Inspiring Korea Workshop

Introduction

! Annyeong-haseyo! Greetings!

What have you heard lately about Korea? Was it Korea's super-modern technologies or its incredible shopping options? Or perhaps was it Korea's amazing food or remarkable culture and history?

No matter what you have heard the Korea Tourism Organization would like to welcome you to this online Korea workshop where you will be able to expand your knowledge base on the destination of Korea.

Upon successful completion of this workshop we hope you will be more comfortable in providing Korea travel tips to your clients. We hope you enjoy the Workshop as you learn about and share our passion for Korea tourism!

Korean Kaleidoscope

Korea, a gateway to Asia, is a one-stop destination with sparkling attractions, offering breath-taking scenery, vibrant cities and ancient temples. This land of contrasts boasts 5000 years of history and culture while being a leader in the high-tech industry with pulsating metropoles and modern facilities.

Exotic food, colorful festivals, excellent shopping, traditional feasts celebrating arts and culture, Buddhist shrines and temples, Unesco cultural heritage sites, semi-tropical islands for nature lovers, taekwondo, skiing and golfing for sport enthusiasts and the Demilitarized Zone a 2km area around the truce line between North and South Korea - for modern history buffs make up the kaleidoscope that is Korea.

Explore the capital, sizzling Seoul, visit royal palaces, shop till you drop, visit a living museum that recreates the lifestyle of several centuries ago, brush up on your taekwondo skills with an exchange program, ski down the slopes, get into the swing of things with golf, feast at the traditional festivals, sample exotic cuisine, stay in a Buddhist temple or luxury hotel or get a nip and tuck in ultra-modern healthcare facilities at a fraction of the cost!

In summary:

• Korea is a one-stop destination offering breath-taking scenery, vibrant cities and ancient temples.
• Korea is a travel destination that is different and exciting and offers exotic food, colorful festivals and excellent shopping.
• Korea a gateway to Asia and beyond with five thousand years of culture and history and a leader in the high-tech modern world.

Whether clients want an exotic holiday, nature lovers paradise, historical hub, cultural getaway, cutting-edge convention center or medical tourism retreat, they ll be keen on Korea. Guaranteed.

Sights & Sounds

Please take a moment to 'Be Inspired' by watching this short video clip on Korea.


www.visitkorea.or.kr, will give you the big picture of the kaleidoscope that is Korea. This Asian gem with its inspiring attractions that have never lost their lustre throughout the ages is sure to get your clients keen on visiting Korea.

Keys to Korea

Back to Basics

Here are the basics to begin planning your clients trip to Korea:

Korea, like China and Thailand, is difficult to fully absorb in one trip there s so much to experience. Depending on the length of stay, must-see destinations include cosmopolitan Seoul; historically rich Gyeongju, and Jeju Island for its mix of natural beauty and unique culture. Modern history buffs will also want to visit the DMZ - the Demilitarized Zone - one of the last relics of the Cold War. The DMZ is the area 2km away from the truce line on each side of the border between South Korea and North Korea negotiated after the Korean war.

Korea has a culture developed over 5000 years but this is tempered with an image of being very modern and having a very high-tech society. The country also has one of the fastest growing economies throughout all of Asia. Hosting major international events such as the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the country has seen quite an increase in interest and understanding of what Korea offers as a travel destination.

Essential Elements

Location

The Korean Peninsula, roughly 612 miles long, extends southward from the eastern end of the Asian continent. Mountains cover 70 percent of its land mass, making it one the most mountainous countries in the world. The peninsula is divided slightly north of the 38th parallel. The democratic Republic of Korea in the south (South Korea) and communist North Korea are separated by the Demilitarized Zone.

Climate

Korea's climate is temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than in the winter. Korea has four distinct seasons with below freezing temperatures in the winter. April through May have spring weather, but it's also a time when the country sees the most tourists, so book well in advance. it's customary to think of Asian countries as hot and humid, but it's important to remember that it snows heavily in Korea's higher elevations. In late November through early March, visitors should pack for cold weather. A scarf and gloves are recommended in January and February.

