Mobile guide to South Korea. Ni, Volkova: South Korea. Guide with map Getting around South Korea

There are not as many guidebooks to Korea as we would like. Even fewer of them have been published in Russian. This is partly why the book you are reading now was created. For those who like to hold a paper version of the guidebook in their hands, I will try to briefly talk about what kind of guidebook you can buy when planning a trip to Korea.

Guide to Korea series " Russian Guide. Polyglot". The most up-to-date travel guide to Korea today. The information is presented simply and quite conveniently. The guidebook is a pleasure to use. But the brevity of the presentation is confusing. Suitable only for those who do not want to go into all the details of Korean life, and who are not planning a long trip around the country. For a trip of a week or quite suitable.


Active Traveler's Guide "Step by Step". The book is good, very detailed and complete. There is currently no more detailed guidebook in Russian. But there are also disadvantages - the information is largely outdated. Korea is developing dynamically, so information about Korean public transport and opening hours of cultural institutions must be clarified separately. Sometimes the authors of this guide use dubious transcriptions of Korean names, but this is a common problem when translating proper names from into Russian.

Guide to Korea publishing house " Le Petit Fute". There is almost nothing to praise this guide for. The information is outdated, and it is presented very briefly and inconveniently. There are almost no cards. The guidebook is completely inconvenient to use. I don't recommend buying.

If there are no problems in studying a guidebook about Korea in English, then the best option is probably

The Republic of Korea (pronounced Taehan Minguk in Korean), or informally South Korea, is a country located in East Asia, in the south of the Korean Peninsula, with its capital in the city of Seoul.

South Korea shares a border to the north with North Korea—the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The so-called demilitarized zone runs along this land border. On all other sides, South Korea is surrounded by sea (the length of the coastline is 2,413 km): the Yellow Sea in the west, the East China Sea in the south, and the Japanese Sea in the east.

People settled in Korea already in the Neolithic era. At the beginning of our era, three rival kingdoms developed on the Korean Peninsula - Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje. The largest and strongest was the kingdom of Goguryeo, which was in a state of permanent war with the Chinese Song and Tang dynasties. In the 5th - 7th centuries, the kingdom of Silla gained influence, capturing the entire territory of the Korean Peninsula, forcing the remnants of the troops of the kingdom of Goguryeo to take refuge in the territory of the current Chinese province of Jilin in Manchuria, where they founded the state of Parhae in 698, destroyed by the Chinese in 926. All three kingdoms were united during the Goryeo dynasty, which came to power in 918. Founded in 1392, the Joseon Dynasty ruled Korea until 1910. Between 1592 and 1598, Japan tried to conquer Korea, and in the 1620s, Manchuria, soon in turn conquered by the Chinese Ming dynasty. After this, the Joseon Dynasty came under the rule of the Chinese Qing Dynasty.

In 1876, Japan forced Korea to open to foreign trade. Japan has always sought to suppress Korean national identity, and in 1910, Korea signed an annexation treaty with the Land of the Rising Sun. After the defeat of Japan in 1945, according to the UN plan, the northern part of Korea was given over to the control of the USSR, and the United States received the southern zone of influence, which led to the emergence of two separate states on the Korean Peninsula - North and South Korea.

This was followed by a period of military conflicts, coups and revolutions - the so-called period of the six republics, which ended with the victory of democratic forces in South Korea: democratic elections were held in the country in 1987, and the first civilian president was elected in 1992.

Current time in Seoul:
(UTC +9)

Today, South Korea is a state with a fairly developed economy, becoming a new interesting tourist destination, attracting thousands of guests from all over the world from year to year. The country is famous for its protected areas that are suitable for ecotourists; ancient Buddhist buildings, interesting to lovers of cultural and educational tourism; sandy beaches of Jeju Island, which attract fans of beach holidays, diving and surfing.

How to get to South Korea

Airplane

In the vast majority of cases, tourists arrive by plane to Seoul. The capital of South Korea is served by two airports - Incheon and Gimpo, international flights arrive at the first.

You can fly directly from Russia to Seoul from Moscow (flights of Aeroflot and Korean Air), Khabarovsk and Vladivostok (Asiana), as well as St. Petersburg (seasonally) and Irutsk (Korean Air). From other Russian cities, the Asian metropolis can currently be reached by regular flights with connections in the listed cities.

Almost direct flights are available to residents of St. Petersburg - Finnair operates non-stop flights on the Helsinki - Seoul route. And thanks to Allegro trains, the Northern Capital is only a couple of hours away from the Finnish capital. However, this option is only suitable for those who have Schengen, otherwise it is better to use the same Finnair, but in a connecting version, since Helsinki Airport is quite comfortable and pleasant.

