Matador's Ultimate Guide to South Korea

Energetic cities, K-pop, and centuries-old history in one small country ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [South Korea]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to South Korea Hi all, From the urban buzz of Seoul to centuries-old Buddhist temples, South Korea has become a go-to destination for more than just English-teaching expats and K-pop lovers. Seoul has an innovative food scene, 24-hour everything, traditional Korean architecture, efficient public transit, and a fashion scene that is so far ahead, their style only trickles down to the west years later. On top of that, Korea is more affordable compared to similar destinations that make visiting way more accessible for the average traveler, and the country’s flawless transportation system makes it a breeze to sightsee nearby Seoul, faraway Jeju Island, and everything in between. This week, Matador explores South Korea. [Let’s dive in](. [EXPLORE SOUTH KOREA](  GET INSPIRED [Seoul]( Why Seoul Is the Most Underrated City in Asia When it comes to penning bucket lists, Seoul doesn’t receive nearly as much love as more popular Asian destinations like Tokyo, Beijing, or Bangkok. Savvy travelers have long known that Seoul is an underrated treasure and here's why. [READ MORE]( [Traveling Jules]( Adventures in Korea With TravelingJules Juliana Broste visits Korea and she'll show you why Korea will capture your heart and soul. Join her as she samples street food in Seoul, snowboards in PyeongChang, and visits a traditional Korean Hanok Village. [WATCH NOW]( [Banwol]( Everything on These Korean Islands Is Painted a Bright Shade of Purple Formerly a small fishing community, the “purple islands” gained both domestic and international recognition when locals turned everything into a beautiful shade of lilac. From rooftops to telephone boxes to rice to lavender fields, everything in Banwol is colored purple. [READ MORE](  NATURE + ADVENTURE [City Wall]( Where To Catch a Breath of Fresh Air Near Seoul Home to over 10 million people, the South Korean capital buzzes with life 24 hours a day. But when you want to get away from it all, here are five activities in unique spots where locals go to get their nature fix. [READ MORE]( [Naesujeon mongdol beach]( Snorkeling on South Korea’s Mysterious Ulleungdo Island Ulleungdo is a volcanic island 75 miles east of South Korea, a dream for any off-the-beaten-track traveler. The island has long attracted South Koreans who appreciate its dramatic volcanic cliffs and rock formations, primeval forests, and crystal clear water. [READ MORE]( [Achimgari River and Gangwondo]( 4 Refreshing Hiking Adventures Around South Korea From Seoul Outside the urban sprawl of South Korea’s capital lies a plethora of verdant escapes. If you want to know why it’s called the land of the morning calm, leave the Soju-soaked streets behind and head out into the wild. Here are four hiking and biking trips to take around the peninsula. [READ MORE](  FOOD + CULTURE [Lotte Hotel Seoul]( 4 Michelin-Starred Seoul Hotel Restaurants That Offer a Taste of Luxury Seoul has become one of the hotspots for fine dining that highlights both traditional cooking methods and innovative techniques and has more Michelin-starred restaurants than Madrid, Chicago, Bangkok, and San Francisco. [READ MORE]( [rice cakes]( 20 Sweet, Chewy, and Colorful Korean Desserts You’re Missing Out On Korean desserts for just about every occasion, whether you want something to warm you up through a harsh winter or cool you down in a blisteringly hot summer. These are the Korean desserts you’ve been missing out on. [READ MORE]( [Hongdae]( Why Seoul Is One of the Best Places in Asia for LGBTQ Travelers While Taipei might be East Asia’s uncontested capital of queer, the city of Seoul isn’t far behind. Seoul can be split into four main LGBTQ areas, and each area has a unique atmosphere and caters to a different crowd and, more specifically, a different orientation. [READ MORE]( [soju]( 6 Rules That Guide a Night of Drinking in Korea One reason drinking is so popular in Korea is simply because alcohol is so cheap — soju is almost always the beverage of choice, followed closely by beer. The drinking etiquette that accompanies social outings, especially with colleagues, reinforces social hierarchies in Korean society. [READ MORE](  EPIC STAYS Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Korean Airbnbs]( [Luxury Hotels]( [Serra Guitar Cultural Museum]( [Epic Stays TikTok](  [Facebook](  [Twitter](  [Linkedin](  [Youtube](  [Instagram](  [Tiktok](  [Pinterest]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2023 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States Â