South Korea Tourism Tips

To arrange a good and memorable trip to South Korea, it is advised to read travel guides about this beautiful country, and then contact a local travel professional who may help you organize this tour in the most effective way for reasonable money.

South Korea has a lot of natural places to be observed and historical landmarks to enjoy. The country plays an important role in the protection of the heritage of world culture and natural attractions. Apart from that, it is considered a hospitable place for foreigners and a perspective tourism destination.

In the south-east of the country, one will find Bulguksa monastery and the Seokguram cave temple adjacent to it. Another noteworthy place is Temple Jongmyo, located in Seoul, where memorial tablets of the monarchs of the Joseon Dynasty are stored.



Seorak Mountain is a part of the Diamond Mountains, which is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world. Hallasan mountain is the extinct volcano. Both picturesque places are loved by numerous international visitors. The city of Gyeongju is known for its Tumuli Park, Onyn Five Tombs, Chhomsonde Observatory, the tomb of General Kim Yu Sin, and Mount Namsan with the ruins of pagodas and monasteries. Gyeongju National Museum and the resort on Lake Pomun offer wonderful recreational opportunities.

Ganghwa Island in Korea is known for its historical monuments and beautiful nature. Among the main attractions of the island one should name an altar built by Tangun, the legendary founder of the nation, the fortress walls, the ancient furnace for the production of celadon built in the 13th century, and Chondynsa monastery. The beaches of the eastern coast of Korea are known for weak currents and are considered the best in Korea.



Korea will surely capture your imagination with plenty of Buddhist monasteries and temples, palaces, exquisite statues, which have ancient and rich history. Seoul is perhaps the main place for tourists, with its National Museum, the Institute of Korean classical music named Sejong Cultural Center, Hoam Center for the Arts, Namsan Tower, and Korea House. In the capital of Korea one can visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, known as The Palace of Radiant Happiness, and one of the five palaces in Seoul. The main palace was built by the founder of Joseon dynasty, King Lee Sung-Te, when the state capital was transferred to Seoul. On the palace grounds, there is the National Folk Museum with a rich exposition, which introduces you to the history, culture and traditions of Korea.



No less interesting is Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, which consists of the king's residence and Secret Garden. Built in 1405, it is the only palace that has preserved the architectural style of the Joseon Dynasty. Secret Garden is a place for entertainment of the ruling dynasty: the nature has harmoniously created its 300-year-old trees, the pond and the pavilion.

In Incheon, it will be interesting to visit the Munhaksanson castle, the Confucian school, founded in the era of Chosun, Songdo Yuvondzhi Park with two artificial lakes, a good artificial beach and various kinds of marine entertainment.

In Busan, one can see sights such as the old fortress, the biggest one in Korea, the Thedzhonde marine park, which is located on the island. Haeundae Beach is considered the most famous beach of Korea and is located not far from the city center. Tongdosa Temple is one of the largest Korean churches, which contains the relics of Buddha.

In Daegu, one can see the beautiful Temple of Haeinsa, which was founded by two monks in 802. The monastery stores Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete surviving collection of Buddhist scriptures in East Asia.

Korean Online Dating Tips

For those of you that are looking to meet Korean singles for dating, friendship, love or marriage then pay close attention I will reveal to you 3 significant advantages of going online to meet Korean singles and show you just how easy this to do.

There are many good reasons why a person shall go online seeking a date or hoping to start a new relationship with someone. But if you are specifically looking to meet Korean singles then here are 3 solid reasons why you should go online to do so.

Reason number 1 - Going online to meet someone for a date is a common practice in today's internet world. Not only is going online and using online dating services common but there are numerous dating sites to select from. Korean dating sites are only a small portion of the many dating types of sites available. There once a was a time when someone may felt awkward or out-of-place by using an online dating service to meet Korean singles but the world has changed and more people than ever are joining dating sites and meeting new people.

Reason number 2 - Many online dating services these days offer new features such as video greetings. There once was a time when joining an online dating site was so great because you could view pictures of members that you were interested in. Well if a picture is worth a thousand words than how many words is a video worth? Videos are a great way to meet someone as you not only see what they look like but you can hear their voice and get a little taste of their character as well. When joining an online dating service make sure that the site offers video greetings that you can view and also allows you to upload your own video too.

Reason number 3 - Anonymous email option, this is a great way to break the ice with someone and caption their attention. Anonymous email option may not sound like such a big deal but this little feature really helps to get people to look your way as you can give little hints on who you are building the excitement. Send someone an email and you may get a response back from them but send someone and anonymous email describing a little about yourself yet not revealing who you are and you will for sure capture their attention while making yourself more intriguing.