Naturally, you can fly through Moscow; this option is most suitable for the cities of central Russia, right up to the Urals. There are other options, we have listed them below. In addition, many European airlines with a presence in Russia fly to Seoul (Lufthansa, Czech Airlines, KLM and others), but flying with them seems illogical due to the large “hook”, but it may make sense if you participate in various loyalty programs European carriers.

Ferry

Cities and regions

South Korea is administratively divided into 9 provinces (1 of them autonomous), 1 city of special status and 6 metropolitan cities. These units, in turn, are subdivided into a number of smaller entities: cities, counties, municipal districts, towns, parishes, urban areas and villages.

Seoul is the capital of South Korea, founded on the site of a late 14th century settlement called Hanyang. The settlement in which the royal palace of Gyeong-bok was located was soon fortified. In 1910 - 1942, the city was called Gyeongsong, and received its current name - Seoul (from Korean - “capital”) in 1945. Since 1948, Seoul has been the official capital of the Republic of Korea and its main economic, political and cultural center.

Incheon is a large metropolitan city (the third largest city in Korea) and a port on the Yellow Sea coast. Incheon with its large port is the “gateway of Seoul”, and to some extent belongs to Greater Seoul. Transport systems of Seoul and Incheon (particularly subway lines) connected to each other. There is a free economic zone in Incheon, established in 2003.

People settled on the territory of Incheon already in the Neolithic era. From the end of the 4th century. Soon the city became a major trading center in Korea, and remained so throughout the Middle Ages. In 1883, the port of Chemulpo was founded in the city, which was one of the first to open for trade with foreigners. Incheon Harbor is famous for the fact that it was started in 1904 Russo-Japanese War- here the Japanese squadron attacked to a Russian cruiser"Varyag", which was sunk, but did not surrender to the enemy. Incheon was also the site of the American landings in 1950, which was a turning point in the Korean War.

The composition of e Incheon includes Yeongjeong, Wolmi and Mui Islands. Yeongjeong Island Attracts Mountain Tourists Baegung-san with Yonggun Monastery-sa and mineral springs with a SPA complex.

Gwangju is the capital of South Jeolla Province, a metropolitan city located in the central part of Korea surrounded by picturesque natural landscapes. Gwangju is a famous cultural and scientific center of the country. The city was founded in 57 BC. e. Since 370, the city, then called Hanam Wireseong, has been the capital of the state of Baekje. The name Gwangju was adopted in 940.

One of the suburbs of Gwangju, Pungwonni, is a ceramic production center known since the 15th century; it is here that most of the Korean white porcelain has always been produced.

Recently, Gwangju has become a modern metropolis with developed infrastructure. It still remains a major center of the Korean ceramic industry. The city has many attractions, including the Chongjinam Christian Temple (18th century), Namhanseong Fort (1626), and the State Museum with an extensive archaeological and ceramic collection.

Gwangju's events include the Tomato Festival with fairs and competitions, the World Ceramics Exhibition and the annual White Ceramics Festival in September.

Busan is the second largest city in the country, having the status of a metropolitan city, located on the southern coast of Korea. Busan is home to a large city port, ranking fourth in the world in terms of cargo turnover.

Daegu is the fourth largest city in South Korea (after Seoul, Busan and Incheon), the capital of Gyeongsangbuk-do province. Administratively, it is a city of direct subordination. Throughout its history, Daegu has been a major transport hub, located on the route from Seoul to Busan.

People have been settling in Daegu since 1500-3000. BC e. The city was founded in 261. According to the chronicles, during the Three Kingdoms, Daegu was called Dalgubel, and was part of the Silla Kingdom. The city received its modern name, Daegu, in 757. Market trade developed in Daegu from the 15th century. The most famous of the ancient markets is Yangnyeongsi, the medicinal herbal market, which still operates today.

Tourists in Daegu are attracted by the following attractions: Apsan Park with Buddhist temples and the Korean War Museum; Phalgongsan Park with many monasteries; Talson Park, located in an ancient fortress; Turyu amusement park.

Gyeongju is a large Korean city located in the southeastern part of Gyeongsangbuk-do province on the shores of the Sea of ​​Japan. Thanks to its cultural and historical heritage, Gyeongju has been a recognized tourist center in Korea for many years, is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, and attracts many tourists.

