When I was still single and went to South Korea, I instantly fell in love with it. I loved their food, the cleanliness, the weather and their culture. I am so glad that my family was able to visit this lovely and clean country too.
On our first day there, we went to the Gyeongbokgung Palace, and we were just in time to witness the changing of guards.
Gyeongbokgung Palace was located at the heart of newly appointed capital of Seoul (then known as Hanyang) and represented the sovereignty of the Joseon Dynasty. The largest of the Five Grand Palaces (the others being Gyeonghuigung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace), Gyeongbokgung served as the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty.
After the Japanese occupation, the Korean government rebuilt its historic landmarks. This palace was restored in its original form 40 years and it was built to last for 20 years. The palace also houses the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea.
Tip:
Make sure to visit Gyeokbokgung Palace during the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony. Below are the performances schedule:
Sumunjang (Royal Guard) Changing Ceremony
10:00, 14:00 / 20 minutes per ceremony
Gwanghwamun Gate Guard-on-Duty Performance
11:00, 13:00 / 10 minutes per ceremony
Sumungun (Gatekeeper) Military Training (outside Hyeopsaengmun Gate)
09:30, 13:30 / 15 minutes per ceremony
Next we went to the statue of Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin. The Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin was erected at the front of Gwanghwamun Square on April 27, 1968, in honor of the brave spirit and leadership of the Admiral. At 17 meters tall, the bronze statue stands firmly with a sword in his right hand, representing protection and patriotism. In front of the statue is a miniature turtle ship that the Admiral built, and at each front corner are two drums that were used to increase the morale of soldiers going to the battlefield.
Afterwards, we went to ride the Namsan cable car, which the end point is at the N Seoul Tower Observatory. In here, we have seen the beauty of the whole city. What’s interesting about Seoul is how it’s a place that’s a mix of old and new.
For our second day, we went on a cruise via the Hanggang river cruise. In here, we saw the beauty of the Han River up close. We also got the chance to catch a live concert near the Han River! The view itself was terrific. Then, of course, our trip won’t be complete without a Myeongdong Underground shopping experience. The streets were absolutely filled with shops ranging from clothing to food. We never ran out of options when we were there. Then we also visited another marketplace that’s a must-go for tourists, which is Dongdaemun.
For our third day, we got so tired from all of our jam packed activities from the previous days that we decided to sleep in. Later that day, we got bored and eventually shopped for souvenirs to give our family and friends back home. We also got to try Seoul’s famous street foods!
Our fourth day was packed. We went to the Joint Security Area North and South Korea border, which is still a part of the demilitarized zone. Then we went to another tourist must-see, which is Insadong. Afterwards, we went to buy Everland tickets at the President Hotel. We decided that it’s best to book our tickets beforehand instead of just walking in. Then we went to see Seoul’s City Hall and Metropolitan Library. We also visited the Cheonggyecheon stream before we ended the day.
For our fifth day in Korea, we had a traditional royal Korean family costume pictorial. It was fun dressing up and having our pictures taken! Then, we watched a live demonstration of Taekwondo. We also got the chance to explore Gangnam before we headed back to our hotel.
Our sixth day was dedicated to Everland! But before we went there, we first visited the Deoksugung Palace and Stone Wall. We were fortunate enough to catch a live concert at the Deoksugung Palace. It wasn’t scheduled, so it was such a surprise to us, too. Then we spent the remaining of our day riding ride attractions and taking lots of pictures at Everland.
Our seventh day in Korea marked our last day there. We just slept in through the morning. Then we visited Lotte World Mall and Young Plaza before we packed up. Indeed, our whole family had fun exploring South Korea’s culture. It’s a bonus that we got to see some unexpected yet amazing live performances. I never knew Koreans liked listening to live music until I visited South Korea. That’s why we always make it a point to travel – for us to learn continuously without being restricted by the four walls of a room.