GANGNAM STAR IN SEOUL
17 April
2026: Kolkata (22:40) → Delhi (00:35 ) - rest and prepare for the tour- Overnight stay
18 April
202 Delhi
19 April 202 0010 HRS Delhi → 10:30 HRS Seoul (Incheon International Airport )
19 April 2026: Seoul
20 April
2026: Seoul
21 April
2026: Seoul – Busan (Train)
22 April
2026: Busan
23 April
2026: Busan →.Jeju (Flight)
24 April
2026: Jeju – stay with friend
25 April
2026: Jeju
26 April
2026: Jeju
27 April
2026: Jeju → Gimpo (by night flight)
28 April 2026: Seoul (Incheon) → Return to Kolkata.
Step I - https://www.visa.go.kr/openPage.do?MENU_ID=1020408
Step II - After filling up take a print out .
It was very difficult to upload the photo to the website - it is a common problem. I took the help of Chatgpt to make the photo compatible for upload after 15th attmept and voila it was done in seconds !
Step III - Write a covering letter and attach the documents.
For documents required check - https://www.visaforkorea-id.com/visa-type.html
Step IV - Then just walk in for interview at VFS office Kolkata.
No prior appointment is required in VFS office, Kolkata unlike Schengen. In fact there is no option to take any appointment. I got it confired by calling VFS team mentioned here - https://www.visaforkorea-id.com/
South Korea — A Snapshot
Area & Geography
South Korea covers 100,222 sq km — roughly 1.14 times the size of West Bengal (88,752 sq km). The terrain is predominantly mountainous, with the highest peak being Hallasan on Jeju Island at 1,947 metres.
History
Korea is a civilisation over 4,000 years old that survived Chinese domination, Mongol invasion, Japanese colonisation, and devastating civil war — and emerged as one of the 21st century's most dynamic, creative, and resilient societies. Walking through Gye-ong-bok-gung Palace or the alleys of Buk-chon, you're walking through all of it.
Ancient Foundations (2333 BC – 57 BC)
Korean history traditionally begins with Gojo-seon, the legendary first kingdom founded by Dangun in 2333 BC — a figure considered the mythical ancestor of the Korean people.
By around 300 BC, it started interacting with China. The kingdom eventually fell to the Han Dynasty of China in 108 BC, but Korean identity and culture survived through local tribal confederacies that emerged in its wake.
The 3 Kingdoms (57 BC – 668 AD)
Three powerful kingdoms emerged and competed for dominance of the peninsula —
1. Gogur-yeo in the north (a fierce military state that repelled Chinese and later Sui and Tang invasions),
2.Baek-je in the southwest (culturally sophisticated, transmitting Buddhism to Japan), and
3. Silla in the southeast (the smallest but ultimately the shrewdest).
In 668 AD, Silla allied with Tang China to defeat its rivals and unified most of the peninsula for the first time.
Unified Silla & Goryeo (668 – 1392 AD)
Unified Silla oversaw a golden age of Buddhist art, architecture, and scholarship — the stunning Bul-guksa Temple (will visit on our trip!) dates to this era.
In 918 AD, a general named Wang Geon overthrew Silla and founded the Gor-yeo dynasty, from which the name Korea derives.
Gor-yeo was a remarkably cultured state — it produced the world's first metal movable type printing, and the Tripitaka Koreana (80,000 wooden blocks of Buddhist scripture) created during this period still survives today.
Goryeo endured devastating Mongol invasions in the 13th century but retained its identity through decades of resistance.
The Jose-on Dynasty (1392 – 1897)
General Yi Seong-gye overthrew Goryeo and founded the Jose-on dynasty — Korea's longest-ruling dynasty at over 500 years.
Joseon adopted Neo-Confucianism as its state philosophy, reshaping Korean society, governance, art, and family structure in ways still felt today.
The dynasty's greatest achievement came under King Se-jong the Great (1418–1450), who commissioned the creation of Hangul — Korea's brilliantly scientific alphabet, designed specifically so ordinary people could read and write.
Jose-on also endured devastating Japanese invasions (1592–1598) led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, repelled largely thanks to the legendary Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his iconic turtle ships — the world's first ironclad warships.
