Fall 2025: South Korea | FindPenguins

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Trip start
October 21, 2025
Fall 2025: South Korea
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Day 2
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 9:14 AM
☀️ 50 °F
Altitude: 112 ft
South Korea Seoul 37.575959, 126.97734137°34’33” N 126°58’38” E
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Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukjong Hanok
October 22 in South Korea ⋅ ☀️ 50 °F
First thing in the morning we were taken to a hanbok (pron: HAN bo) rental store. Hanbok is traditional Korean clothing and there were a surprising number of locals who were similarly dressed. As a 'bonus', if you're dressed in hanbok, entrance to Gyoengbokgung Palace is free. While walking around the palace grounds we were able to view the Changing of the Guard.
We then visited Bukchon Hanok Village: a historic residential neighborhood in Seoul, known for its well-preserved, traditional Korean houses called hanok. As we wandered around the village, we felt sorry for the residents who have to endure the throngs of tourists who invade their area.
After Bukchon, we went to Gwangjang Market for the view and some lunch.Read more
TravelerI always wonder how locals feel when we bombard them.
10/28/25Reply
Traveler Beautiful
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Traveler I love this.
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Fall 2025: South Korea
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Day 3
Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM
☁️ 52 °F
Altitude: 115 ft
South Korea Seoul 37.570471, 126.98682337°34’14” N 126°59’13” E
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The Demilitarized Zone
October 23 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Okay, this was a little anticlimactic but still interesting.
Before entering the DMZ, 2 border guards boarded our bus asking to see passports (and again on departure). And we were strictly prohibited from taking pictures within the tunnel area and anywhere at all in the direction of 'north'.

We also got to see a bit of the 'Unification Village' (Korean name: Tongil Chan). It's a real village near the DMZ -- a peaceful farming village with special rules (eg. children born in the village must attend school outside the village) & apparently a very strict curfew (it seems you could be shot if out past curfew). But residents have adapted. The area serves as a symbolic reminder of the hope for Korean unification.Read more
Traveler Yikes!
10/27/25Reply
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Fall 2025: South Korea
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Day 4
Friday, October 24, 2025 at 9:21 AM
☁️ 57 °F
Altitude: 75 ft
South Korea Seoul 37.552208, 126.9707337°33’8” N 126°58’15” E
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Fast train ride, Gyeongju, & Yangdong
October 24 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
Boarded our bus at 8a to head to the train station for a high-speed train ride (up to 305km/hr, 190mph) to Gyeongju: the former capital of the Silla kingdom of ancient Korea. We arrived just after noon, had lunch and proceeded to roam around the area.

We then drove to Yangdong Village: a UNESCO Heritage Site boasting a number of traditional hanok houses from the Joseon period (1392 - 1897).

Didn't check in to our hotel until ~9p. Long day. 🫩Read more
Traveler 🙂
10/27/25Reply
Traveler Love to travel by train.
10/28/25Reply
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Day 5
Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 8:05 AM
☁️ 63 °F
Altitude: 85 ft
South Korea Busan 35.136488, 129.10983735°8’11” N 129°6’35” E
Seokguram Grotto
October 25 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
Seokguram Grotto is nestled on the slopes of Toham Mtn. Established in the late 8th century during the Silla Dynasty, it is a UNESCO Heritage Site & is home to a beautifully carved buddha statue (photos not allowed 😔).Read more
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Day 5
Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
☁️ 61 °F
Altitude: 1,791 ft
South Korea Gyeongju-si 35.794812, 129.34991635°47’41” N 129°20’60” E
Belguksa Temple Complex; the LG Smile
October 25 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
The Belguksa Temple is considered a masterpiece of the golden age of Buddhist art in the Silla kingdom.
The Silla dynasty was a Korean kingdom that unified the peninsula in 676 AD after a war with China's Tang dynasty and later collapsed in 935 AD due to corruption and internal conflict.

Also it was fun to see the actual artifact from the Silla Dynasty in the Gyeongju National Museum that was the inspiration for LG's logo (dubbed the "Face of the Future").

After dinner we went to an observatory called 'Busan X - The Sky' located on the 98th to 100th floors of a high rises tower to enjoy panoramic views of Busan at night. There were also various fun things to see on the observatory floors: eg. a light-room & an art installation of various 'lenticular' prints: ie. pictures that change when you move.Read more
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Day 6
Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 9:23 AM
☁️ 61 °F
Altitude: 66 ft
South Korea Busan 35.127554, 129.09521535°7’39” N 129°5’43” E
UN Memorial Cemetery, Jagalchi Market
October 26 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
A sobering visit to the UN Memorial Cemetery dedicated to those who lost their lives while serving the UN during the Korean War (1950-53).
Then another eye-opening visit to the Jagalchi Fish Market to see all those swimmers that the locals like to eat.Read more
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Day 6
Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: Sea level
South Korea Busan 35.075386, 129.02334335°4’31” N 129°1’24” E
Songdo, Gamcheon
October 26 in South Korea ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Songdo Cable Car: a fun little trip providing nice views of Songdo Beach & surrounding coastline. It's endpoint provided an opportunity to wander up to the Yonggumg Suspension Bridge.

