Is it safe to travel to in South Korea?

I'm not sure why, but when you tell someone that you are heading to South Korea, they either act shocked, or are very concerned about your safety. When I first told my family that I was going to Korea, they seemed quite concerned. There is a lot of confusion about the country and it is unfortunately often connected with North Korea, yet is nothing like it's sibling.

South Korea likes to be known as Dynamic, as they have made incredible developments and changes from the past. In the last 20 years or so, Korea has evolved from being one of the poorest countries in the world, to having a booming economy, high end technology, amazing infrastructure (Trains, roads, buses, hospitals, police etc) and some of the most honest people I have ever met.

Yet, people always wonder about whether it is safe to travel to South Korea and after being here a year, I have to answer with a BIG YES. Why, well because their seems to be almost no crime here. It is quite amazing compared to the UK. In the UK, if you go out on the town, you expect to see fights braking out at some point. However, in a year here, I have only seen a single 'verbal argument' (certainly nothing to run to the airport over). Everybody has ID cards, fingerprints in a database and CCTV covers the country. Hence, to be a criminal, you have to be pretty brave and incredibly smart to get away with it more than once, as a single print or camera image will lead police to your door. Not only that, it is impossible to get a phone, Internet, bank account or anything else without an up-to-date ID card.

Although I'm sure that this level of security has played a part, all the people I have met here are incredible sincere and generous. They don't seem to be interested in handouts, scamming people, or any underhand activity. They seem to have a huge amount of pride in being Korean, and as a Korean, they are brought up to really think about how their actions could affect others and the future. Similar to the idea of stepping on a butterfly if you went back in time, Koreans take great care about their actions, trying to influence the best future outcome possible.

One of the best travel tips I can give is for when you arrive. Go to the information desk and ask for the 'Tourist Information' phone number. Korea actually has a multilingual helpline setup especially to help tourists. Whether you need help with train times, directions for the taxi driver, or tips on where to visit, these guys are amazingly helpful.

Although you can call from any landlines, I recommend that you also consider a rental mobile. These are located in the main hall in the airport, after you clear all the checks. A few companies rent out the mobiles for quite low fees, which means that you can be connected and get help at anytime.

Another point to consider is that many Koreans may know English, but can be shy to speak. Give them time to respond and a smile for encouragement. It will also help if you can speak a little slower (OK, if you are a jabber mouth like me, you may have to bring it down to 30% of normal). However, take the time to get to know a Korean and they will be an amazing friend, keen to show your their way of life, and most likely to introduce you to a Korean style night of drinking.

If you do go drinking with a Korean, be prepared! I thought I could handle my booze, but my god these guys love to party. They are all happy drunks (well, all I have seen), but drinking past the point of being sick or loosing consciousness is actually quite common here on a night out (not my style, but each to their own). Have fun and drink, but do not try to take them on in a competition ... they will win! lol

Drinking here is a big social event, so you may also want to brush up on some customs. Things like turning your head to your shoulder and drinking when in the presence of someone older is something they will greatly appreciate you doing. If someone older offers you a drink, you MUST accept it. However, you can just bring it to your lips in the aforementioned style and put it down (you do not have to down it or even drink it). Actually, it would be best on reading a few life customs too. A simple bow when you meet a Korean can really help you to look good as a foreigner, as it shows you have not only taken the time to learn a little of their culture, but also that you are willing to adapt to their culture while in their country.

Final point, anyone who doesn't like meat should learn a few Korean phrases. As in Korea, almost everyone loves meat and eats incredible quantities. South Korea food is normally meat based and served up in many delicious styles. Traveling Korea as a veggie can be challenging, but not impossible.

So, if you are considering a trip here, I highly recommend it. It is a fun and very affordable country to travel. Accommodation is reasonable ($30+ per night, normally under $100) and public transport is not only cheap, but also highly efficient!

If you are not a lover of heat, check out the winter vacation options. South Korea, particularly the Gangwon-do area, has an incredible amount of mountains, many of which are perfect for skiing. Also, there are some extremely reputable ski resorts, which again are very affordable. This means that you can explore the scenery and try your hand at a bit of skiing or snowboarding.

Why not consider it for your next trip?

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