A country of contrasts: A guide to South Korea’s eclectic culture

South Korea is a country of contrasts. It’s relaxingly serene with rolling mountains and thousands of small islands. But dive into its 24-hour cities and serenity might be the last thing you experience. This country – a land that produced heart-pounding global sensations like K-Pop and Squid Game – is also loud, proud and intoxicatingly fun.

Here are some of the best ways to experience this clash of contrasts…

Traditional cultural experiences

It would be impossible to sum up the depth and breadth of South Korean culture in a few sentences. Across its various dynasties and decades, South Korea has changed dramatically, and you’ll find traces of this history in the architecture, food, people and culture of today. Here are a few ways to see them…

1: Visit a traditional ‘Hanok’ village

Step into a traditional ‘Hanok’ village and you’ll get a flavour of what life in South Korea once was. At Bukchon Hanok Village, explore the sloping narrow alleys overlooking Seoul, where hundreds of traditional houses (known as ‘Hanok’) are tucked away – many still inhabited today. You can also visit the smaller but equally beautiful Namsangol Hanok Village – especially pretty under the autumn foliage.

2: Tuck in at a food market

There’s no better place to try the tantalising flavours of South Korean cuisine than at a food market – and fortunately, you are spoiled for choice. In Seoul, visit Gwangjang market, one of the oldest in the country, where you’ll find traditional Korean fare piled high alongside a fantastical array of fresh produce. At night, lose yourself in the maze of Namdaemun Market, where you can try everything from knife-cut noodles to blood sausage.

3: Discover the unique culture of Haenyeo divers

On Jeju Island, there’s a community of women (many as old as 80) who go diving to gather shellfish and seaweed without the help of oxygen masks. In 2016, their unique practice was inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Walk around Jeju Island and you might see them at work, and you’ll definitely be able to try their harvests at the many seafood restaurants. You can also visit the Haenyeo Museum in Jeju to learn more.

4: Explore the tombs of Gyeongju

Now a UNESCO site, Gyeongju is known as a ‘museum without walls’ – home to more temples, tombs, rock carvings, pagodas and palace ruins than any other place in South Korea. For almost 1,000 years, this city was the capital of the Silla Kingdom, ruling south-eastern Korea from the 1st century BCE to 7th century CE. The surrounding countryside, with rolling hills and thick forests, makes it even more worthwhile visiting.

5: Take part in a tea ceremony at a Buddhist temple

Tea ceremonies are finding their revival in Korea, offering a slice of harmony in the fast-paced new Korean culture. A unique place to experience one is Geumgangsan Temple, in the foothills of Geumjeongsan mountains in Busan. In the presence of the monks, you can drink your tea in the calm and reflective mood required of the ‘tea etiquette’. You can even pick and dry your own leaves, with the rolling hills as a backdrop.

Contemporary culture

Modern-day culture in South Korea has rocketed in the past few decades – so much so that there’s even a word for this explosion: Hallyu, or ‘the Korean Wave’. Some parts of the culture (like K-Pop) have transcended the globe; others, like Poo Poo Land (a poo-inspired theme park in Seoul) are still a little more eclectic. Try these three great experiences…

1: Soak up some K-Pop

K-Pop (short for Korean popular music) is probably one of the biggest phenomenons to come out of South Korea in recent years. Even if you’re not a fan, it’s such an important part of modern-day culture that it would be remiss not to experience it. You can buy tickets for MTV The Show and watch top K-Pop groups perform right in front of you. Then try the moves for yourself at a K-Pop dance lesson.

2: Relive the best TV and film

South Korean TV and film have made waves across the world, especially in the past decade. In Seoul, relive one of the best movies of modern times with a location tour of the Oscar-award-winning movie Parasite – the first foreign-language film ever to win Best Picture. Or for a scary experience, head to Olympic Park in Seoul, where you’ll find the terrifying 13ft giant doll from the Netflix sensation, Squid Game.

3: Catch a Baseball game

Even if you’re not a fan of sports, baseball games in South Korea are a spectacle to behold. From the energetic cheerleaders dancing on podiums to the infamous ‘kiss cam’, the most enjoyable moments often happen off the field. It’s also a great chance to get stuck into some fried chicken and beer as you get swept up in the lively chants and Mexican waves.

Epic festivals

South Korea knows how to celebrate. You have everything from the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival – where trout are caught in sub-zero temperatures – to the Boryeong Mud Festival, where thousands gather to dance, slide and wrestle on the slippy beach. There’s even a festival dedicated to kimchi. Here are a few others you can’t miss…

1: Jeju Fire Festival | Jeju Island | March

This might be the worlds’ greatest fire festival – an annual celebration rooted in the tradition of ‘bangae’, where locals burn the fields ahead of spring to renew the land. The highlight of the festival is the burning of an enormous bonfire on a hill, with fireworks, live music, plenty of food and a head-spinning array of alcoholic concoctions.

