economy

  1. The country is considered a regional power.
  2. South Korea is a global leader in the industrial and technological sectors, being the world’s 5th largest exporter and 8th largest importer.
  3. South Korean brands such as LG Electronics and Samsung are internationally famous and garnered South Korea’s reputation for its quality electronics and other manufactured goods.

Climate

  1. Late March to early May – Spring
  2. May to early September – Summer, with temperatures exceeding 30°C
  3. July – Jangma, a short rainy season
  4. September to early November – Autumn
  5. Mid-November to mid-March – Winter; temperatures are higher along the southern coast and considerably lower in the mountainous interior

Transportation

  1. South Korea has a technologically advanced transport network consisting of high-speed railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services, and air routes that crisscross the country.
  2. Bus regional routes are classified as gosok bus (“high speed” express bus) or sioe bus (“suburban” intercity bus).

Top Provinces (do) and Cities (si)

  1. Seoul, special city – capital and largest metropolis of South Korea
  2. Busan, metropolitan city – South Korea’s second most-populous city after Seoul. Busan was added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a “City of Film” in December 2014. Home to the world’s largest department store, the Shinsegae Centum City.
  3. Incheon, metropolitan city – Incheon International Airport is South Korea’s primary international airport and a regional air hub.
  4. Gyeonggi, province – most populous province in South Korea. Its name means “the area surrounding the capital,” can be translated as “province surrounding Seoul”. Tourist spots include Everland theme park in Yongin-si, and Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, which has the Korea’s National Museum of Contemporary Art and a zoo, ski and golf resorts.
  5. Jeju, special autonomous province – has an independent visa policy that varies from that of the Republic of Korea mainland. All ordinary passport holders (except Afghanistan, Cuba, Ghana, Iraq, Kosovo, Libya, Macedonia, Nigeria, Palestine, Sudan, and Syria) can stay visa-free 30 days in Jeju Province, even if they normally require a visa for South Korea.
  6. Gangwon, province – has many tourist attractions, as well as natural monuments like Namiseom.

Our conference was held in Seoul so this article will cover mostly about Seoul and its tourist attraction, plus some information about Incheon and Gangwon.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SEOUL

General Information

  1. Ranked as the fourth largest metropolitan economy in the world and is larger than London and Paris.
  2. Its current name originated from the Korean word meaning “capital city”

Top Districts (gu)

  1. Dongdaemun – meaning “Large East Gate.” The heart of the district is Cheongnyangni station, one of the main train stations in Seoul
  2. Gangnam – literally means “South of the River.” Richest and business district of Seoul.
  3. Gangseo – where Gimpo International Airport is situated.
  4. Jongno – where you can find Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon Hanok Village. Gung means “palace.” You can also find here Insa-dong, an artsy neighborhood (dong).
  5. Jung – literally means “The Central District,” it is located in the heart of Seoul. Famous landmarks of Seoul such as N Seoul Tower on Namsan mountain are found here. Myeongdong is one of the most famous shopping areas in South Korea, and is one of favorite tourist destinations.
  6. Mapo – well known for the Hongdae club district around Hongik University.
  7. Seodaemun – There are shopping streets for the young, “Walking street” in Sinchon and “Fashion street” near Ewha Womans University.
  8. Songpa – generally referred to as a part of Greater Gangnam Area along with Gangnam District and Seocho District. Home to the Olympic Park and world’s largest indoor theme park called “Magic Island,” in Lotte World, where the tallest building in South Korea and 5th tallest building in the world is situated – Lotte World Tower.
  9. Yongsan – means “Dragon Hill.” Notable location in Yongsan District includes Itaewon, widely known as one of the most ethnically diverse regions in Korea. Many foreigners gravitate to its shopping centers and nightlife.

That’s an overview of South Korea and its known divisions and districts. It’s time to share my story traveling solo around the soul of Asia. In this article, the sequence is based on my timeline from arrival to heading back to Manila. In the latter part, you’ll read a suggested itinerary.

VISA

Most Filipino millennials are die-hard fans of K-drama, K-pop culture and Korean food but getting to South Korea is not an easy step, you need to get a Visa. Since this is a conference of KPMG member firms, I easily got my Korean visa. Thanks to our firm and our travel agency, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, for processing. You may have heard the news that starting 1 July this year, Filipinos applying for a Korean visa can only do so through designated travel agencies, and no longer at the Korean embassy in Taguig City. But there will be exceptions. The embassy will allow walk-in applications for spouses and children of Koreans, holders of a visa issuance number, government employees with official business trips, and those with a humanitarian reason to travel to Korea urgently.

Basic Requirements

  1. Accomplished application form downloaded from the embassy’s website
  2. One-piece piece passport size colored picture
  3. Original passport, valid for at least 6 months
  4. Photocopy of passport bio page (page 2)
  5. If applicable, original and photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past five years
  6. If employed, Original Certificate of Employment
  7. If self-employed or has a business, photocopy of Business Registration from SEC or DTI and a photocopy of Business Permit or Mayor’s Permit
  8. A student needs to provide school certificate (original), copy of school ID, copy of birth certificate, parents’ documents: if employed, see items 6, 9-11; if self-employed, see items 7, 9-11; marriage certificate.
  9. Original Personal Bank Certificate (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB). In my case, I only presented my payroll account. I requested my bank certificate from Security Bank-Rufino Branch. Yes, the branch processed my request even though that’s not our firm’s branch. I presented an accomplished and signed Customer Request Form downloaded from the bank’s website.
  10. Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months). For the bank certificate and bank statement, I paid P80. Tip: Large amount of current balance is not important here. Important thing to note is that your bank account must be regularly used. I also heard that when you present BPI credit card statement, there is a higher chance of getting a multiple entry visa for 5 years. Since I am not using a credit card, I only got a visa valid for 59 days (normal one being get by Filipino citizens).
  11. Income Tax Return of BIR  Form 2316
  12. Copy of PRC card

Agency fee was P700.

How to fill out Korean visa application form correctly

  • You must write in block letters. Type written is recommended.
  • Use checkmarks (/) for multiple choice questions.
  • The form needs to be printed on an A4-sized paper.
  • Follow the date format in the application form.
  • It is important that you put N/A or Not Applicable if the question is not applicable for you. For example:
  • If anyone is sponsoring your visa, check yes and write down the details. If you don’t have a sponsor in your visa, check No and put N/A. The address to put is the sponsoring entity/individual address. Tip: There is a higher chance to get a visa if your Korean friend invited you. In my case, the KPMG office in Seoul was the sponsoring entity. An invitation letter is required and the business registration document of the entity. In case of an sponsoring individual, a photocopy of his passport or identification card is required on top of the invitation letter.
  • I intended to stay in South Korea from 1 December. However, in the invitation letter, the date of the conference was 6-7 December. So I received my visa in 5 December. The embassy releases visa every day, 1:30PM. My flight to Incheon was 11:15PM. Buzzer beater, right?
  • Estimated travel costs should include your airfare and accommodation. In my case, I put USD2,000 for my 6-day stay. Tip: Recommended budget per day is P10,000. Write the name of the entity/person who will pay for your expenses in your trip. If it is you, you may write “myself.”
  • If you received assistance in completing your form (anyone or an agency), check Yes and provide his/her details. If you didn’t receive any help, check No and put N/A

Frequently Asked Questions in applying for a Korean visa

  1. Will the embassy return all requirements submitted after my application? No, except for the passport.
  2. The form asks for an address in Korea, am I required to book my accommodation before applying and present a support? Indicating the address of the hotel you’re planning to stay and the contact information is enough.
  3. Do I need to book a flight before my visa application? Not required. You may but this won’t guarantee the approval of the visa.