Currency

Korean won. Exchange rate at the time of writing was 1,134 Korean won to one Canadian dollar.

Language

Korean is the national language. In 2000, the Korean government adopted a new Romanization of the language, which led to sometimes confusing changes to place names. For example, Pusan became Busan, and Cheju became Jeju. This is less of a problem than it first appears, since the pronunciations are similar enough to be recognized regardless of which version is spoken. Signage in airports, highways and rail stations is in Korean and English.

Time Zone

Greenwich Mean Time, plus nine hours. Korea doesn t observe daylight savings time.

Voltage

220 volts

Tipping

it's not customary to tip in Korea, although exceptional service can be rewarded with a tip without causing offense.

Etiquette

Koreans traditionally sit, eat and sleep on the floor, so shoes are always removed when entering a Korean home. Bare feet are considered rude, and so it's best to wear socks and stockings when visiting a home. When beckoning to a person, do so with your palm down, and then flutter your hand up and down with your fingers touching. it's considered rude to gesture with your palm up that s how Koreans beckon to a dog. it's considered impolite to blow your nose at the dinner table as is leaving your chopsticks in the rice bowl. Bring plenty of business cards with you. Business cards should be given and received with the right hand never with the left. For the ultimate in respect, offer your card with both hands.

When you need English assistance or travel information, just dial 1330, and a bilingual operator will offer you detailed information on tourist sites, transportation, restaurants and more. If you want information about areas outside of Seoul, enter the area code of that region before pressing 1330.

Transport Tips

Getting There

Air Carriers

International Routes - Two main airlines maintain a regular flight service from Canada to Korea's newest airport (opened March, 2001), Incheon International Airport (ICN) (Seoul).

Air Canada operates year round daily direct flights from Vancouver to Incheon International Airport. Visit Air Canada s website to get great deals on air tickets from Canada to Korea. www.aircanada.com.

Korean Air offers direct flights from both Toronto and Vancouver. www.koreanair.com

Canada and South Korea reach open-skies agreement

A new open-skies agreement between Canada and South Korea could mean cheaper flights and more commerce between the two countries. Under the agreement, air carriers in either country will be allowed to operate as many scheduled passenger and cargo trips as they wish. Carriers will also be able to pick up traffic in each other s country and continue to a third country as part of service to or from their home country.

Incheon International Airport

Korea's major international gateway for flights from Canada is Incheon International Airport (ICN) located just 37 miles outside of Seoul. Incheon International Airport (www.airport.or.kr) is a destination in itself packed with attractions and services, including golf courses, theme parks, hotels, and touring options.

Transfer facilities at the airport include an internet lounge with bargain-priced access at five cents a minute; massage/sauna facilities with massage priced at $8 for 30 minutes, children s playroom, storage lockers free of charge up to one day, a Traditional Experience Korea location where visitors can learn about and make traditional Korean handicrafts, and numerous restaurants and duty free shops. The airport also has a 90-room Transit Hotel on the 4th floor of the passenger terminal. Rooms start at $45 for a six-hour stay. Visit www.airgardenhotel.com.

Transit Tour Program

Travellers facing a layover, or even those who find themselves at the airport a few hours before their flight home, can opt for one of the airport s Transit Tours. These range in duration from a one hour Temple Tour priced at $5 to a five-hour Demilitarized Zone Tour priced at $80. Other tours include a Seoul City Tour, Incheon City Tour, Suburbs Tour, and Casino Tour. Visit http://www.freedomtour.co.kr/

Stop-Over Programs & Deals

Korea is a perfect stopover destination. Very much a gateway to any other destination in Asia by making connections to such cities as Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok and beyond. As a travel destination, there are also very distinct characteristics it's dynamic, has very welcoming people, and it offers a complementary world of ultra high-tech married to a strong sense of history and culture, very much where old meets new.

Getting Around

Once your clients have arrived in Korea (most likely at Incheon International Airport), they ll have the option of continuing on by air to cities within Korea on a domestic flight out of Gimpo Airport, renting a car, hiring a taxi, or exploring the country by bus, ferry or high-speed rail.

