Historically colorful, unapologetically metropolitan, looking into the future while staying rooted to history — that is South Korea. This East Asian country has offered a lot of beautiful things to the world, ranging from K-Drama to K-Pop and impressive technologies from the likes of Samsung, Hyundai, and LG.
If you have always been enamored by the South Korean culture, especially with their fashion and openness when it comes to cosmetic surgery, then you should pay this country a visit. It’s one trip that you will treasure for the rest of your life. But before you book your flight and get a visa appointment, there are some things that you need to keep in mind to avoid faux pas and some inconveniences.
Here are some of them:
Dress for the season
When visiting the country, check the season of your trip. South Korea has a temperate climate, meaning it also has four seasons. Summers can be so hot and humid, while winters tend to be long and extremely cold. With this, you need to dress accordingly. When it comes to winter, you need to insulate yourself with layers of jackets, cardigans, and overcoat, especially if you’re not used to cold weather. Autumn can be quite cold, too, so make sure to pack layering garments. And since the season is being talked about, plot your travel to coincide with certain festivals and parties to experience how locals celebrate.
Be mindful of your shoes
When visiting tea houses and some Korean restaurants, it is customary that you take off your shoes. As a rule of thumb, if the restaurant has seats on the floor, it is likely that you will need to remove your shoes. This is a common practice among Asian countries, including South Korea, so be observant. The same rule also applies to visiting temples and religious places.
Respect cultural and heritage destinations
South Korea has a wealth of cultural and heritage destinations. This will surely excite you, especially if you are a history buff. When visiting grand palaces and temples, you need to be mindful of the rules. If the sign says do not touch an artifact, even if it is unguarded, just don’t. Destroying a piece of history may cost you a lot of money, and it may even ban you from entering the site ever again. The rule here is just to be respectful.
Opt for bigger luggage
When flying to South Korea, it is advisable that you go for bigger bags and luggage. The country is a shopping haven for a lot of things. From unique snacks, such as yogurt-flavored almonds and Chapagetti, to skincare products in Myeong-dong and affordable yet stylish clothing and fashion pieces, you will surely find a lot of things that you’d want to take home.
South Korea is a beautiful and charming country that you may want to visit again in the future. You’ll fall in love with its culture, history, and people. So the best expectation that you’ll have: loads of fun!