The first documentary evidence of the existence of a city on the site of present-day Gyeongju dates back to the beginning of our era. The city was probably founded in 57 BC. e. In the 4th - 10th centuries, the city was the capital of the Silla state, and from the 7th century it was a recognized cultural center of the country. In 940, Gyeongju received its current name, and soon lost its importance. Until the 20th century, when archaeological research began in the city, Gyeongju's historical monuments were repeatedly destroyed and looted. The city received new development as an industrial and tourist center only in the 1970s.

Today, tourists visiting Gyeongju experience Silla's cultural heritage at the Gyeongju National Museum, which boasts a rich collection of archaeological objects. In addition, among the local attractions, the grotto ruins of the once large Hwannyeon-sa temple with the surrounding sculptures of Buddhas and bodhisattvas and the remains of the Bunhwan-sa monastery (7th century) stand out; the royal necropolis of Kerim in the city center, the ancient Cheomseongdae Observatory (647). In addition, in the city it is worth visiting the Sokku-ram cave temple (8th century) and the ancient Bulguk-sa monastery (528), rebuilt on the Toham-san hill, as well as several fortresses from the times of the Silla state.

Jeju, or Jejudo, is the largest island of Korea and at the same time the smallest province of the country with the administrative center of the same name in the city of Jeju. The island is located in the Korea Strait, 100 km from the southern coast of the country, and is considered one of the best resorts in Korea. The island is home to the legendary haenyeo divers, who dive to depths of up to 10 m.

Jeju Island was formed as a result of the eruption of the Halla-san volcano (height 1950 m), now considered extinct. Flows of solidified lava formed bizarre reliefs in the form of grottoes, caves, tunnels and pillars on the slopes of the volcano. A national park was formed here, in which about 2,000 species of plants grow and 4,000 species of animals live. For its uniqueness, the island was included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List.

Until 662, Jeju, then called Thamna, was a separate state, after which it was conquered by Silla. In 938, after the fall of Silla, the island came under the rule of Goryeo. During the period of Japanese protectorate in 1910, Jeju was renamed Saishu (for ease of pronunciation by the Japanese), and after the liberation of Korea from the Japanese, it became part of it. In the second half of the 20th century, Jeju Island began to develop as a major tourist center.

The island, whose holiday season lasts from July to September, is famous for its beaches. There are beaches with both fine white sand and black volcanic sand. The coastal waters abound with a wealth of flora and fauna, making the island a center of attraction for diving enthusiasts. In addition to diving, windsurfing, snorkeling and fishing are popular in the coastal waters of Jeju Island.

On the southern coast of the island there is a fairly large city, Sogipo, surrounded by tangerine plantations. There it is worth visiting the Tangerine Museum and the Jeongban Waterfall, the only waterfall in Asia that pours water into the ocean. Another resort on the island, Chunmun, is famous for its beaches and the nearby Chusan Cheolli-dae volcanic pillars. Near the Gimnyeon resort, it is worth seeing the Monchan-gul cave - a lava cave that is the longest in the world: its length is 13422 m and its height is about 10 m.

Sights of South Korea

Attractions in Korea can be found in abundance throughout its territory. UNESCO world cultural heritage sites are of particular interest to tourists.

  • Megalithic structures - dolmens
  • Hwaseong Fortress (Diamond Fortress)
  • Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
  • Seokguram Cave Temple and Bulguksa Temple Complex
  • Gyeju National Museum
  • Demilitarized Zone and Panmunjeong Peace Village

If you decide to limit yourself to the capital of South Korea, or your path will go through it (and in most cases this happens), then we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the list of attractions in Seoul, and with the page of the city as a whole.

Where to go in South Korea

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Entertainment

Parks and Recreation

Leisure

Transport

Wellness holiday

Private guides in South Korea

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with South Korea in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Things to do in South Korea

Beaches of South Korea

Due to its geographical location, Korea is a recognized Asian destination for beach holidays. Listed below are the most interesting beaches in South Korea, using the links you can get detailed information - location, photographs, infrastructure and other nuances.

Alpine skiing in South Korea

Skiing is a very popular active pastime in Korea. There are more than ten famous ski resorts in the mountains, all of them located near Seoul. The ski season in the country lasts from December to March, but the rest of the year the ski resorts are also crowded with summer entertainment: golf courses and amusement parks. Below are the main ski resorts in South Korea, follow the links for more information.

Wellness in South Korea

Korea is famous for its thermal springs, next to which there are SPA and wellness centers. In total, there are about 70 health centers and about 100 traditional Korean chimchilbang bath complexes in the country.

