Korea for the curious
Welcome !
Modern day Korea is known for it's Entertainment business and big Industries.
But did you know that Koreans share a history that can be traced back to 5000 years?
The Korean peninsula has been the stage of the rise and fall of Kingdom after Kingdom.
That adds up to a whole lot of history.
Korea for the curious is a place where those who travel to our country don't go back with a hustle and bustle experience or a shallow understanding of where
they were and what distinguishes Korea from it's neighbors.
Our goal is to imprint a tangible impression on all those we were
privileged to spend a day with.
Our tours takes you on a journey that transcends time.
Walk into the world of kings and queens and their family saga that shaped Korea's history and became the plots for endless dramas. The stories they hold will open doors into the forbidden chambers of palaces and leave you curious for more.
We offer 3 tours to historic and cultural sites with stories that will astonish and amaze you!
We offer a more private and small group tour so that you can ask, and get answers.
So pick one and book a tour!
1. East 9 Royal tombs, NamHan fortress, Olympic park
Where are we going?
East 9 Royal tombs
The East 9 Royal Tombs located in Guri is the final resting place of 7 Jo-Seon kings and 10 queens. What makes this tomb so intriguing is not it's vastness but the uncanny coincidental story those buried here possess. The first King of the Jo-Seon dynasty who saw the bloodshed amongst his sons that led him to give up the throne and retire into obscurity is only the start of the drama the royal family acquired during their 500years of reign. The stories that every occupant of the East 9 tombs hold is each in its own rite material for an epic drama. Not the most sought after royal tomb in Korea but definitely the most tainted with scandal and bloodshed.
Namhan Fortress
It was a mountain fortress that protected the southern part of Hanyang, the capital of Joseon, and also a place with the most heartbreaking history. At that time, the Manchus established the Qing Dynasty and invaded Joseon while fighting a war with the Ming Dynasty of China. King Injo of Joseon entered Namhansanseong and fought a defensive battle, but was eventually defeated by the Qing Dynasty and signed an agreement called the “Humiliation of Samjeondo.” After that, Joseon was subjected to disgrace and 2 princes were taken hostage along side numerous Joseon people who were sold as slaves.
Olympic Park
A representative citizen's park in the southern part of Seoul, built to commemorate the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At the time, 159 national flags were hung to symbolize the participation of 159 countries, the largest number ever. The flags of East Germany and the former Soviet Union, which have now disappeared, are particularly impressive. There is a low hill in the park, and some claim that it is an earthen fort that is proof that this area was where Baekje built it's first capital some 2040 years ago. The park is lush in vegetation and is a sanctuary for seoulites and visitors.
2. Suwon Hwasung, Korean folk village
Where are we going?
Suwon Hwasung
Suwon, located to the south of the capital Hanyang, is a city that was manifested by the dream of King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty. Here, Jeongjo was the first to combine Eastern and Western architectural techniques that were different from the previous Joseon mountain fortress construction techniques. Hwaseong Fortress possessed both military defense and commercial functions, and could be said to be the most ideal form of oriental fortress with a beautiful, elegant, and practical structure. Although it was destroyed during the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War, it was able to acquire World Heritage status thanks to the intact remains of the design drawings and construction progress records.
Korean folk village
The Korean Folk Village opened in 1974 and is a theme park that reproduces Korea's traditional culture and folk life, where you can feel the lives of our ancestors. There are traditional tile-roofed and thatched-roof houses, government offices, ban-ga, taverns, pottery kiln sites, seodang (traditional school), and pharmacy, and all the environments necessary for daily life are reproduced and preserved. This is a famous place where many historical dramas were filmed, and it is still famous as a place that often appears in dramas. It is a popular tourist spot where you can experience a perfect traditional Joseon village close to Seoul.
Yunggeol leung Royal tomb
Yunggeonneung is the tomb of King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty, and his wife, the unfortunate Crown Prince Sado, the father of King Jeongjo, and his wife, Lady Hyegyeong Hong. It is a place that King Jeongjo planned and built along with Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in memory of his father whose life was tragically ended, and it is also famous as a place where King Jeongjo often visited during his life time.