TRAVELING TO INCHEON

I traveled with JejuAir in 5 December, 11:15PM. Cebu Pacific has a 5:10PM flight but since my visa was only released same day, our firm’s admin decided to book a flight for me on a later time so that I could make it to the conference the next day. Unlike Cebu Pacific, JejuAir does not have an option in their website to pay Philippine travel tax and increase baggage allowance, I only had 15 kg allowable baggage. Thankfully, my baggage was only 13.5 kg. I paid travel tax amounting PHP1,620 before check in. Filipino personnel working for JejuAir are very accommodating. While we lined up, they already provided us Departure Form needed by Immigration. We left Manila on time. We were supposed to arrive at 4:40AM (Korean local time) but we arrived 25 minutes earlier. Note: Korea is one hour ahead of the Philippines. In Korea Immigration at the Incheon International Airport, the immigration officer requested my passport to scan into their machine. The machine then gave instructions in Filipino. It can speak whatever language depending on the passport presented.

Travel essentials

  1. Credit and debit cards. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in South Korea. Make sure to check with your bank if your card can be used abroad. For my Security Bank card, I was able to use it, there is no need to ask the head office to allow you to do the same but to ensure, you may communicate with the Customer Service hotline that you are traveling to Korea. Bank card is an important travel essential as some stores, but not a significant number, only accept card not cash. I am not a Korea fan but I loved the country because it is highly digital. Some stores give you an option to charge your card in your local currency, USD or KRW.
  2. Power bank. This is very helpful when you are traveling to a country with low temperature. Your gadget’s battery might die quickly.
  3. Electric adapters and converters. Korea uses 220v outlets and European style plugs. It is recommended to bring a multi adapter for your convenience.
  4. SIM card. If you are staying for a week, buying a SIM card is a must but I did not. WiFi is very accessible in Korea, even in subways. I used Viber and Messenger as a mode of communication.
  5. Seoul Pass. Visit 21 tourist attractions selected by Seoul Metropolitan Government. The pass can be used for 24 or 48 hours. It also functions as a transportation card for taking buses, subways and taxis. Using this, you can have a free pass to N Seoul Tower, SMTown @coexatrium, four royal palaces, among others, with discounted pass to other tourist locations. You can have a 24-hour pass for KRW39,900. This can be purchased in any information center around Seoul or in Incheon International Airport. You can also buy online on seoultravelpass.com.
  6. T-money card. I preferred to buy this one instead of item 5. It is a prepaid card that can be used for airport limousines, buses, subways and taxis in Seoul metropolitan area. It can also be used as a mode of payment at any stores like Starbucks. I bought the card in a 7 Eleven store in the airport. It costs KRW2,500. You can load the card with the amounts of KRW1,000 and up. I asked the cashier to load my card with KRW20,000. I was able to use my load within my stay in Korea. I even had a card balance of KRW4,500. Each subway station has a loading station for the T-money card. You can get a refund for any balance remaining. If the amount is less than KRW50,000, visit the T-money service desk inside the nearest subway station. If the amount is less than KRW30,000, obtain a refund at any convenience store  except for GS25, which refunds a maximum of KRW20,000. For any amount greater than KRW50,000, please visit the Korea Smart Card headquarters located in front of Seoul station.

Foreign Exchange

Since the conference was on the 6th, I decided to exchange my PHP and USD to KRW in Sanry’s Money Changer in Greenbelt but they don’t have one so I was only able to exchange my PHP to USD. BDO and BPI rates are competitive for KRW exchange. I suggest to have your USD exchanged in KEB or Woori Bank. Rates are competitive in these Korean banks. You may also want to withdraw KRW cash using global ATMs found in airports and major subway stations and districts.

Getting to Seoul

When I arrived in Incheon, I first looked for bus going to Seoul. At the first floor of Arrivals, I was able to buy a ticket (KRW16,000) for an airport limousine, which is an express bus going to Gangnam-gu. It only has a stop-over in Gimpo International Airport to pick up passengers. The machine outside the airport says that the bus will leave Incheon at 6:32AM, it exactly did. I arrived in our hotel, Intercontinental Grand Seoul Parnas, at 7:15AM. The airport limousine stops over every major hotel in the Gangnam business district. When travelling to Seoul, tell the ticket seller in the airport your specific address as there are different routes of each airport limousine.

I checked in until 7:30AM. Yes, I only had 15 minutes to prepare – I would need to meet our Head of Audit in the Philippines, Audit Quality Partner, and one Audit Director at the lobby by 7:45AM before the shuttle that would bring us to Gangnam Finance Center, where KPMG Samjong is located, arrived. When I arrived in Incheon, temperature was 1 °C. In Seoul that day was -2 °C. The next day was lower with -8 °C.

What to wear during Korea winter

  1. Ski or bubble jacket
  2. Coat
  3. Sweaters
  4. Long sleeves
  5. Jeans
  6. Woolen or thick socks
  7. Touchscreen Gloves
  8. Scarf
  9. Earmuff
  10. Hot pack. You can but this in any convenience store in Korea for your hands and feet. You can put the pack in your jacket’s pocket.
  11. Heattech
  12. Boot shoes

Tip: You can buy a set of winter clothes in stores here in the Philippines like Uniqlo and H&M. For my new set of winter clothes (bubble jacket, trench coat, touchscreen gloves, earmuff, heattech and boot shoes), it approximated it to a total of PHP12,000. I brought my old sweaters, long sleeves, socks, and scarf. Every day, I would have four layers of clothing. I had the most, with 5 layers, in my last day when the temperature dropped to -12 °C. If you are staying longer in Korea, you can buy pieces of winter clothes in Myeong-dong area. You can have them half the price.

The people

Koreans are disciplined. They practice the “clean as you go” system. They also practice some aspects of Confucianism where they respect people older than them. When taking public transportation, there are labels for elders and pregnant women.

Time is important to them. They might push you when you walk slow or when you are using your phone in a crowded place. I experienced it, twice!

