missions trip in south korea

Organization Location: South Korea

News & Updates

See & read about what is going on in the warm beach camp & conference center community, south korea, a life-changing mission experience.

The people of the Myungsun Church in Suwon, South Korea, have embraced Warm Beach Camp as a ministry partner with whole hearts. They even have a memorial table on our grounds overlooking Port Susan Bay commemorating the partnership in ministry that began in 2010. Myungsun Church conducts outreach through English language classes and camps. Having native English speaking staff helping with the program adds greatly to the appeal of the program. Myungsun also brings over 30 youth to America each year for cultural experiences including a week of summer camp at Warm Beach Camp. These youth come for the “American experience” and, we hope, leave with Jesus.

In 2010, Warm Beach Camp sent over our first mission team to work with the Koreans on an English Camp and a leadership and cultural exchange program for Myungsun Church’s young adults. Since then, Warm Beach Camp has sent teams to Korea. Some team members teach our English curriculum while others lead games, sports, crafts, and music. In a friendly and hospitable manner, our Korean hosts quickly become friends. Cross-cultural relationships enrich our lives and truly become a valued part of the rest of our lives.

This year, the Warm Beach Korea Mission Team still has space available for both adults and teens age 14+ who desire to serve and share the love of Christ. Warm Beach Camp provides team leadership and plans the curriculum and schedule with our Korean hosts. Team members generally come from a variety of communities and quickly bond over the two weeks they are in Korea. This year’s trip is July 29-August 11. The cost is only $2,250 which includes airfare, lodging, meals, and ground transportation. Not only is Korea an amazing mission experience, but is also one the most affordable trips you’ll find outside of North and Central America.  

For more information and to request an application packet, please email Jo Reed at [email protected] or visit www.warmbeach.com/programs/global-initiatives/WarmBeachCamp-Korea .

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Andrew & Sarah Brown – Missionaries to South Korea

The Brown Family – Missionaries to the Republic of Korea

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“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”   II Corinthians 4:5

Andrew’s Testimony of Salvation and Call – I thank God for the privilege to have been brought up in a Christian home. It is because of God’s grace that I was blessed with godly parents who desired for me not only to possess God’s salvation, but also to please the Lord with my life. Both…

Read more Testimony

Mission Field

South Korea has a population of 51 million people. The country has a long history dating back nearly 3,000 years. After the Korean War, South Korea has emerged as one of the largest and most powerful economies in all of Asia. Though South Korea is no longer a poor country, it has a great spiritual…

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The Benefits of Missions Work Among the Nations in South Korea

MTW missionary Jonathan Lee was visiting Amerasian Christian Academy, an English-speaking school in Dongducheon, South Korea, when he met a fourth-grade boy from Bangladesh. “Hi! How are you?” Jonathan asked the boy in English. The boy responded in perfect, unaccented Korean. Jonathan was taken aback. With his brown skin and rounded eyes, this boy was clearly not a South Korean native. “How are you so good at Korean?” asked Jonathan. “I was born here,” replied the boy. Those who live in the U.S. may balk at Jonathan’s surprise. We are used to meeting people of different ethnicities that were born and raised in America. However, this is a brand-new phenomenon in South Korea. For most of the country’s history, South Korea has been a mono-ethnic group, resistant to receiving foreigners. Jonathan and his wife, Joy, who both grew up in South Korea, can’t remember ever meeting a foreigner during their childhood and adolescent years. Today, the Lees say they see foreigners everywhere. Global migration has given rise to a sizable international population in South Korea, with people from all over Asia-Pacific moving into the country and forming multicultural communities. Currently the country hosts 160,000 international students, 34,000 North Korean refugees, and 1.8 million migrant families. As the Lees witnessed the migration trend in their home country, they realized there was a new missions opportunity—they could minister to South Korea’s international population to reach nations of this world.

A Reluctant Pivot and Establishing the Diaspora Ministry

The Lees never planned on serving in South Korea. Jonathan’s and Joy's families immigrated to the U.S. when they were teens, and they met at a church in Maryland. Both attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. After serving at a local PCA Korean immigrant church for seven years, God called Jonathan and Joy overseas. They had a passion for unevangelized and unreached people groups and joined MTW’s team in East Asia in 2019. A few months later in January 2020, while attending a conference for church leaders in Malaysia, Jonathan received a call from a friend telling him that because of the COVID-19 pandemic the government was locking down the country* in which the Lees were serving, and Jonathan should stay away for two weeks. The Lees retreated to Joy’s parents’ house in South Korea, thinking that they needed to stay close because it would only be a few weeks before they were able to go back to their home. A full year went by and there was still no sign they could move back to their original field of ministry. Meanwhile, in 2021 Mission to the World created a South Korean vision team that was determining a strategy for reaching South Korea and the team asked Jonathan if he would join them. He reluctantly agreed but told MTW he would only serve on the vision team until he was able to go back to the country where he had been serving. As another year went by, the Lees began to come to terms with the fact that God was permanently calling them to South Korea. “I was thinking about evangelizing and doing missions and I had this question: ‘God, why did you put me in South Korea?’ Because my passion was in [the former location]. And then the more I found out what was going on in South Korea, the more I thought about how missions could look differently today.” As Jonathan and Joy learned more about the demographics of South Korea’s international population, they began to see a way they could do global missions work in South Korea among unevangelized and unreached people groups. People were coming from unevangelized and unreached countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan and forming ethnic and multi-ethnic communities.