Below is a list of some popular thermal centers in South Korea, following the links you will find more complete information - location, description, websites, and so on.

Treatment in South Korea

In addition, Korea is becoming a recognized destination in Asia medical tourism, the popularity of which is determined by two main factors: the tourist attractiveness of the country as a whole and the high quality of the medical services offered.

Medical centers in South Korea:

  • Center of Oriental Medicine at Sangzhi University
  • East-West Medical Center at Keng Hee University

Diving in South Korea

Diving in South Korea is most developed on Jeju Island. The main dive sites are around small islands off the southern coast of Jeju, located in the sea 15-20 minutes by boat from the city of Seogwipo. Depths from 40 to 70 m are observed here.

The coastal waters of Jeju at the junction of the Yellow Sea, the Sea of ​​Japan and the East China Sea form a unique hydrodynamic complex, characterized by a huge variety of underwater fauna (lionfish, triggerfish, tetradon, silver tuna, butterfly and angelfish, orange starfish) and richness flora (soft corals, anemones, sponges).

The best season for diving is considered to be from June to December. The water temperature in summer is + 24 - +26°C, in some cases warming up to +28.8°C, in winter and autumn - +19 - +23°C. January and February bring cool weather and many dive centers close.

In addition to diving, snorkeling is popular in the coastal waters of southern Jeju Island.

Getting around South Korea

Within the country you can travel by plane, bus, train or rented car.

Aircraft

All major cities in South Korea are connected by airlines. Within the country, two Korean airlines - and - operate flights between 14 cities of the country, including Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Daegu, Gwangju, Wonju, Ulsan.

Trains

You can also travel around South Korea by train. The railway network covers almost the entire country.

There are four types of trains in Korea: KTX (Korea Train Express) - high-speed (two high-speed railway lines that connect Seoul with Busan and Mokpo, comfortable trains reach speeds of up to 300 km/h), Saemaeul express trains, Mugunghwa fast trains. (quite comfortable) and Thongil passenger trains (slow and not very comfortable). The carriages come in classes I and II; ticket prices depend on class and distance. On all trains, except express trains, passengers are allowed to travel standing if there are no seats available. Tickets are sold at station ticket offices.

At all main railway stations there are special ticket offices selling common travel tickets for foreigners - KR Pass. They give the right to travel any distance on all types of trains without restrictions on the number of trips. Tickets come in different durations - for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days. You can check the current cost and book KR Pass tickets at.

After purchasing the KR Pass online, the tourist is sent a voucher, which should be exchanged for a ticket upon arrival in Korea at the station ticket office.

Buses

You can also get around Korea by bus - the country has a well-established intercity bus service. All buses, regardless of class, are very comfortable.

Buses are divided into regular (ilban) and first class (udyn), and the difference in ticket prices is unreasonably large, given the small difference in comfort.

Intercity buses depart from Seoul to other cities in the country from three major bus stations:

Intercity buses across the country depart at intervals of 15 - 20 minutes. Bus fares depend on the distance of the trip. Current information on bus schedules and fares can be found at.

Within cities you can travel by city buses. They come in different comfort levels, the routes are marked with numbers, but the information is written only in Korean. Fare, as a rule, is 600 - 1300 won and does not depend on the distance of the trip. The fare can be paid in cash or with a transport card, which is also valid in the metro.

Metro

There are subways in Korea in four cities: Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju. The Seoul metro is quite large; it connects the capital with the suburbs. Subway tickets can be purchased at subway ticket offices and ticket machines that accept 10, 50, 100, and 500 won coins and 1,000 won bills. In the Korean metro, the names of stations and all basic information are duplicated in English.

Auto

To travel around the country, you can rent a car. The quality of roads in Korea is at the highest level. To rent a car, the driver must be over 21 years old, have more than 1 year of driving experience, and have a foreign passport and an international driving license. Rental offices can be found at airports and hotels.

Taxi

Tourists often travel within Korean cities by taxi. Taxis can be ordered by phone or found on the street. There are many taxi cars in Korea, they are very safe, comfortable and inexpensive. Many taxi drivers speak English. An available taxi is marked with a yellow or blue light on the roof.

Taxis are standard and deluxe. Cars with Kind Call Taxi and KT Powertel signs have Korean simultaneous translation devices, meters and navigation devices.

The fare for a regular taxi is calculated as follows: payment for landing and the first 2 km is 1600 won, then for every 150 m of the journey - 100 won. If the car travels less than 14.75 km in an hour, an additional 100 won will be added to the total for every 41 seconds of travel. The cost of a night trip (24:00 - 4:00) increases by 20%.

