About Korea

Busan rainy season: 9 things to do compared to clear days Busan rainy season: 9 things to do compared to clear days When I planned my third trip to Busan last July, checking the weather app felt like opening a disappointing report card. The entire four-day schedule coincided with the peak of the Korean monsoon season, commonly known as jangma . On clear days, Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli shoreline dominate every itinerary, but steady downpours instantly eliminate outdoor beach walks and coastal train rides. Most travelers search for alternative indoor plans when they realize their seaside views will be replaced by thick gray fog. Standing inside my hotel room in Seomyeon while heavy rain pounded the windowpane, I had to completely restructure the trip. Instead of abandoning the coastal city, I discovered that Busan offers an entirely different atmosphere when wet. Galleries, subterranean markets, steaming seafood restaurants, and panoramic indoor observatories provide shelter while de...

How I Got Busan Ferry Tickets to Jeju After Missing the Morning Schedule How I Got Busan Ferry Tickets to Jeju After Missing the Morning Schedule It was a chaotic Tuesday morning at the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal, or rather, the domestic ferry terminal right next to it, when I realized my taxi was stuck in heavy tunnel traffic. My watch showed 8:45 AM, and the scheduled departure for the overnight-style morning leisure ferry to Jeju was set for 9:00 AM. By the time I actually rolled my suitcase up to the ticketing counter at 9:08 AM, the gates had already closed, and the staff politely bowed while telling me the vessel had departed. Panic set in immediately because I had non-refundable hotel bookings waiting in Seogwipo for that exact evening. Many travelers assume that missing a ferry means waiting until the next day or canceling the entire island leg of a South Korea trip. In reality, regional coastal transport networks in South Korea offer multiple fallback tiers...