AsiaKorea

Unexplored Places in Korea That Spices Up Your Itinerary

Every country has its best kept secrets and Korea is no different. You’ve probably visited Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and Hongdae frequently promoted by K-dramas but have you heard of ‘Dinosaur Island’, tried getting lost in a maze, or visited the border separating North and South Korea? KKday brings you more unexplored places commonly overlooked by tourists seeking larger and more popular tourist sites!

Sa-do Island

Dinosaur Island, Yeosu, South Korea
Photo credit: travelworldheritage
Sa-do Island, better known as Dinosaur Island, is one of the few places in the world with preserved dinosaur tracks scattered throughout the entire island. Get away from the bustling city life and escape to Sa-do Island, a quiet, peaceful and tiny island located south of Yeosu.

 

Sa-do Island, Yeosu, South Korea
Photo credit: travelworldheritage

 

Don’t be alarmed if you realise you’re the only tourist wandering about on this island — one of the least visited places in Korea. In fact, feel free to swim in their crystal clear water, you wont be able to spot any garbage floating around!
With only one convenient store, one restaurant and a couple of minbaks (low-priced hotel) around the island, you are advised to bring your own food in case any of the stores decide to close for the day.

Gimnyeong Maze Park — Jeju Island

Jeju Island, South Korea
Your childhood dreams are finally coming true — Gimnyeong Maze Park is a real life-size maze that you can actually get lost in instead of going around in circles with a paper and pen!

 

Gimnyeong Maze Park
Photo credit: Jeffrey Donenfeld

 

The cautious adventurers usually enter the maze with a map, but where’s the fun in that? For our daring explorers, we challenge you to get out of the maze without help from physical or Google Maps. Some visitors have been known to spend up to 50 minutes lost in the maze so remember to ring the bell of victory once you successfully find your way out!
South Korea, Jeju Island
Photo credit: Panoramio

 

Watch out for spider-webs while you’re walking! We wouldn’t want spiders weaving webs in our face now, would we?
Go on a One Day Eastern Jeju Island Tour to see the best of Jeju Island!

Incheon Chinatown

Photo credit: Wikimapia
Not exactly hidden, but still a gem in its own charming way. Situated near Incheon International Airport, if you have time to spare before your flight, check out Incheon’s Chinatown!

 

seoul, holiday, incheon port, chinese
Photo credit: Flickriver

 

Since the opening of Incheon Port in 1883, this place has flourished with many Chinese restaurants offering visitors with mouth-watering and palatable food, harbouring the many flavours of China.
chinatown, Incheon, korea
Photo credit: kimcheeguesthouse

 

It’s a sin to not savour jjajangmyeon in Incheon’s Chinatown! A Korean-Chinese dish created by the early Chinese immigrants as a cheap and simple means to fill their stomach after a day of labour, jjajangmyeon is now presented differently — the noodles are mixed well with seafood, pork and a variety of vegetables in milk soup with chicken broth. Mashitda!
Tip: Take a the Arex Express Train from Seoul to Incheon to shorten your travelling time.

Inwangsan Mountain

korea history culture religion
Photo credit: pilgrimwithapassport
Located right in the middle of this bustling city, Inwangsan Mountain is a little sanctuary where nature, history, culture and religion come together. A quiet mountain perfect to get an incredible view of Seoul and some exercise after all that yum yum in your tum tum.

 

Inwangsan Mountain South Korea
Photo credit: Gemma Thorpe

 

Surrounded by the Seoul Fortress Wall, Buddhist temples are scattered throughout the mountain as well as Shamanistic shrines, where exorcism rites and healing services are being held. As spooky as the shamans’ spiritual chants may sound, the breathtaking view allows you to forget how spooky as the shamans’ spiritual chants and the hike up the mountain is not demanding at all, at 338 metres high.

Experience the life of a Korean monk with a 2-Day Korean Temple Stay at Geumsunsa Buddhist Temple in Seoul, a 600-year old Buddhist temple situated in Bukhansan National Park in Seoul.

Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)

North Korea, South Korea, Korean Peninsula
Photo credit: compasscultura
Presenting to you the world’s most dangerous and militarised border on Earth — Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). It is a buffer zone between the North and South Korea, dividing the Korean Peninsula into half. Cross the buffer zone and prepared to be shot.

 

South Korea, North Korea
Photo credit: Wikipedia

 

The DMZ is a strip of land running at a length of 250 kilometres and about 4 kilometres wide, acting as a meeting point between both nations and negotiations are usually taken place in a small Joint Security Area.

Because of the high security at the DMZ, the only way you can access the area is following a Korean Demilitarized Zone and Joint Security Area Panmunjom Tour.

You’ve probably heard about this particular place but never had the chance (or guts) to visit. But fret not, so long as you stick with your local tour guide and not wander to any restricted areas, you’ll be able to safely explore the mysterious relationship between the North and South, and even catch a glimpse of what North Korea looks like.

If you can’t get enough of South Korea, plan your itinerary with KKday today!

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