Here you have 3 great reasons to go online and join a dating service to meet Korean Singles for real Korean dating. Oh I almost forgot to tell the best reason of all to join an online dating service and that's because it is free to join. An online dating site will always offer a join for free option and allow you to create your own profile. This is the type of Korean dating site I recommend to try. Remember 1 out of every 5 relationships starts out online so what are you waiting for go ahead and join a dating site today.

Learn Korean Culture and Specialties

The Korean culture is fascinating and full of traditions. In this place you find comfort in peace and the harmony that brings the beauty that we now see is a fruit of what seems to be a history that is long and bitter sweet.

When WWII ended in the year 1945, Korea was divided into two and they are now known as North Korea and South Korea. The former practiced communism, the latter didn't. Another name for North Korea is Democratic People's Republic of Korea while South Korea is known as Republic of Korea which is bigger in terms of size and population. This division is the reason why the country remained at war. Until the present time, the male population is required to submit themselves to training in the army when they come to a certain age. They will serve the government this way for two years. Some men even stop schooling just because of this and pursue their education after.

The Korean language called Hangul is used by both parts of the country. There are slight differences across the nation but it is understood by everyone there. Hangul is considered to be one of the few languages that are the best and well-planned. Hangul is one of the easiest to learn too that's why Korea is one of the countries with the highest literacy rate.

In terms of religion, there are two major beliefs that are followed. One is Buddhism which is an old religion in the south but there has been a decline in the recent years due to Christianity that is becoming more popular. It spread quickly but the king before thought it was a threat so Catholics are persecuted. In the 19th century, the Protestants entered the country. Now, it is a proud address to one of the largest churches in the world.

Korean is also very rich when it comes to tradition because they preserved it very well. Just like most Asian countries, the Korean tradition is more family oriented and very conservative. Even if South Korea is keeping up with the modernization of the world, they do not lose their hold of their traditions and their way of life. Even houses in rural areas are designed in a traditional way. Their language plays a major role in keeping it this way because it includes values of their social status and also respect that comes with it. The words that you choose depend on the person you are talking to. This maintains the traditional values that make the Korean culture unique.

Learning anything Korean is a fun and rewarding experience. It enables you to learn from a very disciplined and well-mannered culture. You can always apply a thing or two from a foreign country. One of the very important things would be language for you to be able to appreciate the beauty hidden between the lines without the language barrier.

Best Popular Korean Recipes

In recent years, many people in the West have become interested in Korean foods and recipes. You can try Korean food in a restaurant, or if you prefer you could try to prepare it at home in your own kitchen.

Korean meals are usually based around noodles, rice, meat, vegetables and tofu (which is known as "dubu" in Korea). Most meals are served with a variety of side dishes ("banchane"), as well as soup, steam rice, and kimchi (fermented vegetables). Flavor is added using a range of seasonings and spices including garlic, ginger, red chili paste ("gochujang"), salt, soy sauce, and fermented soybean paste ("doenjang").



Some popular Korean dishes include:

* Kongnamul-guk - Soybean sprout soup.

* Gamjatang - A soup based on pork spine and potatoes. It usually also contains other vegetables, green onions, hot peppers and sesame seeds.

* Maeuntang - A hot and spicy fish soup.

* Jeongol - A seafood and vegetable stew.

* Hoe - Thinly slice rawfish, somewhat similar to Japanese sashimi. Usually dipped in wasabi or red chili paste ("gochujang"), and served on cellophane noodles ("dangmyeon").

* Sannakji - A raw, very fresh small octopus, seasoned and cut into pieces and served - it may still be moving on your plate!

* Ramyeon - Noodles with meat and vegetables, similar to Japanese ramen noodles.

* Kongnamul-bap - Rice with soybean sprouts.

* Japchae - Potato noodles with beef, carrots, onions and spinach.

* Kalguksu - Flat noodles in a broth.

* Yukhoe - Raw beef topped with egg yolk, and seasonedwith garlic, green onions and a variety of spices.



* Bulgogi - Meat or seafood cooked on a grill. Common varieties include chicken ("dak bulgogi"), pork ("dweji bulgogi"), and squid ("ojingeo bulgogi").

* Galbi - Grilled pork ribs.

* Dakgalbi - Grilled chicken.

* Makchang - Grilled pork intestines (similar to chitterlings).

* Samgyeopsal - Grilled pork belly. Slices of meat are placed inside lettuce with cooked rice and a spicy paste ("ssamjang"). Various accompaniments such as chillies, spring onion salad, or raw garlic dipped in ssamjang may be eaten with the dish.