SEOUL

Gangnam-gu

Every after conference in Gangnam Finance Center, we would go back to the Intercontinental Hotel Grand Seoul Parnas via Line 2. Seoul has nine subway lines which are connected to other lines going to different areas of South Korea. Anyone can easily access the subway system because the routes are demarcated by color and the station numbers are labeled. Fare starts from KRW1,250.

Intercontinental Hotel Grand Seoul Parnas is Korea’s one-stop business destination featuring COEX convention and exhibition center, casino, 16 cinemas and the COEX Mall with over 200 shops. Beside the hotel is SMTown Center, birthplace of hallyu (Korean wave) stars. Admission is free but there are tour packages to see the museum. You can also watch performances there with your KRW8,000 to KRW19,000. You may incidentally meet your favorite hallyu star during tours. We also visited the SMTown Café inside the center. We found cupcakes, coffees and tumblers with SM artists-inspired designs. There is also a lifestyle shop there where we bought EXO albums and SHINee lightstick.

Our hotel is near Samseong Station. At the Exit 6 of Samseong Station, have a 15-minute walk, then you’ll find Bongeunsa Temple, the largest temple in Seoul during the Joseon dynasty.

Next to Samseong Station is Gangnam Station. From Exit 12, have an 8-minute walk going to Yeoksam Park, which provides an amazing view of the area’s skycrapers.

Have a 15-minute walk from Exit 2 of Line 9 and you’ll fine Banpo Hangang Park, where Banpo-daegyo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, Jamsugyo Bridge, and Moonlight Square are located. You can enjoy various water sports, such as water skiing and motorboat riding, on the Hangang River.

Take Subway Bundang Line, then exit at 2 or 3 of Apgujeong Station. If you’re a K-pop star, this is for you. From SM Entertainment’s building to JYP Entertainment’s office, they are all here at the K-Star Road.

Palace Quarter

Green tea in one of the traditional tea houses in Insa-dong

Finally, we had a break from our audit methodology workshop. On a Saturday, we left Gangnam-gu to visit Gyeongbokgung. From Samseong Station, we took Line 3 going to Anguk Station. We had a hard time looking for Bukchon Hanok Village. We walk from Exit 6, then we accidentally found Insa-dong, which is not part of our itinerary. Insa-dong Street showcases traditional Korean culture with antique art and book stores, traditional tea houses, and craft shops. It is called “gallery street.” Near this street is Jogyesa Temple, one of Korea’s most famous Buddhist temple. The Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) begins here and continues around Jongno and Insa-dong.

If you take Exit 4 of Anguk Station, you’ll find Unhyeongung Palace. This was the private residence of Heungseon Daewongun, the father of Emperor Gojong.

From Insa-dong area, walk to Gwanghwamun Square – this is in front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung. Statutes of Admiral Yi Sunsin and King Sejong are situated in this square.

Gyeongbokgung, the largest of the five grand palaces remaining in Seoul, is where Joseon Dynasty’s 500-year history began. Admission fee: KRW3,000 for foreigners with ages 19-64, while KRW1,500 for 7-18 years old. During March to May and September to October, the palace is open 9AM-6PM, last entry is 5PM; June to August, last entry and closing time is extended to 30 minutes; November to December, the palace closes earlier an hour with last entry at 4PM. Events include opening and closing of the royal palace gates at 10AM and 2PM every day, while Changing of the Guard Ceremony happens twice daily at 11AM and 1PM. The palace is close and there are no events on Tuesdays.

I rented a hanbok, a traditional South Korean dress, in front of the side exit of the palace. Rental fee for a set is KRW15,000, plus KRW3,000 for a gat (hat). You get to have a locker for your things. When you enter the palaces in a hanbok, admission is free.

After visiting the palace, go to Bukchon Hanok Village and you’ll find over 900 hanok, traditional Korean houses. Members of the royal family lived here during the Joseon period. Baek Inje’s House is a well-preserved example of modern hanok that shows the lifestyle of the beginning of the 20th century in Seoul.

Beside the village is Changdeokgung, considered the most well-preserved royal residential palace from the Joseon period. Originally built in 1405 as a detached royal villa, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Admission fee is the same with Gyeongbokgung. From February to May and September to October, the palace is open from 9AM to 6PM, last entry is 5PM; June to August, last entry and closing time is later by 30 minutes; November to January, the palace closes half an hour earlier, with last entry at 4:30PM. The palace is closed on Mondays. Changdeokgung Secret Garden has its own viewing hours as reservation is required online (cdg.go.kr) or at the palace.

King Seongjong, the ninth king of the Joseon Dynasty, built Changgyeonggung and dedicated it to the wives of the three preceding kings. Admission fee is cheaper with KRW1,000 for foreigners aged 19-64 and KRW500 for 7-18 years old. Viewing schedule is the same with Changdeokgung.

Your last stop for the Palace Quarter must be the Cheonggyecheon Stream, a 10.84 km-lomg stream flowing from Gwanghwamun and Dongdaemun. Stroll down the walking path and enjoy the night view of the area. The Seoul Lantern Festival is held here for two weeks in November featuring thousands of lanterns along the stream. Wall of Hope is made of 20,000 on which the hopes of citizens are written, while the Wall of Proposal is a screen on which you can propose to your loved one – have this reserved on propose.sisul.or.kr.

Yongsan, Dongdaemun and The Central District

Saturday was also our last day in Gangnam-gu. We checked out from the Intercontinental. Prior to my flight, I booked a room in a guesthouse within the central district. Just a 5-minute walk from Myeong-dong subway station (Line 4), J-Honor Guesthouse offers simple and affordable rooms. Each room has its own WiFi. The personnel are very accommodating and they can speak fluently in English.

I left the guesthouse Sunday morning to attend a worship service in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) locale congregation of Yongsan-gu. It’s near the Seoul station. I met Filipino brethren who are staying there and some foreigners who are also church officers. There are different houses of worship of INC in South Korea as this is a separate ecclesiastical district from Southeast Asia.

I went straight to Dragon Hill Spa and Resort. Of course, I don’t want to leave Korea without trying jjimjilbang, a large, gender-segregated public bathhouse in Korea. I booked a weekend package amounting to PHP666 in Klook. At the entrance, I received a waterproof electric bracelet that serves as a “credit card” inside the spa. If you lose this, you will pay KRW30,000. I also received the key, with the bracelet, for my lockers – one for my shoes and the other one for other things. Sweat clothing was also provided free of charge. KRW1,000 per hour will be incurred if your duration exceeds 12 hours. The resort has seven floors and a basement, which houses a cinema hall and a PC room. At the first floor is the entrance gate and the shoe locker. It has a Healing Zone where Korean traditional charcoal kiln, pinewood sauna, crystal sauna, Hinoki woodland room, Seokbinggo, red clay pyramid meditation room, natural nephrite jade experience room are located. A snack bar and a heated pool can also be found at the first floor. Females get to experience female sauna, natural bedrock seawater bath, Hinoki pavilion bath, Korean ginseng bath, rainbow children’s bath, foot bath, red clay sauna, facial shaving, and skin massage room at the second and third floors. Fourth floor is for fitness enthusiasts as the Dragon Hill Fitness Club is located there.

