Life In South Korea
Where to Live? | The Basics | Food | Language | Free Time | What to pack? | Getting Around

 
Things To Do
Nightlife

Korea is a country that rarely slows down enough to sleep. If you’re a nightowl, then this is the perfect place for you.
Karaoke rooms – Koreans love to sing. They love to drink. They love to do both of these with friends, hence the Karaoke room. Usually as a way to finish off the night, many an English teacher falls in love with these.
Movies – Koreans love going to the cinema. It’s especially popular with couples and the huge cinema complexes can be full, particularly at the weekends. There are plenty of Western films to be seen.
DVD rooms – Ever fancied renting a movie, and renting the couch to go with it? Well these places let you do that with individual rooms to give you the privacy to watch the DVD of your choice.

  

If you enjoy going out for a drink and/or a bit of food, nearly every corner in Seoul has a place for you to enjoy. However, many places will not let you drink unless you order at least an appetizer as well, these are called “Hof’s” and are scattered throughout South Korea.
If you’re looking for a great pub that doesn’t force food down your throat and has a great Western selection of music try “Woodstock” in Gangnam-- the atmosphere is second to none and they take music requests! Other areas of interest are Hongdae and Apgujeong, known for their college crowd and decently priced dance clubs. Many foreigners end up in Itaewon, particularly the US military.
Sports

The Koreans love sports and will often begin introducing their children to a variety of popular sports at a very young age. Football (soccer), baseball, gymnastics, and martial arts are all very popular in Korea and there is no shortage in areas or people to find to enjoy your favorite sport! James recommends following this link www.ssflkorea.com if you enjoy playing football (soccer).

Many other foreigners try the Korean martial art of Taekwondo. There are also foreigner groups who play rugby and basketball all over the country.

  
Outdoor Activities

One thing you will see a lot of in Korea are people either dressed from head to toe in their favorite outdoor activity-garb or shopping for it. Whether they enjoy Kayaking, rafting, hiking, skiing or snowboarding, Koreans love to equip themselves to the teeth. If you enjoy rafting, try the Hangang River as it is known for its scenic views and relaxing rapids. Naerincheon Stream is great for Kayaking and rafting as well and is just outside of Seoul.

For Hiking you should try either Namhansanseong station on the pink line, or Achasan on the purple line. Both are great hikes, and offer a spectacular view on a clear, autumn day.

 
Day Trips
A Trip to Korea’s most popular mountain, Seoraksan is certainly worth your while. Here is a link for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoraksan.

Visiting the De-Militarised Zone (DMZ) is often a top choice for foreigners. This border between North and South Korea gives a fascinating insight into Korea’s troubled past. There are numerous palaces, forts and tombs dotted all over the country that are worth a few hours of your time.

Every year there is a mud festival in Boryeong where people from all over Korea descend to spend a day playing in the glorious mud!