Republic of Korea 대한민국

Our last day in South Korea before going on another 14 hour plane ride back home. We'd just love to say thank you to the people who followed our fun trip and we found some websites that are very helpful if anyone else would like to go to South Korea too.

This website is from an entertainment company in South Korea that uses English as a way to help Koreans learn and for Westerners to understand some stuff in South Korea. This particular one teaches the language and grammar. I guess we should have found this earlier for ourselves! - http://rki.kbs.co.kr/learn_korean/lessons/e_index.htm

Time Travel website had some city guides in Seoul such as:
'10 Things To Do in 24 Hours' - http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1848378,00.html
'Need To Know' - http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1848378_1897413,00.html
'Finding the Perfect Souvenir' - http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1848378_1848365,00.html

Food in South Korea can be very different for Westerners and this website introduces basic popular Korean dishes - http://www.trifood.com/food.html
From the same site this particular page introduces the popular choice of alcohol in South Korea called Soju, which is rice liquor. - http://www.trifood.com/soju.html

Life in Korea gives the most and accurate information about culture, transportation and etc, when in South Korea. - http://www.lifeinkorea.com/

Well we're about to board the plane and I'm running out of time on the internet at the airport so I guess this is the end.
Annyeong~!

Good morning! It’s our second and last day here on Jeju Island. We are a little stiff and sore from the hike yesterday but we are not going to let that stop us from continuing to explore. We have decided to take the bus from Jeju City to the Jeju Folk Arts Complex. It’s a local shopping area that we are quite excited to see.

The items that are sold in the complex represent the island culture and the handiwork that is put into making the goods. The area shows the various parts of Jeju lifestyle such as mountain fishing, and spiritual exhibits.
There are people all around us, some are working on paintings and artifacts, others shopping, and some like us, just taking it all in. This place is crowded but not to the point of being overwhelmed.

We’ve been here for over 5 hours but have decided to get back on the bus and go back to Jeju City. We are hungry and need something to eat. There is a small restaurant just down the block from the hotel. We can’t remember the name but it has a variety of different dishes.

Kkwong-toryeom

Galchiguk

The second is the one we tried. It is prepared by adding ripe pumpkin, cabbage, green hot pepper, and soy sauce to chopped Hairtail fish to boiling water. We were not all that sure of what we wanted to eat and decided that this seemed the best. It was surprisingly good and didn’t leave a weird aftertaste like we thought it would.

We’d definitely recommend it.

It’s been a busy day again and we’re tired. We are turning in and we'll update soon!

Jeju Island

We are here on Jeju Island formally known as Cheju Island!

We decided to fly from Seoul to here. It is very convenient to fly here. There are flights that leave every 15-30 minutes and it only takes 1hr and 15 minutes to arrive at the Jeju International Airport.

Mt Halla

There is so much to see on the island and little time to see it all, so we have broken down what we want to see into what is most important to us. We have agreed to see Mt. Halla and to hike up one of the hardest trails up to the peak. The Gwaneumsa Trail is the steepest and it takes 3 hours to reach the peak and 2.5 hours to reach the bottom again. Mt. Halla we learned is the highest volcanic peak in South Korea. The peak is normally covered in clouds and can rarely be seen. Today however, we can see the peak and are very excited to start the hike.

Let me tell you, it is ridiculously steep and I managed to wipe out a few times but we all made it down safely unharmed. The view from the top is amazing and you can see for miles, making it worth the challenging hike. At the beginning we were not sure if we wanted to do this trail but after a few minutes of debate we decided if we didn’t we would regret it.

We are all very tired and have decided to return to the hotel not too far away from the trail. It’s getting late (well maybe not but it has been a long day) so we are turning in.

Good night all.

Panmunjeom (판문점) is also called the 'Truce Village' because it is where the armistice for the Korean War was negotiated. It contains the Joint Security Area (the only place where North Korea and South Korea armed forces stand face-to-face at the DMZ), the Bridge of No Return and other significant places.

The original Panmunjeom village was destroyed in the war and lies on the DMZ. The southern side of the village is mostly restored and the name of Panmunjeom is now mistakenly used coincide with the Joint Security Area (JSA).

The Joint Security Area has held many interactions between the North and the South.

Map of the Joint Security Area

Panmungak, Main North Korean building

The Bridge of No Return

Tourists are able to enter the DMZ from various tourism companies and the United Service Organization (USO), but they must sign a document that states clearly "The visit to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom will entail entry into a hostile area and possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action." South and North Koreans are not allowed on tours and background checks may be required if the tourists are from Russia or China.

We didn't get to go in the DMZ because we aren't on a tour, but we shall keep that in mind for next time!

Today we went to a historic and active area of South Korea. I mean, it's kind of in South Korea. I'm talking about the DMZ!

The Korean Demilitarized Zone a.k.a DMZ (한반도 비무장지대) is along the border between North Korea and South Korea.

A little brief history:

Once upon a time, more correctly during World War 2, The Soviets has begun to take over Korea by coming from above and US helped to stop by coming from the bottom of Korea upwards. When the war ended the North part of Korea was very much communist because of the Soviet influence and likewise, the Southern part of Korea leaned more towards democratic aspects because of the US. This led to the Korean War. North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union and the Republic of China while South Korea was supported by the United Nations. The civil-war-turned-proxy-war ended in 1953. After the armistice to officially end the war, the DMZ was built in place along the border in case of anything that may or could happen.

The split of the Korean Peninsula right at the 38th parallel and a 2.5 mile buffer zone on either side make up this Demilitarized Zone. The ‘demilitarized zone’ is the 5 mile between the two countries, but right outside of that boundary is a heavily guarded area. Although soldiers are allowed in the DMZ they must not cross the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that is the official line separating North Korea and South Korea. The zone, much like Area 51, allows no civilians to cross either way unless with special permission from North and South Korea. South Korea wants to stay on guard in case anything ever happens from the North, which would have to come over the DMZ.

Hence why now South Korea has one of the largest standing army forces in the world. It branches out to the Republic of Korea Army, Republic of Korea Navy, which also has the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, and the Republic of Korea Air Forces. All men in the country must serve the armed forces between ages 19 – 35 for a minimum of 21 – 24 months depending on the branch. There is also the Republic of Korea Reserve Forces in which only those that completed their service in the Armed Forces must complete another 8 years (first 4 years in Mobilization Reserve Forces and the next 4 years in Homeland Reserve Forces). ‘Reserve Forces’ means the citizens that combine a military and civilian role. The men are basically free to be back in the city after they have completed the military service, but if an enemy attacks then the men whom within 8 years of the end of their military service must resume their military role and serve to protect the country. Even celebrities have no exemptions.

Okay so I lied ... it wasn't the small brief of a history, but this information is necessary to understand further more about South Korea. After all, the past is what makes you who you are! Same goes for countries. I'm hungry so I'm going to find food and then update more later!