An intriguing land of ancient ruins, romantic legends, natural
wonders, breathtaking landscapes and teeming modern cities, the
Republic of Korea can trace its history back half a million
years.
Tourists are discovering with delight the hidden treasures of
the southern half of the mountainous Korean peninsula, which pokes
southwards from the eastern end of the Asian continent. South Korea
has been separated from North Korea by a demilitarised zone since
1953, and has flourished to become a stable and mature democracy,
home to 50-million people who are spread across its nine provinces,
concentrated in seven mega-cities. Previously dubbed 'the hermit
kingdom', South Korea is now flaunting its bright plumage like a
proud peacock.
Largest of the metropoles, and the area most frequented by
visitors, is the capital, Seoul, the world's tenth largest city,
where ancient shrines nestle beneath soaring skyscrapers. This
seething city, ringed by mountains, offers hundreds of attractions
and experiences, vibrant nightlife and unforgettable dining.
The least populated area of the country is Gangwon-do Province
on the eastern side of the Peninsula, where remote forested
mountains and valleys are studded with small towns. This area,
which played host to the Asian Winter Games in 1999, is fast
becoming one of the world's most sought after skiing destinations.
The rest of the year visitors are drawn to the province's
magnificent beaches and scenic hiking trails.
Another area rich in tourist attractions is the south-eastern
region, with its wealth of archaeological treasures. Gyeongju,
ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom, is an open-air museum
boasting tombs, temples, pagodas and ruins dating from as early as
57 BC. The Bomun Lake Resort with its luxury hotels is a fine base
from which to explore the area. New resort complexes are currently
under construction to open up this fascinating area even more to
tourism.
Those seeking a romantic getaway head for South Korea's resort
island, Jejudo, known as 'little Hawaii' because of its subtropical
vegetation, volcanic landscape, sandy beaches and sparkling
waterfalls. The island is dominated by the towering Mount Hallasan
volcano, but visitors need not fear a natural disaster & the
volcano was last active in 1007!