Fifth floor is for men. This includes the male locker, reinvigoration bath, functional cold bath, event bath, aroma gold wet sauna, and men’s hair salon. The sixth floor has traditional Thailand massage, male-only Hinoki bath, male-only red clay sleeping room, female-only sleeping room. At the 7th floor is the Sky Garden. The admission fee allows you to access the whole resort except that you will pay services like massage and body scrub. At the fifth floor, all men are naked. It was my first time to strip down completely naked in a public place. At first, it was kind of awkward but then all men there are naked so that’s fine. Most people don’t care.

Itaewon Street is also located in Yongsan-gu. Enjoy a brunch menus and a party culture here.

After a relaxing treat, I went straight to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), designed by world-renowed architect Zaha Hadid. A 3-minute walk from Exit 1 or 2 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4 or 5), it features an exterior decorated with over 40,000 aluminum panels. The plaza is home to various exhibition spaces, a design museum, sky lounge, and the 25,550 LED roses.

Near DDP is Naksan Park in Daehangno. It resembles a camel’s back. Ihwa Mural Village was once a run-down residential area that was transformed into a picturesque neighborhood through the Naksan Public Art Project. Hanyangdoseong or Seoul City Wall is an 18.6 km-long fortress wall built around Seoul at the very beginning of Joseon dynasty. The walking trail that spans from Dongdaemun and Naksan Park is also part of the fortress wall.

If you’re not done yet with palaces, Deoksugung is in the City Hall area. Playing an important role in the Korea’s modern history, the palace served as the backdrop for the Daehanjeguk or Great Korean Empire. This is the only palace among all ancient palaces in Seoul to have a Western style garden, fountain, and modern royal palace. Admission fee is KRW1,000 for foreigners aged 19-64, while KRW500 for kids (7-18 years old). The palace is open every day from 9AM to 9PM, with last entry at 8PM. This is closed on Mondays. The changing of the royal guard ceremony takes place every 11AM, 2PM, 3:30PM. To get there, exit at 2 or 12 of the City Hall Station of Line 1 or 2.

In front of Seoul City Hall is Seoul Plaza, where you can enjoy mini concerts, outdoor exhibitions, flea markets, and many fun events every day. During the winter, an ice skating rink is set up for visitors to enjoy ice skating at a reasonable price. The new Seoul City Hall is the new is the newest landmark in the Seoul. It is an eco-friendly building with the world’s largest indoor green wall.

This is a long day, take a rest in Namsan area. Namdaemun Market is the largest market in Korea. Almost half of Seoul’s foreign tourists pay it a visit due to its low prices and hospitality. There are a lot of alleys filled with restaurants in Namdaemun Market, where yachae hotteok (vegetable pancakes), wangmandu (giant dumplings), kalguksu (noodle soup), and galchijorim (braised cutlassfish) are especially popular. This is located at Exit 5 of Hoehyeon Station of Line 4.

Have an 8-minute walk from Namdaemun Market, you’ll find Sungnyemun Gate, Korea’s National Treasure No. 1 as it served the main southern entrance of the Seoul City Wall. Also called Namdaemun Gate, Sungnyemun was destroyed by fire in 2008 which was subsequently restored in 2013. Normal open hours is 9AM-6PM, except on Mondays, June to August as it closes at 6:30PM, November to February as it closes at 5:30PM.

End your Namsan tour at the Namsan Park, where Namsam Seoul Tower (N Seoul Tower), Palgakjeong Pavillion, Namsan Botanical Gardens, and the National Theater of Korea. I took a cable car going to N Seoul Tower. Round trip ticket is KRW9,500 (children – KRW5,500), while KRW7,000 (children – 3,500) for one-way. There is a special package being offered to couples. Cable car service is only available from 10AM to 11PM. If you don’t want to take a cable car, you may take Board Namsan Circular Bys 2, 3 or 5.

Standing at 236.7 meters tall, N Seoul Tower gives a complete view of Seoul. At the first floor are shopping and entertainment centers. If you’re a couple, don’t forget to install love locks. This was where Gu Jun-Pyo and Geum Jan Di of Korean “Boys Over Flowers” went on a date. At the observatory on the second and third floors are food and shop stalls, and a revolving restaurants. Observatory entry charge for adults is KRW10,000, while KRW8,000. Tip: Keep and read the manual of your T-money card as there are coupons there for foreigners. I used one, which gave me 20% discount for N Seoul Tower Observatory. The observatory is open weekdays from 10AM to 11PM. On Saturdays, it is extended to 11PM.  

I guess I had the best night in Myeong-dong, Korea’s best-known shopping district. The streets are lined with department stores and shops that sell brand-name cosmetics, clothes, shoes, and accessories. I bought pasalubong here like face masks, make up (in stores like Missha and Olive Young), Korean snacks (in a store where there is a 50% sale – you’ll find this at the center of Myeong-dong, near Uniqlo). I really love Thailand because of its cuisine and street food. Thailand is my first love (even before visiting it) after my home country, the Philippines. When I was in Myeong-dong and Euljiro, Korea made it to my top 3 countries because of the transportation system and a street of flagship department stores and shopping malls specializing in fashion and accessories. I went to Lotte Town to buy IKON albums and BlackPink items in YG Shop. Meanwhile, Shinsegae Department Store is the only department store that uses its original, old building. It also has a duty-free shop located in its new wing.

An 8-minute walk from Exit 5 or 8 of Myeong-dong Station of Line 4, Myeong-dong Cathedral is the most iconic cathedral in Korea. The first Gothic cathedral in Korea symbolizes Korean Catholicism for 119 years.

Next to Myeong-dong Station is Chungmuro Station. At the Exit 3 or 4, you’ll find Namsangol Hanok Village, an ancient village from the Joseon period which features well-preserved hanoks, pavilions, and a pond. You can have a genuine, traditional Korean wedding ceremony at the village but advance reservation is required (hanokmaeul.or.kr). Admission is free but closed on Mondays. From April to October, the village opens from 9AM to 9PM. From November to March, the village closes earlier at 8PM.

Seodaemun and Mapo

I allotted my last day for Gangwon province but before that, I was supposed to visit universities in Seodaemun and Mapo districts. I woke up late but please allow me to share tourist spots in this area. A 5-minute walk from Exit 2 or 3 of Ewha Womans University (EWU) Station of Line 2, EWU is the Korea’s first women’s college founded in 1886. The high-tech Ewha Campus Complex, designed by world-renowed architech Dominique Perrault, is famous for its unique and sophisticated façade. Inside EWU is Art House Momo, the first permanent movie theater in Korea to open inside a university. It plays mostly art films. Before “Gangnam Style,” there was “E-Dae Style” in the 1990s. The street in front of EWU has been a hot shopping spot, leading the fashion trends of Seoul.

