Culinary
From guided local market tours to Michelin starred fine dining, from cooking lessons to celebrity chefs including masters of kimchi and fermented sauces, delve into the very best of Korean food.
ARTS & CULTURE
South Koreans seamlessly incorporate their magnificent heritage into contemporary life. Traditional elements, from crafts to architecture to characteristic color palettes, are subsumed within a culturally consonant future.
Traditional urban districts, comprised of wooden courtyard homes or hanok, both in Seoul and Jeonju, provide natural homes and platforms to display the country’s still vibrant craft industries. Artisans, some designated as national treasures, preserve the fruits of an elaborate handicrafts heritage that informs many aspects of modern Korean life. Colorful, geometrically-patterned silk cushions and blankets can beautifully accent spaces as diverse as a traditional pavilion house or a floor-to-ceiling, glass-walled apartment. Celadon ceramics serve as houseware but equally as works of art. A hat maker repurposes his skill to make subtle lampshades. An embroiderer, hidden in a serpentine alley, stitches exquisite handbags to make a Milanese green with envy. By exploring traditional sites, crafts and arts, specialists help visitors make sense of the idiosyncratic character and worldview that inform Korean life.
This was an EXTRAORDINARY experience. The art tour was really special.C. A., Mexico
experiences
Enriching Your Trip
Ink Painting Lesson
Buddhist Temple Stay
See South Korea Your Way
This itinerary is merely a suggestion and should be used to frame a dialogue on your bespoke itinerary. We will customize this to your interests and requirements so that you see each destination the way you want.
Jeonju was the provincial ancestral home of the Lee family, which ruled Korea from Seoul, the national capital, under the Joseon dynasty (1392 – 1897). This itinerary combines these two cities, powerhouses of Korean tradition, to sample the country’s most significant cultural achievements. A visit to Seoul of course also offers the opportunity to view the country’s finest contemporary art galleries and museums.
Start Your Journey Today
Day
01
ARRIVE IN SEOUL
If you have the energy and inclination, take a stroll through Insadong, enjoying its cultural goods, and then explore the beautiful labyrinthine alleyways to its east. Have fun!
Day
02
EXPLORING ARISTOCRATIC MANSIONS
A Historian-led walking tour through Bukchon, an area beside the royal palace where formerly only aristocrats were permitted to live, reveals the Confucian principles of traditional urban development. This area now houses many hard to find artisan workshops featuring rare dexterity and skills. Often access is by appointment only.
Day
03
SEOUL’S MAIN PALACE AND MUSEUM
An architectural specialist reveals not only the impact of Chinese architecture on the design of Gyeongbok Palace but also explains unique and ingenious points of difference. At the National Museum, an expert introduces national treasures including the Golden crown of the Silla dynasty, the world’s oldest metal-printed book and ceramic treasures.
Recommended Interests
After your time spent exploring Arts & Culture you may want to consider these other recommended interests
Korea Inquiry
Complete our inquiry form and an Itinerary Designer will get back to you shortly therafter. We make every effort to tailor your South Korea holiday to your unique travel style, needs, interests and preferences. The more detailed information you can give us now, the better we can help design the perfect bespoke itinerary for you.
General Inquiries
SouthKorea@imperialtours.net