Japanese Colonisation (1910 – 1945)
After decades of geopolitical pressure, Korea was formally annexed by Japan in 1910, beginning 35 years of brutal colonial rule. The Japanese suppressed Korean language, culture, and names, forced Koreans into labour and military service, and exploited the peninsula's resources.
Korean resistance — most famously the March 1st Movement of 1919, when millions peacefully demonstrated for independence — was met with violent suppression. This period left deep wounds in Korean national memory that still shape Korea-Japan relations today.
Liberation came only with Japan's defeat in World War II in August 1945.
Division & the Korean War (1945 – 1953)
Liberation brought not freedom but division. The peninsula was split at the 38th parallel — the Soviet Union occupying the north, the United States the south.
Soviets occupied the industrial north; US took the agricultural south. Intended as temporary until Korean independence .
In June 1950, North Korea invaded the South, launching the Korean War. A United Nations coalition led by the US pushed back, China entered on the North's side, and three years of devastating fighting left millions dead and the peninsula in ruins.
An armistice was signed in 1953 — technically the war has never ended, which is why the DMZ (which is an optional add-on on our Day 2!) remains one of the most militarised borders in the world.
South Korea's Miracle (1953 – present)
What followed in South Korea is one of history's most remarkable transformations. Starting as one of the world's poorest countries after the war, South Korea achieved the so-called "Miracle on the Han River" — explosive economic growth driven by state-directed industrialisation, education, and companies like Samsung, Hyundai, and LG.
Military dictatorships ruled through the 1960s–80s, but a powerful pro-democracy movement culminated in free elections in 1987.
Today South Korea is a fully democratic, high-income country and a global cultural powerhouse — K-pop, K-drama, Korean cinema (Parasite won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2020), and Korean food have captivated the world in what's called the Hallyu or Korean Wave.
Korea Today
Seoul, where your trip begins, is a city that holds all of this history simultaneously — 600-year-old palaces sit beside glass skyscrapers, Buddhist temples neighbour K-pop agencies, and ancient street food markets hum next to Michelin-starred restaurants. The division of the peninsula remains the defining unresolved issue of Korean life, with over 70 million Koreans still separated into two radically different worlds by one of the world's most fortified borders.
Population vs West Bengal
South Korea's population is about 5.2 Crore or 51.7 million compared to West Bengal's approximately 100 million. So West Bengal, despite being slightly smaller in area, has nearly double the population of South Korea. South Korea is however one of the most densely urbanised nations on earth — about half the entire population, 24.5 million people, is concentrated in the Seoul Metropolitan Area alone, making it the world's second largest metropolitan area.
Per Capita Income
GDP per capita in South Korea was $35,962 in 2025. By contrast, India's per capita GDP is around $2,800. South Korea is therefore roughly 13 times richer per person than India.
Size of Economy vs India
South Korea's nominal GDP is $1.86 trillion as of 2025. India's GDP is approximately $3.9 trillion — so India's economy is about twice the size of South Korea's. However, considering that India has 1.4 billion people against South Korea's 51 million, the contrast in per capita prosperity is dramatic. South Korea has the 4th largest economy in Asia and the 13th largest in the world as of 2025, and is ranked 4th in the Global Innovation Index in 2025. Its growth story is famously called the "Miracle on the Han River."
Main Industries
South Korea is ranked as one of the top-10 global exporters, driven by high-tech manufacturing, with semiconductors, automobiles, and shipbuilding as its major industries.
Global giants Samsung, Hyundai, LG and SK Hynix are Korean. More recently, the Korean Wave (Hallyu) — led by K-pop, K-dramas and films such as the Oscar-winning Parasite and the Netflix series Squid Game — has become a significant economic asset generating revenue through cultural exports and tourism.
Agriculure
The most important crop is rice, accounting for about 90% of the country's total grain production and over 40% of farm income. Other main crops include barley, soybeans, kimchi vegetables (cabbage and radish), garlic, peppers, apples, pears, grapes, and ginseng. Ginseng in particular is a high-value export crop and Korea is famous worldwide for its quality.
Religion
South Korea has no official state religion. Of the 44% of the population that espouses a religion, 45% are Protestant, 35% Buddhist, and 18% Roman Catholic.
