With the bursting popularity of Korean pop culture in recent years, South Korea has seen a huge influx of foreigners on their shores dying to know more about the country. It’s capital Seoul, together with Busan as well as Jeju-do are the tourist hotspots. But South Korea is more than these cities!

With 85 cities, this large peninsula has plenty to offer – from amazing food and breathtaking views to rich history and culture. So on your next trip to South Korea, consider taking some time to visit other parts of the country, and see what these underrated cities have to offer.

Seeing as how the Hallyu Wave is not dying down any time soon, here are just 5 cities other than Seoul to get you started on your journey to explore the beautiful country of South Korea.

BORYEONG

Located on the west coast of the Korean peninsula is the quiet town of Boryeong, home to the biggest summer festival in Korea. Just for two weeks in July every year, everyone from locals to foreigners flock to Daecheon Beach where the Boryeong Mud Festival is held to get down and dirty with mud.

First established in 1998, the purpose of the mud festival is to promote the region’s mineral-rich mud that is beneficial for the skin. At the festival, you can expect a lot of fun, from mud wrestling and mudslides to K-Pop performances and spectacular fireworks during the opening and closing ceremonies.

Daecheon Beach is also lined with seafood restaurants with grilled clams as a specialty, so be sure to grab a meal there!

DAMYANG

Those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life, Damyang is the perfect place for you. It is in this small town in the southern province of Jeollanam-do where you can find the largest bamboo forest in Korea. Although this expansive bamboo forest – known as Juknokwon – is not as famous as Kyoto’s Arashiyama, it is nonetheless breathtaking.

Walk through the tall bamboo groves and enjoy the fresh air of the countryside. Within the compound, you can find a hanok village, an observatory as well as a museum where you can get bamboo ice cream!

Another attraction of Damyang is Metasequoia Road – a boulevard lined with beautiful Metasequoia trees. Incredibly photogenic, the best time to view it is in summer or autumn.

Photo Credit: leslyc_official_xo

GANGNEUNG

Beyond the mountainous region of Gangwon-do lies Gangneung a popular seaside getaway for locals. The largest coastal city of South Korea, Gangneung is now more accessible with the KTX that was built for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Visit the Jungang Market to get your fill of Korean street food from Jungang Market or Chodang Tofu Village which is lined with restaurants specializing in soondubu jjigae (soft tofu stew). Gangneung is also known for being the city of coffee, that’s why you’ll find over 40 coffee shops along Anmok Coffee Street.

Since you’re in a coastal city, you obviously have to see the sea! Stroll along Gyeongpo Beach, watch the sunrise at Jeongdongjin Beach or reenact the famous scene from Goblin at Jumunjin Beach. We can totally understand why locals love Gangneung so much, there’s just so much to do and see in here!

INCHEON

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Incheon is probably Incheon International Airport – the gateway to South Korea. Most of the time, people tend to overlook this port city.

Chinatown is the main attraction of Incheon and where the famous Korean-Chinese dish of jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) originated so you’ll definitely find many Chinese restaurants selling this here. There is even a museum for it! Behind Chinatown is Freedom Park which offers a panoramic view of the port and is incredibly beautiful during spring when the cherry blossoms have bloomed.

Also in the vicinity is Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village which is dotted with brightly-coloured murals and sculptures of Disney characters and other childhood favourites. Easily reached by the subway from Seoul, there’s no reason for you to skip this port city the next time you’re in South Korea!

JEONJU

An enchanting city rich in culture and history situated in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, Jeonju is another popular weekend destination for locals. Jeonju is also known to be the gastronomical capital of South Korea, with it being recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2012.

Right in the heart of the city is Jeonju Hanok Village, with over 700 hanok houses which have been converted into boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Consider renting a hanbok to explore the area and definitely have the traditional Jeonju bibimbap for a meal to complete your experience.

Just a short walk away is Jeonju’s very own Jaman Mural Village which is splashed with murals of familiar animations such as Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro.

When visitors are in Seoul, their itineraries are often packed with touring the grand palaces, retail therapy and relaxing at the aesthetically-pleasing cafes. While we can understand why travellers love these activities, Seoul actually has so much more to offer!

