Selling Travel April 19

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exploring...
Korea
Despite holding last year's Winter Olympics, Korea remains under the radar of many Asia
bound travellers - but there's a wealth of reasons for visiting, says Anna Maria Espsäter
Oh dear, I am running late for my
bibimbap cooking lesson. That's
perhaps not surprising given that
so far today I’ve tried my hand at
learning Korean drumming, sampled
various rice wines and dressed up for a
traditional wedding - as the bride!
There’s no end to the fun to be had at
the Traditional Cultural Centre in Jeonju,
a city in western Korea well-known for
its Hanok Heritage village, an area of
traditionally-built houses.
I am spending the day exploring the
city, complete with cultural and culinary
delights. My day starts with an amble
around some of the 800-plus hanok
buildings, followed by a visit to the
Traditional Wine Museum, giving a good
introduction into the history and process
of rice wine-making.
There is some sampling, of course, just
in time to increase my confidence before
the drumming lesson.
This is not for the faint-hearted as much
shouting in Korean ensues to get us
all warmed up and ready to pound the
drums, all of which are on the large side.
I actually find the traditional wedding far
more relaxing, and dressing up is plenty
of fun. Last, but not least, there is food,
even if I have to cook it myself.
Pots and pans at the ready, I learn how
to make the classic rice dish, bibimbap
and, much to my relief, it is not too hard.
Rounding off a hard day’s learning, I tuck
into a hearty dish and some soju rice wine.
NAMHANSANSEONG MOUNTAIN FORTRESS
SEOUL'S LOTTE WORLD TOWER
A great alternative
Korea may not be topping any trending
lists but that’s all the more reason to sell
it before it does.
“South Korea provides a really great,
cost-effective alternative to its neighbour,
Japan,” says Paul Ingram, Product &
Category Manager at Kuoni.
“You can get similar experiences,
including amazing cuisine, natural hot
springs, modern cities, historic towns
and villages, plus fast and efficient public
transport. Visit in the spring for inspiring
cherry blossom or head there in the
autumn and experience the stunning
colours of the autumn leaves,” he says.
Must-sees
Korean history spans over 5,000 years
and there are plenty of sights dotted
across the country that are well worth a
visit. Many, from palaces and temples to
shrines and fortresses, are included on
the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Firmly in touch with its history, Korea is
SUNFLOWER TRAIL, GANGJU VILLAGE
KOREAN COUNTRYSIDE
also well and truly moving with the times
and its technology is second to none.
The country is compact and easy to get
around, with high-speed trains linking
all the main hubs. Korea is a populous
nation, but it’s still possible to get away
from it all and head out into nature.
Although a comparatively small nation,
there are 22 national parks to choose
from, most of them in mountainous
areas.
The oldest, Jirisan, celebrated 50 years
as a protected area in 2017.
Visitors shouldn’t miss the exciting
capital, Seoul, for its wonderful mix of
ancient temples and modern sky scrapers
and is crammed with fabulous, bustling
night markets.
Must-dos
One of the absolute must-dos in Korea is
sampling the country’s fantastic, varied
food scene. Markets can be a good place
to start, as long as your clients are feeling
brave and don’t expect everyone to speak
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