Yunggeonneung, is a monument to the tragic life of Crown Prince Sado and his son's filial piety and compassion for his father. It is a World Cultural Heritage site along with other royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.
3. King Sejong's tomb, Icheon pottery village
Where are we going?
King Sejongs royal tomb
Korea's teachers day falls on the 15th of may. That same day is the birthday of King Sejong. A coincidence? No, it is a testament to how loved and respected King Sejong is by the people of Korea. Of all his creations his biggest accomplishment is the uncontested Hangul. His empathy towards his people was the engine behind this remarkable achievement. It allowed people from all levels of life to read and write. It is the only alphabet in the world that can be traced to an actual date of declaration and the inventor.
Icheon pottery village
The I-Cheon pottery village has a history that is long and strong even till this day. Pottery making was a skill that was highly valued in the past and I-Cheon and neighboring areas were home to many pottery makers. That tradition still lives on in the village. You can find potteries that carry on the tradition of the old masters along with more trendy artist's that catches the attention of a broad range of audiences that visit the village.
Before you come on tour we recommend you to watch these movies on netflix in order to understand the main characters you'll meet.
The admiral: Roaring currents
" The admiral" is a movie about the most revered soldier in all of Korean history. His story begins in 16th century Cho-Sun dynasty under a king who fled the capitol in order to avoid being captured by Japanese forces. People of Cho-Sun were left with no king, no government and no hope. Their fate lied solely on the shoulders of Admiral Lee Soon-Shin. His bravery and attention to detail earned him the title of Sung-Woong, which means saintly hero. His presence saved a dying country and the people of Cho-Sun. The king depicted in this movie is resting in the royal East tomb.
The throne
"The throne" finds us in the latter part of the Cho-Sun dynasty. The aging king has a sole heir to the throne whom he finds to be lacking. The kings brazen dislike and abashment of the crown prince drives the prince to insanity and to a decision that still shocks to this day. The relentlessly harsh father and his son and grandson's tomb can be visited in our tour.
The fortress
"The fortress" is a reminder of how a king who closes his ears to rational advice can bring on calamity to himself and more importantly to the people of his kingdom. 17th century Cho-Sun is pressured to open it's doors and recognize the newly rising power in China. Cho-Sun whose bureaucrats are stubbornly loyal to the dying Sung Dynasty rejects every proposal and pays the price.
Terms of payment
At Korea for the curious we will charge for the tour on site. The day of the tour is when you pay! We accept credit, debit cards & cash. All tour fee will be charged according to the exchange rate of that day. So the only thing you have to prepare before the tour is a willingness to learn and a curious mind!
Because we charge for the tour on site, it is important that you make sure that you are willing and able to show up! Your change of heart will cost us to lose time and money, So please be sure this is the experience you really want before booking our tour!
For those curious enough to have signed up for our daily tour you will
Need
To bring your own prescription medication.
Your pass port, just in case of an emergency situation and you need to see a doctor.
Some water and small snacks in case of dehydration or sudden hunger.
Self hygene necessities.
And a pair of comfortable shoes.
Start the tour
At 10 am. Each tour will start by first meeting up at the designated place that will be sent to you by E-mail. It will be a subway station closest to the main attraction of the day. Each tour will last 5-6 hours in total and lunch time is included in the time line. There for your dietary preference will be taken into account if you have one. Q&A time is not limited so you can ask anything that isn't racial, political, religious or rated PG.
Pay for
Your own meal. Lunch cost is not covered in the tour fee.
There will be stops at malls or places to rest, beverages and small snacks are not included in the tour fee.
Lavatory and other essential areas are free of charge.
Transportation from attraction to attraction is included in the total fee.
After the tour is completed we will let participants off at a subway station that has easy access to your destination.
We provide you with
A story teller guide
Who will introduce you to our tour spots and narrate the stories behind each historical places. Answer questions
you might have about the program or need more information that you are curious about.
We provide informaton for those
Who are willing to go to different parts of Korea. Korea is rich in culture and natural beauty, We have planned tourist information for those who are eager to see more of Korea beyond the metropolitan area.
We provide on demand if requested
With a key holder printed with your name in Han-Gul the Korean alphabet. If you are interested in having a Korean name we will pick a name that is closest to your given name and print that on the souvenir.