In partnership with Lord’s Will Church in Yongin, South Korea, the Lees established Diaspora Ministry in 2022. Webster’s says a diaspora is a people settled far from their homelands through movement, migration, or scattering. Diaspora Ministry focuses on evangelism and discipleship to three target groups: international students, migrant families, and North Korean refugees. The Lees registered a ministry team with the government and rented a space on the campus of Kyonggi University in the city of Suwon to serve as their ministry headquarters. Just 30 minutes south of the capital city of Seoul and home to eight other university campuses, the city of Suwon is a strategic location to serve their three target groups. Once they finalized the ministry plan and logistics, the team began reaching out to the lowest hanging fruit of these target groups: international students.

Diaspora Ministry Gains Momentum with International Students

For the past two years, the Lees have established several outreach and ministry programs for international students in Suwon, including retreats, an ESL program, and meals together. Most of the students are Vietnamese. The primary religion in Vietnam is Buddhism and Christians often face social isolation and violence for their faith. Therefore, most of the Vietnamese international students never had the opportunity to hear the gospel or connect with a local church before getting involved in Diaspora Ministry.

“I kept thinking, ‘How do I teach Vietnamese students … what the Church is because they have never experienced it?’ I can talk about it. I can explain it. But the point is: how can they experience what a healthy church is?” says Jonathan.

The church is trying to show them. Every week, volunteers from several churches cook dinner for the students in the ESL program. After their class, they all sit down to enjoy a meal together. Church members and their families also chaperoned the two Diaspora Ministry retreats, providing another opportunity for the students to get to know local Christian families. After one of these trips, a female Vietnamese student came up to Jonathan—crying—and said, “I wish my parents in Vietnam would come here and be a part of this community.”

Her longing told Jonathan that they are on the right path.

Though they are still developing Diaspora Ministry, the Lees and their team have already seen much fruit from their efforts among international students. They are providing these young people, living far from home, a loving community that cares for them and points them to Jesus.

One Vietnamese student who goes by the name of Kevin summarized why he thinks Diaspora Ministry is attractive to international students, saying: “DM really offered something that international students could afford [financially].” According to Kevin and Jonathan, Diaspora Ministry’s low cost ESL program—charging a minimal fee increases commitment—is the main draw for Vietnamese students who desperately want to learn English.

Kevin continued, “And then with what they were doing, I began to think, ‘Why do they serve and sacrifice to do things for us? They do not know us and they do not have to do this for us.’ After spending time with them for a year, I began to realize that those with DM are trying to do what God was teaching them to do. In my opinion, their faith and deed were aligned. It challenged me and I want to live like them.”

The university arm of Diaspora Ministry has provided enough momentum for Jonathan to begin making inroads with another of their team’s target groups. He’s praying for God to pave the way for conversations with North Korean pastors to figure out how Diaspora Ministry can support them and their churches. The Lees are also working to start a Diaspora Ministry school modeled after Amerasian Christian Academy in Dongducheon as an evangelistic avenue for migrant families.

The Need for Missionaries in a Reached Country

Why are you going to South Korea? It is not a mission field.”

This is the question Jonathan hears over and over again during conversations about where he is serving. It is a fair point. South Korea has a large evangelical Christian presence with plenty of Presbyterian churches. It is also one of the world’s top missionary sending countries, trailing only the U.S. and Brazil. However, the more time Jonathan spends working with and learning about the international populations in South Korea, the more he is convinced sending missionaries to countries like South Korea is a strategic way to reach unevangelized and unreached people groups.

First, the religious freedom that exists in South Korea offers a safe environment for gospel ministry. People are coming from countries with limited-to-zero access to the gospel and countries like North Korea that can be difficult, if not impossible, for missionaries to enter. But they are receptive to the message of Christ.

“I think there are huge advantages to reaching out to these groups of people because they are vulnerable culturally, emotionally, and spiritually. They are desperate and they are in need of help and so their attitude is very open,” he says.

Jonathan’s visit to Ameriasian Christian Academy was especially eye opening. The elementary students attending this school come from different religious backgrounds, and many of them faced racism in the Korean public school system. Others had trouble keeping up with the Korean education because they were still learning the language. The low tuition and international community this school offers makes it an attractive option for these families. Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist parents are enrolling their kids in this Christian school fully aware that the teachers and speakers will openly and freely teach the Bible. “Reaching out to Bangladeshi children in Bangladesh might be challenging. But in South Korea it is very safe. You don’t have to worry about being a target for certain groups. It is accessible for our national local churches and Christians to be involved,” says Jonathan. Besides the safety advantages, Jonathan believes missions work among multiethnic communities in countries like South Korea is important because they are the future co-laborers of the kingdom of God among the unreached and unevangelized populations they represent. When Christians from these people groups take the gospel back into their communities and home countries, the potential impact is huge. “I believe the people I’m serving in South Korea are closer than I am to the unreached or the unevangelized geographically and contextually,” says Jonathan. Also, their experience of moving to a new country creates many of the soft and hard skills needed for kingdom work. Many are trilingual: fluent in their own language, Korean, and English. Besides their language abilities, internationals typically develop grit and perseverance critical for cross-cultural ministry. The Lees have met several people from an unreached people group that came to faith in South Korea and are going back into their native culture to spread the gospel. One such person is a young Pakistani Korean woman named Steph. Steph grew up in Korea and attended Ameriasian Christian Academy where she became a Christian and was baptized in a local church. She is preparing to go to Pakistan as a missionary—a predominately Muslim country in which 99% of the population is unreached according to Joshua Project. The North Korean pastors Jonathan is eager to partner with are another example of people who converted to Christianity in South Korea and are now serving among their own people group. While In the early 2000s, this group of North Korean men, most of whom were in their 20s and early 30s, fled to South Korea where they received care from local South Korean churches. They became believers, went to seminary in South Korea, and planted churches in South Korea among North Korean refugees. There is little doubt this is a ripe mission field.