Airport transfers

A taxi from Incheon International Airport to Seoul costs about $60. A more reasonable alternative are the bus limousine service operated by city buses or Korean Air (one does not have to fly on Korean to take advantage of this service). Service is frequent, uses comfortable motor coaches and has ample baggage compartments. The routes include several quick stops along the way usually arriving at downtown Seoul hotels in one hour. Cost approximately $15 one-way per person. There is now an Airport Rail service between Seoul s Incheon and Gimpo airports costing less than $5 (www.arex.or.kr)

Car Rental

Avis Rental Car and Kumho, an international partner with Hertz, have agencies located on the ground floor in Incheon International Airport. Driving in South Korea can be difficult due to traffic. Visitors will also need an International Driving Permit. If your clients decide to hire a chauffeur-driven car, they should calculate the added expense of paying for the driver s meals and hotel expenses.

Taxis

Taxi stands are easy to find within the capital. Deluxe taxis called mobeom deliver a higher standard of service these are black with a yellow sign on top, and the words, Deluxe Taxi on the side. Regular taxis are either white or silver and have a reduced rate. Comparable to taxis in Canada a regular taxi rate in Korea is much cheaper. Taxi drivers speak very little English so be prepared to have the name of the hotel or a map ready.

Buses

it's less likely that your clients will choose to travel around Korea by bus, unless they are part of an escorted motor coach tour. If they choose to, they ll have the option of taking long distance express buses that connect all the major cities. Deluxe Express Buses are also available; these have spacious seating with footrests, and video entertainment.

High-Speed Trains

The KTX is Korea s high-speed train system operated by Korail. Rail passes (KR Pass) provide three, five, seven or 10 days unlimited travel on Korean trains. These run the length of Korea and are a great alternative to domestic flights. Annoyances of air travel, such as early arrival at the airport, checking bags, and security procedures are circumvented. Signage is in Korean and English, there s assigned seating, and ample room for luggage. These high-speed trains, similar to the French TGV, travel at 186 mph, passing through the countryside and depositing travellers at centrally located rail stations, saving even more time.

To Jeju-do Island by Sea

The ferry service to Jeju-do Island is available three to six times weekly at the harbors of Incheon, Busan and Mokpo. The ferry not only carries passengers, but cars as well, making it possible for travellers to take their vehicles on their trip. Duty-free shops are in the ferry terminals, and restaurants are available on board. The trip to Jeju-do Island is 4.5 hours from Mokpo, 11 hours from Busan, and 13.5 hours from Incheon.

Korea Travel Phone

When you need English assistance or travel information, just dial 1330, and a bilingual operator will offer you detailed information on tourist sites, transportation, restaurants and more.

Top Tourist Treats

Top 10 Must-See Medley

Keep this medley of Top 10 must-see attractions in mind when planning your itinerary:

1. Seoul City Tour - Seoul, Korea's capital city, is a tourist destination with a host of activities to enjoy, from traditional royal palaces to shopping districts boasting the latest fashion trends. To get the most out of your stay, hop on a Seoul City Tour Bus.
2. DMZ: The Demilitarized Zone - Korea is the only divided country in the world. After the Korean War, South Korea and North Korea negotiated and designated the DMZ 2km away from the truce line on each side of the border. As one of the last relics of the Cold War, the DMZ attracts a great deal of public interest.
3. Temple Stay - A Temple Stay is a cultural-experience program designed to help people better understand Korean Buddhism. Temple stays offer various kinds of practicing methods such as Yebul (ceremonial service chanting), Chamseon (Zen meditation), Dado (tea ceremony) and Baru Gongyang (communal Buddhist meal service.) www.templestay.com
4. Gyeongju City - Known as The Museum Without Walls, this popular attraction houses a vast number of shrines, tombs, and Buddhist sculptures. It is considered by UNESCO to be on of the top 10 most historically significant places in the world.
5. Jeju Island - The semi-tropical island of Jeju has appeal for a broad range of travellers. Families, hikers and watersports enthusiasts flock to the island, which is about a 60-minute flight from Gimpo Airport outside of Seoul. The island is well known for its spectacular scenery, dormant volcano, pleasant climate, picturesque stonewalls and houses made of volcanic rock.
6. Palaces in Downtown Seoul - Changdeok-gung Palace Listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, visitor access is limited to guided group tours to safeguard the palace. Gyeongbokgung Palace is Seoul's most prominent palace. Although situated in the middle of the city, once inside the gates of the palace, you quickly forget the hustle and bustle of city life.
7. Hot Performances Nanta A performance similar to Stomp yet based on cooking, Jump Seoul a taekwondo performance, B-Boyz modern breakdancing, Kim Duk-soo s traditional Yeonhui performance, changing of the Royal Guard Ceremony, and Korean traditional stage MISO.
8. Korean Folk Village This is a living museum that recreates the lifestyle of several centuries ago. There are potters, weavers, blacksmiths and other artisans who practice their trades in a traditional fashion. There are also 270 traditional houses and a small amphitheater for traditional folk music and dance performances.
9. Medical Tourism Korea provides world-class healthcare services accompanied by highly advanced facilities and cutting-edge technology. At 20% of the cost of treatment in the United States, visitors can seek treatments in several areas including health screening, cosmetic surgery, dental care, and infertility treatments. Visit www.koreahealthtour.co.kr
10. Taekwondo-Experience Program - This is something new that has garnered much attention. Seoul City and Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) have organized a Taekwondo Experiential Program for international tourists. The program teaches the basic forms of Taekwondo, the art of self-defense, and wood-breaking. Visit www.kukkiwon.or.kr
    

8 Drawcards in the Heart of Seoul

Most visitors from Canada will arrive in Seoul, Korea's capital. This fast-paced city has a number of must- see attractions. Plan itineraries with a minimum of criss crossing the city, to limit the time sitting in traffic. Here are eight things to do while exploring the heart of Seoul.

1. Bukchon Village - This village has the largest cluster of privately owned traditional Korean wooden homes or hanok in Seoul. Keep an eye out for the half-dozen or so alleys that have beautifully restored architectural features like small courtyards, decorative outer walls and dark tiled roofs. The neighborhood is also peppered with quaint caf s, art galleries and restaurants. The easiest way to get to Bukchon is to take subway line 3 to Anguk Station and take Exit 3.
2. New National Museum of Korea - It opened in 2005 displaying a collection of 150 000 works of art, making it the sixth largest museum in the world. It offers a great overview of Korea's artistic heritage. Other museums in Seoul include the National Folk Museum, the Royal Museum, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art, the War Museum and the Jeoldusan Martyr s Shine and Museum just to name a few.
3. Bugaksan - Mountains ring Seoul and one of the best to climb is Bugaksan, the peak behind the President's pad, Cheongwadae or Blue House. Several trailheads take hikers through reconstructed 15th-century gates and along Seoul's ancient fortress wall. From the top of the 342m (112ft.) ascent, you'll get a commanding view of the capital. You'll also get to follow in the footsteps of North Korean commandos who climbed the mountain some 40 years ago in an unsuccessful bid to assassinate the president; the Seoul Fortress, which had been closed for security purposes, was re-opened to visitors in 2006 (make a tour reservation a week in advance).
4. Itaewon - Every foreigner who comes to Seoul gravitates to this gritty expat-friendly neighborhood near the main U.S. Army base. Itaewon is choc-a-block with bars, clubs, restaurants and shops selling everything from reproduction Korean furniture and tailored suits to jewelry and Korean pottery. One of the best clubs in the city, Club Volume, is here, in the basement of the Crown Hotel; it reputedly recruits some of the world's best DJs.
5. Namdaemun Market - The Namdaemun market is seemingly open round-the-clock (though a few retailers close on Sunday) and is a fantastic place to pick up inexpensive clothing, housewares, fabrics, jewelry, accessories, toys, food, flowers, stationery and appliances. But it's easy to get turned around here, as there are thousands of shops located in the 30 or so multistorey buildings, not to mention an endless sprawl of street-vendor stalls. This market is seriously crowded, so be prepared to get bumped around. The market also has a tourist information line: 02-752-1913.
6. Cheonggyecheon Stream - Oh, the serenity! A walk along this 5.8km stream is almost as good as a spa for clearing one's mind or rethinking a deal. While it's just off Sejongro, one of the busiest boulevards in Seoul, Cheonggyecheon is remarkably quiet because the stream is more than 15ft. (4.6m) below street level and feels a little like a dugout. You can take an organized walking tour (register online in advance) or stroll alone. It's very serene with small waterfalls, and nearly two dozen overhead bridges. Don't be surprised if you see more couples here than in New York's Central Park.
7. War Memorial of Korea - Korea has been invaded about a gazillion times and this is the best place to learn about its troubled history, especially its relationships with its near neighbors. Though it calls itself a war memorial, this is really a huge military history museum ($3 admission), with tanks, planes and guns on display. Given that the peninsula is still technically at war with North Korea, this place seems very relevant. Take subway line 4 to Samgakji Station.
8. Korean Feasts - For an excellent full-course Korean lunch, hit the quaint Baedongbaji in Samcheong-dong. For about $15 per person, you can sample many popular dishes like japchae (noodles stir-fried with sliced beef and veggies), doenjang jjigae (stew made with bean paste, tofu and veggies or meat) and sengsun ya-chae jeon (fried fish with vegetables). The restaurant is inside a hanok, or a small traditional wooden home, and is just a hop, skip and a jump from the three-way junction on the main road. Take subway line 3 to Anguk Station and take Exit 1. For a great place to try the Korean specialty, kalbi, grilled marinated beef, check out Arirang Folk Restaurant directly behind the Westin Chosun Hotel. Take subway line 2 to Ulchiro 1-ga Station and get out at Exit 7.
   