Deluxe taxis are usually black with a yellow stripe on the side, a yellow sign on the roof and the corresponding Deluxe Taxi logo. The toll is calculated as follows: 4,000 won for the first 3 km and 200 won for every subsequent 205 m or 50 seconds of travel (if the speed drops below 15 km per hour). Night fares do not increase. Drivers issue a receipt when paying for the fare.

All taxis operate within the city limits, and when traveling to the suburbs the cost can double. Therefore, it is worth informing the driver of the destination address before the start of the trip.

Water transport

South Korea has several hundred islands connected by ferry lines. A large number of ferries connect Jeju Island with the ports of Mokpo, Yeoso and Incheon, Ulleung Island with the ports of Pohang and Sohkcho, and the islands of Pennyeong and Daecheon with Muncheon.

Korean cuisine

Korean cuisine, which is very reminiscent of Chinese and Japanese, is varied, it contains dishes from meat, fish, seafood, eggs, rice, soy, and vegetables.

Korean cooking is distinguished by the abundance of spices used. Thus, Korean food is very spicy - most dishes contain red pepper, garlic and onions. The spiciness of dishes seasoned with pepper has developed historically: the country has a hot and humid climate, which is not conducive to the preservation of food. Among the sauces with which dishes are seasoned, soy sauce, traditional for Asia, stands out.

The main place on the Korean table is occupied by rice, from which they prepare pabi porridge, chhalteok rice cakes, bibimbap spicy rice pilaf with vegetables, and kimbap rice rolls. Rice must be served with dishes under the general name “kimchi” - various kinds of pickles and spicy vegetable snacks, marinated meat and seafood.

Fish and seafood, the richness of which is due to the geographical location of Korea, are also very often present in the menu of the country's residents. Here, as in Japan, they eat raw fish - “hwe”. There are many dishes prepared from such types of fish as cod, pollock, flounder, from the pulp of shellfish, squid, shrimp, oysters, sea cucumbers, octopus, seaweed, etc. Traditional Korean dishes are fried fish “senson gui”, stew seafood “haemul jongol”, pancakes with seafood and green onions “pajeon”, seaweed salads, squid (“ogino”) and octopus (“nakji”) dishes.

One of the main dishes in Korea is guksu noodles, which are made from wheat, buckwheat, corn and even potato flour. The noodles are served with stewed, fried or marinated meat, and poured with hot or cold broth.

Korean cooking includes first courses, in particular soups. They are eaten both for breakfast and dinner. There are a huge variety of types of soups: solyanka, meat, fish, vegetable soups. Soups are often flavored with soy sauce. Among the most popular soups are beef rib soup “galbi tang”, soybean soup with egg and shellfish “sundubu jigae”, spicy seafood soup “haemul tang”, spicy fish soup “maeungtang”, soybean sprouted soup “khonnamulguk”, etc. .d.

Among the meat dishes that appear on the Korean table, it is worth mentioning first of all “bulgogi” - finely chopped beef, marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil, and then fried in a wok. Other popular dishes include grilled beef ribs kalbi, pork or beef rib stew kalbichim, chicken stew takkalbi, mandu dumplings, etc.

Tourists have an ambiguous reaction to dog meat dishes, which are occasionally (contrary to the prevailing opinion of foreigners) present on the Korean table. In particular, we are talking about dog meat soup “bosintang” (bosintang - “stewed dog meat with spices”, as well as “soup that strengthens the body”). In this light, it is worth saying that dog meat in Korea is not considered a product for preparing everyday food - rather, it is a dietary and medicinal food. In addition, in Korea, a dog is not perceived as a “friend of man”; it is not assigned any role different from other animals in society. Following the lead of Western public opinion, today the Korean authorities have introduced a number of legislative measures that, if not completely prohibit the use of dog meat in cooking, then largely regulate this process.

Among vegetable dishes on the Korean menu, the leading place is occupied by dishes made from legumes. Legumes come in a variety: soybeans, peas, beans, green beans “noktu”, red beans “phatch”, etc. Sprouted soybeans are often a substitute for meat in dishes. The same soybeans are used to produce soy milk, cottage cheese, soy sauce and paste.

Desserts and sweets are also present on the Korean table. The most popular of them are “kvadul” - a dessert made from rice dough, “tothorimuk” acorn jelly, “hangva” cookies, “tasik” - candies made from honey, chestnuts, beans, sesame seeds and medicinal herbs. Among fruits, persimmons and tangerines are actively consumed.

