It’s not uncommon to visit an Asian country and find that the people have carved a niche of some sort for themselves. In Korea, especially, you’ll find that different cities or provinces attach themselves to specific cultural habits. Some have special festivals while others boast intense cuisines. In the end, despite each area having much to offer, they’ll only become well-known for one or two.
The Korean Wave has brought worldwide attention to South Korean culture, through its movies, tv shows and music. Many TV shows are known throughout Asia, but did you know that the locations where these Koreanovelas and filmed can actually be visited by the fans?
Here are 6 Korean TV show locations you can visit:
Pojangmachas literally mean “covered wagons.” At night, the streets of Seoul and other South Korean cities become enveloped by makeshift plastic tents, while trucks and vans are converted into kitchens where all kinds of greasy food are prepared. These street vendors are so commonplace that they are regularly featured in Korean dramas as they feed the nightlife of Korea, from the party-going teenagers to the white-collar workers out for late night drinking sessions.
The Korean Wave, dubbed Hallyu by Chinese journalists, is the export boom of Korean pop culture to Asia and the rest of the world. From TV dramas to music, video games and fashion, a substantial audience for Korean-made entertainment is deliberately being courted in countries like China, Japan, the South-East Asian nations, and even in North America, enabling South Korea to be one of the top ten cultural exporters in the world.
Back in 1998, the community leaders of the small town of Boryeong, South Korea, tried to market the rejuvenating properties of their mud in the form of cosmetics. Rich in Germanium and other skin-nourishing minerals, the mud was planned to be the central focus of a festival designed to draw the country’s attention towards the cosmetics. But amazingly, the visitors raved more about the muddy activities of the festival, which brought people together in a messy, friendly way. And so the idea of cosmetics gave way to the annual mud festival in Boryeong.
South Korea has its own share of traditional snacks, from baked goods stuffed with bean paste to the steamed silkworm pupae. If you find yourself adventurous for some exotic delicacy or just hungry from a day’s sightseeing, then head for the nearest street food vendor (pojangmacha) and order up some tasty Korean treats.
Beondegi - stewed and seasoned silkworm pupae served by street vendors. They are also popular accompaniments to liquor in bars and are available in cans for grocery purchases. The canned versions have a boiled hotdog aroma, which does not help in making the product appealing, but the deep-fried variety tastes like deep-fried peanut skin filled with a woody foie gras-like paste.
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Gyeongju is a small city south of Seoul which once served as the historical capital of Korea. Much of Korean Buddhist art is concentrated here in the form of sculptures, reliefs, pagodas, temples and palaces. It is said that if you go to Korea without visiting Gyeongju, your understanding of the country will be incomplete.
Here are the major landmarks you must visit in Gyeongu:
Bulguksa Temple – regarded as a masterpiece in Buddhist art. Like many Korean temples, Bulguksa has the Gate of the Four Guardians, deities whose expressions range from smiling to teeth-gnashing. Together, the guardians symbolize the triumph of wisdom over ignorance. Two famous stone pagodas, Seokgatap and Dabotap, stand in front of the main rayer hall. Bulguksa has been destroyed and reconstructed over the centuries, the most recent one occurring in 1965.
As a major harbor city in South Korea, Incheon is blessed with beautiful beaches and numerous nearby islands available for visits. It is especially accessible from Seoul due to its proximity with the capital and the fact that the subway systems of both cities are linked. All of this gives visitors to the city plenty of things to do, from island-hopping to
heritage tours.
There is an interesting place in South Korea where a person can go back to his or her childhood and start believing in happy ever after all over again. I am actually referring to Everland.
From the time the highly popular Everland Resort opened its doors to the public in 1976, it has already provided quality entertainment, first class service, and fun way of learning to hundreds and hundreds of park goers each year. The resort is divided into several attractions that can be enjoyed by everyone – both young and the young at heart. Attractions at the Everland Resort include the Caribbean Bay, which is a world-class water park. There is also a motor race track called the Speed Way, Home Bridge, Glen Ross Golf Club, Art Museum, and a Transportation Museum among others.
South Korea has a rich culture stemming from its own dynastic monarchy as well as influences from many Asian countries. Modern times have also led the country to construct impressive skyscrapers and other developments that are worth seeing up close. To guide you in your journey to South Korea, here are 10 landmarks you shouldn’t miss.
Changdeokgung Palace - one of the five grand palaces of Joseon-era Seoul. Literally meaning “Palace of Prospering Virtue”, the complex is comprised of 13 buildings and 28 pavilions. Changdeokgung is at its most beautiful during the fall, when leaves turn colorful and start to fall in a gentle, gradual shower.
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Release that romance by sharing a scuba dive or a zesty meal with your loved one in Guam! Surrounded by the North Pacific Ocean and Philippine Sea, Guam enjoys world renowned diving conditions in serene blue waters. Be consumed by the dance, festivals, cuisine and fantastic shopping that this island offers.
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