Travel Archives - SEOULSPACE

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A Week in Seoul – My Tips When Traveling to Seoul

My name is Cindy Nguyen and this is the start of a series based on the first week of living in Seoul. My experience will be different from many of you that will be traveling to Seoul as I'll be staying in Seoul for three months. This article is for those that are traveling to Seoul for the very first time. But whether you're staying for an extended amount of time or just a couple of months, this guide will help cover aspects of transitioning into the Korean lifestyle and the best places to visit in Seoul.

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T-Money Cards in Korea is a must for any foreigner. All of South Korea's transportation system runs on rechargeable smart cards and smart devices. These smart cards are called T-Money cards in Seoul. They are used for subways, buses, taxis, and at some convenience stores like CU/GS25/7-Eleven. T-Money cards are embedded with chips that are readable by card-reading machines. These machines are installed in all subways, buses, and taxis in Seoul. However, you don't have to get a card as this form of chip technology can be put into key chains, rings, bands, and even portable memory sticks. Below we will guide you through the most commonly asked questions regarding T-Money cards in Seoul. If there are any additional questions you might have, feel free to leave your questions in the comments below.

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10 Best Open Street Markets in South Korea to Check Out

South Korea is famous for its open street markets. You can find many open street markets in South Korea from Seoul to Jeju. They are a great place to experience the full authentic Korean shopping experience. Many sell a variety of Korean food, side dishes, clothes, accessories, and souvenirs. Most of these open street markets are open all year-round. They are visited by both locals and tourists and are very foreigner-friendly. It can be a bit crowded and chaotic but you will be able to find pretty much anything you need at these markets. We have chosen the 10 best open street markets all across South Korea.

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Winter Festivals at Theme Parks in South Korea – Full Breakdown

Before COVID, theme parks in South Korea were having amazing years. However, 2020 has been brutal and many of these theme parks are struggling to stay open. While they are all still open, attendance is at a record low. Hopefully, things will start to pick back up once winter hits. The reason for this is that many of the top theme parks in South Korea have spectacular winter festivals that need to be experienced for those traveling to Korea in the winter. Therefore, once COVID gets under control, go visit these theme parks and have a great experience.

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Waste Disposal & Recycling in Korea – Full Breakdown

When it comes to recycling in Korea there are a lot of strict regulations and policies compared to other countries. In Korea garbage is separated into common garbage (일반쓰레기), food waste (음식물쓰레기), recyclables (재활용품), and large waste objects (대형페기물). However, each garbage category has its own separate regulation which causes a lot of confusion to foreigners who come from countries where recycling is not mandatory. It is important to adjust and follow Korean regulations since improper disposal can lead to warnings or (at the worst) to fines.

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10 Tips for the Boryeong Mud Festival – Best Festival in Korea

The Boryeong Mud Festival is famous in South Korea as it allows people living in Korea to escape the summer heat. The festival lasts from July 15th until the 24th and is held at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong. Many tourists come to Korea just for this mud festival. It is very popular with locals as well as foreigners and is a great chance to have some fun while also meeting people from many different nationalities. In 2019, the festival drew over 300,000 foreigners but that only accounted for 10% of the total visitors. However, in 2020 due to COVID-19, the festival drew far fewer people. Therefore, once the coronavirus pandemic settles down, many expect the number of visitors to go back to where they were before the pandemic.

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10 Things to Know Before Traveling to South Korea

South Korea has everything a traveler would need in a country. Those that love history and culture can also experience the latest trends in technology when visiting Korea. Don't forget about the food! If you are going to visit South Korea just once, you should definitely visit Seoul. Even tho Seoul has become very modernized, they offer a lot of historic value with traditional Korean houses, palaces, and temples all across Seoul. They are blended nicely next to South Korea's new and innovative structures and the fast-paced business industry. This mixture of the old and the new is what makes it an adventure when exploring Seoul. Therefore, you won't be able to see everything in one day so we recommend you make it a week in Seoul to get the full experience. However, before you travel to South Korea, here are some things you should know.

Travel

5 Amazing Cultural Experiences in South Korea to Try When Visiting Korea

Over 17 million tourists from all around the world visited South Korea in 2019. That number has considerably shrunk in 2020 due to COVID-19. It is estimated that the losses to Korea's culture, sports, and tourism industries will be over $12 billion in 2020. The tourist industry took the biggest hit with a drop of over 80%. However, travel is starting to open up in South Korea which offers many experiences for those looking to explore the country and its rich and fascinating culture. There are many amazing cultural experiences in South Korea from tea ceremonies to visiting Korean traditional villages and palaces. Many of these experiences really let visitors have an immersive experience and really do a great job of showcasing the rich and deep culture of South Korea.