One of the best things about Seoul is its efficient and inexpensive public transit system. It’s a mind-boggling number, but the metro rail system facilitated over two billion passenger rides in 2008. Seoul’s network is the world’s third most heavily used, behind only Tokyo and Moscow.
Today, the massive system consists of 15 lines, with two more to open in the next year. On June 24, 2009, the inaugural journey of Metro Line 9 began at 7:00 am from Gaewha Station (계화역) in western Seoul for its 25.5-kilometer journey to Sinnonhyeon Station (신논현역), in southern Seoul.
Today we’ll kick-off a new segment called, “Ask Matt“, where I’ll answer a listener/reader travel question.
For our first post, Brian Kim in Los Angeles (USA) e-mailed me the following question:
Hi Matt, I’m headed to Seoul in a few months and I’m looking at some options to get from Incheon Airport to Seoul. I know there are buses that can shuttle you to anywhere in Seoul, but how efficient is the AREX Airport Express?
Open for business! Sliced abalone served next to Jeongbang Waterfall, thanks to a local haenyeo (woman diver).
Over the past few weeks, we saw Jeju’s fire festival and climbed South Korea’s highest peak. But now, it’s time to eat!
As a huge volcanic island, it makes sense that there’s a dearth of arable land on Jeju. But being an island also means that seafood has always been a staple of Jejanese cuisine. So to start our culinary exploration, let’s start at the beach… but one warning, food on Jeju doesn’t come cheap!
For the past 11 years, Jeju has hosted the spectacular Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival.
About 2 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions created South Korea’s southern-most province, the island of Jeju-do. Jeju was ruled by the Tamna Kingdom (탐라국) for millennia before it entered and exited a series of tributary relationships with peninsula kingdoms. It wasn’t until 1404 that Tamna ended with Jeju’s final incorporation with Korea’s Joseon Dynasty.
Since volcanoes created Jeju, it’s no surprise that an annual fire festival would be among the island’s most popular events. And for the past 11 years, the island has celebrated the lunar new year’s first full moon with the Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival (정월대보름들불축제).
Yes, that’s Korea! We spent a very comfortable night at the luxury resort, Shineville, thanks to my special friend Uikwon’s family.
Last weekend I had the chance to visit Jeju Island (제주도) for the first time in about three years. And though I’d been to the lovely isle once before, I was in the company of my mother, her two friends and about 47 other Korean ajumma (married ladies). Needless to say, I was somewhat distracted by my (lovely) company.
This time around, I was traveling with my buddy Uikwon on an itinerary that was made in great part thanks to suggestions by Sejin, a Jeju-native who channels her generosity into encouraging visitors to get off the typical tourist junket. So, with a carefully crafted itinerary in hand, we were ready to go.
Anyoung! Welcome to my Korea travel and culture blog.
I hope this site helps you learn more about Korea's many travel destinations. If I can help, please let me know.
