Why Australians Are Rushing to Book South Korea Right Now
Seoul is a city that somehow manages to be ancient and cutting-edge simultaneously. Busan has beaches, street food, and a creative energy that surprises almost everyone who makes it there. Jeju Island is subtropical and dramatic. And across all of it runs a thread of Korean food, culture, and hospitality that delivers consistently and without pretence. Here's everything you need to know before you go.
Seoul is a city that somehow manages to be ancient and cutting-edge simultaneously. Busan has beaches, street food, and a creative energy that surprises almost everyone who makes it there. Jeju Island is subtropical and dramatic. And across all of it runs a thread of Korean food, culture, and hospitality that delivers consistently and without pretence. Here's everything you need to know before you go.
Why South Korea Is Having Its Travel Moment
The K-wave — the global spread of Korean pop culture through music, TV, film, and beauty — has done something unusual: it has genuinely translated into tourism. Travellers who got obsessed with Squid Game or started following K-beauty routines are discovering, on arrival, that South Korea is an extraordinarily rewarding place to visit on its own terms. The food scene is world-class. The public transport is among the best in Asia. Accommodation ranges from ultra-budget guesthouses to design hotels at very competitive prices.
For Australian travellers specifically, South Korea offers the cultural depth of Japan at somewhat lower cost, with a culinary scene that rewards curiosity at every meal. Flight time from Sydney or Melbourne to Seoul's Incheon Airport runs to around 10–11 hours on direct services — comparable to Japan and significantly shorter than Europe.
K-pop is helping define South Korea's "moment".
Top Things to Do in South Korea
Seoul — Culture, Food and K-Beauty
Seoul is a city of neighbourhoods, each with a distinct personality. Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the Five Grand Palaces, anchors the Bukchon Hanok Village area where preserved traditional Korean houses spill down the hillsides between the palace and Changdeokgung. The Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung palaces are less visited and therefore more atmospheric.
For contemporary Seoul, head to Hongdae (university district, street art, live music and a nightlife scene that runs until sunrise), Insadong (traditional crafts, tea houses, and street food), and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza — Zaha Hadid's sweeping silver structure that anchors Seoul's fashion and creative district. The Myeongdong shopping district is ground zero for K-beauty — a dense grid of skincare and cosmetics stores where brands like Innisfree, Etude House, and Laneige have flagship stores and prices well below what you'd pay for imports at home.
The DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) tours from Seoul are worth doing even if military history isn't your usual focus — the proximity to North Korea and the sheer strangeness of the border experience is something that stays with you.
Busan — Beaches, Markets and Street Food
South Korea's second city sits on the southern coast and has a different energy entirely from Seoul — rougher, more salt-aired, more viscerally connected to the sea. Haeundae Beach is the main beach strip, lined with high-rise hotels and busy on summer weekends, but genuinely beautiful with a backdrop of mountains. Gamcheon Culture Village, a hillside neighbourhood of pastel-painted houses decorated with street art and sculpture, has become one of Busan's most photographed spots.
Jagalchi Fish Market is the must-visit: an enormous covered market where the morning catch is sold, filleted, and prepared on the spot. Order raw fish (hweh) with sesame oil and salt, or ask to have your selection grilled upstairs. Gukje Market, next door, is one of Korea's largest traditional markets — textiles, street food, and a labyrinthine energy that rewards wandering.
The Lego-esque Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan
Jeju Island — South Korea's Island Escape
Jeju, about an hour's flight south of Seoul, is a subtropical volcanic island with a dramatically different landscape from the mainland. Hallasan, a dormant shield volcano at 1,950 metres, dominates the interior and is hikeable in a single (long) day. The coastal Olle Trail — 26 walking routes circumnavigating the island — has become one of Korea's most celebrated walking experiences.
Jeju also has beaches (Hyeopjae Beach has turquoise water that looks more like the Maldives than Northeast Asia), lava tube caves (Manjanggul, one of the world's longest), and a craft beer and food scene that's grown significantly in recent years. It's easily added to a Seoul itinerary with one or two nights.
K-Drama Filming Locations Worth Visiting
For visitors who came to South Korea through K-drama, the filming locations are genuinely part of the travel experience. Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong appear in dozens of series (including My Love from the Star and Goblin). The N Seoul Tower at Namsan is a Korean drama staple. The Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds have featured in historical dramas including Kingdom. Several dedicated K-drama tour operators run half-day and full-day tours from Seoul for visitors who want context and commentary — worth considering.
