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==City Wiki Pages== [[Seoul]] [[Suwon]] [[Jeju]] ==South Korea Information== [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html#Work South Korea Factbook] CS Membership in South Korea: * 5,439 registered members * 3,421 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=123 South Korea CS Group] * 819 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=1231 Seoul CS Group] * 286 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=2780 Busan CS Group] * 213 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=10248 Gyeonggi-do CS Group] * 107 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=3410 Incheon CS Group] * 87 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=3497 Jeju CS Group] * 90 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=5028 Daegu CS Group] * 89 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=9919 Gangwondo CS Group] * 81 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=6120 Suwon CS Group] * 59 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=7028 Daejeon CS Group] * 38 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=13954 Gyeongsangbukdo CS Group] * 35 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=3087 Ulsan CS Group] * 30 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=8149 Gwangju CS Group] * 25 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=9770 Jeonju CS Group] * 14 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=12072 Gyeongju CS Group] * 13 members in the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=5937 Masan CS Group] ==South Korea Wiki on wikitravel.org== [http://wikitravel.org/en/South_Korea#Work The South Korea page on WikiTravel] has very extensive information on Korean culture and history as well as information on travel, points of interest, and tips for living in Korea. [http://wikitravel.org/en/South_Korea#Cities Here] is a list of major South Korean cities with links to the respective city wikis. ==Travel in South Korea:== ===Trains=== 1. '''Mugunghwa''' - this is the cheapest, but also the slowest. In the winter time it might be crowded with the holidays and those with a sensitive sense fo smell might want to look elsewhere. They also sell standing room, so be prepared to eject someone from your seat if necessary. This is the best choice if you are short on $$ and have plenty of time 2. '''Saemaeul''' - this is the commuter train. It is a little bit more pricey, but the seats are more comfy, and the isles aren't crowded, since they don't sell standing room on these trains. While they are still the same speed as the Mugumhwa, they are a quieter, nicer way to travel. 2. '''KTX''' - fastest option, but also the most expensive. Whereas a Mugumhwa train from Seoul - Busan is ~6 hours and around ~25,000won, the KTX only takes half that time, but at almost 2x the price ~49,000won. If you use [http://ktxcarpool.com this website], you can purchase KTX tickets for a reduced price of just 30,000won, but this site is written in Korean. ===Busses=== Busses in Korea are usually on time and a quick way to get from point A to point B. Though traffic can be an issue the busses do get a special lane on the freeways to avoid traffic which can help some. Most bus schedules can be found here: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TR/TR_EN_5_1_3_1_1.jsp But it is always best to check with tourist information (1330 from any landline) and they can confirm times. ===Subway=== Seoul, Busan, Daajeon, Daegu, and Gwangju all have city subways. For more information on a city's specific subway you'll want to look more into that specific city, but tourist information gives you a great start by telling you how to pay for the subway, use the lockers and more: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TR/TR_EN_5_1_4.jsp There you can also find links to cities' specific maps (in the case of Seoul this map is interactive giving you how long it would take, the fastest transfers and even in which car to stand to make switching line easier ===Hitchhiking=== Hitch hiking in Korea is fairly easy as people are very helpful! The smaller more rural areas more so than the city, but I've never had to wait long for a ride. A lot of Koreans don't understand the concept of hitch-hiking however for example if I am hitchiking to Busan a driver going to Daegu wouldn't pick me up even though Daegu is MUCH closer to Busan than Suwon and on the way and would be EXTREMELY helpful! Of course, public transport is ALWAYS more reliable. To read more about what members think about hitchiking check out [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group_read.html?gid=123&post=2291330 this post] ==What to see in Korea?== ===Anytime=== '''([[:cs:people/Carisita|Carissa]])''' - When I first arrived in Korea I made it into Seoul to go to a couchsurfing meeting. While there I stayed with [[:cs:people/koreafem|Amy Harp]] and she introduced me to the wonderful world of jjim-jil-bang. In what I consider a truly cultural expereince similar to the Turkish baths. When I first entered the sauna filled with different hot tubs with different colors, temperatures and scents I was a bit cautious; I was after all naked with a surfer I had not known very long not to mention an entire room of Korean women. Knowing I already get weird looks at the supermarket sometimes I was sure everyone would be looking at the strange waygookens body, and a few of them did. But other than the children glances were usually fleeting before women went back to scrubbing off their bodies and their childrens'. Once the initial dear subsides jjim-jil-bangs are very relaxing! And there are usually many different things to get your body scrubbed down for a nominal fee, don the clothes they give you and enjoy freezing cold rooms, hot rooms, warm rooms, take a nap and do many other things. You will quickly be welcomed and feel a closer bond to Korea (or at least I did!) after all what says acceptance better than walking into a steam room rubbing salt on your body to rub off the dead skin and having an ajuma (older woman) volunteer to scrub your back for you. A highly recommended expereince sleeping in a jjim-jil-bang is also a cheap alternative to love motels and guest houses!!! [http://carissaabroad.blogspot.com/2009/02/jim-jil-bang-101.html A step by step guide to what a jjim-jil-bang expereince is like] '''([[:cs:people/greygore|Greg]])''' - One of the first things I did when I got to Seoul was taking the tour of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Generally I hate guided tours, but this was the only way to see the DMZ. I met up with fellow CSer Alaa, and we went on the half day tour. The tour cost about 45,000 won and it was definitely worth it. We got a up close look at the tense situation between North and South Korea and I would highly recommend the tour. There are two different tours we took the one that didn't go to the Join Security Area(JSA). I heard that tour is interesting as well. This is the tour we took. http://cosmojin.com/eng/seoul/index.asp?pageNum=4&subPNum=5&subPPNum=1&b_url=./list.asp&page=1&pro_Com= '''([http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=4TUMDW0 Roule])''' - Well for me, best place of Korea I would recommend people to go is definitely An-dong. The city has been the capital of Korean Philosophy as it has several historical academias from Cho-sun dynasty and showed the symbolic meanings of the culture,value and art shared by intellectuals of the society. Besides, city itself has got the elegant atmosphere of being once the home of the greatest intellectuals and philosophers. Plus it also offers you the opportunity to see how the ordinary people enjoyed and created their own culture such as Tal-chum(mask play),making fun out of ruling classes. The political and social satire and criticism on social class system,politics and the ruling class are also implied in the play as the channel where ordinary people can actually speak up what they think through ignored and dismissed ordinary people's culture. The city provides one of the best opportunities to see the two contradictory dimensions of the culture and history of Cho-sun dynasty. '''([[:cs:people/longstrangetrip5|Victoria]])''' - If you want to see performances, the B-Boy performances are a treat. In case you don't know B-Boys are break dancers. ===Spring=== ===Summer=== ===Fall=== '''([[:cs:people/demayonnaise|Peter]])''' - If someone's coming in September or October, they should check out the Jarasum Jazz Festival, in Gapyeon, which is a little town NE of Seoul. About 5 days of live music from all over the world, from all different types of jazz (Omar Sosa was my favorite act last year). Bring a tent and you can camp right next to the big stage area. ===Winter=== [[Category:Asia]] [[Category:South Korea]]

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