Sport & Outdoor Activities

Skiing the Slopes

Skiing might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Korea, but it's an increasingly popular sport, and one that s drawing international visitors. The quality of the winter sports in Korea is high enough to have made the city of Pyeongchang a strong contender for the 2014 Winter Olympics, having narrowly missed being chosen in favor of Sochi, Russia.

Here s a list of ski resorts that have their own websites:

YongPyong Ski Resort: www.yongpyong.co.kr
Bears Town Resort: www.bearstown.com
Daemyung Vivaldi park: www.daemyungcondo.com
Hyundai Sungwoo Resort: www.hdsungwoo.co.kr

Great Golfing

Koreans are big on golf there are 251 golf courses throughout the country. Visitors will find it convenient to tee off, since most courses are within an hour s drive of major tourist areas, especially Seoul, Gyeongju and Jeju Island.

Major Public courses are:

Lakeside (54 holes) in Yongjin
Park Valley (18 holes) in Wonju
Cheonan Sangnok (27 holes) in Cheonan
Bomun (18 holes) in Gyeongju
Jungmun (18 holes) on Jeju Island

Happy Hiking

The Korean peninsula is 70% covered with mountains. These peaks have over 1700 wellmarked hiking trails. Pukhan Mountain is in close proximity to Seoul, while hikers in the south have access to trails along Sorak Mountain.

Culture Classics

Music & Dance

Korean classical music utilizes over 100 different instruments divided into three categories: hyeonakgi (stringed instruments), gwanakgi (wind instruments, and taakgi (percussion instruments). These instruments accompany Korean traditional dance, which has its roots in early religious ceremonies in honor of the gods. Court dances developed alongside Korea's royal culture. Most court dances praise the royals, while folk dances often criticized society at the time.

Below is a sampling of venues for Korean music & dance:

• Korea House (Seoul): www.koreahouse.or.kr
• National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts (Seoul): www.ncktpa.go.kr/index_eng.html
• Chongdong A&C (Seoul): www.nanta.co.kr
• Korean Folk Village (Suwon): www.koreanfolk.co.kr
• Korean National Folk Music House (Gwanghanryu) www.ncktpa.kr
  

Unparalleled Cuisine

Some of you may be encountering Korean cuisine for the first time during your visit. If so, you have a delightful experience in store. Korean cuisine is based on rice, noodles, vegetables, meats, fish and tofu, and it utilizes a full palette of seasonings, such as soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, doenjang (fermented soybean paste), and gochujang (red chili paste).