Korean Ramen Noodles- Korean Foods

Korean Instant Ramen are usually known as Ramyeon noodles, and they do have some unique characteristics that set them apart from typical Ramen Noodles. For example, these sorts of instant noodle mixtures often contain more seasonings than ordinary Ramen... spicy oils and powders, flavored with chili and garlic, are the norm. This particular flavor composition is very popular in Korea...on Korean Instant Ramen Noodle packets, the words Kimchi or Kim Chee will indicate the presence of this unique (and very Korean) spicy, garlicky flavor. They pack a punch

Often, Kimchi Korean noodles pack quite a punch. flavor-wise; they have a lot more "heat" than some people might expect. However, there are many different brands of Korean Instant Ramen Noodles, so it is possible to find just the right level of spice for your own personal tastes and palate. For those who enjoy bold flavors and strong tastes, these noodles may offer a more pleasurable eating experience than their blander Ramen Noodle counterparts. Some Korean Instant Ramen come with vegetable packets for even more texture and flavor. In some cases, a packet of Korean noodles may contain as many as four flavoring packets, versus a single flavoring packet for non-Korean Ramen Noodles.




Variety: Korean Instant Ramen Noodles may also have different textures of noodles; these may range from thin, translucent noodles (these are similar to typical Ramen) to thicker, more substantial noodle types. The brand you choose will dictate which type of noodles you receive - generally, you will be able to tell from the package photo exactly what you will be getting. It's fun to experiment with different textures of noodles when exploring the world of Korean cuisine through these quick-to-prepare and inexpensive noodle snacks.

Dress them up: To add more nutrition to your Korean Instant Ramen Noodles, consider some delicious extras, such as thinly-sliced onions, mushrooms or peppers. Chopped spinach (or other chopped greens) will also add vitamins and minerals to your noodle bowl. Seafood, poultry, pork, beef, tofu and seitan are other amazing choices that will give you a welcome serving of protein to balance out the carbohydrates in these instant Noodles. To add more spice, choose fresh Kimchi sauce or another spicy Korean condiment to pour on your cooked noodles.

Quick and Easy: Typically, instant Noodles of the Korean style are prepared just as regular instant Noodles would be; however, there will be added steps as you put the various flavor packets into your noodles. To get the best results, cook your noodles in a couple of cups of boiling water, for about three minutes; then, remove your pot from heat and stir in the flavorings. Pour the finished noodles into a wide, large bowl and eat with chopsticks or a tablespoon. If you don't enjoy slurping your noodles, break them down before adding them to the boiling water - this way, they'll already be in convenient, easy-to-eat bite-sized pieces.
Korean cuisine is comforting, warming and hearty - Korean Ramen Noodles offer a cheap

Best Korean Seafood Recipes

Korean cuisine is based on noodles, rice, meats, vegetables and tofu, although there are also some famous fish recipes. A traditional meal in Korea is steamed short-grain rice with lots of different side dishes. Common ingredients in this cuisine include soy sauce, garlic, salt, sesame oil, fermented bean paste, pepper, ginger and fermented red chili paste. The recipes vary by province and a lot of regional dishes now have national fame.

Meat used to be obtained by fishing and hunting and it was eaten in stews or soups or roasted at this time. People who lived nearer to the sea would have eaten more fish. Shellfish and seafood have always been very popular in Korea and commoners lived on a diet of shellfish and fish like clams, oysters, shrimp, loach, and abalone. Hogs and sheep were reserved for the upper class.

Saltwater fish and fresh ones are both popular there and they might be grilled, broiled, served, served raw or added to stews and soups. Mackerel, croaker, Pacific herring, and hairtail are well loved and smaller fish, squid, shrimp and more can be salted and dried.

Fish is grilled in fillets or whole and it is often dried naturally so it can be stored or shipped. Anchovies and yellow corvina feature in Korean dishes and soup stocks are sometimes made from kelp and dried anchovies. Shellfish are added to broth, eaten raw with a vinegar condiment, or used in other dishes. Salted baby shrimp are used for seasoning and bigger ones are grilled or dried. Squid, octopus, and cuttlefish are examples of mollusks, which are enjoyed there.



How To Make Braised Halibut

Koreans enjoy braising food and you can use any firm-fleshed fish for the following recipe, such as red snapper, cod, or striped bass. You might like to add red pepper paste to the sauce if you prefer a spicier flavor. This recipe serves four people.

What You Need:

2 lbs halibut
1/2 sliced white onion
1 Korean radish, in 1/2 inch thick 1 inch rectangles
The green part only of 5 scallions, in 1 inch pieces
Vegetable oil
For The Sauce:
3 cups water
3 thinly sliced garlic cloves
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons chili pepper flakes
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 thinly sliced piece of fresh ginger
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine
1 hot red Korean pepper, in 1/2 inch pieces
How To Make It:
Combine the sauce ingredients. Coat the bottom of a big pot with oil and heat it over a moderately high heat. Add the onion and radish and pour in the sauce ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil. Put the halibut on top of the vegetables and braise it, in the sauce.

Simmer the dish for about fifteen minutes or until the radish is tender. Baste the fish often but try not to disturb it much while it cooks. Add the green onions a couple of minutes before the end of the cooking time.