Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Two weeks in South Korea will allow you to spend at least a couple of days in three or four
major cities, or stay longer in two places you're struggling to decide between, with a side
trip or two to important scenic or cultural spots. This example takes you east from Seoul,
pausing at key destinations along the way, but you could just as easily head southwest, stop-
ping in Daejeon, Jeonju, and Gwangju, if you're interested in the western region, or fly to
Jeju after spending a few days in Seoul if island life appeals to you.
Days 1-3
After recovering from your flight, spend a couple of days exploring the key sights of Seoul
and perhaps visiting property agents or schools in areas you've targeted as potential homes.
Make your way to Seoul Station and book a ticket on an afternoon KTX high-speed train to
Daejeon. Spend the evening in the Dunsan-dong district, the city's “new” downtown, which
features a vibrant retail scene and several cafés and bars frequented by the city's foreign
residents. The next morning, have a taxi take you around the outlying Daedeok Innopolis
zone, centered on the country's foremost science and engineering institution, the Korea Ad-
vanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The government envisions the area
as a cluster for scientific and technological research and industry, and it's already home to
a sizable community of foreign students and academics. A number of the institutions based
here offer long-term accommodations, and there are also real estate agents available to as-
sist potential residents. Stop off for a soak at the renowned Yuseong Hot Springs, a vast
complex of bathhouses with therapeutic pools that is a great introduction to South Korea's
burgeoning public bath culture, before returning to Daejeon's train station to board the KTX
to Daegu.
Day 4
After a night of rest, explore Daegu's up-and-coming Suseong-gu district, where there's a
high concentration of educational institutions and, consequently, foreign teachers. If you're
looking for a younger (and cheaper) scene, the Kyungpook National University area in the
north of the city is known for its low-cost housing and abundance of nightlife. Take the af-
ternoon to climb Palgongsan Mountain on the city's outskirts—it's a fairly easy trail—to
the Gatbawi Buddha at its peak, where hundreds of worshippers flock each day in the hope
it will grant their wishes. Return to Dongdaegu Station to board the KTX for Busan, or ex-
plore the always-busy Rodeo Street area in the city center if you'd like to spend some more
time mingling with city residents.
