7 Reasons Why South Korea is in Every Millennials Bucket List

Korean culture became a global phenomenon. With the increasing K-Drama and K-pop craze, South Korea becomes more popular, especially with millennials. If you're a hard core fan of Korean dramas and songs, you probably want to go there to feel the “feels.”  In South Korea, bustling urban centers, serene pastoral gardens and palaces share the area. But there are actually more compelling reasons to visit the “Land of the Morning Calm.” WorldJourneys.co.nz gives us the list of reasons why South Korea is in every millennials bucket-list!

Explore the Famous Jeju Island

 As mentioned in the beginning, Millennials, especially in Asia are very much into K-pop. So if you are one of those, meeting some K-pop stars is definitely on your bucket list. There is actually something you can do to make your chances higher in meeting your K-pop idol. You can visit their headquarters which are big entertainment companies like YG, JYP, SM, and FNC. They also have their local version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they call it the K-star Road, and you want to visit that place to have a chance to spot them. One guaranteed way, of course, is to watch a K-pop concert.

In every itinerary to South Korea, Jeju Island always tops the list. Jeju, Korea’s biggest island, is the most favorite holiday destination of both local and foreign tourists. The beautiful beaches, luxurious countryside, and hotels beside the sea are designed for a staycation to relax.

Celebrate New Year’s in Busan

On the other hand, if you are a more active person, there is also plenty of activities you can do on this amazing island. You can climb Korea’s highest mountain, Hallasan, or hike the astounding tuff cone, the Seongsan Ilchul-bong, that rise straight from the sea where you can watch the beautiful sun rise every morning. If you want a less extreme adventure, you can wander the country roads, jagged coasts, and narrow lanes filled with cottage-style homes made from black lava rock. Additionally, the ocean is just close where you can spend your day snorkeling to see the attractive corals Jeju Island has to offer.

Besides the famous zombie apocalypse movie, “Train to Busan”, the place has, even more, fun things to offer. During the New Year’s Eve, the event will start by ringing the bells followed by fireworks. After that, a concert to celebrate the end of the year will commence. In the morning, people get up early in Haeundae beach to watch the sunrise with thousands of paper lanterns light up the sky.

After the festivities, you can enjoy fresh fish at Busan’s famous Jakgalchi Fish Market. There is a variety of seafood that you can sink your teeth in. You can see the freshest catch of the day, some of which is still swimming in the tanks, so if you are a food junkie yourself, this might be the perfect place for you.

Cherry Blossoms

If you want to experience the beauty of Cherry Blossoms, Japan isn’t the only place to be. South Korea also has them. During the spring season, you can witness a lot of Cherry Blossoms burst into bloom. During this period, you can’t be too far from cherry blossoms because they are literally everywhere in South Korea. Just make sure you will book your transportation and accommodation in advance because it is really a popular place to travel during that very limited time.

Take a Tour of the DMZ

We all know the tension that is rising between North and South Korea. The only thing that separates the two different places in the nation is the DMZ. Even though many deemed it as depressing and haunting, it catches the eyes of foreign tourists. If you want to include it in your plans, make sure to avail a touring package because you cannot enter there alone. There is also a mandatory military escort and solo travelers are not allowed. There are different kinds of tour and make sure you choose what your interest is.     

If you are lucky enough to visit there during their tension-free days, you can even land a step to the North Korean land and if you do so, make sure to take a lot of pictures because it only happens very seldom.

Before going there, just make sure you have booked your tour two to five days in advance. You are also required to sign a waiver that if something bad happens to you, including injuries or even death, no one would be responsible. Scary enough? Don’t worry, those tours are done on a daily basis and some military personnel will be with you throughout the tour. Your passport is also needed, so don’t leave it at your hotel. Moreover, a proper dress code shall be observed and you should avoid ripped jeans, sandals, or messy hair. Lastly, tours can end prematurely if a tension arises during your stay there.

Visit the ‘Five Grand Palaces’ in Seoul

South Korea was able to preserve some of their palaces from the past. These are the ‘Five Grand Palaces’ in Seoul namely: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung. Here is a quick review of each:

• Gyeongbokgung – The oldest and the largest of the five, this palace was built in 1395 and the name literally means “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven.” Here, you can check out the Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum of Korea. During 10 am to 3 pm, you can witness the changing guard ceremony where the guards are in their traditional Joseon attire.
• Changdeokgung – Built in 1405, the name of the Palace means “The Palace of Prospering Virtue.” The highlight of this palace is its ‘secret garden’ where you can escape the city’s hassle.
• Changgyeonggung – After visiting Changdeok, you can go straight to this palace as it is just separated by a wall. It was established in 1483, with the name that means “The Palace of Flourishing Garden.” Make sure you’ll go to its two lovely ponds when you visit the palace.
• Deoksugung – This was built not to become an official palace, but eventually became one. The palace name means “The Palace of Virtuous Longevity.” Inside, a lovely forested garden and an art museum are located. It is also the most unique among the five as Western-style buildings are established inside.
• Gyeonghuigung – This was built just to become a secondary palace, this one is the smallest and youngest among the five grand palaces. It was built in 1623 with a name that means “Palace of Serene Harmony.” In here, you can witness more of their culture as most local folks go here for a walk, practice their martial arts, or just hand out. Inside, you can see the Seoul Museum of History.

Explore Different Theme Cafes

There is a variety of themed cafes around the area. There are themes that range from K-pop to dog café, to cat cafes. One of the must-tries is the board game cafe. In here, you can enjoy playing with your friends and relatives different board games that you will surely enjoy, and their games are normally in mint condition. They charge their customers depending on how long their stay is, but it is most reasonable.

To See their K-Pop Idol!

As mentioned in the beginning, Millennials, especially in Asia are very much into K-pop. So if you are one of those, meeting some K-pop stars is definitely on your bucket list. There is actually something you can do to make your chances higher in meeting your K-pop idol. You can visit their headquarters which are big entertainment companies like YG, JYP, SM, and FNC. They also have their local version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they call it the K-star Road, and you want to visit that place to have a chance to spot them. One guaranteed way, of course, is to watch a K-pop concert.