Anyeonghaseyo! Three Seoul Sightseeing Tours To Perfect Your Korean Vacation
Seoul Korea is very famous to many because of the emerging K-Drama and K-Pop fever. So what can you really see in Seoul, South Korea? I stayed at Dongdaemun area and booked a 3 full day tours with Seoul City Tour on their website (http://www.seoulcitytour.net). If it's your first time in Seoul, I suggest pick up a good full day tour with lunch. I chose the tour to the demilitarized zone which divides North and South korea. I also booked the Full Day Palace Tour and Korean Drama Tour (Nami Island & Petite France). All tours I booked can be paid by cash on the date of the tour. Seoul City Tour is very professional and on time when they pick me up in my hostel.
TOUR # 1 - DMZ Tour
So let's start with the DMZ Tour. The Korean demilitarized zone is a border between North and South Korea managed by the United Nations. As of the moment, Korea is still at war. That's why South Korean men are required to be on military service to protect their country against the communist North. This tour will make you realize that you've visited a place still in war. It helped me understand the purpose of the DMZ due to many failure attempts of the North Korean leader. The DMZ is the only one that exist in Korea. Both sides are on ceasefire, it's not over yet. They guard against each other on only 8 kilometer distance.
It's about an hour drive to the DMZ secured area. Passport is required on this tour for security purposes since this is a highly militarized area. It has been established at the end of the Korean War which began the separation of North and South Korea. We watched a documentary film which made my heart so bleeding because of so many victims of the Korean War especially the children. North Koreans were thought the wrong way of living such as that North Korea is the only country that can protect them and is that the outsider including South Korea, the USA are the enemy of their country.
We visited the Third Infiltration Tunnel where the North Koreans have tried to invade the South. It was a very unforgettable experience to go deep below earth's surface. The third tunnel was discovered last October 1978 with a 1.95 meters high, 2.1 meters wide and 1,635 meters long. I almost lost breath as you go deep, there's no air at all but only an electric fan. The worst part is going up which I almost thought I'm gonna fall.
We also visited the observation deck where you can see the land side of North Korea which looks like a progressive city but is believe to be a propaganda that the structures have no people. My tour guide has told me that many people from the North are in fear and suffering from starvation. At that time, we were not allowed to visit the Joint Secured Area (a closer look at the North Korean side) at Panmunjom due to the red alert status. Before we left the area, we visited Dorasan Train Station which is situated near the DMZ area. This train station is not operational at the moment. The purpose of building this is that the South Korean are hoping to reunited with the North Korean, that if the time comes both sides would reunite, people can travel from North to South Korea. The tour cost starts at 50,000 won which includes lunch.
You can watch the video of a North Korean who successfully escaped the communist country.
TOUR # 2 - Palace Tour
Who would not love to visit the Korean Palaces which you can only see them on Korean Drama like Jewel in the Palace and Jumong? The 2nd tour is the Full Day Palace Tour. This includes a tour that goes back from the past. For this tour, you can also see the changing of guards at the Gyeongbok Palace. You'll also visit inside the Gyeongbok Palace which is a palace situated during the reign of King Taejo, founder of the Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910). You'll also see what's inside the National Folk Museum where you can see the traditional life of both the ordinary people and the aristocrats. Also this tour includes a visit to Jogye Temple that leads to the Zen Buddhism in Korea. During lunch, we went to Insa-dong. It's authentically decorated tea houses serving an intriguing array of traditional teas, high-end antique galleries and delicious and innovation restaurants in Seoul can be found here. The last stop is at Namdaemun Market which is the largest in Seoul and customers may buy a product made in Korea at a low price. The tour cost 82,000 Won per adult which includes a Korean traditional lunch.
TOUR # 3 - KDrama Scenery Tour
If you have watched dramas like Winter Sonata and My Love from the Stars, you should visit Petite France and Nami Island.
The last tour is the Korean Drama Tour that features Winter Sonata and Love from the Stars Scenes. We traveled on the outskirts of Seoul, about an hour drive to Naminara or Nami Island. Nami Island is a perfect getaway for Koreans especially lovers. From the boat station, it's just about a 5 minute ferry ride to cross the river to Nami Island. We walked to the Forest of Sweethearts where the couple from Winter Sonata walkedthrough. Namiseom Island or popularly called Nami island was formed as a result of the construction of Cheongpyeong Dam. It's a half moon shaped isle, and on it is the grave of General Nami, who led a great victory during the Joseon Dynasty. What's special about this island is that there is no telephone holes, because all electronic lines were built underground. It's a total recreation area for the family and couples too. There's a hotel where you can stay over night to this recreation island.
After a couple of hours we head to the local restaurant for lunch. We also tried to ride the rail bike. It was a great experience, tiring but fun. The scenery is unforgettable, really a Korean treat.
After the Railpark, it was time to visit a very nice place called Petite France. It's a scene from the KDrama, Love from the Stars and Beethoven Virus. Petite France is a 150 year old residence that has been brought here all the way from France and there is a gallery showing the works of Saint Exupery. This is one of the place in Korea to experience French culture. The tour cost 115,000 won at a discounted price. I'm not supposed to be eligible for this tour since I was alone. But I was able to convince some tourist on the Palace Tour to join me on the Nami Island Trip which we were given a special discount. This trip requires a minimum of two person to join the tour.
Of all the tour, my favorite is tour # 3 which is the KDrama tour since I'm very much interested with the Korean TV series and movies. I have stayed a week in Korea and brought me smiles a lot, despite it's a very cold weather that time. The weather drops badly that there are times we experienced snow fall in the DMZ Tour and Palace Tour.
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