K-Life Hacks to Fully Enjoy KOREA, Celebrating the 2023 World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum

In August 2023, the 25th World Scout Jamboree will be held in Saemangeum, Buan, Jeollabuk-do. The event attracts around 40,000 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 from around the world. Here are some tips to properly enjoy Korea for the participants in the Jamboree event and for teenagers worldwide who love Korea. If you are coming to visit Korea, be sure to read these tips first and plan your trip in advance.

THEME 01. Fully Enjoy K-CULTURE

01. ‘Seoul HiKR Ground’ Is a Must!

If you like K-POP, you must visit ‘Seoul HiKR Ground.’ In various experience zones, you can take pictures as if you were a hallyu star. In particular, in the My Stage area, you can freely select over 100 types of backgrounds and special effects, take your own video with the camera installed on-site, and put it on a USB flash drive.

02. Red Velvet Seul-gi & Irene’s “Naughty” M/V Filming Location: Gwangmyeong Cave

Visit the music video filming location of your favorite stars and make special memories by shooting your own YouTube shorts, and Instagram reels there: Maengbanghaebyeon Beach in Samcheok, the filming location of BTS’ “BUTTER” album jacket, which is loved by many fans around the world; Dae Jang Geum Park in Yongin, the filming location of the “Daechwita” music video; Anyang Art Park, the filming location of Red Velvet Seul-gi’s “Uncover” music video; and Gwangmyeong Cave, the filming location of Red Velvet Seul-gi & Irene’s “Naughty.” Wouldn’t it be nice to make a pilgrimage to these hallyu places?

03. Enjoy Street Food at Sindang-dong Central Market

Korean street food is a must-try. Enjoy a variety of street foods such as tteokbokki, hotteok, gimbap, hot dogs, and chicken skewers, the favorite street food of Korean students, at the traditional market. Traditional markets are good for snacking and where you can taste Korean food.

THEME 02. Fully Enjoy K-HISTORY

01. ‘Gyeongju,’ the Thousand-Year Capital of Silla, Which Unified the Three Kingdoms

Gyeongju was the capital city of Silla, the Millennium Dynasty, and you can feel its history. By using the World Heritage City Tour Bus, you can see Korean history at various historical sites such as the Tomb of King Muyeol, Daereungwon Ancient Tombs, Bunhwangsa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, and Bulguksa Temple. Gyeongju is also famous for its beautiful night view. Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, Bomunjeong Pavilion, and Woljeonggyo Bridge are beautiful even during the day, but you will appreciate them even more if you visit at night after the sun goes down.

02. If You Want to Feel the Beauty of Korea Fully, Jeonju Hanok Village

If you want to feel Korean tradition fully, it is recommended to try various traditional experiences at Jeonju Hanok Village. You can taste traditional Korean food in the village, and there are around 20 cultural facilities, such as Gyeonggijeon Shrine and Omokdae. Also, try on the traditional Korean outfit, hanbok, and travel around the beautiful traditional hanok village in the city center.

03. If You Are Interested in Modern And Contemporary World History, ‘DMZ LIVE’

The DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) of the Korean Peninsula, which became the only divided country in the world due to the Korean War, an important event in modern and contemporary world history, is a place with various meanings. It is a place where South and North Korea promised each other not to deploy troops. It has long been untouched by people and has become a treasure trove of natural ecosystems. If you visit DMZ LIVE, you can see the attraction of the DMZ up close and vividly through advanced techniques. Visiting various tourist destinations on the DMZ border area will be a different and adventurous experience.

THEME 03. Fully Enjoy K-ENTERTAINMENT

01. If You Want Sports Activities, visit Smob in Hanam

This is how local teenagers in Korea hang out. Smob is a place where you can enjoy various indoor sports and activities such as trampoline, rock climbing, basketball, and rally ball. You can also take ‘4-cut photos’ to keep pleasant memories of the day. In addition, there are many self-photo booths, such as PHOTOGRAY, Haru Film, Life4Cut, etc., so please stop by and make memories.

02. Sangam Colosseum, a Sacred Place for Game Lovers

Korea is famous as an Esports powerhouse. World-renowned pro gamers such as Faker and Deft are Korean pro gamers. There are places where you can follow the trail of these pro gamers and also watch them play in action. It’s Sangam Colosseum! Here, you can see pro gamers play various games, such as LOL, Valorant, and StarCraft II, and look into the history of Esports. If you like games, check it out. If you want to watch an Esports game in Korea, be sure to make a reservation in advance through ticketlink.

03. Skyline Luge, Where You Can Enjoy Speed

If you want to enjoy the thrill of speed, Skyline Luge in Tongyeong is recommended. Luge, available only in 6 locations worldwide, is an activity where you can enjoy speed riding in a specially designed cart. You will come down the course at 10 to 15 km per hour. After you try it, you will understand the meaning of the luge slogan “Once is never enough.”

THEME 04. Fully Enjoy K-FASHION

01. The Center of K-Fashion, Dongdaemun

Korea is a new fashion powerhouse that the world is paying attention to. Shop in Dongdaemun, the center of Korean fashion, and find the latest fashion items. There are more than ten large shopping malls in Dongdaemun, where you can shop for high-quality fashion items at a low cost. You can also find a variety of street food in Dongdaemun, such as sausage and rice cake skewers or plain rice cake skewers, favorite snacks for Korean students, so check it out.

02. OLIVE YOUNG, If You Want to Shop for Cosmetics

If you want to shop for Korean beauty cosmetics, OLIVE YOUNG is recommended. It is a place where you can test and buy quality cosmetics at affordable prices that even teenage students can afford. Peripera for color cosmetics, Espoir for skin makeup, and Dr. Jart+ for basic cosmetics are famous. Also, if you are interested in Korean fashion and beauty, how about changing your style by trying beauty salons and nail salons visited by hallyu stars? CHAHONG ROOM is a brand led by Cha Hong, the most famous hair designer in Korea, and you can meet the trendiest styles in Korea the fastest. Nail Tam2na is a nail salon frequented by K-POP stars passionate about nails.

The 25th World Scout Jamboree event will be held from Tuesday, August 1 to Saturday, August 12, 2023, at the Saemangeum Jamboree site in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do. About 40,000 scouts from 150 countries are expected to participate, and the details can be found on the official website. If you are planning a trip to Korea in 2023, use the tips introduced here to make your trip even more special.

* This column was last updated in May 2023, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to confirm details before visiting.