Koreans, as a rule, end their meal with sweet rice broth “sikhye” or a decoction of cinnamon and persimmon “sujeongkwa”, herbal teas, and coffee. Alcoholic drinks in Korea are represented mainly by the results of rice processing - rice wine "makkori" or "nonju", rice beer, rice vodka.

Table etiquette

Residents of Korea do not often host feasts at home, mostly inviting guests to restaurants. In a Korean restaurant, people usually eat while sitting on the floor on cushions. In winter the floor is heated. Shoes are left at the entrance.

Traditional rules of behavior at the table, the order of serving dishes, methods and doses of alcoholic beverages were formed several centuries ago. The rules for eating and setting the table are worth special mention.

So, for example, Koreans eat not only with chopsticks, but also with spoons (for liquid dishes), which are a symbol of life (they say about the deceased that he “put down his spoon”; the number of eaters is referred to as the number of spoons, not mouths, as in Russian). Unlike other cultures that used chopsticks when eating, Koreans have been using a spoon since the 5th century. Chopsticks (“chotjarak”, “jeotgarak”) and a small spoon with a long handle (“sutjarak”, “sutgarak”) together make up the cutlery set “sujo” (“sujeo”, short for “sutgarak” and “jeotgarak”), they are made made of stainless steel or silver. According to Korean etiquette, when using chopsticks, a spoon is placed on the edge of a bowl with a liquid dish, and when using a spoon, the chopsticks are simply placed on the table.

There are no personal plates on a Korean table. The entire surface of the table, in the center of which the main dish of meat or fish rises, is lined with small bowls with salads and sauces. Participants in the meal eat from all plates at once. Asking your table neighbor to serve you something is impolite; you should try to reach the desired dish yourself. Cutlery that has fallen on the floor should never be picked up - you need to ask the waiter to bring new ones.

When it comes to alcohol consumption, Koreans have a lot in common with Russians: they drink a lot at the Korean table; you cannot refuse to drink (this can offend the pourer and the host of the table); you cannot pour it for yourself (this is also considered an insult to the owner - he will not be able to express his respect to you), etc. You need to drink while holding the glass in your right hand.

The restaurant bill includes only the main course and alcoholic drinks; everything else (soups, salads, sauces) is free. Service is also included in the bill, so there is no need to leave a tip.

Shopping in South Korea

Tourists visiting South Korea cannot help but pay attention to shopping. The best shopping opportunities are in Seoul and other large cities: there are many large shopping centers, supermarkets, department stores, boutiques, shops, and markets.

Large department stores are open daily 10:00 - 20:00, shops - 9:00 - 22:00, large supermarkets, shopping centers and markets - often around the clock, every day.

Particularly convenient for tourists is that there are duty-free shops in Seoul and Busan (they are marked with tax free shopping signs). You can pay in foreign currency, and VAT of 10% on purchases over 30,000 won can be refunded at the airport. The only caveat: to make purchases in such stores, you need to show the sellers your return air ticket. In addition, some types of selected and paid for goods (alcohol, perfumes, cigarettes) are not handed over to the buyer, but are carefully packaged and transported to the airport exactly in time for the flight.

It is worth bringing ginseng products from Korea, first of all, since the country is one of the world leaders in the cultivation and processing of this magical root. So, you can buy ginseng concentrate, ginseng root tincture, ginseng tea, and cosmetics based on it.

Other traditional souvenirs from Korea include lacquerware decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay - boxes, powder compacts, business card holders; fine quality porcelain, ceramics, embroidery, macrame. Korean textiles and leather goods are also famous - outerwear, bags and haberdashery. Everyone is also familiar with Korean electronics, and, undoubtedly, they are worth buying in the country - all of them, except for mobile phones that support standards incompatible with Russian ones. Collectors and ethnic lovers should pay attention to the traditional Korean costume “hanbok”, which can be bought in souvenir shops and markets.

Discounts and sales

Big discounts on various groups of goods are observed in Korea during shopping festivals. The most important shopping festivals are the following:

Our guide will help you spend an unforgettable vacation in South Korea, get acquainted with oriental culture, walk around the Land of Morning Freshness, and enjoy unusual cuisine. In it you will find thoughtful routes to the best places and attractions, you will not miss anything important and interesting, and your time will be spent as economically as possible. We will advise you on original dishes, places for entertainment and great shopping, we will tell you what events have unfolded over the years on these streets and what kind of life the local population leads. In the useful information section you will find out what you can do and what experiences can only be lived in South Korea.

