Escape to Korea: Top 5 Tourist Hotspots Every Traveler Should Experience
① Must-visit Tourist Destinations
The number of foreign tourists visiting Korea this year has increased by 275.9% compared to last year. The cumulative number of foreign tourists visiting Korea from January to November last year reached 9.995 million. By country, Japan had the most visitors, followed by China, the United States, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Foreign tourists visiting Korea often start with the iconic tourist destinations. Among them, ‘Nami Island’ is the most beloved domestic travel destination by foreigners. Nami Island is known to have the largest number of foreign visitors among the single tourist destinations in Korea. It is the second most visited place by foreigners after Jeju Island.
Nami Island is famous for having more foreign visitors than Koreans. From December 2022 to November 2023, the tourist destination attracted the most attention from foreigners was Nami Island. Nami Island began to receive explosive attention when it appeared as the backdrop of a Korean drama. It was also an excellent place to enjoy Korea’s nature, with beautiful scenery in all four seasons.
- Address: 1 Nami Island Road, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon, Gangwon
- Operating Hours: 08:00 – 21:00
- Admission Fee: General 16,000 KRW (approx. USD 13.5)
Seoul’s iconic tourist destination ‘Gyeongbok Palace’ is a popular travel course in Korea, albeit a bit cliché. Wearing a Hanbok and looking around Gyeongbokgung Palace is gaining popularity among foreign tourists. If you visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can see a lot of foreigners wearing Hanbok and taking pictures.
Gyeongbokgung Palace is also well-known as the background of the drama that brought out the Korean Wave. Visitors wearing Hanbok can enter Gyeongbok Palace for free, which draws even more attention. Many foreigners in the Jongno area enjoy traveling to Korea wearing Hanbok.
In 2020, BTS’ performance in Hanbok in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace Geunjeongjeon spread worldwide through NBC’s “Jimmy Fallon Show.” Since then, the number of BTS overseas fans has increased significantly.
- Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Gyeongbok Palace
- Operating Hours: Daily 09:00 – 17:00 (November to February)
- Admission Fee: Adults 3,000 KRW (approx. USD 2.5), Foreigners 4,000 KRW (approx. USD 3.4), Free for those wearing Hanbok
② Domestic Travel Destinations Foreigners are Curious About
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom are the places foreign tourists want to visit the most. About half of the tourists visiting the DMZ are foreigners, making it one of the must-visit courses in Korea. The number of foreigners visiting the DMZ is increasing annually. DMZ tours targeting foreigners are gaining huge popularity. As the only divided country in the world, it is also a place that foreigners are curious about.
The Third Tunnel and the Dora Observatory are fascinating from the perspective of foreigners. Tourists can vividly experience the actual situation and history of the North-South division. Foreigners often post pictures of the scenery from the Dora Observatory on social media.
More foreign tourists are visiting as Incheon International Airport Corporation conducts a transfer tour for customers transferring through Incheon International Airport within 24 hours.
Foreigners seem to be very interested in the history of Korean division. The War Memorial Hall in Yongsan-gu is also a popular destination for foreign tourists. TripAdvisor even ranked The War Memorial Hall as the number one must-visit destination in Seoul.
Foreigners have been impressed by the military equipment, such as tanks and airplanes, displayed in front of the War Memorial of Korea. Foreign tourists have left reviews saying, “It was influential and beneficial. Especially, it was interesting to see military equipment in actual size,” and “It’s a wonderful museum where you can learn deeply about the Korean War. It’s well-selected, and you can spend several hours here.”
The War Memorial of Korea is a place that attracts more attention from foreigners than locals. If you visit the War Memorial of Korea, you can see foreign tourists of various nationalities.
- Address: 29 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
- Operating Hours: 09:30 – 18:00 (Closed on Mondays)
③ Increase in Visits to Seoraksan National Park
Foreigners are often surprised by how easily they can go hiking anywhere. They pointed out the accessibility as a plus, given the numerous mountains nationwide. Seoraksan National Park is a hiking destination that has seen a significant increase in visits by foreign visitors.
It has risen as a top-rated trekking course among foreign tourists. The Seoraksan National Park Office has launched a ‘Seoraksan Trekking & Challenge’ program targeting foreigners. Depending on the demand for participation, it is conducted in both overnight and day trip formats. The Seoraksan National Park Office plans to continue operating the program, reflecting seasonal factors.
Foreigners come back from Mt. Seorak after enjoying nature. Seoraksan has temples such as Baekdamsa Temple and Shinheungsa Temple, and it attracts foreign visitors with its magnificent scenery. In particular, the Shinheungsa Temple is a famous place among foreign travelers.
Foreigners often enjoy a trip to Sokcho along with a visit to Seoraksan.
As a result, the number of foreigners visiting Sokcho is steadily increasing.
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