TRAVEL ACTIVITIES [Korea Tourism]

 

Hangang bike path adjacent to Hangang Park

Bicycle Riding

Korea has well-maintained bicycle roads all over the country. Each city also has public bicycles, so you can enjoy riding without a bicycle. It varies slightly by region, but most public bicycles are easy and convenient to use for an affordable price of about 1,000 won per hour. Seoul operates public bicycles under the name of 'Ttareungi', Gyeonggi Goyang under the name of 'Fifteen', Daejeon under the name of 'Tashu', and Sejong under the name of 'Ouling'. The

'Hangang Bicycle Road', which is centered around the Hangang River in Seoul, is a representative riding course. It is a road that starts from the Nanji District of the Hangang River and connects Mapo Bridge, Banpo Bridge, Seoul Forest, and Gwangjin Bridge, and is the longest riding course in Korea. It is loved by many Seoul citizens and tourists because it connects Seoul to satellite cities and is adjacent to Hangang Park.

Recently, riding the newtro craze, the riding course within the Gyeongchun Line Forest Road has been gaining attention among the younger generation. The Gyeongchun Line Forest Road is a forest road that was renovated from an abandoned railroad, and there is a well-paved bicycle path next to the railroad.

The Bukhangang Bicycle Path, which connects Seoul and Chuncheon, passes beautiful lakes and mountains such as Cheongpyeong Lake and Uiam Lake. You can ride comfortably while enjoying the beautiful natural scenery. The

Gyeongin Ara Waterway is Korea's first canal that connects the Incheon coast and the Han River. There are bicycle paths on both sides of the Ara Waterway, and since it is connected to the Han River Bicycle Path, you can ride a bicycle from Seoul to the West Sea.

Auto Camping

The number of campers in Korea has increased by 33.9% in the past two years. As demand has increased exponentially, the number of camping sites has also increased, and the ways to enjoy camping have also diversified. In Korea, you can enjoy camping in various ways depending on your preference, such as auto camping, glamping, caravanning, car camping, and backpacking.

There are approximately 2,300 auto camping sites in Korea. Among them, campsites located in national natural recreation forests are preferred by many campers because they offer good value for money. You can reserve campsites on the National Park Service website on the 1st and 15th of every month, and they are so popular that they are usually full within half a day of opening.

Campsites located in the city are also fiercely competitive for reservations. Nanji Campsite and Noeul Campsite in Seoul, and Jaraseom Auto Campsite in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi are representative examples. Campsites located in beaches are also popular during the summer vacation season because they are adjacent to the ocean. Recently, the number of campsites that operate activity zones such as water parks and water sports is increasing.

Camping sites located within Hangang Park, such as Hangang Park Campground and
Nanji Campground, are always popular.

Water Activities

Since the surfing boom began in earnest in Korea in 2015, the number of tourist destinations where you can enjoy water activities has also increased. In particular, the number of surfing people in Korea has increased as surfing has been highlighted as a way to enjoy the beauty of the ocean while also enjoying the thrill and sense of freedom. The

three major surfing spots in Korea are Yangyang in Gangwon-do, Busan, and Jeju Island. Since the surfing environment is well-equipped, many surfers from beginners to experts visit. Jukdo Beach in Yangyang is known as a mecca for surfing due to its shallow waters and waves suitable for surfing. Songjeong Beach in Busan, Jungmun Saekdal Beach in Jeju Island, and Manripo Beach in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do are also famous.

Canoeing and kayaking are activities that allow you to enjoy nature at a more leisurely pace. Recently, the number of people looking for transparent kayaks has increased. It is an experience where you float on the water in a transparent kayak that allows you to see the bottom clearly. Most of Jeju Island's beaches offer kayaking experiences. Representative beaches include Pyoseon Beach, Handam Beach, Woljeong-ri Beach, and Soesogak, located at the point where the sea and the river meet.

Jangho Port in Samcheok, Gangwon-do is called the “Naples of Korea” because of its beautiful scenery, including unusual rock formations and emerald sea. The water is clean and shallow, so marine activities such as transparent kayaking and snorkeling have developed. You can also enjoy canoeing and kayaking at Cheongpung Lake in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do.

Activities that involve exploring the ocean, such as snorkeling and scuba diving, are consistently popular. Panpo Port in Jeju-do, Bongpo Beach in Goseong, Gangwon-do, and Nam-ae Beach in Yangyang, Gangwon-do are representative snorkeling spots.

Yangyang, Gangwon-
do Many surfers flock to Yangyang to enjoy surfing.

At Soesogak, Jeju
Island, you can enjoy Jeju Island’s nature and transparent kayaks together.

Luge

Luge is an activity where you race down a downhill track on a non-motorized cart. It was first introduced in Korea in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do in 2017. Tongyeong Luge has become a hot topic on SNS and has become a must-see course for travel along the southern coast. Ganghwado Island in Incheon is also attracting tourists as the longest luge site in the East.

Tongyeong is emerging as a new mecca for activity tourism as luges gain popularity.