Remarkably, the remaining 56% are non-religious — making South Korea one of the more secular societies in Asia.
Confucianism, while not practised as a formal religion, deeply influences social values, family structures, and work ethic across the entire population.
Language
The sole official language is Korean, written in the Hangul script — one of the most scientifically designed alphabets in the world, invented in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great specifically to improve literacy.
English is taught widely in schools but spoken proficiency remains limited outside Seoul's tourist and business districts — hence the need for the Papago translation app on your trip.
Military
South Korea maintains one of the most powerful militaries in the world given the ever-present threat from North Korea. For 2026, South Korea is ranked 5th out of 145 countries in the Global Firepower index. Military service is compulsory for virtually all male citizens between 18 and 40, requiring 18–21 months of active duty followed by reserve training. Around 28,500 US troops are permanently stationed in South Korea as part of a mutual defence treaty — a legacy of the Korean War that ended in 1953 with an armistice, technically leaving North and South Korea still at war.
D1 - Sat, 19 Apr Arrival 10:40 Seoul ( Incheon) →
Myeongdong NH Seoul
10:40–12:30 : Land at Incheon International Airport - Immigration
Get SIM card near your hotel . In airport it is expensive.
Buy T-money card here for metro travel everywhere.
12:45 Take AREX Express to Seoul Station - 43 min · ~₹600.
Faster than the bus. Price cheaper
Alternative: Airport bus (₹800–₹1,000)
Stay at Hotel either in Myeongdong or Hongdae
2:30 Check-in — Ivy Residence at My-eong-dong
5F, 35, Ujeongguk-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu,
Myeong-dong, Seoul, South Korea,
03189
명동, 서울, 대한민국
The quickest and cheapest way from Seoul Station to Ivy Residence in Myeongdong is subway Line 4 (2 stops, 3-5 minutes, ₩1,250).
Follow signs for Line 4 (Light Blue) toward Danggogae/Oido (northbound platform).
Board train, get off at Myeongdong Station (1 station after Hoehyeon).
Exit 6 for main Myeongdong shopping street;
Ivy Residence is ~5-min walk
Trains every 5-10 min (5:30 AM-midnight).
https://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/en/cyberStation.do?menuIdx=337
# Myeongdong is best area for first-timers and toursits. Walking distance to My-eong-dong Street, Namsan, Insadong.
# Hong-dae (young vibe, cheaper)
Booking tip: Use Agoda (cheapest for Korea)
5:00 Explore Myeongdong on foot
Street stalls open by evening. Try tteokbokki, hotteok, egg
bread, corn dogs.
Budget ~₹400–600 for a full street food dinner
7:00 Street food dinner + early rest
8:00 Hong-dae —street performances - Best area for K-pop
merchandise, indie fashion, and street art. Cafes and buskers in the evening.
Street stalls open by evening. Try tteokbokki, hotteok, egg bread, corn dogs.
Step-by-Step Metro Route
Walk to Station: From Ivy Residence (~5-min walk to Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station (Line 2), Exit 6
Board Train: Enter Line 2 (Green Line) toward Hongje/Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (clockwise direction).
Direct to Hongik University Station (Hongik Univ./홍대입구, Line 2)—10 min, ₩1,350 (~3 stops: Sindorim direction).
- Exit & Walk: Exit 9 for Hongdae Street—5-7 min walk to main performance area Best evenings 7-10 PM.
9:00 Korean BBQ dinner - Splurge on galbi or samgyeopsal at
a proper BBQ restaurant.
D2 - Sun, 20 Apr · Seoul Seoul full day — Palaces, villages
& tower NH Seoul
8:00 Breakfast at hotel or CU/GS25
Convenience stores have surprisingly good breakfast options
— cheaper than cafes.
9:00 Gyeong-bok-gung Palace - Entry ~₹340. - walking distance
Rent a hanbok
(₹500–800) to enter free.
Arrive early to avoid crowds.
Changing of the Guard
at 10:00 & 14:00 — don't miss it.
11:30 Buk-chon Hanok Village — 10-min walk from palace
Best photo spot in Seoul. Walk the alleys, peek into
traditional courtyards. Note: this is a residential area — keep noise low.