Gamcheon Culture Village: a colorful, hillside neighborhood in Busan known for its maze-like alleys, vibrant murals & art installations like the statue of The Little Prince and the Desert Fox, inspired by the French novella by Antoine Saint-Expery (?). In other words, this is a tourist stop 😄)Read more
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Day 7
Monday, October 27, 2025 at 10:18 AM
🌬 61 °F
Altitude: Sea level
South Korea Seogwipo-si 33.236843, 126.42609433°14’13” N 126°25’34” E
Jeju Island
October 27 in South Korea ⋅ 🌬 61 °F
Boarded a 7:35a plane for a 45 min flight to the volcanic island of Jeju, located off the southern tip of South Korea.
On landing we headed to the southern coast to see the Jusangeolli Cliff. Hexagonal stones formed by cooled lava, very similar to (but much smaller than) the Giants' Causeway in Ireland.
We then visited O'Sulloc tea farm where we had a few samples of tea and a little snack; another interesting lunch at a local restaurant (never had this type of Herring before; also known as Cutlassfish; known as Galchi in Korean); and ended the day with a visit to Spirited Garden: a nice little area landscaped with bonsai, wood and rock in 'a harmonious setting'.
After that, we were we all pretty pooped having had to be up ~4:30a. An hour drive through the island got us to our hotel around bit before 4p.Read more
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Day 8
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 11:06 AM
🌬 59 °F
Altitude: 486 ft
South Korea Seogwipo-si 33.459272, 126.93968333°27’33” N 126°56’23” E
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Jeju's East Coast
October 28 in South Korea ⋅ 🌬 59 °F
We visited an interesting museum about the centuries old tradition of the Haenyeo, or 'sea women'. Amazing stories of endurance and survival. No pics from the museum; got too wrapped up in the video interviews with the actual women.
We then drove to Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak (a volcsnic tuff cone formed over 5,000 yrs ago) where we hiked up to the top for beautiful coastal views.
In the afternoon we visited Seongeup Folk Village -- a cultural park, no pics taken. A quick stop at Jeongbang Waterfall (nothing special); the Saeyeongyo Bridge was interesting.Read more
Traveler Wow
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Traveler Great photo
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Traveler Beautiful
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Day 9
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
☀️ 63 °F
Altitude: 82 ft
South Korea Jeju 33.505689, 126.47969633°30’20” N 126°28’47” E
Flight back to Seoul; Seoul nightlife
October 29 in South Korea ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
Travel day: time to return to Seoul.
It's only a 50 min flight, & you can start seeing the southern coast of South Korea after ~20 miles of air travel. The coast has a number of waterways & islands.
When we arrived, we had lunch at Myeongdong Kyoja Main Restaurant. It's a Michelin restaurant known for their homemade noodles (in a chicken-ish broth) and their dumplings. There are only 2 other things on the menu & the only beverage available is water to keep it simple. We shared the noodles & dumplings dishes -- arguably one of the best meals we've had here. (I guess that shouldn't be surprising with a Michelin recognition...)

Our evening entertainment was a Nanta performance. Absolutely hilarious! No pics were allowed, but it's a show that features acrobatic and comedic culinary attempts by cooks, using kitchen utensils to create percussion; sort of a cross between Blue Man Group & Stomp. There's no real dialogue, so it's very accessible to international audiences. It was apparently in New York, but concluded in 2005. 😕Read more
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Day 10
Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 10:58 AM
☁️ 57 °F
Altitude: 184 ft
South Korea Seoul 37.57615, 126.9707337°34’34” N 126°58’15” E
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We're cooking! & Buddhist Temple
October 30 in South Korea ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
We got a cooking lesson and 'learned' how to make a Korean rice dish named bibimbop.
TravelerChop chop 🪓
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Traveler Love
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Day 12
Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 11:47 AM
☀️ 57 °F
Altitude: 138 ft
South Korea Seoul 37.574942, 127.00884137°34’30” N 127°0’32” E
Last day in Seoul
November 1 in South Korea ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
We decided to walk the City Wall. It was built in the 14th century during the Joseong dynasty to safeguard Hanyang (present day Seoul) & served as t he City Wall for over 500 years.
Our objective was to only do a few miles, however due to a number of unexpected path closures/detours, we ended up doing significantly more than we bargained for. Mileage uncertain, but ~22000 'steps' made for a sufficient day of exercise.
We returned to our Seoul-favorite jazz bar to reward ourselves for surviving the experience. :)Read more
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Trip end
November 1, 2025