Jeju-do, or Jeju Island, is home to the spectacular Jeongbang Waterfall.
South Korean Food — What to Eat and Where
Korean food is best understood as a cuisine built around sharing, fermentation, and the interplay of heat, salt, and sweetness. The non-negotiables: Korean barbecue (samgyeopsal — thick-cut pork belly, grilled at the table and wrapped in perilla leaves with gochujang and garlic), bibimbap (rice, vegetables, and a fried egg mixed with gochujang — far better than it sounds), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes sold everywhere from street stalls to dedicated restaurants), and kimchi in its many forms, served as a banchan (side dish) with virtually every meal.
Seoul's Gwangjang Market is one of the city's oldest and most authentic food markets — the bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) stalls in the covered section are legendary. For a structured food experience, a cooking class or street food tour run by a local guide adds enormous depth.
Korea takes BBQ to a new level with sizzling pork belly enjoyed with a side of kimchi
Getting to South Korea from Australia
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines offer direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Seoul Incheon International Airport. Qantas codeshares on some routes. Flight time is approximately 10–11 hours from Sydney, 10–12 from Melbourne. Incheon Airport is consistently ranked among the world's best — efficient, easy to navigate, and with fast airport rail connections to central Seoul (about 45 minutes to the city centre).
Best Time to Visit South Korea
Spring (April–May) and autumn (October–November) are the standout seasons. Spring brings cherry blossoms — Seoul's Yeouido Park and Gyeongbokgung are spectacular — and warm, clear days. Autumn delivers Korea's exceptional foliage season, with mountain parks like Seoraksan and Naejangsan turning vivid red and orange.
Summer (June–August) is hot, humid, and includes monsoon season (usually July) — manageable if you're prepared, with indoor activities (museums, markets, jimjilbang saunas) providing good respite. Winter (December–February) is cold but dry, and the ski resorts (Yongpyong, Vivaldi Park) are popular with Korean and international visitors alike.
Practical Tips For Australian Travellers
- Visa: Australian passport holders can visit South Korea visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism purposes. No advance application required.
- Transport: Seoul's subway system is one of the world's most efficient — the T-money card (available at any convenience store) works across the metro, bus network, and local taxis. The Korea Rail Pass covers intercity KTX trains between Seoul and, Busan.
- Accommodation: Book at least six to eight weeks ahead for spring cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. Traditional hanok guesthouses offer a more immersive alternative to hotels.
- SIM card or eSIM: Available at Incheon Airport on arrival. South Korea has excellent 5G coverage — reliable data is essential for navigation and translation.
- Etiquette: Remove shoes before entering homes and many traditional restaurants. Use both hands when receiving items or pouring drinks for elders. Tipping is not standard practice in South Korea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Australians need a visa for South Korea?
No. Australian passport holders can visit South Korea for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism purposes. From January 2024, Australia requires participation in the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) system — a simple online registration (similar to Australia's own ETAS) completed before travel. Check the current K-ETA requirements on the Korean immigration website before you go.
How long should I spend in South Korea?
Five to seven days covers Seoul thoroughly and allows a day trip or overnight to Busan. Ten days gives you time for Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island — a genuinely satisfying itinerary. Two weeks allows you to go deeper, including the slower regions outside the major cities.
Is South Korea expensive for Australians?
Comparable to Japan or slightly less, and significantly cheaper than Europe. Accommodation in central Seoul runs from around $80 AUD for a clean guesthouse to $200–400 for a mid-range hotel. Food is the exceptional value — a full Korean BBQ dinner with drinks for two rarely tops $60–80 AUD in a mid-range restaurant, and street food and markets cost a fraction of that.
What is the best time to visit South Korea?
April to May and October to November. Spring cherry blossom and autumn foliage are South Korea's signature seasonal experiences, and the weather in both seasons is ideal — warm days, cool evenings, and low rainfall.
Ready To Book?
South Korea rewards the curious traveller at every turn — and it's closer and easier than many Australians realise. Our Travel Experts can help you plan the right itinerary for your travel style, from Seoul city breaks to multi-city cultural tours. Find your nearest Flight Centre store or get in touch to start planning.