GANGAN 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
22 April
2026: Busan
23 April
2026: Busan →.Jeju
24 April
2026: Jeju – stay with friend and host (letter enclosed)
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.
Population vs West Bengal
South Korea's population is about 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 too 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)
2:30 Check-in — Ivy Residence at Myeongdong
Stay at Hotel either in Myeongdong or Hongdae
# Myeongdong is best area for first-timers and toursits. Walking distance to Myeongdong Street, Namsan, Insadong.
# Hongdae (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 Hongdae —street performances - Best area for K-pop
merchandise, indie fashion, and street art. Cafes and buskers in the evening.
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 Gyeongbokgung Palace - Entry ~₹340.
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 Bukchon 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
Lovely urban stream walk on the way to N Seoul Tower. 30
min.
5:00 N Seoul Tower (Namsan)
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
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)
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
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