The Broader Missiological Implications

The growing international population in South Korea is just a snapshot of a trend happening all over the world. People are on the move, coming from everywhere and going everywhere. This is changing the global missions landscape and raising significant missiological questions for the Church. “Understanding the world is not possible without understanding that the world is moving,” says missiology expert Cody Lorance in a video for Lausanne Global. “So, if you are interested in business as missions you have to deal with the fact that people in business are moving all over the world. … If you really care about the 10/40 window, you have to deal with the fact that God has taken the 10/40 window and has dumped it out all over the rest of the world in our day.” A globally mobile world raises both new challenges and new opportunities for the Church as we collectively think about remaining faithful to the Great Commission in the 21st century. In the same Lausanne Global video series, business as missions expert Joao Mordomo says, “You’ve got 100 million people minimum coming from countries and ethnic groups which historically have not had access to the gospel. And they are coming into places which historically allowed religious freedom and economic freedom. So, we are talking about the convergence of jobs and businesses with the need for the gospel to be proclaimed among people that represent unreached people groups.” Jonathan can already attest to the truth of this as he and Joy serve unreached and unevangelized people in South Korea. He sees great potential for reaching the nations by making disciples among the international populations of the world. The gospel advancement the Lees have seen and been a part of in South Korea among unreached and unevangelized people groups underscores the need to embrace the global migration trend as a strategic avenue for spreading Christ’s message of hope and redemption to the ends of the earth. *Location is not specified for security reasons.

Chelsea Rollman is a marketing specialist and staff writer at MTW. She formerly served as the girls’ discipleship coordinator at Village Seven in Colorado Springs, and as a marketing assistant at The White Horse Inn. Chelsea graduated from Covenant College in 2016 with her B.A. in English. She and her husband, Hudson, live in Jacksonville, Florida, and attend Christ Church Presbyterian where Hudson serves as the youth director.

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South Korea

Presbyterian World mission partners with the Presbyterian Church of Korea, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, and the National Council of Churches in Korea in working in the country. Two mission co-workers live and work in Korea, and two regional liaisons serve in Korea as well.

We join Korea’s Christian community in a ministry that includes higher education and youth ministries, theological education, health ministries, women’s and children’s ministries, and peace education, reconciliation and reunification work.

Hyeyoung Lee and Kurt Esslinger Kurt Esslinger and Hyeyoung Lee each have two roles as mission co-workers in South Korea. First, they both serve as Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) site coordinators for the Daejeon, Korea, site. The YAV site in South Korea is hosted on the campus of Presbyterian-related Hannam University. U.S. young adults live in Daejeon for a year at a time as YAVs and work with agencies such as children’s centers and soup kitchens to support the struggle against poverty, hunger, and homelessness. They share a YAV house together and reflect on what it means to live in an intentional community, in the midst of another culture, and on who God calls us to be, engaging the world around us.

Hyeyoung’s other role is working with Hannam University’s Global Multicultural Leadership Program, which connects Hannam students as well as the YAVs with agencies working with immigrant populations in Daejeon. Kurt also works with the National Council of Churches in Korea and their Reconciliation and Unification Department, which maintains a relationship with the Korean Christian Federation of North Korea and advocates for the respectful and peaceful reconciliation of the ongoing Korean conflict.

Find out more about their work on their profile page here .

Write to Kurt at [email protected] Write to Hyeyoung at [email protected]

Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)

South Korea Partner Organizations

Christian Literature Society Hanil University and Theological Seminary Hankuk Theological Seminary Hannam University(Link this to the YAV/YAV Exchange Program) Honam Theological Seminary Keimyung University Kwangju Christian Hospital Margaret Pritchard School of Nursing National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) Presbyterian Medical Center Soongsil University Yonsei University

Mienda Uriarte , Area Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, [email protected] Jacklyn Walker , Mission Specialist, [email protected]

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• How to Plan Your Trip to South Korea 2024/2025 (6 Easy Steps)

South Korea is a popular destination for many travelers, especially for families with teenagers and couples. Besides its history, nature, and modernity, South Korea offers unique and lively experiences, such as K-pop, the hanbok, Hanok hotels, bibimbap, and more, which continue to draw travelers from all over the world.

In this article, we'll explain everything you need to know to plan a wonderful trip to South Korea, including the top places to visit, how long you should spend there, the best times to visit, and the costs.

• 1. Do I Need a Visa to Visit South Korea
• 2. Top 4 Places to Visit in South Korea
• 3. Best Times to Visit South Korea
• 4. How Many Days to Spend in South Korea
• 5. How Much Does a Trip to South Korea Cost
• 6. How to Get To and Around South Korea

Do I Need a Visa to Visit South Korea?

Nationals of many countries are exempt from needing a visa to enter South Korea, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Most travelers could stay in South Korea without a visa for 90 days.

Top 4 Places to Visit in South Korea

With so many wonderful destinations in South Korea, we know it could be difficult to narrow down where to visit. Below are some recommended places to visit for your first trip, based on our knowledge and feedback from our clients.

1) Seoul — Capital City with a Perfect Blend of History and Modernity

As the bustling capital city of South Korea, Seoul is a must-see city when planning a first trip to South Korea. It offers plenty of experiences that would enrich your trip.

If you want to explore history-filled attractions to deepen your understanding of South Korea, don't miss a visit to one of the oldest royal palaces, Gyeongbokgung, and the quiet Korean traditional village of Bukchon Hanok.