Signature Food:

Kimchi: Cabbage dish fermented in chilli pepper spice. Koreans eat it at almost every meal. There are in fact dozens of different varieties of kimchi, and those who are not accustomed to spicy food are advised to proceed cautiously.

Bulgogi: Better known to Canadians as Korean BBQ, Bulgogi is thinly cut beef, marinated in a soy sauce seasoning and grilled over fire.

Galbi: Seasoned ribs of pork or beef

Bibimbab: Various seasoned vegetables, meat and egg are nicely arranged over rice, then mixed and eaten.

Samgyetang: Chicken Soup stuffed with ginseng & other ingredients.

Haemultang: Seafood stew including crab, clams, shrimp and fish

Kimchi jjigae: Kimchi stew

Soju: A distilled beverage native to Korea.

Fun-Filled Festivals

Korean festivals offer added-value to a Korean vacation. Chances are that your clients visiting Korea will encounter a festival or two the country celebrates over 400 such events every year, highlighting Korea's arts, cuisine and agriculture.

Festivals are a great opportunity to mix and mingle with the locals and learn first-hand about Korea's culture and traditions. it's unlikely that a client would fly all the way to Korea to attend the Muju Firefly Festival, but if they happened to be in the area at the time of the festival, it would be a real added-value option.

Below is a sampling of annual festivals:

Korean Traditional Drink & Rice Cake Festival in Gyeongju (April):

Visitors can sample rice cakes and dishes, imbibe Korean alcoholic beverages made from rice, and even try their hand at making rice-cakes themselves.

HI Seoul Festival (April-May):

This high-spirited street festival celebrates the capital s 600-year-old history and traditions, and also highlights the dynamic popular culture epitomized by Hallyu (Korean Wave).

Hampyeong Butterfly Festival (May):

Multitudes of butterflies flit above acres of rapeseed flowers, creating a magical effect. The festival also has hands-on nature and agriculture workshops and exhibitions.

Lotus Lantern Festival (May):

Seoul citizens commemorate Buddha s birthday by parading more than 100 000 lotus lanterns through the streets of the city. The lanterns take various forms, including large elephants, dragons and pagodas, as well as scores of smaller lanterns. www.LLF.or.kr/eng

Hadong Mountain Dew Tea Cultural Festival (May):

This festival is held in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, where tea was introduced into Korea and first cultivated. The festival comprises a number of events, including tea ceremonies, tea picnics and even a Wild Green Tea Wrestling Contest.

Boryeong Mud Festival (July):

At the Boryeong Mud festival visitors can enjoy mud massages with quality mud powder from the Daecheon beach and a nearby tidal flat. This is one of the most attractive summer festivals with a mega mud tub, mud wrestling, mud sliding, a mud prison, mud military training and all things mud.

Geumsan Insam Festival (Aug.-Sept.):

Geumsan is home to 80 percent of Korea's ginseng (insam) cultivation. This health-related festival extols the efficacies of the herb, with an international ginseng trade fair, ginseng and herb cooking contest, and traditional folk performances. www.geumsan.go.kr/english/index.htm

Andong Mask Dance Festival (Sept.-Oct.):

Here visitors will see traditional mask dance performances, fireworks, and Korean puppet shows, with the added option of taking a mask dance lesson. www.maskdance.com

Pusan International Film Festival (Oct.):

The Pusan International Film Festival is credited with bringing Asian filmmakers together. it's now a high profile event competing with worldwide film festivals. Held at venues throughout Pusan. www.piff.org/eng/ index.asp

Gwangju Kimchi Festival (Oct.):

Sample diverse forms of kimchi (Korea's national dish, made of fermented, seasoned cabbage leaves) and see how they are made, and see who wins a variety of kimchi-making contests. Visitors can also try their hand at making this spicy Korean staple. Less

Events to Come!

