My Korea List

I belong to a Facebook group called "Sites in Seoul".  Most of the members are military folks, or spouses of, so a majority of the posts generally pertain to life on base, items to be found at the commissary, etc.  Every now and then, however, I'll come across a little gem like last night's great find--a list of 79 things to do in Korea!  This has inspired me to create my own Korea List, my must see/must do list before I depart my temporary home. I'm not sure if I'll be leaving this country sooner or later, but I'm certainly praying about the opportunities God has for me here and beyond.  In the meantime, I'm determined to enjoy this country and live in the present!  Here's what I've got so far…some things from the list of 79 things to do, some stolen from Ellie Meza's Blog "Adventurous Seoul" when she lived in Korea the first time:).  I've begun crossing things off a few at a time, and adding new items as I hear about them, so stay tuned.  Oh, and family and friends, do feel free to come on over and join in the fun!

In no particular order…my Korea list:

1. Go up Seoul Tower during the day and at night
2. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace
3. Take the Secret Garden tour at Changdeokgung Palace
4. Visit Deoksugong Palace and Jeongmo Shrine
5. Go to the National Museum of Korea
6. Get a picture taken wearing a hanbok
7. Go to the War Memorial Museum of Korea
8. Dr. Fish
9. See Miso, a Korean musical
10. Spend a weekend in Busan
11. Learn the Hangul alphabet
12. Have tea in Insadong
13. Visit the Fortress in Suwon
14. Visit Incheon
15. Go midnight shopping at Dongdaemun market
16. Learn the subway system
17. Learn the bus system
18. Go to a traditional Korean wedding
19. Go to the French Quarter in Seoul (Express Bus Terminal Station, exit 4, cross street, turn right, walk straight for 10 minutes)
20. Lotte World
21. Everland
22. Children's Grand Park
23. Bike by the Han River
24. Go to Noreabang
25. Swan boating on the Han River
26. Go to a concert
27. Visit hanoks
28. Taechon Beach
29. Go to the Olympic Park
30. Watch an event at the Olympic Stadium
31. Shop at Hyundai, Lotte, and Shinsegae
32. Participate in Tres Dias
33. Go hiking
34. Andong mask festival
35. Eat street food
36. Korean bbq
37. Yeoido Full Gospel Church
38. COEX Aquarium
39. Lantern Festival
40. Han River ferry or cruise
41. National Assembly
42. DVD bang
43. Go to Jeju Island
44. Go to a baseball game
45. Club Friday in Hongdae
46. Learn how to make Kimbap
47. Go to Daegu
48. See Nanta
49. Hike Mt. Seorak/visit Seoraksan National park
50. Volunteer at an orphanage or soup kitchen
51. Hanok stay (Eugene's house in Seoul: www.eugenehouse.co.kr)
52. DMZ tour
53. Lotte stay
54. Women of comfort
55. Visit Geongju, a historic city
56. Seodaemun Prison
57. Jimjilbang
58. Kpop concert
59. Bboy show
60. Korean cooking class
61. 63 Building--Aquarium, Wax Museum, IMAX
62. strolling, shopping, and eating in Itaewon
63. shopping in the Electronics Market next to Yongsan Station
64. Seoul Forest-biking, deer corral
65. Namdaemun Market
66. Baseball at Jamsil Stadium or Mokdong Stadium
67. Seoul Animation Center/make your own character/Cartoon museum (Myeongdong Station)
68. Stroll Myeongdong after dark
69. World cup stadium soccer game
70. Photograph Banpo Bridge water show
71. The Blue House
72. Bank of Korea Museum of Money (Hoehyeon Station, Exit 7)
73. Gwanghwamun Square Walk (King Sejong Museum)
74. Boshingak Bell Ringing Ceremony (Tues-Sun @11:30am, Jonggak Station, exit 5)
75. Bongeunsa Buddhist Temple in Downtown Seoul
76. Walk along the Cheonggyecheon stream in downtown
77. Bukchon Hanok village
78. Samcheong-dong 
79. Namsangol traditional village (Chungmuro station, exit #3 or 4)
80. Seodaemun Museum of Natural History
81. Garosu Street fancy shopping area
82. Seoul Museum of Modern Art (Seoul Grand Park Station)
83. Hike Mt. Gwanak/pagoda/temples/city views (Gwacheong Station, exit #7, up elevator, walk out onto street and turn right, follow path to dead-end, turn left, walk 5 minutes to park entrance on the right, walk over footbridge, turn left and walk toward trailhead)
84. Hike Bukhan Mountain in North Seoul (Dobongsan Station, exit 2, then walk across street)
85. I-Park shopping mall for 4-D movies
86. Grand Hyatt Hotel lobby/view/ice skating
87. Korean folk village in Suwon
88. Icheon ceramics village
89. Cherry blossoms in Yeoido park
90. Trick eye museum in Hongdae
91. Do a cafe walk through Hongdae (cat cafe, dog cafe, Hello Kitty cafe, Charlie Brown cafe)
92. Drink soju and makgeolli
93. See a play or musical in Korean
94. Do a temple stay
95. Follow the ancient city wall through Seoul and see where it leads
96. Drive myself somewhere!
97. Zipline to Nami Island

In the near future I'll be heading to Jeju Island to celebrate Easter!  I cannot wait to see Jeju in it's Spring glory with my friend Erin!  Daniel and I also plan to conquer a few of the more tourist-y items when he is here for Spring break--Trick eye museum and COEX Aquarium, I'm coming for you!  Today I also booked a moonlight tour of Changdeokgung Palace.  It should be amazing to go out and photograph one of our amazing world heritage sites by the light of the full moon in May when the weather is fine.  More updates to come soon!!

Update: I have recently added zipline to Nami Island to my list!