Beyond the representative attractions, you could also wear a traditional hanbok and stay in Korean-style accommodation to enrich your trip.

If your children are interested in K-pop, you could see the idols at the famous broadcasting buildings and visit the renowned Korean Wave music companies.

2) Busan — Bustling Seaside City

Busan is a charming seaside city known for its glistening beaches. You could enjoy the comfortable sea breeze and feed seagulls at Haeundae Beach and sample fresh seafood.

As well as beautiful sea views, Busan has many culture-rich attractions. Visit Korean Buddhist temples with stunning sea views, such as Haedong Yonggung Temple, and enjoy the unique art of Gamcheon Culture Village with its multicolored houses.

You can just tell us your preferences and requirements, and we will customize a tour for you.

3) Gyeongju — Ancient Capital with a Long History

Gyeongju, the ancient and medieval capital of South Korea , has a rich history that spans thousands of years and has well-preserved ancient buildings. There, you could explore some UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Bulguksa Temple, which has stood for over a millennium, and Yangdong Folk Village, which is home to the largest hanok village in Korea with Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897) buildings.

4) Jeju Island — Formed by Volcanic Activity and Suitable for Relaxation

Known all over the country for its picturesque natural views, Jeju Island is one of the most popular destinations for travelers to escape from the country's larger cities and relax for a few days.

Jeju Island was formed by volcanic activity, resulting in various natural landscapes, such as the Manjanggul lava tube, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

You could enjoy exciting sea outdoor sports, such as surfing, deep diving, and snorkeling. Additionally, you could relax by basking in the wonderful sunrise or sunset on the sandy beaches.

Best Times to Visit South Korea

South Korea has four distinct seasons and it's suitable to visit all year round.

The best times to travel to South Korea are in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) , when you could enjoy pleasant weather, clearer days, and the best scenery. In spring, you could admire the blooming cherry blossoms and in autumn, you could view the vibrant red foliage.

Summer (June to August) is hot and humid in South Korea, and it is the rainy season as well. But it does not rain every day and you could still enjoy a flexibly planned trip. Compared with July and August (the summer vacation months), June is cooler and less crowded, which makes it a better time for families to visit South Korea.

Winter (December to February) is cold and dry in South Korea, making it a good time to bathe in the hot springs. Christmas and New Year are two of the busiest periods to travel so we suggest that you plan ahead at least 3–6 months in advance as hotels are easily booked up.

Just contact us  if you are thinking of a trip to South Korea. We'd like to create a wonderful trip based on your needs and interests, whatever the weather.

How Many Days to Spend in South Korea

For a first trip to South Korea, we recommend a 10-day trip to explore the highlights in the top cities from north to south covering Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju, and Jeju Island.

Below are three well-selected South Korea itineraries ideal for vacations of three popular lengths (7, 10, and 14 days), each offering authentic activities to enrich your trip.

1) 7-Day Essence Itinerary: Explore Seoul and Busan

Here is the handpicked itinerary, for inspiration:

• Days 1–4: Seoul
• Days 5–7: Busan

7 days are enough to explore South Korea's top two cities of Seoul and Busan. You could wear a traditional hanbok to stroll around culturally-rich Bukchon Hanok Village and stay at a traditional Hanok hotel in Seoul, take a day trip to explore well-preserved UNESCO sites in Gyeongju, and relax with the sea breeze in Busan.

2) 10-Day Classic Itinerary: the Most Chosen Korea Tour Plan

• Days 1–3: Seoul
• Days 4–5: Gyeongju
• Days 6–7: Busan
• Days 8–9: Jeju Island
• Day 10: Departure

This 10-day itinerary is based on the 7-day itinerary with the addition of Jeju Island. It's perfect for first-timers to explore the best of South Korea without rushing and to enjoy its natural beauty.

On Jeju Island, you could explore unique volcanic landscapes, enjoy sunrise or sunset on a sandy beach, and enjoy some free time doing outdoor activities such as snorkeling and surfing.

3) 14-Day South Korea and Japan Itinerary

14 days is ideal for a trip to both South Korea and the neighboring country of Japan, spending 1 week in each country. Not only could you immerse yourself in Korean culture, but also you could experience kid-favored anime elements, stay at a ryokan with an onsen, and watch a geisha performance in Japan.

• Days 4–5: Busan
• Day 6: Fly to Osaka in Japan
• Days 7–9: Kyoto
• Days 10–11: Hakone
• Days 12–14: Tokyo

Week 1 in South Korea: Seoul–Busan

Start your wonderful trip in South Korea. Experience traditional activities in Seoul, such as trying on a hanbok to meander around Bukchon Hanok Village, and relax on a sandy beach and feed some seagulls in Busan.

Week 2 in Japan: Osaka–Kyoto–Hakone–Tokyo

Fly to Osaka to continue your trip in Japan. In the impressive medieval capital of Kyoto , you could dress up like a ninja to learn techniques from a ninja master, wear a kimono to visit the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, and feed friendly deer in Nara.

Take the Shinkansen to Hakone , the well-known home to hot springs, and stay at a Japanese-style ryokan with an onsen.

In Tokyo, the capital city perfectly combines history and modernity. You could meander around the Asakusa district with its Edo-era vibe, make sushi with an experienced chef, and buy your favorite anime products at Pokémon Center.

Check more details about plan a 12-Day or 2 Week Itinerary in South Korea and Japan.

How Much Does a Trip to South Korea Cost?

The private tour cost in South Korea is about US$400–500 per day per person based on a family of 3–5 people , including 4-star hotels, a full-day itinerary, tickets for attractions, private cars, and private guides.