2: Yeouido Spring Flower Festival | Seoul | April

Japan gets all the fame for cherry blossoms, but South Koreas’ are equally epic. Visit in spring and you’ll find cherry blossom festivals across the country, where you can picnic, drink and dance below the spiralling petals. The Yeouido Spring Flower Festival in Seoul is one of the best, where more than 1,600 cherry trees bloom along the Han River.

3: Seoul Lantern Festival | Seoul | November

This annual lantern festival transforms the wintery clutch of Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon Stream into a neon wonderland. The 1.3km stretch of water is decked out in hundreds of thousands of floating lanterns, so elaborate they are considered to be ‘light sculptures’, telling stories of history and legend to music.

Architectural gems

South Korea has it all: modern skyscrapers, ancient ruins, historic temples; even hot spring theme parks. Historically, architecture in South Korea was characterised by simple, naturalistic tendencies, remaining at harmony with nature – but modern day cities have claimed their place on the world architectural map, winning some of the most prestigious design awards in the industry. Here are a few buildings you can’t miss…

1: Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung Palace is probably one of the most iconic sights of South Korea. Built in 1395, it was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Time your visit for the changing of the guard ceremony, which takes place at 10am and 2pm everyday except Tuesday. This re-enactment —complete with replica costumes and weapons — reflects a time when the royal guards acted as the palace gatekeepers.

2: Banpodaegyo (Rainbow) Bridge

Banpodaegyo Bridge stretches 1.14km over the Han River – recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest ‘bridge fountain’. At night, 380 rainbow-coloured jets shoot from both sides, lit up by 200 neon lights. It’s a hypnotic sight, best seen from the river itself on an evening boat ride.

3: Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Said to have put Seoul on the ‘architectural world map’, Dongdaemun Design Plaza is an enormous spaceship of a building with futuristic metallic curving walls. Home to a variety of art galleries, exhibition halls and retail spaces, it’s easy to lose a day exploring. Make sure you visit the roof, housing a large walkable park.

4: Daejeonsa temple

There are over 900 traditional Buddhist temples in South Korea to choose from – and around 20,000 in total. Daejeonsa is the largest temple in the Cheongsong area (an hour north of Busan) and although the temple buildings are simple, its magnificent view of Juwang Mountain is probably one of the best sights in the country.

5: 63 Building

The 250m-tall 63 building stands on Yeouido island, overlooking the Han River in Seoul. When it was opened in 1985, it was the tallest building outside of North America – and remains the tallest gold-clad structure in the world. Fun to explore both inside and out, it’s also home to Seoul’s first aquarium, as well as an art gallery on its top floor.

Cultural stays

In this country of contrasts, your options are as varied as they are unusual when it comes to accommodation. Sleep in a princess castle, a mountaintop temple, a traditional wooden home – or even in a giant noodle pot. From the historic to the humorous, you’ll find all kinds of places to stay in South Korea…

Temple stay

For a deeply meditative experience, stay in one of the country’s 900-plus Buddhist temples. The Templestay programme — offering a choice of country-wide temple ‘homestays’ – provides a chance to immerse in the traditional monastic way of life. Spend time shadowing a monk, take part in meditation and tea ceremonies, and relax surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.

Themed ‘Pension’

If you’re looking to embrace modern-day Korean culture in all its zany glory, a stay in one of the many themed ‘pensions’ – a kind of basic guesthouse – will certainly satisfy. At UNIQUE Pension, you can sleep inside a giant noodle cup, or a Starbucks cup. At Cozy Theme Pension, your bed is a huge Soju bottle. At Gulliver’s Travel Pension, your room feels right out of a fairytale, and at Happy World Jongihak Pension, the building is literally a giant mushroom.

Hot spring hotel

There are more than 400 hot springs in South Korea, although Deokgu Spaworld in Uljin is said to have the only hot spring where water naturally rises to the surface. Every day, nearly 2,000 tons of water flow through the park, reaching temperatures of over 42 degrees C. The hot spring water is said to be especially beneficial for people with rheumatism and muscle aches.

Traditional ‘hanok’

The sliding wooden doors and simple sleeping mats of ‘hanoks’ — or traditional Korean homes — offer a window into an older way of life. Typically made of entirely natural materials, like wood and stone, these homes are designed to preserve cool temperatures in summer and trap in heat during the winter. They usually feature an underground heating system called ‘ondol’ – in the bitter cold of winter, nothing beats an ondol on full blast.