Visit Korea 2010-2012 was launched with the aim of attracting more foreign tourists on the occasion of the Yeosu Exposition to be held in 2012 in the southwestern city. It is the third time for Korea to initiate the Visit Korea tourism promotion campaign. The last such campaign was held in 2001-2002 when Korea co-hosted the World Cup finals. www.visitkoreayear.com

The Formula 1 International Automobile Race will be in Korea for the first time during 2010 to 2016 and is the most popular form of world motor racing.

Shopping Paradise

Korea and especially Seoul is renowned as a shopping destination. Visitors will be able to shop from early morning to the wee hours at upscale boutiques and street markets. These days, most prices are fixed in most stores. But bargaining is still done in smaller traditional markets it's worth a try if prices aren t fixed.

Top Buys:

• Tailor made suits and dresses
• Traditional food and liquors
• Leather goods and sports wear
• Jewelry and Accessories (Amethyst, white jade, eyeglasses, etc.)
• Folk Arts and Antiques

Best Shopping areas:

• Downtown Shopping Area (Myeongdong Street, Namdaemun Market, Insadong Street, Dongdaemun Market)
• Duty Free Shops (Airports and Downtown)
• COEX Mall
• Techno Electronics Mart

Insadong – Located in the middle of the city, it has over 100 galleries selling Korean traditional fine art and  antiques. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising  artists, and Gana Art Center. Insa-dong also has traditional restaurants and teahouses.

Myeong-dong – This street has a great selection of brand-name shops and stores, including Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, Utoo Zone, Myeong-dong Migliore and Avatar. These offer high-quality goods at reasonable prices. 

Apgujeong-dong Rodeo Street  – Head to this street for the latest trends and fashions. You’ll find the latest international designs, but they are on the pricey side. 

Dongdaemun Market – This is Korea's largest wholesale and retail shopping district and has 26 shopping malls, 30 000 specialty shops, and
50 000 manufacturers. Within the 10 blocks of the market area, you’ll find silks, clothes, shoes, sporting goods, plumbing and electrical supplies, electronics, office supplies, toys and just about everything else imaginable.

Convention Powerhouse

Worldclass Centers

Korea is a powerhouse when it comes to hosting international meetings and conventions.  In Asia, only Japan and Singapore host more conventions. In 2005, the Union of International Associations ranked Korea 14th worldwide in the number of international meetings held.  
 
COEX is located in the World Trade Center in southern Seoul. More than 150 exhibitions, conventions and special events are held at the COEX each year. The Convention can host meetings for up to 7 000 conference delegates.  The Grand Ballroom has a capacity of 1 800, while the auditorium seats 1 070. COEX also has three football field-sized exhibition halls. Facilities are state-of-the-art, including simultaneous interpretation systems, audio-visual systems, lighting capabilities and telecommunications systems.

Other Convention centers include Jeju Island’s ICC (International Convention Center) located at Jungmun Resort and Busan’s Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO).

Medical Tourism

Cutting-Edge Care

Korea has world-class healthcare services accompanied by highly advanced facilities and cutting-edge technology. The top-quality care provided is monitored continuously by the government through hospital accreditation and strict evaluation programs. 

All general hospitals in Korea are not-for-profit organizations. Therefore, patients' safety and satisfaction come first rather than profitability.  International medical societies highly respect our physicians, specialists and surgeons.

Korea has the capabilities to serve Canadian patients who are looking for better treatments quickly and at an affordable cost. Canadians can expect to find English-speaking medical personnel staffing Korean hospitals. 

At 20% of the cost of treatment in the United States, visitors can seek treatment in several areas including health screening, cosmetic surgery, dental care, and infertility treatments.

More information can be found at www.koreahealthtour.co.kr
 

Where to Stay

Luxury Lodgings

Korea has world-class hotels, familiar brands and options for Buddhist temple stays. 

Visitors from Canada will find many brand names that they’re familiar with, including Best Western, InterContinental, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hyatt, Ibis, Marriott, Novotel, Radisson, Renaissance, Ramada, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, Sofitel and Westin.  Local chains include the Shilla and Lotte brands. Seoul by far has the country’s finest hotels, being the center of commerce and tourism in the country. In 2004, Seoul saw the opening of its first W hotel, the W Seoul-Walkerhill, only the third W Hotel outside the U.S.

