Travel Agent Academy Helps You Imagine Korea in Many Ways

A small country filled with wonders both ancient and modern, Korea is a perfect suggestion for adventurous clients seeking to enhance their vacations with experiences of all kinds. Not only will they find convenient flights from North America to Seoul, but once in Korea, they will also have a streamlined, easy-to-navigate infrastructure to take them to nearly all corners of the country, where they can try everything from temple stays to diving for oysters. Click the arrows for examples of what awaits your curious clients.

In the heart of the bustling capital city of Seoul, your clients can easily leave the modern world behind for a while by visiting one of the three main royal palaces, all centuries old, one of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Their graceful and unique architecture unfolds serenely in fascinating contrast to the city's skyscrapers, providing beautiful settings for traditional music, dance performances and tea ceremonies. With over 5,000 years of history and roots in both Confucianism and Buddhism, Korea has a host of historic sites, including 900 traditional Buddhist temples and numerous "hanok" villages (more on these in the next slide).

Korea has preserved both its royal past and its traditions of simple, ecologically friendly living, perhaps best embodied today by the "hanok," a breathable wood-frame house integrated with nature to offer beauty and comfort. Clusters of well-preserved hanoks can be found in rural areas and in cities like Seoul, where some have been converted into cafes and guesthouses, while others are still inhabited. If your clients are interested in a unique cultural experience, have them consider an overnight Hanok Stay, where they might have a chance to participate in a tea ceremony or try their hand at pottery, craft-making with Korean paper (hanji) or traditional games.

Visitors can journey deep into Korea's spiritual offerings - or simply get a sense of what certain rituals are like - by participating in a Temple Stay Program. Visits range from a few hours to overnight and typically include a variety of choices, such as tours of the property, monastic meals and meditation practices.

Clients could easily spend a week sampling pop culture offerings as well as many other kinds of performances. A trip to the glamorous city of Gangnam takes them to the cradle of K-pop, where they can see the iconic sites associated with the music made famous by performers like PSY and BTS. For other types of performances, they should check out shows featuring the martial arts, visual comedy (with musical accompaniment) and traditional Korean theater - among other art forms.

If you have clients interested in history and politics, a trip to the DMZ (demilitarized zone) is in order. Created as a neutral zone between North and South Korea in 1953, it features fascinating tunnels and an observatory while conveying the human experience of political division. And given that this 155-mile strip of land has been left almost untouched for nearly 70 years, it has become a haven for wildlife.

From street food to royal cuisine, your clients will have ample opportunities to sample many tasty treats as well as learn about their history, preparation and health benefits. With its emphasis on colorful vegetables and savory flavors, Korean food has grown in popularity throughout the world. Kimchi (fermented vegetables like cabbage and radishes), doenjang (soybean paste), bibimbap (vegetable rice bowl with protein and seasonings) and barbecue are just some of the offerings visitors will delight in.

Korea is a land of stunning beauty with biking trails, walking paths and roads to take adventurers through tropical volcanic landscapes, scenic hillsides and coastal areas. A few of the most famous spots include the much-photographed Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation, with its green, terraced mountain-side fields veiled in mist, and the Hado Fishing Village, where Haenyeos (local women divers with remarkable skills) will teach visitors to dive into the sea to harvest its bounty.

Popular for its beauty products, Korea is also the perfect place for spa-goers. Your clients will find numerous high-end resorts with luxurious facilities, or they can try a traditional Korean spa (jjimjilbang), where the emphasis is on quality time spent with friends and family. In keeping with traditional practice, guests at the latter can proceed at their own pace with a choice of relaxing pools and dry and wet saunas, healthy food and amenities like facials and massages. Or your clients might like soaking in a hot spring surrounded by beautiful scenery - such natural spa experiences can be found throughout Korea.

These suggestions should help you match a variety of clients with Korea's rich possibilities for a dream vacation. But to gain a fuller command of the destination and sell it confidently, you should take a closer look at all Korea has to offer - such as its national parks, festivals, technological marvels and 13 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites, to name only a few more examples. The Korea Travel Specialist Program at TravelAgentAcademy.com will provide what you need to know for crafting a journey that stirs the imagination of your adventurous clients.