Travel costs are typically one or two times higher in peak times such as the cherry blossom season in March to April, Christmas, and New Year. Therefore, we recommend that you plan your trip at least 3–6 months in advance.

How to Get To and Around South Korea

Most flights from international starting points, such as North America, Europe, and Australia, land at Incheon International Airport in Seoul or Gimhae International Airport in Busan . These airports are conveniently close to their corresponding cities and are international hubs for some of South Korea's leading airlines.

Most cities in South Korea are conveniently connected by the KTX (South Korea's high-speed railway) , which is the most comfortable and efficient way of traveling. For instance, the journey from Seoul to Busan takes approximately 2½ hours.

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Mission trip to Korea

The group was hosted by the Jesus People Church in Seoul. From there they traveled to Paju City near the North Korean border where they prayed for the reunification of the people of North and South Korea. The group also visited a memorial to the Korean War that includes a tribute to the Filipinos who fought beside the South Koreans in that war.

Back in Seoul, the group received street evangelism training. They reviewed and practiced sharing the gospel with each other, then worshiped together, singing and dancing for God’s victory over the streets of Seoul. Following lunch they paired up with young people from the host church and went to Korea National University and Cheongnyangni Train Station where they shared the gospel with everyone they met. Though they experienced some rejection, they made many new friends. They prayed for them and talked with them. Sharing the good news is a blessing whether it is received then or later.

Here are reflections from other participants on the trip:

“God exposed me to a different path, a path I never expected to take. The mission trip revived the fire in my heart. I saw how our Korean brothers and sisters are striving to do their part for the Great Commission that God has given to every Christian. I am inspired. I realized how much I can do by the power of prayer and faith.”

“In this short-term missions exposure, I saw how the Koreans love their country and also their love for their North Korean brothers, always remembering them in their prayers. South Koreans go to the northern border to pray for the unification of the nation. We too should pray, not only for the unification of the Koreas, but for all the nations to hear the good news of Jesus’ love for us.”

“In doing the mission of the Lord, our nationality does not divide us. Instead, it unites us to do his mission together.”

“I thank the Lord for letting me experience this trip, for it inspired me a lot. I am touched and very much amazed on how God works not only in the Philippines but also in other countries like Korea. For me, mission was limited to serving in our local church. Now, I thank God for making me realize that his love knows no bounds. Wherever he sends you, he will surely guide and protect you. All glory and praise to our God!”

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The best road trips in South Korea weave through mountains, islands and history

Feb 17, 2024 • 10 min read

Taking a road trip in South Korea is a great way to see another side to the country © Henn Photography / Getty Images

South Korea might not leap out as the obvious place for a road trip. The country's superb public transportation means a private vehicle is rarely necessary, and the traffic in Seoul can make you question the point of the open road when you spend so much time at a standstill.

But renting a car and escaping the capital opens up some otherwise inaccessible (or at least more time-consuming) travel possibilities and gives you a chance to savor the charms of Korea's smaller cities and rural hamlets.

With well-maintained roads and abundant signage, just about the only thing you'll have to worry about is choosing where to go next. Here are some of the best road trips in Korea for natural vistas, history, food and off-the-beaten-path exploration.

1. The grand Korean tour

Best road trip for a bit of everything Seoul–Busan; 599km (72 miles); allow 12 days

Sure, you could zip from Seoul to Busan in three hours on the high-speed KTX train , but then you'd miss out on everything this road trip that highlights a good sample of all South Korea has to offer. After exploring Seoul, make the short jaunt south to Suwon , renowned for its galbi (ribs) and Hwaseong , a majestic 18th-century walled fortress that encircles the old city.

Two hours south of Suwon, the modern and ancient worlds butt up against each other in Sejong, a city barely 10 years old that houses many government institutions, and Gongju, the former capital of the Baekje kingdom (18 BCE–660 CE). Delve into history at Gongsan-seong Fortress and the Gongju National Museum .

Just 20km (12.5 miles) southeast, several universities give Daejeon a vibrant, youthful atmosphere. On the northeast edge of the city, spidery Daecheongho Lake has isolated villages and scenic overlooks to discover. Cross from agricultural Jeolla-do Province to industrial Gyeongsang-do Province via Deogyusan National Park , where the mountains are dotted with waterfalls, Buddhist temples and hiking trails.

After this rural interlude, wrap up in Korea's populous southeast. Two hours east of Deogyusan is Daegu , famous for its herbal medicine market and historic churches, and an hour and a half beyond is Ulsan, home to enormous shipyards and herons nesting in bamboo groves along the Taehwagang River. It's then a short sprint down the coast to Busan , where beaches and a vibrant cultural scene await.

2. Tracing the DMZ

Best road trip for understanding Korea's recent history Incheon–Sokcho; 385km (240 miles); allow 7 days

Actually visiting North Korea can be a difficult trip to pull off, but this road trip in the south gets you close enough to peer into this hermitic country and provides an up-close look at the consequences of the peninsula's tragic division. The irony is that this trip is one of South Korea's most peaceful drives, full of rice paddies and quiet farmsteads, but look closely, and you'll notice barbed wire and tank traps on the roadside.

Start in Incheon , where a hillside memorial commemorates the Korean War's most consequential battle, when UN Command forces stormed the city and prevented the North from taking the entire peninsula. Motor an hour northwest to Ganghwa-do Island, separated from the DPRK only by the Han River. At the island's northern tip is Ganghwa Peace Observatory , from where you can gaze across the water at some of North Korea's southernmost villages.

Imjingak is the site of war memorials and bridges that once linked North and South. Pause your road trip here and sign up in advance for a tour of the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom, a place unlike anywhere else on the peninsula. The sense of Cold War drama is powerful, as soldiers from either side of the divide watch each other from just meters away.

