Most visitors start their tour in the capital, Seoul, a huge metropolis where modern skyscrapers and high-tech subways meet Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets. Some of the attractions to look for include Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace, which once had more than 7,000 rooms, and futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a convention hall with curving architecture and a rooftop park.

The National Assembly Building houses Korea's legislative branch of government and it is located in Yeouido. Free tours of the National Assembly are available, but reservations are required. Visitors must reserve a tour date at least three days in advance of the desired visit date.

The 63 Square skyscraper is a Yeouido landmark commanding spectacular views of the city. Standing 249 metres (817 ft) high and comprising 60 floors and three basement levels, 63 Square is one of Korea's tallest and most recognized buildings. The glass elevators which serve the viewing observatory ascend at a speed of 460 metres per minute, taking just 25 seconds to reach the top and giving passengers the sensation of a rocket-powered take-off as they enjoy breathtaking views. But the tower isn't just an observatory for panoramic views of the city, it is a multi-venue leisure complex featuring an aquarium, art gallery, IMAX cinema, performance hall and a wax museum.

63 Square's distinctive gold colour is the real thing. Each of the 14,000 panes of glass was coated with a thin film of 24-carat gold which catches the sunlight, reflecting gold, red and silver as the sun sets, giving the tower its stunning multi-coloured sheen. For years the tallest building in Seoul, 63 Square was surpassed in 2017 by the 555-metre Lotte Tower.

The Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park is the first ecological park ever established in Korea expressly for the purpose of preserving the area's ecosystem. There are information signs placed on the park's footpaths to help visitors learn about and spot the native Korean flora in the park. Ecological and nature-related programs normally operate throughout the year. Admission to the park is free.

Eating out

If you haven't tried Korean food you should check out the offerings in Seoul. There are more restaurants than you can count, but three recommended by timeout.com for Korean BBQ are Gaehwaok, Tuppul Deunghshim and Byeokje Galbi. The cryptically named Another is a popular bar and café in Gyeonggi-do.

Regional attractions

The following attractions selected for the 2020 Korea Tourism Awards are just some of the many sights to be seen outside of Seoul in this fascinating and still relatively unknown country. They were selected for their promotion of tourism industry development during the COVID-19 pandemic, with strict disease preventive measures and creativity.

Mireuksa Temple Site in Jeollabuk-do is a UNESCO World Heritage site awarded Grand Prize in the tourism awards. It was recognised for best practice in the way it handled reservations for guided tours while following strict coronavirus preventive measures, setting the tone for other tourist attractions.

Also awarded a Grand Prize was Yangyang Surfyy Beach in Gangwon-do. Korea isn't generally known for its surfing beaches, but perhaps it should be. Surfyy is a quirky, lively place that will delight anyone who likes to ride a wave. Located on the north-east coast and a two-hour bus ride from Seoul, Surfyy Beach is a 1km-long surfing-only beach, meaning you're not allowed to swim there. However, you can swim at the larger and beautiful Hajodae Beach on which Surfyy is located. After a day of outdoor activities the Surfyy Beach Sunset Bar is the place to hang out.

Two more attractions were awarded the Grand Prize, Gaehangjang (Open Port Area) Street in Incheon, and Cheongpung Cable Car in Chungcheongbuk-do, less than two hours south of Seoul by bus. Youngwol Y Park and Sulsaem Museum were awarded Special Prize.

Demilitarized Zone

Those interested in the military history of this region can take a half-day or full-day tour from Seoul to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South Korea and its contentious northern neighbour, where you can look into the mysterious North Korea. Described by some as a chilling or sinister experience, it is nonetheless a must-do trip for history buffs. You must take one of the official tours, independent visits are not allowed.

Getting there

At the time of writing, South Korea was experiencing a devastating third wave of COVID-19 that was threatening to make a mockery of the country's swift crackdown on the initial outbreak. However, the nation is hardly alone in this regard and no country can afford to take the moral high ground when it comes to containing the virus.

South Korea is redoubling its efforts to bring the virus back under control and remains one of a handful of countries in the Asia-Pacific region including Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand that are regarded as success stories in their tackling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Several national carriers fly to Seoul from cities around the world. The flag carrier, Korean Air, flies from London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Sydney among others.

Useful links

​english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

surfyy.com

koreanair.com