Traditional markets are often overlooked and deserve more attention to the amount of culture, food and interesting experiences that can be offered all in one place.

Feast on affordable street food, gawk at gigantic freshly caught fish and observe as the stall vendors make big batches of kimchi. Here are 7 traditional markets in Seoul you need to visit to get the very best out of your trip.

#1 GWANGJANG MARKET

Opened in 1905, Gwangjang Market boasts over 5000 shops and 42,000 square metres. This is the traditional market you must visit if you are tight on time while in Seoul.

Gwangjang Market is food heaven for those who love affordable Korean street food and snacks; from cheap and generous portions of mung bean pancakes to steaming plates of spicy rice cakes and crispy deep-fried snacks.

Most of the food stalls here have been operating for many years, thus they are well-loved by the locals for the wallet-friendly prices and years of expertise they spent to hone and perfect the dishes.

In addition to food, visitors will be able to watch as stall owners make huge batches of fresh kimchi and explore the many uniquely Korean stalls available here, including antiques and cheap clothing!

88 Changgyeonggung-ro,
Jongno 4(sa)-ga, Jongno-gu,
Seoul, South Korea
Nearest Station: Jongno 5-ga/Euljiro 4-ga

#2 NORYANGJIN FISHERIES WHOLESALE MARKET

Featuring an impressive array of tanks filled with live seafood, Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market is Seoul’s biggest seafood market. Seafood lovers visiting the capital city, this is the ultimate market for you!

The market is made up of two buildings, and here’s everything you need to know before visiting.. Indulge in fresh assortment of seafood, including raw, live octopus.

Buy your fresh seafood from any of the seafood vendors, then head to the restaurants nearby for a freshly cooked meal with the seafood you just purchased for a delightful hot meal.

674 Nodeul-ro,
Noryangjin-dong, Dongjak-gu,
Seoul, South Korea
Nearest Station: Noryangjin

Photo Credit: Seoul Insiders Guide

#3 TONGIN MARKET

A doshirak is a Korean lunch box that local mothers would pack for their children to bring to school and for their spouses to take to work. Tongin Market is popular for its one-of-a-kind concept of filling up your own lunchbox at any of the participating food stalls in the marketplace.

To have the complete dosirak experience at Tongin Market, visitors simply have to head over to the entrance of the market to exchange their money for a roll of traditional coin replicas. Then, they can visit the numerous participating stalls to pick out their side dishes and exchange them for a coin or two before heading off to the next stall to fill up their lunch box.

Load up a dosirak with various exciting side dishes including savoury pancakes, kimbap, egg rolls and dumplings; head upstairs to feast on your lunchbox once you are done, there are numerous tables and chairs provided to enjoy your meal.

18 Jahamun-ro 15-gil,
Tongin-dong, Jongno-gu,
Seoul, South Korea
Nearest Station: Gyeongbokgung

Photo Credit: The Seoul Guide

#4 CHANGSIN MARKET

Go on a major throwback and head to Changsin Market, where there are various old-school toys to reminiscence on simpler times before technology and smartphones blew up.

Nostalgia will hit you like a tidal wave as you take in the many toy shops lining the market here with dolls, robots, kitchen sets and even toys that you have to assemble on your own.

6 Jongno 52-gil,
Jongno-gu,
Seoul, South Korea
Nearest Station: Dongdaemun

Photo Credit: The Soul of Seoul

#5 YANGNYEONGSI MARKET

Traditional herbal medicine has been believed to offer amazing positive effects for our bodies for decades (and even centuries) in Asia.

Discover the world of medicine at Yangyeongsi Market, where the smell of the medicinal herbs lingers throughout the market with the wholesale stores, street vendors and pharmacies that line the market. The traditional pharmacies will typically be spotted with wooden cabinets that cover the floor to the ceiling with an impressive collection of oriental medicine.

Korea is famous for its red ginseng, with numerous health benefits including aiding mental and physical health stimulation, as well as boosting the immunity system. Visitors will be given plenty of opportunities to purchase them at wholesale prices at Yangyeongsi market.

51-1 Namseong-ro,
Jung-gu,
Daegu, South Korea
Nearest Station: Banwoldang

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