SEOUL, South Korea — When visiting South Korea, exploring its capital Seoul typically involves the highest of thoughts.
In any case, town has the whole lot — from purchasing, meals, and sights. To not point out the tons of unique and restricted version Korean pop (Okay-pop) merchandise for avid followers.
After I had the chance to go to South Korea for the primary time, I knew Seoul can be on the coronary heart of my itinerary.
However as I dug deeper into the nation’s historical past and tradition, I discovered myself desirous to discover and study extra about it past the confines of the capital.
And it was value it.
Gyeongju: The Museum With out Partitions
South Korea is house to what was as soon as the 4th largest metropolis on the earth in historical instances, Gyeongju.
Also referred to as Seorabeol, which suggests capital in English, it served because the capital of the Silla Kingdom throughout Korea’s Three Kingdom interval, even when all three kingdoms turned united in what Koreans known as the ‘Unified Silla Interval’.
Museumgoers watching a golden Silla Crown displayed on the Gyeongju Nationwide Museum. It was one of many a number of crowns excavated from Gyeongju Metropolis. The Silla Kingdom is thought for its intensive use of gold, particularly in symbolizing authority. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
Historians regarded Gyeongju as an essential web site not just for the tons of of cultural properties and historic treasures discovered there. But additionally, it turned one of many main hubs for the Silk Street, the well-known community of Euroasian commerce routes that related the East and the West.
Gyeongju – or Seorabeol on this case – enabled the South Korean peninsula to take part in numerous trades world wide, with retailers, monks and envoys visiting this metropolis by land or by sea.
However one of the distinct traits of Gyeongju is the affect of Buddhism.
The Silla Kingdom is thought for serving to unfold Buddhism within the peninsula and right here in Gyeongju, guests can see up shut actual artifacts and works of Korean Buddhism. Just like the Bulguksa, a temple advanced constructed within the eighth century which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Website.
Owing to its wealthy historical past, and the hundreds of artifacts, archeological websites and heritage properties scattered across the metropolis, UNESCO described Gyeongju because the ‘museum with out partitions.’
The Daereungwon Historical Tomb Advanced in Gyeongju Metropolis the place some members of the royal household, and different notable figures of the Silla Kingdom are buried. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
From the tombs of the royal households within the Korean Peninsula — together with that of Queen Seondeok — to one of many oldest observatories in Asia.
Among the most iconic landmarks within the metropolis have been additionally rebuilt and restored to its former glory just like the Woljeonggyo Bridge, which was burned down through the Joseon Dynasty.
The Woljeonggyo Bridge in Gyeongju Metropolis, South Korea’s largest wood bridge, at evening. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
Right this moment, the Woljeonggyo Bridge is South Korea’s largest wood bridge, and attracts hundreds of vacationers, day and evening.
Busan’s storied Milmyeon noodles
Round 80 kilometers south of Gyeongju lies town of Busan, the second largest metropolis in South Korea.
Busan could also be well-known right now for its scenic seaside – with town skyline as its backdrop and the picturesque cliffs by the coast. However this bustling metropolis has loads to supply.
Busan was additionally a part of the Larger Silla Kingdom earlier than so it gained’t come as a shock for these coming from Gyeongju to see vacationers and devotees alike flocking to Buddhist temples on this metropolis.
A cliff-side view of the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple close to Haeundae Seaside in Busan, South Korea. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
It’s in Busan one can discover what many described because the ‘most stunning temple in Korea’ – the Haedong Yonggungsa. And it is among the fewest temples in Korea constructed by the ocean.
It is usually in Busan the place one can discover South Korea’s largest fish market, the Jagalchi market, the place distributors supply the freshest seafood catch to be cooked proper contained in the market.
Among the well-known delicacies present in Jagalchi Market are the well-known king crab and snow crab, and uncooked, stay octopus.
Except for the ocean’s bounty, Busan’s storied previous led me to fulfill the milmyeon noodles.
Throughout the peak of the Korean Warfare, loads of residents from present-day North Korea fled to the south – notably on this coastal metropolis.
Milmyeon is a variant of North Korea’s naengmyeon noodles, that are comprised of buckwheat flour and soaked in chilly meat broth.
