Anyone in Korea?

[Jamie Y. Mo]

I'll be moving to Korea for a while for work in a few days.
I'm wondering if there are any pilgrims there in this forum.
Not Seoul but Southeast part of Korea.
Looking to do some walking when I'm available..
Thanks!

 

[Robo]

You're allowed to fly? Lucky you.

 

[Jamie Y. Mo]

You're allowed to fly? Lucky you.

Yes only if you have a visa but it's not easy to get a visa these days. Yes I think I am lucky.

 

[tominrm]

I am not in Korea now, but think you will need to self-quarantine for two weeks after your arrival.
Mountain hiking is one of very popular activities there. It's normally a day-trip. But if you have time and prefer hiking in flat terrain, there is a "camino like" hiking course in Jeju Island that is a 425 Km long ring.

 

[trecile]

Enjoy your time in South Korea! My son lived there for a couple of years in the same area that you will be. I visited for about a week and had a wonderful time and ate a lot of really good food.

 

[Caminogoat]

Wow, I am envious of your trip. Korean government is on top of COVID 19. They had the 1st patient in January, but so far they have a total of less than 400 death with around 20,000 cases. They test, trace, and treat. It is under control partly because there are closed circuit TVs in every corner. You can't do anything without being video taped by one of these. That makes it possible to trace and test every suspected case. I guess it is good and bad to be under that much surveillance. Have a nice stay.

 

[Jamie Y. Mo]

I am not in Korea now, but think you will need to self-quarantine for two weeks after your arrival.
Mountain hiking is one of very popular activities there. It's normally a day-trip. But if you have time and prefer hiking in flat terrain, there is a "camino like" hiking course in Jeju Island that is a 425 Km long ring.

Awesome. Thank you! Jeju island is where I'll be frequently. I have heard about it but have no details yet.

 

[Caminogoat]

Then perhaps you would like to climb Hanla Mountain. It's the tallest mountain in South Korea. It's absolutely beautiful in spring time with full of blooming azaleas. I think it takes as long as going over the Pyrenees from SJPD, it was for me anyway. There are many B&B places to stay.

 

[Jamie Y. Mo]

Then perhaps you would like to climb Hanla Mountain. It's the tallest mountain in South Korea. It's absolutely beautiful in spring time with full of blooming azaleas. I think it takes as long as going over the Pyrenees from SJPD, it was for me anyway. There are many B&B places to stay.

Thank you for the info! Sounds like you've been there yourself. That's great.

 

[Caminogoat]

Yes, I have traveled Korea and Japan extensively a few times. There are many hidden gems in South Korea, outside the big cities like Seoul or Busan. Hope you get to enjoy them. I don't recommend visiting Japan right now due to high COVID cases and radiation concerns. One of the problems when visiting country side is a lack of western foods. Korean foods are very good, but very heavily seasoned. You either like it or can't tolerate the flavor.

 

[Jamie Y. Mo]

Yes, I have traveled Korea and Japan extensively a few times. There are many hidden gems in South Korea, outside the big cities like Seoul or Busan. Hope you get to enjoy them. I don't recommend visiting Japan right now due to high COVID cases and radiation concerns. One of the problems when visiting country side is a lack of western foods. Korean foods are very good, but very heavily seasoned. You either like it or can't tolerate the flavor.

Good for you. I've traveled to Korea, Japan and China a few times too. Loved all of them. I have a family member living in Korea right now so it won't be too bad. Just that I'm there for work mostly.. and I haven't spent much time in small towns and the islands so I'm looking to do something different- exploring the countryside. I don't think I'm allowed to travel any other country other than Korea. Too bad but I accept it.

 

[trecile]

One of the problems when visiting country side is a lack of western foods. Korean foods are very good, but very heavily seasoned. You either like it or can't tolerate the flavor.

I think that if I had to pick one cuisine that Korean would be top of the list.

 

[RRat]

I'll be moving to Korea for a while for work in a few days.
I'm wondering if there are any pilgrims there in this forum.
Not Seoul but Southeast part of Korea.
Looking to do some walking when I'm available..
Thanks!

Alwayte

I'll be moving to Korea for a while for work in a few days.
I'm wondering if there are any pilgrims there in this forum.
Not Seoul but Southeast part of Korea.
Looking to do some walking when I'm available..
Thanks!

Resented the Korean walkers. The could move quickly, especially when going downhill on uneven surfaces. Wish I had trained like them.

 

[Caminogoat]

Well, they tend to be shorter than westerners in general, and the center of the gravity is lower. Accordingly they can maintain their balances more easily than taller people. My Korean friends will happily trade in this advantage for an inch at any time.

 

[RRat]

Well, they tend to be shorter than westerners in general, and the center of the gravity is lower. Accordingly they can maintain their balances more easily than taller people. My Korean friends will happily trade in this advantage for an inch at any time.

They shared with me that they train as part of clubs. And these organizations are popular in Korea.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

I don't recommend visiting Japan right now due to high COVID cases and radiation concerns.

Japan has had significantly fewer COVID cases than many European countries so far, but higher case loads than its Asian neighbors (764 cases per million population in Japan compared to 506 cases per million in Korea or 23 cases per million population in Taiwan - according to Worldometers). But the country is basically closed to foreign tourists at the moment. The government has announced its intention to open to tourists by April 2021.

If radiation concerns you, I guess that"s going to be a longer term issue than COVID and you will have to follow advice from a source that you trust.

FWIW - I had a terrific time hiking on the east coast of Taiwan at the start of this year and I would thoroughly recommend it once travel becomes possible. Very affordable. Equally friendly (or friendlier?). Plenty of cyclist hostels. Proper thru-hiking paths on the east coast are not established yet, but it's walkable. Alternatively, you could base yourself in a national park for some very enjoyable day hikes.

In any case, please get in touch if you do manage to visit Japan. I'm in Tokyo at the moment.

 

[Fresco]

I lived in Korea for 3 years. They have wonderful National Parks and plenty of great hiking trails. When I was there I loved hiking in these parks and the Korea people are so friendly. Enjoy your time hiking there!