As you’d expect from the name, Poopoo Land is a museum dedicated entirely to human excrement. The museum is bright and wacky, in typical South Korean style, and gives you the chance to dance to music played by a poo jukebox in the Poo Party Zone, as well as take a journey through the small and large intestines.
Home to hundreds of winged species, Junam Wetlands Park (Junam Jeosuji) is every birder’s dream. During winter, an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 birds enter the park daily, with white-naped cranes, spoonbills, swans, and mallards among the different types you may see. Its proximity to Busan makes it the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Perched atop the peak of Busan’s Mount Geumjeong, Geumjeongsanseong—the largest mountain fortress in South Korea—is now an imposing ruin and popular hiking spot. It has a long history: The original fort is believed to have been built during the Three Kingdoms Period from 57 BC to 668 AD The 2.5-mile-long structure that remains standing today was built in 1703 as protection against Japanese invasions following the Imjin War at the end of the 16th century.
The Samsung Innovation Museum, located on Suwon’s Samsung Campus, is filled with exhibits on the history of technology, special technical components, and modern innovations. The educational spaces and theaters across the museum’s three halls showcase how technology has evolved over the years and the role played by corporations such as Samsung, making it an ideal destination for anyone interested in technology.
Sitting at the heart of Jeonju’s historic center is the Gyeonggijeon Shrine. This 15th-century shrine was built to house the portrait of King Taejo, founder of the Joseon Dynasty who would go on to rule Korea for over 500 years. Its main hall is set in a shaded park of bamboo and ginkgo trees with several ornate gates leading up to it.
Nicknamed “College Street” for Seoul National University, Seoul Daehangno(Daehak-ro) is Seoul’s theater and arts district. The university has since moved, but the neighborhood with its parks and cultural arts centers remains. Local and international performances of all types are held in the area’s 100-plus performance halls.
Few capitals can boast having a national park within the city limits. Bukhansan National Park, home to Mt. Bukhan (Bukhansan), can be reached in half an hour’s journey from Seoul. At a manageable height of 2,742 feet (836 meters), the peak attracts fit hikers with its scenic walking trails and bird-watching opportunities.
Nagwon Instrument Arcade offers some of the best retail therapy opportunities for music lovers in the South Korean capital. This collection of some 300 tiny shops spread across two floors of the building sells a dazzling array of musical instruments and equipment, while the fourth floor houses a cinema for independent and specialty films.
Perched atop a hill in the coastal city of Gangneung, Haslla Art World combines a sprawling sculpture garden with a contemporary gallery holding more than 200 artworks. The pieces are colorful and quirky, and on a clear day, you can take in panoramic views of the East Sea from the museum’s elevated site.
Feel the excitement of the popular South Korean variety show,Running Man, and become the eighth member of the team at Running Man Thematic Experience Center. Challenge yourself mentally and physically by completing missions in six different zones, collecting as many R-points as you can in 60 minutes.
While it’s often overlooked in favor of Korea’s most famous parks, Odaesan National Park is well worth a visit. Like its mountainous siblings, the park offers diverse wildlife, Buddhist temples, and vibrant foliage, but with the bonus of fewer crowds. Whether you visit independently or with a group, you’re in for an adventure.
Go back in time about 6,000 years, and along the banks of the Han River where Seoul now sits, you’d find a small nomadic settlement where the earliest residents lived. Amsa-dong Prehistoric Settlement Site, the largest Neolithic settlement in Korea, gives visitors a glimpse into what life was like on the Peninsula up to about 1,000 BC.
Nestled in South Korea’s Taebaeksan Mountain range, Phoenix Pyeongchang Snow Park draws visitors from around the world with its powdery slopes and enchanting winter wonderland landscapes. Whether you're an avid skier, a first-time snowboarder, or simply a person seeking snowy adventures on your wintertime vacation, it’s the place to be.
Woongjin Playdoci, in Bucheon, is home to one of the largest driving ranges in South Korea as well as an indoor skiing center, a water park, a spa and fitness center, and a variety of kid-friendly facilities. The water park boasts a wave pool and multiple slides, while the ski center gives you the chance to ski, sled, and snowboard.
Opened in 2008, the Korean Furniture Museum is one of Seoul’s best kept secrets. Housed within a series of beautifully maintained Korean traditional houses (hanoks), the museum contains a collection of more than 2,000 pieces of Joseon Dynasty furniture collected by the private museum’s owner, Chyung Mi-sook.
With roots dating back to the early 17th century, Seomun Market is a bustling commercial hub selling everything from tteokbokki (hot and spicy rice cakes) to textiles. The market's star attraction is its street food, best enjoyed after dark at the weekend night market when more than 80 stalls are illuminated and at their most atmospheric.
Though the tropical climes of the Caribbean are not something you’d usually associate with South Korea, the city of Yongin is home to Caribbean Bay, a water park and spa complex that seeks to recreate the laid-back vibes and water-based fun of the Caribbean.
The Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art (formerly known as the Icheon World Ceramics Center) celebrates Korea’s deep-rooted tradition of ceramics and showcases its progression into the modern age. Whether you’re interested in the hands-on creative process or simply want to admire beautiful ceramics, this world-class institution promises a culturally rich experience.
Set in Odaesan National Park in Pyeongchang, Woljeongsa Temple is one of the most important temples of Korean Buddhism. Surrounded by a forest of fir trees and featuring several national treasures and a museum of Buddhist artifacts, the site also offers different Buddhist programs and temple-stay experiences.
Travelers with an interest in Korean pop culture will want to tour Seoul’s MNet Studios. Known for its trendy TV shows, cutting-edge entertainment, and K-Pop energy, the media hub offers an inside look at one of the country’s most popular broadcasting networks.
Located in a residential area in the foothills of Mount Bukhansan, the Gana Art Center is one of the largest exhibition spaces in South Korea. The rotating exhibitions held here highlight modern, contemporary, and impressionist art by a variety of established and emerging artists from Korea and around the world.
In the heart of Icheon, a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk, is the Haegang Ceramics Museum. Here, exquisite porcelain vases, intricate tea sets, and centuries-old pottery reveal the brilliance of Korean artisans throughout the centuries. The museum’s immersive exhibits add to the experience.