From Imjingak, spend a day or two meandering northeast through the sparsely populated regions of Cheorwon, Hwacheon and Inje – all claimed by North Korea before the war – where battlefields, old barracks and even the shell of a local Workers' Party of Korea Building recall the not-so-distant past. Finish up the east coast, some 50km (31 miles) from Inje, where Sokcho's Abai Village neighborhood is a lively fishing community founded by people who fled from the North.

3. The Baekdudaegan Route

Best road trip for mountains and nature Sokcho–Jirisan National Park; 781km (485 miles); allow 14 days

This road trip traces the Baekdudaegan mountain range, Korea's defining geographical feature, taking you through some of the most beautiful corners of the country. Just outside Sokcho , Seoraksan National Park serves up some of South Korea's most dramatic landscapes, with granite peaks right out of a traditional watercolor painting nearly tumbling into the sea.

Drive past racks of drying pollack, a local specialty, and explore rushing mountain streams and ghostly birch forests on a detour inland through Inje County on your way to the Daegwallyeong plateau, which features ranches, sheep farms and epic views of the East Sea.

An hour or so southwest, the Pyeongchang and Jeongseon regions, settings for the 2018 Winter Olympics, are now centers for ecotourism, whitewater rafting and zip lines, with rural markets selling herbs collected from the surrounding mountains. Spend at least three days moseying southwest through Taebaeksan , Sobaeksan and Songnisan national parks, taking time to discover shrine-dotted sacred peaks, cozy villages and apple farms.

Hamyang is where you'll find the charming Gapyeong Hanok Village, filled with traditional houses, and it's the jumping-off point for Jirisan National Park , home to Asiatic black bears and South Korea's tallest mainland peak.

4. Korea's historic southeast

Best road trip for history and traditional culture Andong–Seokguram Grotto; 233km (145 miles); allow 5 days

"A journey into the past" might be a cliche, but what else can you call a drive through villages of thatch-roofed homes, time-honored folk practices and ancient royal edifices? Andong is the center of Korea's Confucian heartland, and in the surrounding countryside are the 16th-century Dosan Seowon , once the country's most famous Confucian academy, and Hahoe Folk Village , a settlement of tile- and thatch-roofed traditional hanok homes.

Many residents here can trace their lineage back to the scholars and aristocrats who lived here hundreds of years ago. Sample the old lifestyle by staying in a hanok here or in Deokcheon, a 600-year-old clan village where experiential programs in traditional activities such as tea-brewing and fabric-dying are also on offer.

About 150km (93 miles) to the southeast, Yangdong Folk Village is another well-preserved community. Dating to the 15th century, it's more humble than Hahoe. From Yangdong, it's just a half hour to Gyeongju , once the capital of the Silla dynasty – a must-visit for anyone interested in Korean history.

Few sights in the country are more beautiful than Anapji Pond , particularly when the pavilions that overlook it are lit up in the evening. A short 15km (9-mile) drive from Gyeongju, Bulguk-sa Temple and Seokguram Grotto are two of Korean Buddhism's most enchanting ancient sites.

5. A Jeolla-do food tour

Best road trip for foodies Jeonju–Mokpo; 194km (121 miles); allow 6 days

Ditch the GPS and follow your stomach on this road trip around Jeolla-do Province, where Korea's rice basket combines with miles of coastline to create what is without doubt the country's best region for food. Start in Jeonju , which is famed for its bibimbap (rice with vegetables, wild mountain herbs, red pepper paste, raw beef and egg, traditionally prepared in a hot stone bowl) and kongnamul gukbap (a spicy, clean-tasting soup featuring rice and bean sprouts). 

Also duck into Jeonju's makgeolli alleys, where simple taverns serve this cloudy rice wine with overly generous helpings of kimchi pancakes, pork trotters, grilled fish and lots more. Around 75km (46 miles) to the southwest, Baekyang-sa is the home temple of the famed chef and monk Jeong Kwan. Sign up for an overnight Templestay here to experience Buddhist temple cuisine, a refined form of vegetarian cooking that uses only organic ingredients and eschews strong flavors.

Gwangju is the home of tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) and flavorful ori-tang (duck soup). At the tip of the peninsula, an hour to the southwest, Mokpo harvests the bounty of the surrounding waters. Feast on octopus, fish and numerous types of seaweed, and put your foodie credentials to the test with a plate of hongeo (fermented skate).

6. South Korea's southern coast

Best road trip for stunning coastal vistas Mokpo–Busan; 446km (277 miles); allow 10 days

From Mokpo , a drive along Korea's southern coast is a continual negotiation between land and water. Extreme tides create enormous mudflats that sometimes allow you to walk from island to island, harvested seaweed dries on clotheslines, and fishing boats leave shore in search of the day's catch.

This road trip goes through Boseong, where lush fields of tea plants line the hillsides, and Suncheon-man Bay Ecological Park , one of the world's largest coastal wetlands and a resting place for migratory birds in winter. Two hours apart, Yeosu and Tongyeong sit at the tips of two peninsulas facing island-dotted bays. Deciding which has the more beautiful setting is an argument you'll never settle.

Driving between these two towns, you'll pass stands of yuja (yuzu) trees. Consider a side trip to the island settlement of Namhae, where residents use torches to gather octopus and crabs from the mudflats at night. Leaving Tongyeong, a curving 75km (46-mile) drive brings you to the Jinhae district of Changwon, the setting for Korea's most dramatic displays of cherry blossoms in spring. To wrap up, pull into port in Busan for beaches, nightlife and its cosmopolitan art scene.