1:30 Lunch in Insadong - Korean bibimbap or sundubu jjigae
~₹700–900.
Walk Insadong's craft shops and galleries after.
3:30 Optional: Cheonggyecheon Stream walk - walking distance
Lovely urban stream walk on the way to N Seoul Tower. 30
min.
5:00 N Seoul Tower (Namsan) - walking distance
Cable car ~₹750 return, or hike up (40 min, free).
Observation deck ~₹1,700. Great for sunset views.
Lock bridge tradition at the
fence.
8:00 Night shopping — Myeongdong or Dongdaemun
Dongdaemun Design Plaza is open late and free to explore.
Optional add-on: Korean Demilitarized Zone (morning)
D3 Mon, 21 Apr Seoul → Busan by KTX NH Busan
6:30 Leave hotel, head to Seoul Station
7:27 KTX train Seoul → Busan (PW 11xxxx7x ) - ~2.5 hrs · ₹3,500–4,500.
Book via Korail website in advance.
Window seat recommended — countryside views are beautiful.
10:03 Arrive Busan Station
Stay at Seomyeon or Haeundae at Busan
Walk to Station: From Ivy Residence (~5-min walk to Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station (Line 2), Exit 6
Board Train: Enter Line 2 (Green Line) toward Hongje/Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (clockwise direction).
Direct to Hongik University Station (Hongik Univ./홍대입구, Line 2)—10 min, ₩1,350 (~3 stops: Sindorim direction).
Seomyeon is the best base — central, affordable, connected.
Drop bags if early check-in not available.
Seomyeon (budget + central)
Haeundae (tourist friendly)
| 12:00 | Check-in – Nol Guesthouse - ₹1,800–₹2,500 : Location: Seomyeon (central hub) |
South Korea, 48979
광복로 21-3 (자갈치, 남포동), 남포, 부산, 대한민국,
48979
12:15 Lunch: Busan noodles or BIFF Square street food - Ssiat hotteok (seed pancakes) at BIFF Square is a Busan
specialty — must try.
3:00 Haeundae Beach — first look
7:00 Dinner at Gukje Market or Nampodong
D4 Tue, 22 Apr Gyeongju (ancient
capital) NH Busan
8:00 Train Busan → Gyeongju ~50 min on local train - Mugunghwa train
~₹350. Cheap and Frequent
departures from Busan Station.
9:30 Rent a bicycle
Gyeongju is perfectly sized for cycling. ~₹400–600/day.
Best
way to move between sites.
10:00 Bulguksa Temple - UNESCO World Heritage.
One of Korea's most important
Buddhist temples. Entry ~₹500. 2–2.5 hrs.
1:30 Lunch + Tumuli Park (Royal Tombs)
Large green mounds that are royal burial tombs. Walk through
freely. Very serene.
Optional: Cheomseongdae Observatory nearby.
4:00 Optional: Anapji Pond (Donggung Palace)
Stunning reflection pool, especially at dusk. Entry ~₹300.
6:30 Return train to Busan
D5 Wed, 23 Apr - Busan full Day
trip NH Jeju
9:00 Gamcheon Culture Village. The "Machu Picchu of
Busan" — colorful hillside village.
Free to wander.
Buy a stamp map at the
entrance (₹200) and hunt for art installations. 2–3 hrs.
1:00 Jagalchi Fish Market — lunch
Korea's largest seafood market. Pick fresh fish downstairs,
get it cooked upstairs for a fee. Budget ~₹1,000–1,500 for a seafood feast.
3:30 Optional: Taejongdae cliffs (too rushed)
Dramatic seaside cliffs. Take bus 88. ~1 hr.
5:00 Gwangalli Beach — sunset and Gwangan Bridge nearby
Better than Haeundae for atmosphere. Gwangan Bridge lights
up at night — beautiful backdrop for photos. Try craft beer at a beachside bar.
5:30 Head to Gimhae Airport (Busan)
7:00 Flight to Jeju — Jin Air ~1
hr
· ₹2,500–5,000.
Book well in advance on Jeju Air app. Morning flights tend
to be cheaper.