Hotels are classified into five categories: Super Deluxe (five-star), Deluxe (five-star), First Class (four-star), Second Class (three-star), and Third Class (two-star). Super Deluxe Hotels usually have a fitness center, sauna, a business center, restaurants and cafes. Hotels add a 10 percent Value Added Tax and 10 percent service charge. 

Tourists can choose the type of accommodations that suits their plans and budget. Korea offers accommodations with both western-style rooms and traditional Korean-style ondol rooms (with heated floors and futons). However, certain motels and yeogwans may only offer ondol rooms, so it is a good idea to check beforehand.

Some of the top hotels in Seoul are: COEX Intercontinental, Grand Hyatt Seoul, Grand Inter-Continental Seoul, JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, Lotte Hotel, Millennium Seoul Hilton, Park Hyatt Seoul, Sheraton Grande Walkerhill, The Shilla, The Ritz-Carlton Seoul and The Westin Chosun Seoul. 

Among the top hotels in Busan are the Busan Lotte Hotel, Busan Marriott, Novotel Ambassador Busan, Paradise Hotel and The Westin Chosun Busan.

Jeju-do Island’s top hotels are the Shilla Jeju, Lotte Hotel (http://www.lottehotel.com/), Jeju and the Hyatt Regency. Other quality properties include The Suites Hotel, Ramada Plaza Jeju, Jeju KAL Hotel, Jeju Grand Hotel, Jeju Oriental Hotel, Jeju Pacific Hotel, Crowne Plaza Hotel & Casino Jeju, and the Paradise Hotel Jeju. 

Throughout the country, there are plenty of budget-priced properties, as well as 55 youth hostels. For more detailed information about hotels in Korea, visit www.visitkorea.or.kr. 

Traditional Retreats

In Seoul, visitors can stay at a hanok, which is a traditional Korean house. It is a good opportunity for Canadians to experience a traditional Korean lifestyle. All furniture, windows and interior structures are reproductions of a traditional Korean house. 

Traditional sleeping pads and quilts are provided. Jirye Artists’ Colony and Suaedang in Andong have beautiful natural surroundings.  Rakkojae, Woorichip Guest House, Seoul Guest House, Tea Guesthouse in Seoul, and Saehwagwan and Yangsajae in Jeonju are located inside a hanok village. 

For Rakkojae, rates are over 180 000 won per room (breakfast, laundry service, tea ceremony, home made alcoholic beverage included), but for most others, rates are under 100 000 won per room (breakfast included). www.rkj.co.kr/

Buddhist Temples
 
One of Korea’s truly unique offerings is the option to stay overnight in a Buddhist Temple.  These are often located in stunning mountain settings.

Guests learn and experience firsthand Korean culture and the lifestyle of Buddhist monks. Guests can participate in such activities as Buddhist services, Buddha food offering ceremonies, meditation, lotus lantern making and tea ceremonies. 

The Temple stay program is reasonably priced and does not include a commission to travel agents. But do consider making the suggestion to your clients - for it may turn out to be the most memorable highlight of their trip!  www.templestay.com

Tour operators

Ask the Experts

There are a wide range of Canadian-based tour operators offering Korea programs for a variety of budgets and interests.  Log onto our http://www.visitkorea.ca/ website and see all the Korea package deals available to Canadian travellers. 

Planning a Tour
If you’re planning a client’s itinerary on your own, here are some websites to help you coordinate a variety of city tours:

Seoul
http://english.visitseoul.net/visit2007en/ (Eng, Chn, Kor)

Busan
www.busancitytour.com/english/

Daegu
http://english.daegu.go.kr/

Daejeon
www.tour.daejeon.go.kr/english/index.jsp

Incheon City
www.english.incheon.go.kr/index.html

Suwon City
www.suwoncitytour.com

Ulsan City
www.ulsancitytour.com/eng/home.html

Thank you

Thank you! 감사합니다! Gamsahapnida!

Thank you for participating in the Korea Workshop, we hope this information will be useful to yourself and your clients!

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