South Korea

Soo Kim is a South Korean journalist and author based in London, UK. She is the author of How to Live Korean and co-author of Hello, South Korea: Meet the Country Behind Hallyu. She has been a reporter for Newsweek, an international news publication, from 2019, covering the latest in travel, design, as well as Korean culture and entertainment. Soo was a travel reporter and commissioning editor for the award-winning travel section of The Daily Telegraph, a leading UK national newspaper, for nearly a decade from 2010. She has been featured on several BBC Radio stations, including BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, the BBC News channel, and the South Korean national television channel Arirang TV, the country’s largest English broadcasting station. She has reported on various major news events, including extensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement, the war in Afghanistan, the US and Canadian elections, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Follow Soo on Instagram at @miss.soo.kim

• Introduction Seoul (서울특별시) Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) – Grandest Joseon-era palace; don’t miss the guard ceremony. Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을) – Traditional houses between palaces. Insadong (인사동) – Arts, antiques, and tea houses. Myeongdong (명동) – Major shopping and street food area. Namsan Seoul Tower (남산서울타워) – Iconic skyline view. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) – Futuristic architecture and fashion hub. Hongdae (홍대) – Youth culture, indie music, and nightlife. Cheonggyecheon Stream (청계천) – Urban stream walk through the city center. Incheon (인천광역시) Incheon Chinatown – Korea’s oldest Chinatown. Songdo Central Park – Futuristic eco- city and park. Wolmido Island – Amusement park and seaside cafés. Ganghwa Island (강화도) – Historic dolmens, temples, and coastal scenery. Gyeonggi-do (경기도) Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (수원 화성) – UNESCO World Heritage Site. DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) – Panmunjom, Dora Observatory tours. Nami Island (남이섬) – Romantic island famous from K-drama Winter Sonata. Petite France & Garden of Morning Calm – European-style village and botanical garden near Gapyeong. Gangwon-do (강원도) Seoraksan National Park (설악산국립공원) – Top hiking destination. Gangneung (강릉) – Beaches, coffee street, and Ojukheon House. Pyeongchang (평창) – 2018 Winter Olympics site. Sokcho (속초) – Seafood markets and coastal views. Jeongdongjin (정동진) – Famous sunrise spot. Chungcheong-do (충청도) Gongju & Buyeo – Ancient Baekje Kingdom relics (UNESCO sites). Daejeon (대전) – Expo Science Park and Yuseong Hot Springs. Cheongnamdae Presidential Villa – Former presidential retreat near Cheongju. Sudeoksa Temple (수덕사) – Historic mountain temple. Jeolla-do (전라도) North Jeolla (전라북도): Jeonju Hanok Village (전주한옥마을) – Best-preserved hanok village. Jeonju Bibimbap Street – Birthplace of bibimbap. Maisan Provincial Park (마이산도립공원) – Twin-peaked mountain and Tapsa Temple. South Jeolla (전라남도): Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve (순천만습지) – Vast reed fields and migratory birds. Boseong Green Tea Fields (보성녹차밭) – Terraced green hills. Yeosu (여수) – Scenic harbor, Odongdo Island, and cable car views. Damyang (담양) – Bamboo forest and metasequoia road. Gyeongsang-do (경상도) North Gyeongsang (경상북도): Gyeongju (경주) – “Museum without walls”: Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, Tumuli Park. Andong Hahoe Folk Village (안동하회마을) – UNESCO heritage village. Pohang (포항) – Homigot sunrise point and Space Walk sculpture. South Gyeongsang (경상남도): Busan (부산) – Haeundae & Gwangalli Beaches, Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi Market. Tongyeong (통영) – “Naples of Korea,” famous for coastal views and murals. Geoje Island (거제도) – Beaches, cliffs, and Oedo Botania garden. Jeju Island (제주도) Hallasan National Park (한라산) – Korea’s highest peak. Seongsan Ilchulbong – volcanic UNESCO World Heritage site