South Korea
South Korea is a country that has lots to be proud of. Most of the world knows Korea for its tensions with its northern neighbor. The two Koreas were divided after World War II with the US occupying the south making it a democracy while the Soviets took the North making it a communist nation. While North Korea is poor and struggling, South Korea has developed into a leader of science and engineering. It boasts both modern and ancient cities, has some beautiful national parks, and plenty of unique culture and cuisine. I’ve been to Korea multiple times, but there is always so much more to see! My next time in Korea I’ll be sure to visit their resort island of Jeju, their national park Seoraksan, and explore their second largest city of Busan.
Seoul
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South Korea’s capital of Seoul is located in the north western part of the country, not too far away from the border of North Korea! Seoul is one of the largest cities in the world, with an impressive range of sights and things to do. This great city is known for its skyscrapers, nightlife, palaces and ceremonies.
Gyeongju
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Gyeongju is considered the cultural capital of Korea, and is home to several of the nation’s national treasures. Gyeongju was once capital of Korea’s first major dynasty, the Shilla Kingdom. There are several beautiful palaces and museums dating back to the Shilla time that are open to exploration. One of the most impressive places is the Cheomseongdae astronomical tower, built well over 1,000 years ago!
Naejangsan
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Naejangsan is one of Korea’s less known national parks. Although small in size, Naejangsan makes up for this as being one of the best destinations in the country for the autumn colors. Because of this though, the park can be quite crowded and see hundreds of thousands of visitors a day. Luckily, there are dozens of challenging hiking trails to choose from. The vast majority of people do not hike, so taking a trail will give you some peace and quiet, even on a crowded day.
