Gyeonggi Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

37°29′24″N 127°3′0″E

Map of Gyeonggi

• 37.546592126.9847431 Seoul – administratively separate from Gyeonggi, but surrounded by the province, there are century-old palaces and fortresses meeting skyscrapers and LED screens in one of the most populous cities in the world.
• 37.320067126.828132 Ansan – site of several parks and museums
• 37.364815127.0901263 Bundang – an affluent suburb of Seoul.
• 37.591721127.2147574 Deokso – the town that holds the famous Pan Am Flight 845 Boeing 747 aircraft
• 37.913333127.0633335 Dongducheon - a front-line area with many military facilities
• 37.661303126.7977886 Goyang – midwestern city near Seoul
• 37.395804127.35047 Gwangju – not to be confused with the larger city in the South Jeolla province, Gyeonggi Gwangju is home to the historic Namhansan village and Gonjiam ski resort.
• 37.282127.4538 Icheon – famous for its ceramics (don't confuse this with Incheon, the port city)
• 37.461197126.706619 Incheon – also independent of but surrounded by Gyeonggi, this is South Korea's fourth largest city, although some may consider it an extension of Seoul. Songdo is a new city built next to it.
• 37.636667127.21416710 Namyangju
• 37.773915126.77343911 Paju – nearest to DMZ, focal point of interest for visitors
• 37.397127.09812 Pangyo – this "Silicon Valley of Korea", just south of Seoul
• 37.281449127.00661213 Suwon – the provincial capital, famous for the Hwaseong Fortress
• 37.249988127.27194414 Yongin – location of large scale amusement parks/resorts, the Korean Folk Village and Yangji ski resort
• 37.8972127.192615 Pocheon - northern city near Gangwon Province
• 37.416865126.88466316 Gwangmyeong - middle western city near Seoul, famous for the KTX station, Gwangmyeong Cave
• 37.1995126.831217 Hwaseong - area of farmland of any city or county in Gyeonggi Province.
• 36.991339127.10935518 Pyeongtaek –a city in southwestern Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• 37.293889127.63833319 Yeoju
• 37.343639126.966620 Uiwang –a samll city near Suwon and Ansan.

• 37.949336124.6517371 Baengnyeong Island – Gyeonggi's most distant island
• 37.244267126.6006012 Daebudo Island – It is one of the biggest island in Gyeonggi. It is connected to the city of Ansan
• 38.32127.23 Demilitarized Zone – borders the north of the province, with the focal 'peace village' of Panmunjeom
• 37.956001126.6771374 Panmunjeom - shared between North and South
• 37.237802126.1138745 Deokjeok Island – an island south-west of Incheon Metropolitan City
• 37.7126.43336 Ganghwa Island – connected to the city of Incheon
• 37.169973126.6220937 Jebudo Island – connected to the city of Hwaseong
• 37.391874126.38058 Muuido Island
• 37.494119126.4886039 Yeongjong Island – around Incheon airport
• 37.67091125.69153110 Yeonpyeong Island
• 37.488936127.48988611 Yangpyeong

The most populous province in South Korea, "Gyeonggi" means "near the capital", an apt description of this province wrapped around Seoul. However, it is not without its natural attractions. Ironically the DMZ (the northern border), which is the most heavily armed area in the world, has become an ecological paradise. Gyeonggi province, which is split in two by the majestic Hangang river, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It contains a significant number of ancient relics, and due to its proximity to Seoul it's also home to several important historical sites dating from the Joseon era.

The 'Seoul' dialect is considered the accepted pronunciation of Korean in South Korea. This is also the part of the country where English language speakers are most prevalent.

Incheon International Airport is near Gyeonggi. It is South Korea's largest airport and is served by over 70 airlines.

The Seoul subway system links to some of Gyeonggi's towns, such as Incheon and Suwon, as well as areas like Goyang, Bundang, and Namyangju. The subway network in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, is an extensive and well-integrated system that connects the region with Seoul and other nearby cities. The Gyeongchun mainland line runs from Seoul to eastern destinations such as Cheongpyeong and Gapyeong and is known as one of the country's most scenic rail routes. The Jungang line runs southeast from Seoul and stops at Yangpyeong station. Should the border re-open then the Donghae Bukbu line will once again connect Gyeonggi with North Korea. There are several main subway lines operating in Gyeonggi Province.

Like Seoul, there are four colors for commuter bus, red, green, blue, yellow. You will rarely see a blue bus, as those are inter-city buses. Green bus usually connects city to city, while yellow bus will connect you throughout towns. Red commuter buses run from the center of Seoul out to the suburbs. Other destinations can be reached by a large number of express buses that mainly run from Dong Seoul and Nambu bus terminals. These buses will get you to your destination relatively comfortably, although bus stations are generally not as English-friendly as the subway stations. A trip from Seoul's Express Bus Terminal (in Seocho-gu south of the Han River; take line 2 to get here) to Incheon will be ₩4,000-5,000, and takes about an hour.