Walk along Sinchon “Pedestrian-Friendly Street,” a cultural street filled with lots of restaurants, attractions and entertainment for young people to enjoy, then you’ll find Yonsei University. Founded in 1885 when Korea’s first Western hospital, Gwangheon, it was reborn as a medical school. Three buildings on the campus serve as excellent examples of modern university architecture – Stimson Hall, Appenzeller Hall, and Underwood Hall – have been designated as historic sites. The ivy draped campus is a frequent shooting location for movies and television dramas.

A 5-minute walk from Exit 9 of Hongik University Station of Line 2, the streets around Hongdae evolved naturally with the tastes of the trendy youth who gather here. At night, indie bands often perform in playgrounds or vacant lots. The Hongdae Free Market, an art market, is held at Hongik Children’s Park every Saturday of March-November, 1PM-6PM. Considering that Hongik University is a renowned art college, you may want to see fantastic murals and wall art created by students from its College of Fine Arts in the Mural Street. Hongdae is known as the main hub for nightlife. If offers music and dances of different genres such as electronic, hip-hop, K-pop, house, deep-house, and jazz.

Other places – Gyeonggi, Jamsil, Songpa

Going to amusement and leisure parks is not me so I did not go to that places but if you’re a fan, I guess going to Everland, Lotte World and other parts of Songpa is a must. Allow me to share what’s waiting for you there.

Everland is South Korea’s largest theme park, located in Yongin, a city in Gyeonggi-do. It includes a zoo and water park known as Caribbean Bay. Operated by Samsung Group, this was formerly called Jayeon Nongwon or natural farm / Farmland. One-day ticket is available online – KRW54,000 for adults, KRW43,000 for children – just visit everland.eticket.placem.co.kr. Night ticket – 5PM onwards (KRW45,000 for adults, KRW36,000 for children) and two-day ticket (KRW84,000 for adults and KRW67,000 for children) are also available but not online.

Jamsil Sports Complex, Korea’s largest sports complex, was the site of the 10th Asian Games in 1986 and the 1988 Olympics. This is located at the Exit 6 or 7 of Sports Complex Station of Line 2. Guests can enjoy water leisure sports such as wakeboarding and banana boats, jet skis, fly boarding, and more against the backdrop of high rises for a unique experience at Jamsil Water Leisure Park.

Next to the Sports Complex Station is Jamsil Station. From Exits 1,2, 10 or 11 of Lines 2 or 8, you’ll find the 123-story Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in the country. This hotel houses the highest observation deck in Korea, with the largest aquarium in downtown Seoul, department stores, and movie theaters. Lotte World, an amusement park complex, consists of Adventure and Magic Island. One-day ticket for adults is KRW55,000, while KRW44,000 for children. This is open every day from 9:30AM to 10PM, except for Friday to Sunday as it operates until 11PM. There is also a cultural center called Lotte World Folk Museum, an ideal place to learn about Korea’s history and culture in an easy and fun way. Admission fee for adults is KRW5,000, while KRW2,000 for children. It operates until 8PM, except for weekends as it operates until 9PM.

If you’re not yet done with Insa-dong, visiting the Olympic Park after Lotte World maybe is a good idea. This park, located at the Exit 3 of Olympic Park Station of Line 5, displays more than 200 sculptures by Korean and overseas artists on its sprawling lawn. This was built to commemorate the 1988 Olympics. With beautiful scenery that changes each season, it became a popular movie and TV commercial filming location.

DMZ AND JSA TOUR

I booked a day tour in 8 December in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Panmunjom a day before my flight. On the 6th of December, I received an e-mail saying, “due to political factors, the tour has been cancelled.” The DMZ is located around 60 kilometers up north of Seoul and can only be accessed by booking a guided bus tour. The United Nations created the DMZ to separate the North Korea and South Korea. There are different options for the DMZ tour. If you’re brave enough to take a step on the exact border, take the DMZ with Panmunjeom tour. This will allow you to visit the Joint Security Area (JSA), the closest point you can get to North Korea. At the JSA, you’ll have a chance to set foot in North Korea and take pictures of the North and South Korean soldiers guarding the border. I guess, I need to visit South Korea again sooner just to have this tour.

AWAY FROM THE BUSY CITY

With Klook, I was able to book a Rail Bike, Nami Island, Petite France and Garden or Morning Calm tour for PHP4,750. The amount includes a shuttle from the pick-up point to the destinations and admission tickets. So whatever amount you’ll read in the succeeding parts of this section are included in the amount paid, unless otherwise stated. I had a hard time looking for a complete itinerary like this before my flight. Thanks to KTourStory! I would also like to thank Alvin, our tour guide, who can speak English, Korean and Mandarin. He is a smart guy. Our bus driver is a lady. All staff are accommodating. You may have read here in my story that I woke up late in the morning of 10 December. I put in my booking that I would be meeting the team in Hongik University Station. I failed to meet them there so I went to Myeong-dong Station instead. Thanks to the staff – I had the best Korean experience! Here I also met a group of six PUP-Batangas professors. In every country I visit, they always assume that I am a Vietnamese. This was different, they said, from Manila airport to South Korea, that I look like a Korean. A Chinese national even asked me to take a photo with him when we were in Gyeongbokgung with my rented hanbok. Thanks to Alvin, he recognized me as a Filipino when I get to our shuttle.

Raik Park

In Korea, there are around ten places for rail bike which consists of disused railway. The nearest one from Seoul is Gangchon Rail Park, a popular tourist attraction where visitors can pedal along old railroad tracks while taking in the lovely Bukhangang River scenery. When the Gyeongchun Line, a double-tracked railway line connecting Seoul and Chuncheon, opened in December 2010, it replaced the Mugunghwa train that traveled this route for 70 years. Gangchon Rail Bike operates every day, every hour from 9AM to 5PM. You can choose from either 2-seater or 4-seater bikes. The original prices of each type are KRW30,000 and KRW40,000, respectively. Alvin asked me if I want to take a private cart – I did so I paid an extra KRW5,000.

The course is 8.5 km long and it took us an hour and 30 minutes. The first 6-km is a rail bike course for 50 minutes. Each tunnel has different theme and a genre of music. I like the last one – a modern one and rock style. In this part outside Seoul, I experienced the coldest point. Water in the falls and rivers became ice. I enjoyed it. I learned that the next day, snow would fall. After this course, we arrived at a transfer station and took a break for 20 minutes. After a break, we took the Romantic Train for 20 minutes (2.5 km long from the transfer station) going to Gangchon Station.

