History & Culture of South Korea

South Korea: a pop culture powerhouse, the most technologically developed country on the planet, a former colony of Japan, the world’s largest cellphone producer, and a nation divided. South Korea’s culture has seeped onto the global stage but what makes it up? Discover the confluences of culture and how history has played a part in this eye-opening school trip about Korean culture and history.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive at Incheon Airport and meet your guide. After check-in, tour the trendy area of Myeongdong – the centrifuge of fashion in Korea. Go for a stroll along the Han River to take in the Seoul skyline. Relax in the evening by enjoying a unique Beyond Classrooms activity: a squid games take on traditional Korean Board Games.

Day 2

Start the day at Gyeongbok Palace and finish your tour by witnessing the change of Guards ceremony. Head to the train station and take the fast train to Gyeongju. Relax and explore the city’s night markets after check in.

Day 3

At one point the fourth largest city in the world (7th to 9th century), Gyeongju is known as Korea’s ‘museum without walls.’ In fact, Gyeongju had a higher population count in the 7th century than it does today. Explore its historical districts. Meet a Mudang and watch a traditional shaman ritual.

Switch gears and head to a Buddhist temple where you will be staying for the next two nights.

Day 4

Wake up amidst the Zen of the temple grounds and go for a meditative hike around the pristine surrounding forests. Head to Yangdong Folk Village, a UNESCO world heritage site where history comes to life. Finish the day with a DIY dinner, a Korean Cooking class!

Day 5

Return to Seoul by fast train. Today, instead of a traditional lunch, we take to the nooks and crannies of Seoul on an unforgettable market street foodie scavenger hunt. Sports culture is massive in Korea and S. Korea is one of the world’s top contenders in baseball. Go to watch a game at Jamsil stadium!

Day 6

Learn more about the relations between the North and South as you step into the weapons-free buffer zone on a guided tour of the DMZ (demilitarized zone). The DMZ tour includes a visit to the 3rd tunnel, Imjingak, Dorasan Observatory and Tongilchon (Unification Village). On our final evening we go to N Seoul Tower for a spectacular nighttime view of Seoul city