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Sport & Activities
The Republic of Korea has considerable experience in hosting major international sporting events, notably the 1986 Asian Games, the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, the 2002 Asian Games and the 2002 Football World Cup which it co-hosted together with Japan – the first time this major sporting event took place in an Asian country. Sports facilities are therefore generally of a high standard, particularly in Seoul and in the larger cities.
Watersports: Visitors will find plenty of facilities for watersports along the southern coast and islands. The best time is from June to November, but swimming, paragliding and whitewater rafting are possible all year round. There are numerous scuba diving centres along the coast, with diving classes, equipment rental and air tanks all provided. Cheju-do Island (one hour by plane from Seoul) is the most popular destination for scuba diving enthusiasts; the waters surrounding the island are also considered exceptionally good for deep-sea fishing and a number of hotels and companies offer organised fishing trips. Standard facilities for windsurfing, water-skiing and boating are widely available in all coastal resorts. (For further details on the most important beach resorts, see the Resorts & Excursions section). Following a massive clean-up during the 1980s, Seoul’s Han-gang River now provides a range of watersports facilities and is a popular destination for those wishing to escape a busy city life.
Golf: There are more than 80 golf courses in Korea, the best ones located near Seoul, Kyongju and Chejudo. Many of them can be reached within an hour by car. Facilities for accommodation and other sports (such as swimming pools) are often also integrated within the golf complex. Reservations (which should be made at least one week in advance) can be made directly to the golf course or through a travel agent. Players should note that personal golf clubs must be declared to customs officials upon entering the country. For details of membership and fees, contact the Korea National Tourism Organisation (see Contact Addresses section).
Skiing: There are 13 ski resorts all within four or five hours of Seoul. The principal ones are the Yongpyong Ski Resort (Dragon Valley International Ski Resort) at Tackwallyong Area and Chonmasan Ski Resort near Seoul.
Traditional sports: T’aekwondo is the main martial art practised in Korea. The traditional Korean sport Ssirum (Korean wrestling), is similar to Sumo wrestling and is a big spectator sport in Korea. Kite-flying and archery are also popular traditional games.
Festivals: Korea’s rich cultural, historic and religious heritage is celebrated throughout the year in a myriad of festivals, some in honour of religious figures (such as Buddha’s birthday), others focusing on nature (eg the changing seasons). For dates of festivals and special events, see the Public Holidays and Social Profile sections. A full and detailed list can be obtained from the Korea National Tourism Organisation (see Contact Addresses section). The KNTO also organises a variety of theme tours, focusing on history, religion, shopping and crafts as well as nature and health.
Historical and cultural tours: A variety of these is available, with particular focus on Korea’s Buddhist heritage. The country has over 10,000 temples and 20,000 monks. Given the increasing worldwide interest in Buddhism, Korean monks are now opening their temples and monasteries to tourists. Ceremonies, traditional dining rituals and tea parties are organised to cater for spiritual tourism, while more dedicated seekers can enrol in Buddhist retreats to practise silence, meditation and prayer for periods lasting anything from three weeks to several years.
Souvenir tours: More material-minded visitors may go on one of Korea’s souvenir tours, which are based on the country’s reputation as a shoppers’ paradise, with many shops providing special duty-free prices for foreigners. (For further details on shopping, see the Social Profile section). Fashion, antiques, medicine, herbs and spices, electronics and wedding clothes feature highly on Korea’s shopping itinerary; organised tours often combine souvenir and bargain hunting with sightseeing. The best shopping districts and markets are in the capital, Seoul, and include Namdaemun (Korea’s largest general wholesale market); Tongdaemun (one of Seoul’s oldest markets, good for bargains); Myong-dong (Korea’s fashion district); Insa-dong (antiques and art) and Changanp’yong (one of the largest antiques markets in the Far East); Itaewon (modern shopping district particularly popular with foreign tourists); Noryargjin (fish market); Yongsan Electronics Market (largest electronics and computer market in Korea); Koyndang (Oriental medicine, spices and herbs market); Hwangkhak-dong (flea market, good for second-hand shopping); Ahyon-dong (the ‘wedding street’, featuring over 120 wedding boutiques); and Shinch’on (a shopping street popular with young people, good for accessories and fashion).
Pottery and ceramics centres: Organised tours to Korea’s pottery and ceramics centres (such as the Yoju ceramic art village and the Kangjin Koryo Celadon kiln site) are also available, offering visitors the opportunity to participate in ancient pottery-making techniques.
Nature tours: Focusing on seasonal changes and festivals, the most popular itineraries for nature tours include the cherry blossom trails, Korea’s flower villages, mountain trips and birdwatching.
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