Watch my full video for this unforgettable experience:

Naminara Republic (Nami Island)

Situated 63-km from Seoul in the middle of the Han River, Nami Island looks like a leaf floating on top of Cheongpyeong Lake. It was name after General Nami, a notable figure in Korean history who courageously fought in battles but died at the age of 26. When spring comes, Nami Island is covered in flowers. In autumn, the fallen leaves carpet the land. While in winter, the island is transformed into a world of icicles and snow. Nami Island declared its cultural independence and became Naminara Republic, a micro-nation. It has its own national flag, commemorative stamps and a currency called “Nami Tongbo.”

When we arrived in Gapyeong, we were welcomed by big-sized books with different titles from different countries – I found two from the Philippines – “Ang Pagmamahal ni Lam-ang (The Love of Lam-ang)” and “Ang Hukuman ni Sinukuan (The Court of Sinukuan).” Before you get to Naminara, you need to get a Visa amounting to KRW13,000 (included from my Klook voucher), which includes the ferry fare. The ferry picks up passengers every 30 minutes after first ferry at 7:30AM, last ferry departs from Gapyeong at 9:40PM. You can get an unlimited access to Naminara Republic for a year for KRW45,000 (short-term passport), while there is an unlimited access to Naminara and Tamnara for a year for KRW50,000 (dual passport). If you don’t want to go to Naminara via ferry, take a zipline for KRW44,000, which includes an entrance fee to Nami Island, but it is only open until 7PM, except for November to March which closes earlier an hour. Zip-wire operations may cease due to bad weather (rain, snow, heavy winds, etc.).

We were welcomed by a Namimaid statue when we arrived in Naminara. Those interested in history might want to visit the tomb of General Nami. Naminara got its fame as the filming spot of popular Korean show “Winter Sonata”. There is a village called “Love Village” inside the island where “Winter Sonata First Kiss” was filmed. Naminara is also well-known for its tree-lined avenues, particularly in Ginkgo Tree Lane and Metasequoia Lane, where Winter Sonata statue stands.

Petite France

Twenty minutes from Nami Island is Petite France. The owner of the property traveled to France and fell in love with the country, then he decided to bring it to Korea through a reassembled 200-year-old French houses. Petite France was also inspired by Little Prince, a famous children’s book from Saint-Exupéry. This place has become popular among KDrama fans after it was featured in the series “My Love from the Stars.” Admission costs KRW8,000.

Petite France has 38 different sections. The European Doll House, which houses 300 dolls from European Medieval Times, welcomed us. At the center of the house is a miniature French village. In Maison de Marie and Maison de Jean, old vintage furniture from France and fine porcelain dolls made by Meissen, the first European porcelain maker, and paintings by famous French artists are exhibited. At the Theatre de I ‘etoile, children’s classic stories in Europe are reproduced as the theatrical drama using Guignol, the hand puppet, and Marionette, the string puppet. Everyone’s last stop is “Bonjour” Walkway. Appreciate the faur view of the blue Cheongpyeong lake as walking this trail along the hillside of Homyeong mountain.

Garden of the Morning Calm

Getting in costs KRW9,000. This garden transforms every season. During winter, the garden has Starlight Garden Festival, with six main theme gardens and various photo zones. When the night falls in the forests of cold winter nights, the sleeping garden awakens into an illuminated spectacle. Entering the beautiful garden means taking a hanging bridge called Cloud Bridge and entering a tunnel full of lights called Love Tunnel. Don’t forget to take a photo of Millennium Juniper, which is the representative tree of Morning Calm – estimated to be about 1,000 years old. The Sunken Garden is Morning Calm’s representative garden and it is filled with flowers during spring, summer and autumn.

Note that you are not allowed to re-enter after leaving the garden. Before the entrance, is a line of stores. The Garden also has Food Garden, Good Morning Café, Morning Spring Bakery, a gift shop and a plant shop. I bought herbal candies made from honey and ref magnets as souvenirs in the Herb Shop.

Spring Flower Festival starts from April until May. Focusing on spring flowers such as tulips, rhododendron and daffodils, you can enjoy the blissful spring with various spring flowers in full bloom. From October, the garden is full of clear, beautiful colors of autumn. The abundant red foliage completes the culmination of autumn scenery and the yellow leaves of ginkgo trees, katsura trees, and larch harmonize with the garden for a manificent show. The Maple Festival ends in November. There are different exhibitions during summer like Rose of Sharon and Wild Chrysanthemum.

WHAT AND WHERE TO EAT

Traditional Korean cuisine is increasingly popular around the world, particularly here in the Philippines. Here are a few of the best Korean dishes available throughout South Korea:

  1. Bibimbap – the most famous Korean dish is a steamed rice mixed with a variety of ingredients and red pepper paste
  2. Bulgogi – grilled beef marinated in soy sauce
  3. Kimchi – served as a side dish at every Korean meal, this is the most popular fermented food in Korea
  4. Samgyeoupsalgui – pork belly roasted over a hot grill is a delicious savory dish
  5. Gimbap – rice and a variety of ingredients wrapped in seaweed
  6. Haemul-pajeon – seafood and green onion pancake with other vegetables
  7. Japchae – stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables, mushrooms, and meat
  8. Budae-jjigae – a stew made by boiling ripe kimchi, vegetables, and Western ingredients, such as sausages
  9. Dak-galbi – spicy chicken stir fried with pepper paste
Samgyeopsal

Of course, I had samgyeopsal, dak-galbi, among others over my stay in Korea. I cannot give you a specific location of food place to have your meal because every street is full of restaurants and street food, especially in Myeong-dong and Namdaemun Market, Gangnam and Starfield COEX Mall, and Insa-dong and Samcheong-dong. Samgyeopsal price starts at KRW12,000 in Gangnam and Myeong-dong area. Restaurants in Insa-dong are pricy. We had a samgyeopsal there amounting to KRW22,000, exclusive of side dishes amounting to KRW6,00 per set of order.

With a Taiwanese solo traveler during lunch. We ordered spicy chicken with fried rice

Authentic teas start at KRW7,000. In Gapyeong, most restaurants require you to order at a minimum of two. So Alvin asked me to join a Taiwanese solo lady traveler. It was my first time to try dak-galbi. Street food in Myeong-dong has an average price of KRW3,000 but it starts with KRW1,200 like fishball. You can try lobster and squid at KRW4,000-KRW6,000 each. Mokjagolmok or Eat Alley of Gwangjang Market is home to cheap street food, such as tteokbokki, gimbap, bindaetteok, and jokbal. Gyeongnidan-gil is a unique street in a residential area in Itaewon lined with restaurants and cafes with food from such countries as Japan, Thailand, Turkey, and Mexico. Exotic dishes, whose flavors are recreated by foreign chefs and Korean cooks who have worked abroad, are highly popular. Serosu-gil of Gangnam-gu has eight alleys. The exotic cafes and delightful restaurants might even make you feel as if you were in a romantic European city.

