SOUTH KOREA
• Ulleungdo Island
• Hongdo Island
• Jeju Island
JAPAN
• Yakushima
• Okinawa
• Tohoku
CHINA
• Weizhou Island
• Putuoshan Island
• Xiapu Island
{ EAST ASIA }
South Korea
EXPEDITION INFORMATION
WHEN TO GO
March to May (for cherry blossoms in bloom), September to November (for cooler temperatures)
GETTING AROUND
The most convenient way of travelling around Korea is by train, which connects major towns and cities. Additionally, if you are looking to travel longer distances, domestic flights are an option, as many cities have their own airports
GETTING THERE
Getting to South Korea is relatively easy, as the country is a major travel hub and caters to many domestic and international carriers. Travellers can fly to South Korea either via Seoul Incheon International Airport or via Busan Gimhae International Airport
Time zone
+9
UTC+09:00
Capital
Seoul
Language
Korean
Currency
South Korean won (₩)
Calling code
+82
Electricity
220V
Plug type
F (German-style)
With a booming economy, ancient culture and growing presence on a global stage, South Korea has slowly become one of the most talked about travel destinations in East Asia. Known as the “Land of the Morning Calm”, South Korea holds over 5,000 years of history, art and culture, and promises travellers an amazing range of experiences, from trekking stunning landscapes to discovering beautiful Buddhist temples.
Annexed by Imperial Japan in 1910, Korea was divided after World War II into northern and southern zones, occupied by the Soviet Union and the United States, respectively. Reunification efforts failed and by 1948, two separate states had been formed: the communist north and the capitalist south. Shortly after, the three-year-long Korean War led to the creation of the four-kilometre-wide Demiliatarized Zone that has helped maintain a tense peace between the two Koreas ever since. In the intervening years, South Korea has emerged as one of Asia’s most respected, prosperous, and technologically advanced nations.
Ancient and modern co-exist in perfect harmony in South Korea. Journeying through the country you can find the neon signboards and bustling markets of modern cities such as Seoul and Busan, but travel just a bit further out and you can discover traditional coastal cities such as Icheon and Damyang. Moreover, unbeknown to many, the country has well over 3,000 islands and islets – if you were to travel to one island a day, it would take you a good nine years before you visited every single one!
Much of South Korea is still largely unexplored and untouched by tourists, but through the years the popularity of the country has only attracted an increasing influx of visitors to its shores. Among those thousands of islands are a few exceptional examples: Ulleungdo, Hongdo and Jeju. And while they may be popular getaways for the locals, the majority of foreign visitors will be unfamiliar with them. Read on to discover why these incredible islands should be at the very top of your must-visit list.
ULLEUNGDO ISLAND
Situated 120 kilometres off the eastern coast of South Korea, Ulleungdo Island is known for its majestic scenery of steep cliffs and rounded peaks along a jiggered coastline. Nicknamed “Mystery Island” by the locals for its mythical energy, Ulleungdo is believed to have been formed following volcanic eruptions over 2.5 million years ago.
It is believed that the island is sacred as it is where the rich energy of the land and clear energy of the sky – making it a marriage of yin and yang. Considered one of South Korea’s best off-the-beaten-track destinations, Ulleungdo has long been a popular destination amongst locals, and over the years, foreign travellers have been catching on.
For most of its history, the island has always been out of reach and uninhabited by people, which has naturally allowed for the island’s flora and fauna to prosper. The Chosun Dynasty (1392–1897) implemented the “empty-island policy”, ordering islanders to evacuate the island for fear of