The work was published in 2018 by Eksmo Publishing House. The book is part of the "Orange Guide" series. On our website you can download the book "South Korea. A Guide" in fb2, rtf, epub, pdf, txt format or read online. Here, before reading, you can also turn to reviews from readers who are already familiar with the book and find out their opinion. In our partner's online store you can buy and read the book in paper form.

Food: you can’t do without kimchi

First of all, remember: food in Korea is not just spicy, but very spicy. If your request for “no spice” was not fully fulfilled, eat rice - it will take away the excess, and it is served with almost every dish.

Not only local cuisine is popular here; lovers of Chinese, Japanese and European cuisine will also be delighted. The popular TripAdvisor, which contains information about probably all the delicious places in the world, will help you find a suitable restaurant.

Download TripAdvisor

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The top 5 must-try dishes in Korea are topped by kimchi. Because it’s simply impossible not to do this - when you order almost any food in a restaurant, they will most often bring you several types of such appetizers made from pickled vegetables with seasonings for free. Kimchi comes from cabbage, radish, radishes, cucumber and even green onions. Koreans believe that such food helps against all diseases, promotes weight loss, good mood, in general, seven troubles - one answer.

Kimchi

From vegetables to meat. Another very popular dish among the local population is samgyeopsal. Sliced ​​pork is lightly fried and served with vegetables, often raw. Restaurant visitors fry it themselves - both food and entertainment. There is no place here without cabbage again - Koreans wrap pieces of meat in pickled leaves. It’s delicious, but it doesn’t look like cabbage rolls at all. If you don’t like pork, it doesn’t matter: instead, you can cook beef ribs (galbi) or, for example, duck fillet in the same way.

Samgyeopsal

It is difficult to imagine an Asian country without rice. In Korea, try bibimbap - rice with vegetables and spicy paste with the addition of raw or fried eggs and thinly sliced ​​beef.

Bibimbap

A dish that sounds like a bulldog, but isn't what you'd think, is bulgogi—sliced ​​beef that's been soaked in a marinade of soy sauce, garlic and green onions, sesame oil and seasonings, then grilled.

Bulgogi

But hveh is not fried or boiled at all. This is thinly sliced ​​raw fish or raw meat that you get with lots of hot red pepper or dark red pepper sauce. Almost like tartare or stroganina.

Almost all Korean desserts are based on rice flour or glutinous rice. The best way to try them is with green tea. We recommend:
tteok - a pie you know what it’s made of, steamed, stuffed with nuts, fruits, and sometimes flowers;
hotteok - flatbreads, similar in appearance to Russian pancakes, but with nuts and cinnamon;
hangwa - long colored chewing candies made from flour, sugar, honey and various roots.

Drinks: rice, rice, rice

Fortunately, Koreans do without cabbage in alcohol, but still the composition of the drinks is very different from ours. Rice, corn and aloe. Here's what you need to know about local booze.

Let's start with makgoli (Makkoli) - this is Korean rice wine. It’s quite strange to call a liquid without milky grapes wine, but oh well. But it is tasty, unusual and fun - the strength of makgoli is 6-7 degrees.

Makgoli

Soju is already stronger - 19-20 degrees, but again on rice. Also with the addition of barley, wheat or potatoes. It goes well with stroganina, or rather hve.

Soju

The most popular beers here are the Hite and OB brands. Again, there are unexpected ingredients - Hite, for example, is brewed from corn, rice and barley. The OB brand's foamy varieties are more traditional, using 100% barley malt.

Korean beer

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Among non-alcoholic drinks, aloe-based drinks with added fruit are popular - they quench your thirst well. You can find it in any supermarket in Korea.

Transport: screen replaced paper

It has become much easier for modern tourists to organize independent excursions, transfers and just walking. Paper maps and phrasebooks have replaced smartphones and apps that will help you not get lost, save money when buying tickets and not miss the right stop. In Korea, the public transport system is very developed, and, armed with mobile assistants, you can comfortably and inexpensively travel around all the places on your “must visit” list.

You should start by downloading a guide with a map to your smartphone, where the sights of major cities, hotels, restaurants, metro stops, and so on are marked. One of the best local "transport" apps is Korea Tour - Offline Maps (in English). It not only has a map of Seoul, but also a map of the subway and bus network. You can build a route on the go. Even in offline mode, the program will tell you in how many minutes the next bus will arrive or at which metro station it is better to make a transfer.

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Korea Tour app

The first thing that all guidebooks to Korea say is to be careful on the roads: there has been a high percentage of car accidents here for years. You can also give up the idea of ​​renting a car because there are often traffic jams on the roads. But public transport runs smoothly.