MUST-BUY ITEMS

Some subway stations have shopping area

Korea is known for its beauty industry. Other than that, the country is also known for a wide range of high quality household goods. Rapidly becoming a global fashion destination, Korea is also home to both high-end brand stores and independent botiques. Soju and makgeolli are Korea’s most popular alcoholic beverages. South Korea is also the ideal place to buy Asian beauty products that are made with ginseng or other oriental herbs. Hongdae is packed with creative independent shops and is very popular among young people who love fashion and the arts. Itaewon and Hannam-dong have lots of windly creative boutiques and designer shops. Insa-dong and Samcheong-dong are the best places to buy traditional Korean products, including various souvenirs and traditional crafts. Myeong-dong is still the best place to but cosmetics. As Seoul’s number one fashion district, Dongdaemun has a variety of brands and designer shops as well as trendy fashion stores. Nonhyeon Furniture Street in Gangnam-gu has over 70 stores providing a variety of options for your home, kitchen, and office.

TAX REFUND

With this episode of #TheSoloDrifter, I guess leaving Korea is not easy without shopping. South Korea’s tax free system is divided into “duty fee” and “tax refund.” In duty free shops, no tax is applied to the price of the items, including value-added tax (VAT). These stores are generally operated by large department store chains like Lotte and Shinsegae, and are located in airports and downtown. Tax refund refers to shops that apply a tax to the items and after purchasing at the full price, tourists can apply for a refund of the taxes paid before leaving the country.

Tip: Be sure to check if the retail business is a participating store of the “Tax Free” brands when making your purchases. Some stores put a “Tax Free” or “Global Tax Refund” outside their store and in their receipts. For a purchase more than KRW30,000 in a single receipt, you should have a tax refund.

At the airport, tax refund is easy as there are machines installed around the corners. Just scan the receipt and your passport to validate your purchase. For a total refund of KRW75,000, you can use the machines. Otherwise, you need to go through customs and you need not to check in your luggage first. To finally get your refund, proceed to the refund counter machine at the fourth floor in Gate 27 in Passenger Terminal 1 of the Incheon International Airport.

DEPARTURE

From Garden of the Morning Calm, we arrived in Myeong-dong around 9:30PM. I went straight to J-Honor Guesthouse to get my things. Airport buses are not available starting 9PM so I decided to take a subway to Incheon. Taking a taxi would cost me around KRW80,000. Using my T-money card, I only spent less than KRW2,000 from Myeong-dong Station. I arrived at the Incheon International Airport at 11PM. My flight was 2:55AM of 11 December. The airport is at peace during those times but the check-in lines for Cebu Pacific was long. Finally, I arrived in Manila around 6:00AM, I would need to facilitate a training at 9:00AM in KPMG Manila office – yes, I made it!

South Korea is such a lovely place. I wish to spend much time there when I go back – first, because of the transportation system and second, the safe places and disciplined people. But I promise not go back there until I have a partner. I must say that South Korea is a romantic place for couples. I also promise to include Busan and Jeju in my itinerary.

So that’s the last episode of #TheSoloDrifter this year. Thank you for reading my travel blog posts. Please continue supporting VoicePoints. If you have questions, feel free to leave your comments below. You may also share your travel stories with VoicePoints, just send an e-mail to desk@voicepoints.org.

P.S. I am really jealous of the transport system (known destinations are well connected, even terminals in the airport are connected by subway) and the idea of cashless stores. I hope to see this in the Philippines.

Oops! This is not the end yet, here’s a suggested itinerary and budget for South Korea.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY AND BUDGET

Note: I suggest to use Oanda Currency Converter

See cyber station here for the map.

TimePlaceRemarksTrain/Subway RoutePHPUSDKRW
DAY 1 – INCHEON, GANGNAM-GU, EVERLAND
11:15PMManila International AirportJejuAir – total amount includes Philippine travel tax                               –       1,620        141            –  
4:40AMArrival at Incheon International AirportBuy and load T-money card                               –             –             –      22,000
6:30AMJ-Honor GuesthouseCheck in Option A. Take Bus 6015 (every 30 minutes) going to Myeong-dong – Est. KRW16,000
Option B – Est. KRW2,000
1. Take subway in Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station.
2. Take Line 4 going Myeong-dong Station 		          –          139            –  
9:00AMEverlandEstimated travel time is 2 hours

Note: In all succeeding route, no budget was included for transportation as you alreay bought and loaded T-money card, unless otherwise stated		 1. Take Bus 741 in Jungang Cinema, Paik Hospital
2. Take 5002 in Myongji University. Your last stop is Dume Garden
3. 20-minute walk to Everland 		          –             –      54,000
4:45PMSMTownHave your snacks at SMTown Café

Estimated travel time is 1 hour and 45 minutes		 1. 20-minute walk to Dume Garden
2. Take Bus 5002 and arrive at Gangnam Station
3. Take Line 2 and arrive at Samseong Station 		          –             –              –  
7:45PMK-Star RoadEstimated travel time is 45 minutes 1. Take Line 2 at Samseong Station to Jamsil Station
2. Take Bus 3319 going to Jangji Public Garage 		          –             –              –  
GuesthouseEstimated travel time is 1 hour 1. Take Line 5 at Dunchon-dong Station
2. Transfer to Line 4 at Dongdaemun History & Cultural Park and arrive at Myeong-dong 		          –             –              –  
DAY 2 – PALACE QUARTER
7:00AMItaewonEstimated travel time is 25 minutes 1. Take Line 4 in Myeong-dong Station
2. Transfer to Line 6 in Samgakji and arrive at Itaewon via Exit 3 		          –             –              –  
8:00AMBukchon Hanok VillageEstimated travel time is 35 minutes

Note: All estimated travel time includes walk		 1. Take Line 6 in Itaewon
2. Transfer to Line 3 in Yaksu and arrive at Anguk Station
3. Have a 10-minute walk from Exit 2 		          –             –              –  
9:45AMGwanghwamun SquareEstimated time travel is 20 minutes 1. Take Line 3 of Anguk Station and arrive at Gyeongbokgung
2. Have a 7-minute walk from Exit 5 		          –             –              –  
10:00AMGyeongbokgung1. Opening of the royal gates
2. Rent a hanbok		                               –             –             –      18,000
12:00PMInsa-dongHave your lunch here

Estimated travel time is 15 minutes		                               –             –             –      20,000
2:00PMChangdeokgung                               –                                  –             –             –        3,000
4:20PMCheonggyecheon StreamEstimated travel time is 20 minutes 1. Take Line 1 in Jongno and arrive at Jong-Gag (Exit 5)           –             –              –  
GuesthouseEstimated travel time is 15 minutes 1. Take Line 2 in Euljiro 1 and arrive at Euljiro 3 (Exit 12)           –             –              –  
DAY 3 – CENTRAL
8:00AMDragon Hill Spa and ResortEstimated travel time is 15 minutes 1. Take Line 4 in Myeong-dong Station and arrive at Sinyongsan (Exit 3)        666           –              –  
12:25PMDongdaemun Design PlazaEstimated travel time is 25 minutes 1. Take Line 4 in Sinyongsan and arrive at Dongdaemun History & Cultural Park  (Exit 1)           –             –              –  
1:30PMNaksan Park1. Ihwa Mural Village
2. Hanyangdoseong

