In search of domestic travel inspiration this summer vacation season, we look at Korea through the eyes of foreign travelers.
These staff at Dulwich College Seoul (DCSL), a foreign school for students aged 3 to 18, demonstrate the possibilities by car, bike, and even foot.
Kindness of strangers while cycling solo from Seoul to Jeju Island - Gudmundur Hegner Jonsson (Head of College at DCSL)
After my first year in Korea, I felt compelled to refresh myself and get to know the country better. Having purposely avoided too much planning, I got my bike and set off from Seoul into the great outdoors!
In my job, I urge students to be surprised at what they can achieve and how much more rounded their skill set becomes when they take on new challenges. That summer was my turn. After leaving the capital area, I followed the four rivers cycle route down to Busan. With a tent on my back, I found places to camp and allowed the adventure to unfold.
I was so touched by the kindness of strangers along the way. For instance, I saw a small building in a remote area approaching Busan. Thinking about my dinner options for the night, I approached the building thinking it might be a restaurant because people were eating inside. As I reached the door, a woman invited me to join a group of people she was with. She served us a delicious meal but refused to take any payment from me and I suspect it was not a restaurant at all!
After I took a ferry to Jeju Island, another stranger came to my aid after he saw me pushing my bike along the road. My rear wheel had broken, and he not only drove me 30 minutes to a repair shop but also treated me to a delicious family meal.
I would urge anyone to travel in Korea to encounter the welcoming people and the dramatic landscape; the contrasts between temples and ultra-modern architecture. There are endless opportunities and summer is a great time to start exploring.
A road trip with a four-legged friend - Maggie Goddard (Deputy Head of DCLS’s Primary School - Pastoral)
I was new to Korea when a fellow DCSL teacher and I thought we should use our summer holiday to experience the country. I had recently rescued a dog and so it was important for me to bring him with us. So, with a car that had been given to me by another colleague and my international driving license, we embarked on a road trip.
We packed up the car with a tent and as much gear as we could fit in and set off down the west coast from Seoul. Our first stop was Taean Seaside National Park. It remains my top place to camp in Korea. I love the beach scenery and the morning mist, the sea is great for swimming, and you get this special, secluded feeling without crowds of people – my dog could also run around to his heart’s content.
We continued down to Mokpo and after a comfortable stay at a local guesthouse, took a ferry to Jeju Island, where we drove about visiting the sights. From there it was another ferry from Jeju to Busan, where my dog stayed at a pet hotel. After Busan, we continued up the east coast and came back around to Seoul.
I look back on the trip as a turning point. It reignited my interest in camping, and it was also very satisfying to overcome the risks and fears of driving on the “other side” of the road (I’m British and used to driving on the right side) through places I had never heard of before. We were able to get by fine, relying on smartphones to translate when needed and getting food from local supermarkets. With my students, I draw on that summer to speak about the lessons I found in embracing the unknown, risk-taking, and open-mindedness, which are all critically important for young people growing up in a fast-changing world. Plus, I still love camping in Korea!
The couple who walked the length of Korea - Frank Ventham (Head of English at DCSL’s Senior School) & Emma Ventham (Year 5 Teacher at DCSL’s Primary School)
Having been to 80 countries, I can honestly say Korea has some of the most gorgeous scenery and exceptional food of anywhere in the world. However, you have to get out of the main cities to enjoy it fully. My wife Emma and I do that regularly, following hiking trails and exploring various corners of the country.
One recent summer, we walked from the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula and followed the trails up the east coast as far as we could go without crossing into the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. The 770-kilometer trip took about a month. It might seem daunting, but we regularly talk to our students about the importance of resilience, critical thinking, communication, and self-management. The trip was a great opportunity for us to hone those same skills in ourselves. One of the biggest challenges we faced was the heat. We coped by hiking at 5am and finishing for the day at about 1pm.
The whole experience was made a lot easier by how friendly strangers were, some of whom were amazed to find two foreigners walking in the middle of nowhere. It was also easy to find shops, cafes, restaurants, and places to stay.
We were constantly inspired by views that went on for miles. A particular highlight for me was the coastline of Uljin County, with its expansive white sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, and overall tropical feel. We also saw a lot of nature, which you don’t get to witness too often in Seoul. I would recommend anyone to explore Korea – of course, you do not have to walk 770 kilometers in one trip!