8:00 Arrive Jeju
D6 Thu, 24 Apr Jeju NH Jeju
09:00 Rent a Scooter
Note: Jeju has limited public transport
10:30 Explore Jeju City — Dongmun Market
Try black pork (heukdwaeji samgyeopsal), hallabong citrus,
and Jeju green tea soft serve.
13:00 Lunch in Jeju City heukdwaeji samgyeopsal ₹800–1,200
14:30 Manjanggul Lava Tube Cave ₹700 ·
1 km walk · 18°C
inside. Bring a light layer — world's longest lava tube
17:30 Iho Tewoo Beach — sunset white horse statues · free
Famous for its white horse statues. Beautiful sunset spot close to Jeju City.
19:30 Early dinner + rest
04:30 wake-up tomorrow keep it
light
D7 Fri, 25 Apr Jeju East — sunrise & lava caves NH Jeju
5:30 Drive to Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)
UNESCO crater cone. Hike up 20 min for a breathtaking
sunrise over the ocean.
Entry ~₹700. One of Korea's top natural wonders — worth
the early wake-up.
8:30 Breakfast near Seongsan village - Haenyeo (female diver)
seafood shows here in the morning — check timing.
10:00 Udo Island day trip by Ferry
Small island off Seongsan.
Ferry ~₹2,000 return. Peanut ice
cream is the local specialty.
Rent a bike on the island.
13:30 Return ferry +
lunch near Seongsan ₹600–900
15:30 Hamdeok Beach or Biyangdo Beach — relax, swim free · turquoise water
19:00 Return to Jeju City · dinner ₹700–1,000
D8 Sat, 26 Apr Jeju West or South ? —
waterfalls & coastal drive NH Jeju
Rent via Lotte Rent-a-Car 9:00 Cheonjiyeon Waterfall - ~₹700 entry. 22m falls into a
volcanic rock pool. Morning light is best.
10:30 Jeongbang Waterfall — only in Asia that falls directly
into sea
5 min from Cheonjiyeon. ~₹500 entry. Stunning and unique.
12:00 Drive Seogwipo coastal road - One of Korea's most
scenic drives.
Canola fields (rapeseed flowers) bloom in April — golden yellow
everywhere.
13:30 Lunch in
Seogwipo ₹700–1,000
15:00 Hallasan National Park Is it in West ??— Yeongsil trail 2 hrs
return · great views without summit
18:00 Hyeopjae Beach — Is it in West ?? best beach in Jeju for
colour turquoise + white sand
20:00 Return
to Jeju City · dinner + pack night flight tomorrow
D9 Jeju Sun, 27 Apr → Seoul NH Jeju
Hallasan National Park Is it in West ??— Yeongsil trail 2 hrs return · great views without summit
Hyeopjae Beach — Is it in West ?? best beach in Jeju for colour turquoise + white sand
20: 50 - Flight to Seoul (CJU to GMP)
Flight Jeju → Seoul Gimpo ~1 hr. Gimpo airport
Go to ICN
AREX Express to Incheon
43 min · ₹600. Board at Seoul Station. Arrive 2–3 hrs before international flight.
D10 Mon, 28 Apr Departure day
12: 20 Incheon Airport >CCU
VISA + BOOKINGS (INTEGRATED)
Visa via: VFS Global
Apply: mid-March latest
CHECKLIST (VERY IMPORTANT)
Documents:
- Passport (6 months validity)
- Visa form
- 1 photo (white background)
- Flight tickets (dummy works)
- Hotel bookings
- Bank statement (last 6 months)
- ITR (2–3 years)
- Salary slips
SIM + MONEY
SIM: ₹2,500 (airport)
Carry ₹10–15K cash
Rest card
Best option: KT Corporation tourist SIM
Cost: ₹2,000–₹3,000 (10 days unlimited data)
CHEAP FOOD STRATEGY
- Convenience stores (CU, GS25)
- Street food (Myeongdong)
- Local Korean meals (~₹700)
IMPORTANT PRACTICAL TIPS
1. Language issue : English is limited → use Papago app
2. Cash vs card
- Card works everywhere
- Still carry ₹10–15K equivalent cash
- Buy T-money card - works everywhere
3. Navigation
- Use Naver Map
- Google Maps unreliable
No comments:
Post a Comment