10 Most Popular Tourist Attractions in South Korea

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace

Built in 1394 under orders of King Taejo, the first king and founder of the Joseon Dynasty. The Gyeongbokgung Palace houses the National Folk Museum and the National Palace Museum of Korea. The palace is composed of several buildings including the Gangnyeongjeon (Gangnyeongjeon Hall), which was used as the king's main sleeping and living quarters. It is arguably the most beautiful of its four sister palaces, which are all in Seoul. The Gyeongbokgung Palace was originally a massive complex of 330 buildings and 5,792 rooms. Many of the buildings were destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945). Since 1989, the Korean government is in the process of rebuilding the structures that were destroyed.

2. Korean Folk Village

The Korean Folk Village is a living museum and it occupies an area of about 243 acres in a natural environment located at Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province. There are more than 260 houses reproducing traditional Korean homes from the late Joseon Dinasty. Many types of buildings are included, representing all the social classes and different regions of South Korea. Within the village there are also traditional restaurants, a traditional market and various workshops showcasing all the traditional Korean crafts, including metalwork, woodwork, fans, musical instruments and a lot more. The Korean Folk Village also includes a Folk Museum, an Art Museum, performances of traditional dance, as well as an amusement park with rides, games and recreational activities for all the family.

3. Gyeongju Bulguksa Temple

The Bulguksa Temple is located on Mt. Tohamsan in Gyeongju National Park, Gyeongju. During the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Silla (751), Kim Daeseong, the premier of the time, started constructing the temple. It was finished during the reign of King Hyegong (774). However, most of the buildings were burnt down when Japan made an aggression against Korea in 1593, during the reign of King Seonjo of the Joseon Period. Only some buildings including Geungnakjeon Hall, Jahamun Gate, and Beomyeongru Pavilion survived from the invasion. However, an excavation of the site from 1969 to 1973 revealed enough information to restore the site to its present condition.

4. Demilitarized Zone DMZ

There’s no doubt that the DMZ is one of the key experiences of any visit to Korea, and a great insight into the ethos and emotion that plays a key role in a culture that many regard as divided in half spiritually as well as politically. It’s also the closest you’re likely to get to North Korea, unless the border situation changes. The DMZ is actually a buffer zone between the two countries, and most tours involve staring across no mans land towards the heavily guarded North Korean border posts. The land in between is actually about as heavily militarized as any area of land in the world, lending the name an ironic air, but it’s also a strangely beautiful natural sight, having become home to a host of wildlife.

5. Haeinsa Temple

The Temple of Haeinsa, on Mount Kaya, is home to the Tripitaka Koreana , the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, engraved on 80,000 woodblocks between 1237 and 1248. The buildings of Janggyeong Pangeon, which date from the 15th century, were constructed to house the woodblocks, which are also revered as exceptional works of art. As the oldest depository of the Tripitaka , they reveal an astonishing mastery of the invention and implementation of the conservation techniques used to preserve these woodblocks.

6. Jejudo

Jejudo or Jeju Island, also known as the “Island of the Gods,” is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and many international visitors. It remains one of the top honeymoon destinations for Korean newlyweds. The island’s mixture of volcanic rock, frequent rains, and temperate climate, make it very similar to the Hawaiian Islands in the U.S. The island offers visitors a wide range of activities: hiking on Halla-san (South Korea’s highest peak), catching sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, viewing majestic waterfalls and lava tubes, Jeju Loveland, riding horses, or just lying around on the sandy beaches.

7. Seoraksan National Park

As Korea's most popular national park, Seorak-san gets a tremendous number of visitors to see the leaves turn color every autumn. The park is heavily visited throughout the rest of the year. Seorak-san's craggy peaks are often shrouded in mist, creating a "see of clouds" effect seen in many pictures of the area. The park contains several famous temples, including Baekdam-sa. The inner part of the Taebaek Mountain Range is named Inner Seorak. The other major areas are Outer Seorak and South Seorak. All three areas are divided by Daecheong-bong, the main peak of Seorak-san.

8. Namdaemun Market

Named for its nearby namesake of Namdaemun (Great South Gate) and located near the downtown area, one of Korea's largest wholesale markets covers over 10 acres. It is filled with over 1,000 shops, stalls, retailers, street vendors, and has several department stores nearby. Here you can find clothes, shoes, fabrics, tableware, flowers, vegetables, ginseng products, toys, and watches. Under Namdaemun-no (the main street to the north of the market) is an extensive underground arcade.

9. Busan Haeundae Beach

Busan is a seaport surrounded by several beaches. The most beautiful of them is the Haeundae-beach. At about 1.5 kilometers in length, it is well worth visiting in the summer as well as the winter. During wintertime, it is a beautiful place to go for a walk, with packs of seagulls overhead. In the summer, the beach is hardly detectable due to all the sunscreens. You can rent boats there and all possible kinds of water sports are catered for in beach proximity. The Busan Aquarium is directly on the beach, and the Yachting Center is in close proximity. In addition, there are many modern hotels at the beach, as well as clubs, bars and so on.

10. Yongpyong Ski Resort

The Yongpyong Ski Resort is located at a very inhabitable range of 700 meters above sea level. It is found at the eastern edge of Asia, about 200km from Seoul, the capital city of South Korea. With an annual snowfall average of 250cm, the surrounding area possesses a beautiful environment, which allows for the enjoyment of a wide array of winter sports including skiing from mid-November to early April. On its 4,300 acres, you will find a 45-hole golf course, 31 ski slopes, premium hotels, European-style condominiums and many other leisure facilities that can be enjoyed by the whole family.