Side Trips

In some ways, the entire rest of South Korea can be considered a day trip from the big city. However, some places require overnight stays or longer visits to really get the flavor of that region. The one exception is if you plan on visiting the DMZ/Panmunjeom area. You pretty much have to do it in a day with an organized tour, since there are no places to spend the night, due to security concerns.

You can also make a ski trip to Ganwon-do, go visit the kilns in Icheon, see the traditional village and fortress in Suwon, or just hike the trails in any of Korea's national parks, all while using Seoul as your base for travel.