Korea Simmers With Cultural Experiences for Your Clients

South Korea has been garnering much attention on the popular culture front, with the notorious survival drama series "Squid Game" and the Oscar-winning comedy thriller "Parasite" recently enjoying worldwide recognition, in line with the ever-flourishing K-Pop phenomenon. Korea in general has captured the imagination of people of all ages for many different reasons. If this holds true for any of your clients, now would be an excellent time to start planning a trip that immerses them into the destination's vibrant culture, one that is both contemporary and ancient, stretching back 5,000 years. Read on to learn about some of its top cultural attractions.

Nearly 900 traditional temples, many of them centuries old, preserve the customs of Korean Buddhism, which spans 1,700 years. Some of these sites welcome visitors seeking to experience the life of a traditional Buddhist practitioner - for an entire day or overnight - in what are known as Temple Stay programs. These programs might involve walking and meditating along a quiet forest path, taking in a tea ceremony, learning to eat with ecological awareness and practicing the "108 prostrations" or devotional bows. One such program is at Beomeosa Temple in Buson, which was built over 1,300 years ago and houses a great number of cultural heritage artifacts.

Distinctive in design and character, Korea's royal palaces are also places of contemplation, even as they sit among Seoul's skyscrapers, offering respite from the constant hum of urban activity. Not only are the palaces and their beautiful grounds available for touring, but they also open their doors to those seeking special experiences, such as lectures on royal cuisine, traditional tea ceremonies, and music and dance performances under the moonlight. Altogether there are five such royal sites. Gyeongbokgung Palace (built 1395) is the oldest and grandest of them all, and the second Changdeokgung (built 1405) is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The word "hanok" refers to houses built in the traditional Korean style - some date back centuries and many have been outfitted with modern facilities. Built with chemical-free materials and using a unique heating system involving stone layers under the flooring, these houses are not only environmentally friendly but are also immensely breathable. Some travelers opt for a stay at a hanok instead of a hotel and are rewarded with an opportunity to experience traditional Korean lifestyle and culture - and maybe even a pottery lesson!

There are numerous spots where large numbers of hanoks are clustered together, forming villages that tourists may visit. Bukchon Hanok Village, a residential area in Seoul, comprises traditional houses that have been well preserved for over 600 years. While some of these buildings have been turned into galleries, cafes, restaurants and guesthouses, others offer the opportunity to learn about the region's history and folklore, forming a veritable "street museum." Meanwhile, Jeonju Hanok Village was started in the 1960s and today has about 700 hanoks. Designated a "Slow City" by the Slow Movement, it's a spot where visitors may enjoy tea in a hanok cafe, stay in a hanok-style guesthouse and enjoy great street food, as well as the famous Korean rice dish, bibimbap.

Throughout the changing of seasons, South Korea celebrates everything from cherry blossoms to mud to lanterns to ice. At the Andong Mask Dance Festival in September, participants get to watch traditional dances as well as learn how to perform some of them.

A particular source of pride for South Korea are its Haenyeo ("freediving ladies") from the southern island of Jeju. Listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, these women continue the island's tradition of diving into the seabed without breathing apparatus to collect conches, abalones and seaweed. Visitors who would like to learn about their methods can check out the Hado Fishing Village Experience (reservation required) and enjoy activities like fishing and sea harvesting.

A fascinating place to visit is the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, with its observation areas, tunnels (some built for infiltration and spying) and Yanggu Unification Hall, which was created with the goal of broadening people's awareness about the situation in North Korea and to inspire efforts at reunification.

K-Pop, the music associated with the Korean Wave (Hallyu), is popular the world over, and its city of origin, Gangnam, became famous when the singer PSY's "Gangnam Style" became a hit in Europe and the U.S. Today visitors to the city's entertainment district can take tours of Star Road and see iconic sites associated with this music phenomenon.

This has been just a glimpse of all that Korea has to offer. For example, it is home to 13 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites and 20 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity listings, only a few of which are mentioned here. To discover so much more about the destination, enroll in the Korea Travel Specialist Program at TravelAgentAcademy.com and send your clients on a voyage into a culture that spurs the imagination and invites all to participate!