South Korea is one of the most advanced, developed countries. Its technological advancements, industrialization, software and hardware products, and services are world-renowned concepts. The country has leapt ahead of milestones in urbanization to provide a better life for its citizens with cities like Songdo (SIBD), the world's first Smart City.

While we may be chatting away on our South Korean Samsung mobiles, driving new Hyundai cars, watching Korean Dramas on our Daewoo televisions, and even replacing our Friday night curries with Korean Bulgogi and Kimchi, sadly, the country has not appeared on most travellers' maps, until recently, despite being one of the most compelling and affordable destinations in the Far East.

Half the size of the United Kingdom, South Korea is located on a dramatic, mountainous peninsula between Japan and China. It presents an evocative and curious mix of the ancient and modern. Its capital, Seoul and other major cities like Busan, Incheon, and Daejeon may be teeming megalopoli of skyscrapers with multi-lane freeways, but behind the towers of glass hide the greatly revered vestiges of an illustrious Buddhist civilization and ancient kingdoms that were every bit as technologically advanced for their time as contemporary South Korea is in today's world.

In striking contrast to the cutting-edge modernity of its cities, this is a country of keen outdoor enthusiasts who actively seek to preserve its natural habitats for recreational pursuits. Among the country's 22 National parks, some of which are UNESCO-protected, you will find vestiges of historic temples, monasteries, forts, and palaces along beautifully laid tracts through rugged, misty mountains, pine forests, and coastal regions.

While the north is alpine in appearance and climate, the south – the region's ginseng belt – is tropical. Rice paddy surrounds snug farming villages, where you'll see locals in baggy overalls and conical straw hats bending knee-deep in expanses of reflective water and vivid green rice shoots. The coastline is spectacular, too, with numerous white-sand beaches fringed by coral reefs, turquoise seas and volcanic rock formations. 

Most visitors visit South Korea to glimpse its superb UNESCO-listed ancient monuments—the most extensive collection of which centres in Gyeongju, whose streets are dotted with magnificent historic shrines, tombs, and palaces. While you're there, be sure to check out the country's extensive collections of fine porcelain ceramics and sample the scrumptious national dish—kimchi—a spicy concoction of Chinese cabbage or fiery white radish mixed with chestnuts, turnips, fish flakes, and red pepper that accompanies most meals, be it the famous Korean Barbeque, Korean hotpot, Bibimbap or our favourite, Bulgogi.

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