Estimated travel time is 20 minutes		 1. Take Line 4 in Dongdaemun History & Cultural Park and arrive at Hyehwa
2. Have a 10-minute walk from Exit 2 		          –             –              –  
3:00PMSeoul PlazaSkating rink 1. Take Line 3 in Naksan Park
2. Transfer to Line 1 in Dongmyo and arrive at City Hall (Exit 5) 		          –             –              –  
5:00PMN Seoul Tower1. Cable car
2. Observatory
3. Witness Seoul to sunset

Estimated travel time is 20 minutes		 1. Take Line 1 in City Hall and arrive at Seoul Station
2. Have a 15-minute walk from Exit 7 		          –             –      19,500
6:30PMMyeong-dong1. Shop
2. Street food
3. Buy Korean snacks as pasalubong

Notes:
1. This is a walking distance from Namsan Cable car Arrivals
2. I put a budget of KRW100,0000		                               –             –             –    100,000
DAY 4 – PARKS
Jamsil Sports ComplexEstimated travel time is 40 minutes 1. Take Line 2 in Euljiro 3 and arrive at Sports Complex (Exit 5)           –             –              –  
9:30AMLotte World1. Lotte World Tower
2. Lotte World
3. Lotte World Folk Museum
4. Brunch

Estimated travel time is 7 minutes		 1. Take Line 2 in Sports Complex and arrive at Jamsil (Exit 1)           –             –      60,000
3:20PMOlympic Park                               –    1. Take Line 8 in Jamsil and arrive at Mongchontoseong
2. Have a 13-minute walk from Exit 1 		          –             –              –  
Guesthouse                               –    1. Take Line 8 in Amsa Station
2. Transfer to Line 5 in Cheonho
3. Transfer to Line 4 in Dongdaemun History & Culture Park and arrive at Myeong-dong 		          –             –              –  
DAY 5 – AWAY FROM THE BUSY CITY
8:00AMEwha Womans UniversityEstimated travel time is 30 minutes 1. Take Line 2 in Euljiro 1 and arrive at Ahyeon Station
2. Have a 15-minute walk from Exit 1 		          –             –              –  
9:00AMHongik UniversityMeet up place for the day tour

Notes:
1. The itinerary below is for winter season
2. The budget is based on the total amount paid for Klook voucher for the whole tour		 1. Take Line 2 in Ewha Womans University Station and arrive at Hongik University Station     4,750           –              –  
11:20AMPetite FranceNote: I did not include a subway route for the succeeding itinerary. I suggest to get a day tour from KTourStory thru Klook. The places are far from Seoul. You should take a rest in between with the shuttle                               –             –             –              –  
12:20PMNami Island                               –                                  –             –             –              –  
3:50PMRail Bike                               –                                  –             –             –              –  
6:10PMGarden of Morning CalmNote: For non-winter season, you may start your itinerary at the Railbike (9:40AM), followed by Nami Island (12:00NN), Petite France (3:30PM), Garden of Morning Calm (5:10PM)

Tip: Your itinerary must be strictly followed to get the best view of the tourist spots		                               –             –             –              –  
9:30PMGuesthouse                               –                                  –             –             –              –  
11:00PMIncheon International AirportCebu PacificSee Day 1 itinerary for the route 273,500
          –                                  –                                  –                                  –       7,036        280  567,000

TRANSPORTATION

JejuAir (MNL-ICN)
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Cebu Pacific (ICN-MNL)
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

ACCOMMODATION

Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas
Website

J-Honor Guesthouse
8, Sogong-ro 6na-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
+82 2-777-2121

RECREATION

SMTown
Website | Instagram

Dragon Hill Spa and Resort
Website | Facebook | Instagram

N Seoul Tower
Website | Facebook 

Klook (Booking)
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

KTourStory (Guide)
Website | Facebook | Instagram

FOOD

Korea House
56 Apgujeong-ro 79-gil, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
+82-2-543-8888

Izawa Kyukatsu
19-3 Myeong-dong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
+82 2-777-1529

Nami Dakgalbi (one of the olderst retaurants in the area)
Near parking lots near Gapyeong Wharf (before Nami Island)

I would like to thank the following sources and resources to complete this blog:

  1. stay.visitseoul.net
  2. Naminara Republic Manual
  3. Petite France Manual
  4. The Starlight Garden Festival Manual
  5. Alvin of KTourStory

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About the Author

Paul Michael Jaramillo
Paul Michael JaramilloChief Executive Editor
PJ is a CPA, writer, storyteller, environment and youth advocate. As a writer, his articles on national development were published in a Spanish newspaper and local news network Rappler. As a storyteller and environment advocate, his documentary films on mining and environment were featured by ABS-CBN News and GMA News. He launched his career as a CPA at KPMG in the Philippines in late 2015. He started his professional journey as an external auditor of a global workspace provider (the largest audit client of KPMG in the Philippines), global bank, leading MFCG in the Philippines and a number of shared service centres. As an auditor, his team won the KPMG Asia-Pacific Data & Analytics Challenge and coached the Philippine team that placed third to the KPMG GlobalRunner Cup. More than two years later, he led KPMG in the Philippines’ Network of Audit Innovators and Data & Analytics Champions and its academic arm, while serving as a member of the KPMG Asia-Pacific Audit Digital Transformation Workstream. He served as a member of the Audit Methodology Group and Root Cause Analysis Team of KPMG in the Philippines. He was a regular training facilitator of KPMG on audit methodology, innovation, data and analytics, professional standards and regulatory updates. He also served as a coach for newly promoted supervisors. PJ was also the Firm’s System of Quality Management Implementation Manager and a Workforce of the Future Champion. He was also a Sampling Specialist of the Firm. In 2019, PJ was a member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)’s Technical Working Group on Audit Methodology. PJ led in developing some of the innovative solutions of KPMG in the Philippines. Above all, PJ is a people investor. He invests on people who have potential and talents. That makes him a coach and mentor to some young professionals in the profession and served as a People Committee member of KPMG in the Philippines. He leads advocacy projects that help communities. He produces vlogs thru his YouTube channel, PJspirations which features stories of different individuals. As a volunteer, he is the Academic Master and Head Coach of PREMIER International Learning and Development Center, which provides coaching, mentoring, training and learning programs and platforms that promote growth and development in every individual’s life and career. He is also with the Middle East and Caspian regions of KPMG as a member of its Professional Practice group and Audit L&D for the Saudi Levant Cluster, providing subject matter knowledge and guidance on audit methodology, and learning and development programs to its offices. He is a proud Ilocano and a graduate of Northwestern University.

He also conducts #IamRemarkable sessions, a program initiated by Google for women and underrepresented groups.
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