A bowl of milmyeon noodles, a variant of North Korea’s naengmyeon noodles. Milmyeon is a specialty in Busan, South Korea. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
However at the moment, buckwheat was scarce so conflict refugees as an alternative used the wheat flour being rationed by the U.S. Military as substitute. So Milmyeon noodles was born.
Milmyeon is often eaten through the scorching summers in Korea, with chilly broth offering a refreshing respite from the warmth, however it has turn into one of the sought out dishes in Busan that anybody can eat anyplace and anytime.
Gyodong Island
In lots of components of the world, the Chilly Warfare might have ended.
The Berlin Wall, the notorious wall border that divided the German capital between capitalists West Germany and communist East Germany, was demolished greater than three a long time in the past.
However within the Korean peninsula, the fallout of the Chilly Warfare rages on.
Whereas there is no such thing as a big concrete slab standing on the borders of South and North Korea, the handfuls of troopers patrolling the kilometers-long boundary, wired fences, and towering army outposts made it clear – even to vacationers – {that a} wall existed.
Tall barbed-wire fences circle this coastal portion of Ganghwa Island close to the thirty eighth Parallel in South Korea. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
And anybody who tried to cross it might face grave penalties, together with loss of life.
Everyone knows in regards to the Demilitarized Zone or DMZ. Also referred to as the thirty eighth Parallel. The border between South and North Korea. A stalemate between warring superpowers through the Chilly Warfare that nobody, notably strange Koreans, anticipated to final practically eight a long time.
A pair of highly effective binoculars in Ganghwa Peace Observatory, a blended civilian and army facility situated at Ganghwa Island in South Korea. The positioning stands roughly 3 kilometers away from the coasts of North Korea. With the binoculars, guests can see villages and folks in North Korea from afar. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
Widespread tradition typically depict the DMZ as terrifying, with the presence of checkpoints, gun-toting troopers and excessive, prison-like fences.
However it’s additionally a tragic and heartbreaking actuality in regards to the impression of conflict on strange individuals.
A visit to the northwestern tip of South Korea, one can discover Gyodong Island which locals described because the ‘loneliest and saddest island’ within the nation.
One of many entrances resulting in Daeryong Market in Gyodong Island | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
Right here, the outdated and frail proceed to cling on to the hope that they’ll return to their family members after fleeing North Korea through the Korean Warfare — considering that it is likely to be over quickly, solely to seek out themselves unable to return house for years.
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A avenue close to Daeryong Market in Gyodong Island. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
Gyodong Island is related by a single bridge to Ganghwa Island, which is situated nearer to mainland South Korea.
Bibim-naengmyeon, a variant of North Korea’s naengmyeon noodles, offered in an area restaurant in Gyodong Island. Naengmyeon noodles are comprised of buckwheat as an alternative of wheat, and often blended with both potatoes or candy potatoes. They’re recognized for being chewy and skinny. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
Ganghwa Island
In Ganghwa stood the Ganghwa Peace Observatory, a blended civilian and army facility that enables guests – together with overseas vacationers – to take a peek on the closest North Korean villages. It felt surreal, just like spying on what your neighbors have been as much as.
A peek into North Korea: Housing advanced and flats in a coastal village in North Korea may be seen by way of the binoculars on the Ganghwa Peace Observatory in Ganghwa Island, Incheon, South Korea. | Photograph by Morexette Marie Erram
As a vacationer and outsider, a visit to Korea’s DMZ was extra of a sobering and grounded expertise because it serves as a reminder of the devastation that instantly follows throughout conflict.
Foreground: South Korea | Middleground: Hangang River | Background: North Korea
Getting round South Korea
For first-time vacationers in South Korea who had the time — and more-than-enough price range to roam across the nation for per week or extra — getting the Korail Cross is your key in unlocking locations outdoors Seoul.
It’s a ticket granting foreigners particular use to Korail Company’s expansive community of trains, together with the well-known KTX – Korea’s bullet trains.
In the meantime, the Mactan-Cebu Worldwide Airport (MCIA) at the moment serves a number of direct flights from Cebu to Incheon Worldwide Airport, the main gateway in South Korea.
