South Korea Facts
Your Personal South Korea Travel Guide

"An insider guide to South Korea,
especially Seoul and Busan"

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South Korea Facts

In this article you`ll find:



Welcome to South Korea!

My sister Anna traveled in South Korea for one month -- all of the information in this article is from her personal experiences.

South Korea may not be on the top list of backpackers.

Yet, the country offers unique cultural and historical experiences. We often hear about North Korea in the news, but what about South Korea?

Anna met backpackers in Seoul. When they first arrived in Korea they thought that there wasn't much to see in the country, but as soon as they started exploring they realised they were wrong. These backpackers ended up staying in South Korea longer than planned!

In this article, we'll tell you why!

First of all, here are some facts on South Korea:

  • Seoul is the capital of south Korea

  • The currency in South Korea is Korean won

  • The division of North and South Korea was formally made in 1945, right after Second World War

  • Geographical facts: China lies in the west and Japan in the east. It's easy to travel from South Korea to Japan and it's only a ferry ride away!

  • South Koreans has the highest national IQ with 106 –- they even have TV-programs teaching in mathematics.

  • A South Korean woman has a birth rate of 1.2 -– statistics from 2007. This may have a connection to their values like focusing on their careers.

  • South Koreans have the highest suicide rate according to OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development).

    For example: Male suicide rates in South Korea almost tripled from 1990 to 2006, to 32 from 12 for every 100,000.

    South Korea has the highest rate of female suicide among the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to data presented by the Finance Ministry and Statistics Korea. As of 2010, OECD has 33 member countries.

    This may be linked to the fact that there's a lot of pressure on Koreans to perform well, in school, work, in relationships.

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Why should you travel to South Korea?



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South Korea Facts: Jeju Island

  • In South Korea, you'll find a combination of modern buildings, nature you only can dream of, beaches, waterfalls in Jeju island and Buddhist temples.

    It's also the perfect place for history buffs -- giving you the highlights of Korean history.

  • South Korean culture is different from other Asian cultures.

    They have a higher and stronger degree of respect for each other; not just their families and friends, but also foreigners. Getting to know the culture of South Korea can be frustrating for a foreign traveler, but also exciting if you look more closely into it.

    It's all about keeping an open mind and learning to tolerate another culture :-)

  • The food in South Korea is some of the healthiest you can ever eat. South Korean cuisine is tasty and known for balanced taste: salty, sweet, sour and spicy!

    If you travel south you get to try the fantastic sea food dishes in Busan.

  • You'll certainly feel safe when traveling around in South Korea, especially in the cities.

    There are practically surveillance cameras everywhere: light poles in the streets, in the halls of the hostels, at the metro and so on. A good place to go solo traveling as a female traveler if you feel unsure.

    surveillance cameras at travelers a hostel seoul korea backpacking tips asia
    South Korea Facts: Surveillance at Travelers A Hostel

  • The extensive transportation in the cities of south Korea is on-time, effective, clean, cheap and convenient.

    By convenient I mean they've gone all the way to make city traveling as easy as possible.

    For example: At Seoul Metropolitan Subway - when you get off the subway and want to follow the green line, all you have to do is follow the green row of paint on the walls. You save time when finding your way around.

    metro in south korea tracks lines backpacking tips asia
    South Korea Facts: Metro Lines -- look at the walls

  • South Koreans are some of the friendliest people my sister has met.

    I can give you many examples, but I'll just stick to one. Anna was looking at a map while she was sitting on the subway. Two elderly Korean men in their 70's came over to her and asked if she needed help with the map reading.

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    South Korea Articles



    south korean food backpacking tips asia

    South Korean Food

    Don't know what and where to eat in Seoul and Busan?

    Here are the food dishes Anna tried!

    Click here to read about South Korean food! :-)

    South Korea Map and Maps of Cities in South Korea

    Looking for maps of South Korea?

    I provide you with maps of South Korea, Seoul, Busan, Jeju Island and Incheon International Airport.

    Click here for South Korea Map and other maps!



    busan korea south korea backpacking tips asia

    Busan (Pusan) Korea

    Welcome to harbor city of South Korea.

    Read Anna's personal experiences on accommodation and activities in Busan.

    Welcome to Busan South Korea

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    busan korea south korea backpacking tips asia

    South Korean Culture

    Get an introduction to culture of South Korea from a traveler who has been there and done that, meaning my sister Anna who visited South Korea in the summer of 2010.

    Cruise through South Korea Culture

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