From Incheon International Airport, airport limousines run to many destinations in Gyeonggi; prices range from ₩7,000-15,000.

These are specific characteristics of of buses in Gyeonggi.

Blue Buses (Main Line)

• These buses primarily operate on long-distance routes between major cities or districts. They connect Gyeonggi Province with Seoul and other metropolitan areas. Blue buses are designed for longer trips, offering fewer stops and faster travel times.

Green Buses (Branch Line)

• Green buses operate within Gyeonggi Province and serve local areas, connecting smaller towns and neighborhoods with bus terminals or subway stations. They make more frequent stops, covering shorter distances compared to blue buses.

Yellow Buses (Circulation Line)

• Yellow buses usually run in loops within a specific area, such as a town or district. These buses are ideal for short trips and are often used to access key locations within a particular neighborhood.

Red Buses (Express Line)

• Red buses are express buses that provide faster connections between Gyeonggi Province and central Seoul. They have fewer stops and are designed for commuters who need to travel quickly between these regions.

Village Buses (Maeul Bus)

• These are small buses that run on narrow streets in smaller towns and villages. They connect local residents to major bus lines or subway stations, providing essential transportation in areas that are not covered by larger buses.

Each type of bus serves a specific need based on the distance and the area it covers, making the public transportation system in Gyeonggi Province versatile and accessible for both long and short trips.

Local buses provide service to most large apartment areas, shopping areas, and tourist sites, although finding the right bus can be difficult without knowing some Korean.

Taxis are cheap (as in all of Korea) and usually fair. Be aware that outside of Seoul you're likely to get a driver who doesn't speak any English. Also, having an address in Korean won't necessarily get you to your destination; sometimes you might need to know a landmark such as a subway stop, government office, large hotel or department store, etc. close to your destination to help the driver find it.

As mentioned in the Get in section, Seoul's extensive subway network connects several of the cities in this region.

History fans should be sure to check out Suwon’s UNESCO designated Hwaseong fortress and the nearby Korean Folk Village for a taste of Joseon dynasty life. The wetlands of Sihwaho Lake offer a peaceful retreat from the region's urban sprawl, as do the vast mud flats on the west coast. For those looking for something more modern, the excellent Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin introduces the founder of video art. The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty in the provinces of Gyeonggi and Gangwon (and a few elsewhere in South Korea) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The newest addition to the World Heritage list is Namhansanseong, the South Han Mountain Fortress and the eponymous park surrounding it, located just south of Seoul's city limits.

For hundreds of years Incheon has been one of Korea's centers of pottery making, and travelers here can take part in a ceramic making program or simply browse the many shops.

For thrill-seekers Everland Theme Park in Yongin has the world's steepest wooden roller coaster and during wintertime there are several ski resorts open in Gyeonggi. Famous ski resorts in Gyeonggi-do include Pocheon Bears Town and Yangji Pine Resort.

Unwind at some of the region's hot spring resorts, where the water is highly regarded for its medicinal properties. Incheon's Termeden Spa and Hotel Miranda are popular. Pocheon is also known for its hot springs; there is also the Sool Gallery Sansawon, famous for producing some of the best makgeoli in Korea, with exhibits, classes on making homemade liquors, and lovely gardens.

Head to one of Gyeonggi's national parks to experience nature and get some exercise hiking sometimes steep trails. Soyosan National Park, at the end of subway line 1 and about 15 miles from North Korea, is a popular destination for locals and is beautiful in the fall. Dobongsan, just south of Uijeongbu on line 1, is also popular. Both can be crowded on weekends.

For nature lovers, the Garden of Morning Calm (수목원), a large botanical garden in Gapyeong, is a nice day-trip from Seoul.

It is the most populous area in Korea and is the only metropolitan government with a population of more than 10 million. Gyeonggi Province, along with South Chungcheong Province, has more cities than the county, with only three of its 31 local governments (Gapyeong-gun, Yangpyeong-gun, Yeoncheon-gun) and the rest are cities, especially 11 of which have developed to the extent that the population exceeds 500,000 and receives special benefits from large cities. Even Yangpyeong-gun has the largest population among the counties except for the county area under the metropolitan city.

• Post Office and Postal Code Search : Postal Code Finder by Korea Government Finder Site

There are no specific dangers in this region of South Korea. The province borders North Korea and would potentially be dangerous in the unlikely eruption of hostilities between the two countries.

• Incheon International Airport is a gateway to the whole world
• The port of Incheon also offers ferries to multiple ports in China
• Use South Korea's high-speed rail network to visit the rest of the country.