7. Jeju Loop

Best road trip for island vibes Jeju City–Jeju City; 211km (131 miles); allow 3 days

Toss a bag of gyul (tangerines) in the passenger seat, slip on some shades, put the top down and cruise the 1132, the highway that traces the coastline of Jeju-do island.

Jeju-si City is a good spot to swot up on the island's unique history, at Jeju National Museum . Fill up on pork belly produced from the island's famous black pigs, then head east or west – it doesn't matter which, since you'll find yourself back here eventually.

Highlights of a drive around Jeju include the UNESCO-listed Geomunoreum Lava Tube System and the dramatic Seongsan Ilchul-bong tuff cone, a famed spot for sunrises. It's also worth visiting the Jeongbang Waterfall , which tumbles from a cliff directly into the sea, and Jungmun Beach, which is popular with surfers.

As you circle the island, be sure to keep an eye out for the many things that set Jeju apart from the rest of the country. Elderly female divers known as haenyeo plunge into the waves to harvest abalone and seaweed, unaided by air tanks. Walls of stacked basalt stone known as batdam divide citrus fields, and tangled forests called gotjawal grow thick atop volcanic cones.

Make detours to beaches, cute cafes and local breweries such as Magpie , and afterward, head inland to explore Hallasan, a giant shield volcano that's South Korea's highest peak. The most straightforward approaches are coming south from Jeju-si City or north from Jungmun Beach, both on highway 1139.

Using South Korea's Hi-Pass and other tips for driving in South Korea

Koreans aren't bad drivers, but locals have a reputation for being impatient, and traffic laws aren't followed as faithfully as you may be used to at home. Drive with caution, and don't expect drivers to yield. You'll likely find yourself stuck in traffic with thousands of vacationing Seoulites if you try to drive out of the capital on a Friday night or Saturday morning or into town on a Sunday night. Avoid these times if you can.

South Korean highways have a toll system called Hi-Pass, which is administered without drivers having to stop. When renting a car, make sure that it comes with a Hi-Pass transceiver. You may still have to pay the tolls, but at least this way you can do so when you return the car and avoid an annoying bill later on.

South Korea's highway rest stops, called hyugeso , are a national treasure. Uniformly large, spotless and fitted out with facilities such as cafeterias and scenic overlooks, they're terrific places to take a break and chow down on snacks such as hodu-gwaja (small cakes with walnuts and red bean paste inside).

Google Maps likely won't work for navigation in South Korea. Instead, download and use the domestic KakaoMap app. Motorcycles aren't allowed on major highways in Korea, so if you switch your vehicle type to motorcycle (menu / settings / car navigation / vehicle type), the app will keep you on the more scenic backroads.

This article was first published Aug 21, 2022 and updated Feb 17, 2024.

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South Korea and Cuba to open diplomatic missions, decades after cutting ties

Revival of relations delivers blow to Pyongyang's diplomacy

SEOUL -- The South Korean and Cuban governments have agreed to establish mutual permanent diplomatic missions, in a major blow to North Korea.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry announced the agreement on Sunday. Cuba's diplomatic office will be in Seoul, and South Korea's will be in Havana.

South Korea flips script on North by winning over Cuba

U.s. official says kishida and yoon deserve nobel peace prize, north korea leans on russian ties to expand relations with iran, south korea's opposition faces three pitfalls after election win, kim jong un's sister seen shaking up japan-u.s.-south korea ties, latest on international relations, u.s. will press north korea to resolve abductions issue: special envoy, japan, brazil agree to promote biofuels and hybrid vehicles, xi jinping's trip to europe to center on trade as challenges 'pile up', sponsored content, about sponsored content this content was commissioned by nikkei's global business bureau..

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul / Korea Times file

South Korea heightened its anti-terrorism alert status for five of its diplomatic missions by two levels on Thursday, in response to recent intelligence indicating North Korea's attempted acts of terrorist attacks against South Korean diplomats.

The government convened a meeting and decided to raise the state of its four-tier alert from "attention" to the third-highest level of "alert," for the five missions, officials said.

The five missions are the South Korean Embassy in Cambodia, the South Korean Embassy in Laos, the South Korean Embassy in Vietnam, the South Korean Consulate in Vladivostok, and the South Korean Consulate in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang.

The alert level is issued when there is likelihood of terrorism, the government said.

In recent years, North Korea has repeatedly reaffirmed its stance against all forms of terrorism.

North Korea has a track record of staging terror attacks against South Korea in the past few decades, including the 1987 midair bombing of a South Korean airliner near Myanmar that killed all 115 people aboard.

The attack prompted the United States to put North Korea on its terrorism blacklist, but Washington removed Pyongyang from the list in 2008 to facilitate talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.

In 2017, the U.S. redesignated North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. (Yonhap)

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US, South Korea Outline Visions for Cost-Sharing on Troops, US Negotiator Says

FILE PHOTO: South Korean Anti-Aircraft Gun Wheeled Vehicle System participates in the joint river-crossing exercise conducted for South Korean and US soldiers in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, South Korea, 20 March 2024. JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and South Korean officials outlined respective visions for a new agreement on sharing the cost of keeping American troops in South Korea in talks this week and will continue to consult as necessary, the chief U.S. negotiator said on Friday.

The allies named envoys last month to launch early talks for a new deal to take effect in 2026. South Korean media said the aim was for an agreement before any November election comeback by former President Donald Trump, who during his presidency accused Seoul of "free-riding" on U.S. military might.