It is more convenient to travel inside the city by metro; tickets there are sold in special terminals in the metro itself. The base fare for a trip up to 10 km will cost 1,250 won, for every additional 5 km you will have to pay an additional 100 won, and if you exceed 50 km - 100 won for every 8 km. The most convenient way for tourists is to buy a Tmoney or Cashbee card; information about them is here. These cards are suitable for both the metro and bus travel. Sold at the box office, as well as in stores GS25, CU, 7-eleven, MINISTOP, With me, Buy the way, Story way and others marked Tmoney and Cashbee.

Olympics 2018: everything will fit in a smartphone

The two main sites of the Winter Olympic Games are the Pyeongchang mountain cluster (Alpensia, Yeonpyeong, Phoenix Park, Changsong resorts) and the Gangneung coastal cluster (Gangneung city). The opening and closing ceremonies of the Games will take place in Alpensia, where most of the competitions will take place - biathlon, cross-country skiing, giant slalom, ski jumping, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. There is a map of the competition here.

The schedule can be viewed here - https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/schedule or in the official application of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

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PyeongChang 2018 Official App

But it’s better to store all tickets for the Games in the convenient 2018 PyeongChang Tickets application. At the entrance it will be enough to show the electronic ticket on the screen of your smartphone.

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Pyeongchang was chosen as the venue for the Olympics, among other things, because of its compact location. Especially for the Games, the Koreans built a high-speed railway, which can be used to get from Seoul to Gangneung in just over an hour. A detailed transport map of the Games is available here.

Sights: from palaces to saunas

You can read about all the interesting places in Korea “first-hand” on the website of the local national tourism organization. And if you download the Seoul Pass app, you can save on excursions and tickets.

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It’s hard to imagine that a tourist visiting South Korea would not visit Seoul and pass by Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the five palaces of the royal dynasty.



Of course, the most famous and popular place among foreigners is the capital of the country - Seoul. Someone ends up passing through here and, having stayed for one day (to get acquainted with the main attractions), stays for a long time to walk through the ancient and modern quarters, get acquainted with the original Korean culture, fashion and music, which has long become popular in Europe, and visit Buddhist temples...

Read completely

The author of the guide, Natalya Ni, Ph.D. in Philology, a well-known expert in the field of Korean culture and literature, thoroughly re-worked the entire book. After all, South Korea is a very dynamically developing country, which means it is necessary to make all the changes that have occurred over the past year. She traveled to this interesting country several times (both in spring and autumn) to create the most convenient routes for you.
The guide contains 14 routes, 6 maps
For the convenience of users, the guidebook is supplemented with a large detailed map of the country (in a patch pocket on the cover).
Of course, the most famous and popular place among foreigners is the capital of the country - Seoul. Someone ends up passing through here and, having stayed for one day (to get acquainted with the main attractions), stays for a long time to walk through the ancient and modern quarters, get acquainted with the original Korean culture, fashion and music, which has long become popular in Europe, and visit Buddhist temples or, taking advantage of the unique Korean Temple Stay program, even stay for a couple of days in a monastery.
After getting acquainted with the capital, be sure to go on a trip throughout the country! Visit the beaches of Sokcho, Busan is the main port city. After the 2018 Winter Olympics, many learned that South Korea has many modern ski resorts with excellent infrastructure. Well. and since most of the country is occupied by mountains, hiking is well developed here, with many marked and, importantly, specially equipped trails that will be appreciated by ecologists and conservationists. Every spring the country looks like a wonderful garden. These are the flowers that bloom and cover the mountains and valleys with a colorful blanket. But among all the colors there is one that is worth mentioning separately. This is a hibiscus that has long become the national symbol of South Korea.
It turns out that it’s common to go not only to Japan, but also to South Korea to admire the cherry blossoms! For Russian tourists, this choice has recently become increasingly preferable, since a visa is not required here. If you are not going to stay there to work or study, then you can safely stay in Korea for 60 days.
In addition to convenient maps (6) and proven author's routes (14) with descriptions of the most important attractions, the guide "South Korea" also contains practical information - useful links, addresses, museum schedules and public transport routes, driving directions.
In the South Korea travel guide you will also find sections that will help you prepare for your trip. This is a brief history of the country, information about transport links, a calendar of upcoming events and holidays. The climate section will help you choose the best time to travel for you, and information about hotels and restaurants will help you navigate the variety of offers.
The guide also contains unique routes.

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