Ahead of a first round of talks in Hawaii from Tuesday to Thursday on a so-called 12th Special Measures Agreement (SMA), chief U.S. negotiator Linda Specht said Washington was seeking "a fair and equitable outcome."

In a brief statement on Friday, Specht said: "The United States and Republic of Korea outlined their respective visions for the 12th SMA ... We will continue to consult whenever necessary to further strengthen and sustain the Alliance under the 12th SMA."

A senior Biden administration official told Reuters last month the talks were on track and ahead of schedule but the U.S. did not see November as a "hard deadline."

More than 28,000 American troops are stationed in South Korea as part of efforts to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.

South Korea began shouldering the costs of the deployment, used to fund local labor, the construction of military installations and other logistics support, in the early 1990s.

During Trump's presidency, the sides struggled for months to reach a deal before Seoul agreed to increase its contribution by 13.9% over the previous 2019 pact under which Seoul had paid about $920 million annually. It was the biggest annual rise in nearly two decades.

Trump had demanded Seoul pay as much as $5 billion a year.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, from 2016 through 2019, the U.S. Defense Department spent roughly $13.4 billion in South Korea to pay military salaries, construct facilities, and perform maintenance, while South Korea provided $5.8 billion to support the U.S. presence.

The current deal expires in 2025, with negotiations on a successor pact usually held just before the end of the existing one.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Transmigration of Seoul – Frank McNally on a long-awaited trip to South Korea

Something that unified most of our disparate group of journalists was a love of beer.

Thirsty work: last week, I finally set foot in Seoul as a participant of the World Journalists Conference 2024

Back in January 2020, I was all set to visit South Korea for the first time, as an invitee to its annual “World Journalists Conference”, scheduled for March.

But there were rumours emerging then of some new virus in China and I wondered vaguely if this might affect plans.

Sure enough, in February, the WJC organisers took the dire step of postponing their event for a whole month (the innocence is charming now).

Then it was postponed again, until June. Then October. And by the time the conference finally happened, I had to attend it in my Dublin kitchen, via something none of us had heard of in January: Zoom.

General selection – Frank McNally on national stereotypes, Greek (and table quiz) heroes, and a stamp of greatness

Blood brothers – Frank McNally on the deaths of two young men, one Irish, in the Korean War

Hard Border – Frank McNally on a visit to the Korean Demilitarised Zone

That itself was interesting, as I emerged from a 6.30am alarm call to address what looked like a meeting of the UN General Assembly on my laptop, with 50-odd journalists (some odder than others) from all over the world.

The conference was held online again in 2021 and ‘22: my kitchen background increasingly accessorised for global exposure. Then came 2023, when the event returned to actual Korea and somebody forgot to tell me.

But all’s well that ends well. And another year later, last week, I finally set foot in Seoul as a participant of the World Journalists Conference 2024.

Whatever about the journalists, it was a different world. If not forgotten, Covid is no longer news. The themes this year were war reporting and AI, on which there were thought-provoking contributions during the formal part of the event.

Honesty compels me to admit, however, that much of the conference’s fun was just mixing with fellow press people from such far-flung places as Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, or – at the other end of the alphabetic spectrum – Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.

The diversity of experience was in some ways humbling, as the representative from Turkey discovered.

During the session on war reporting, she asked the panellists’ opinion on the Cypriot border question. But they all had to explain politely that they didn’t know much (or anything) about Cyprus.

So – not that it was part of my plans – I instantly overcame any temptation to ask what people thought about the Irish Border, just in case nobody had ever heard of it.

A functional fluency in English was one of the conditions for attending. Meanwhile, and perhaps more surprisingly even considering they were journalists, another thing that unified most of our disparate group was a love of beer.

There were a handful of conscientious objectors, it’s true. These included the Saudi representative: a charming, veiled young woman who grew up in Texas and spoke fluent American but now lived in Riyadh and preferred it there.

When I asked if she wasn’t “oppressed”, she just laughed. If anyone was oppressing her, it was the Korean waiter who filled her wine glass at lunch when she wasn’t looking.

Not only did she not drink alcohol, she didn’t like having it in front or her. So she asked the waiter to take it away. But he thought she was complaining about the quality and tried to pour her a fresh glass.

Finally, with the cultural sensitivity towards alcohol for which we in Ireland are famous, I said “Allow me” and removed the offending object to another table.

Europeans more than made up for the abstentionists from elsewhere. One night in Suwon, along with the German and Bulgarian delegates, I accompanied a party-animal Hungarian in search of a bar where he had been earlier and left the French and Portuguese journalists.

Unfortunately, his memory of the venue did not include its name or the name of the street it was on: only a series of hunches as to where it might be, which covered an increasingly large swathe of the city centre.

Some years ago I read a great novel, The Radetsky March, which – through the microcosm of one family – explained the downfall of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

But this was the Radetsky Pub Search, during which I gained a new insight into how Hungary lost its part of the empire. By the end, we were all ready to settle for any pub, and even that proved elusive.

So again, finally, I had to take charge and, drawing on deep national reserves of know-how, found us a corner café with a fridge full of beer.

I was slightly annoyed with Italy’s representative at the WJC, if only because she ruined an old joke – popular with the Irish UN delegation – whereby I too could have claimed that in the alphabetical listing, I was located “between Iraq and a hard place”.

Mind you, there was no Israeli at the WJC so the hard place would have had to be Kazakhstan, which may or may not be hard. I had beers with the Kazakh – a handsome young TV presenter – one night too and he seemed a gentle, thoughtful sort.

On the other hand, he also told me that, in his spare time, he was an MMA fighter.

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US, South Korea outline visions for cost-sharing on troops, US negotiator says

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Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Sandra Maler

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