An Asian country with an eventful history
The Republic of South Korea is an East Asian country located on the southern half of the Korean peninsula. Separated from North Korea by a demilitarized zone, it is bordered by the Yellow Sea, the Sea of Japan and the South Korean Strait. Off its coast lie the islands of the Japanese archipelago. Once forming a single territory with present-day North Korea, Korea was occupied by Japan as early as 1910, before being divided into two distinct zones by the USA and the USSR following the Second World War in 1945. After becoming an independent state in 1948, South Korea came under strong US influence, unlike North Korea, which was supported by Communist China. The Korean War was declared between the two states in 1950, and an armistice was signed in 1953. The conflict has not yet officially ended, however, and the two Koreas are now separated by a demilitarized zone. Following the war, South Korea experienced rapid economic growth before the dictatorship of Park Chung-Hu. Following numerous rebellions, this government ceased in the 1980s, allowing the country to become a free republic once again.
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South Korea
Itinerary : Tokyo, Jeju, Kagoshima, Tokyo
3 other departures
MSC Bellissima
6 d
Inside Stateroom
Tokyo
12/7/2027
from
US$ 939
Other departures:
29 Apr 2026
17 May 2026
27 Mar 2027
Itinerary : Shanghai, Séoul, Shanghai
7 other departures
Spectrum Of The Seas
5 d
Inside Stateroom
Shanghai
4/10/2026
from
US$ 383
Other departures:
17 Mar 2026
18 May 2026
15 Jun 2026
Other departures
Itinerary : Nagasaki, Shanghai, Incheon
Costa Serena
6 d
Inside Stateroom
Nagasaki
6/7/2026
from
US$ 585
Itinerary : Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Shanghai, Incheon
Costa Serena
7 d
Inside Stateroom
Kagoshima
6/6/2026
from
US$ 672
Itinerary : Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Kochi, Hiroshima, Beppu, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Hakata, Busan, Yeosu, Incheon
Azamara Pursuit
15 d
Inside Stateroom
Tokyo
10/2/2026
from
US$ 6,946
Itinerary : Tokyo, Shimizu, Nagoya, Osaka, Kochi, Hiroshima, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Jeju, Incheon
Seven Seas Explorer
13 d
Suite
Tokyo
4/13/2027
from
US$ 10,941
Itinerary : Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Kochi, Hiroshima, Beppu, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Hakata, Busan, Yeosu, Incheon, Tianjin, Dalian, Shanghai, Okinawa, Ishigaki, Taipei, Hong Kong
Azamara Pursuit
30 d
Inside Stateroom
Tokyo
10/2/2026
from
US$ 12,117
Itinerary : Shanghai, Jeju, Shanghai
2 other departures
Spectrum Of The Seas
4 d
Inside Stateroom
Shanghai
6/12/2026
from
US$ 324
Other departures:
31 Jul 2026
21 Aug 2026
Itinerary : Shanghai, Incheon
Costa Serena
4 d
Inside Stateroom
Shanghai
6/9/2026
from
US$ 391
As the capital of South Korea, Seoul is packed with sights and ancient sites to discover during your stay in this part of the country. The Changdeokgung Palace, or Palace of Virtue, is an outstanding example of Far Eastern architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also enjoy the collections of the National Museum and the Folklore Museum, while the Tnsadong and Apgujeong shopping districts provide an opportunity to bring back souvenirs from your trip.
The Joggesa and Bongeunsa temples are also well worth a visit, where you can enjoy Buddhist teachings. Further north, you can reach the demilitarized zone and discover the reality of relations between South and North Korea. Further east, Seoraksan National Park offers hiking in the heart of one of the country's most beautiful natural sites. In the center of the country, you'll find Buyeo, the last capital of the Baekje kingdom, and the charming town of Daejon.
In the south, the landscape is wilder, as evidenced by Jeju. Located off the south-eastern coast of South Korea, this volcanic island is known for the world's finest network of lava tunnels, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beautiful beaches are also available for enjoying the sea and marine wildlife. The south of the country is also home to Busan, South Korea's first port and second-largest city. It is famous among foreign visitors for its exotic fish market, as well as for its various rock, port, sea and film festivals. Further west, there are a number of museums with a variety of themes to learn more about Korean culture, including the Tamyang Bamboo Museum, the Gwangju National Museum and the Ganjin Celadon Museum. In Baseong, you can explore the green tea plantations for which the country has been famous for decades.
South Korea has four distinct seasons: summer, characterized by the hot, humid monsoon; winter, very cold in the mountains between November and March; and autumn and spring, two pleasant, sunny seasons with fairly mild temperatures. In the hottest season, temperatures soar to between 30 and 35°C, and rainfall is very heavy, especially on the east coast, which receives the most rain. The country is regularly hit by typhoons between June and August. One of the most pleasant times to visit South Korea is between mid-September and mid-October, with mild, dry weather and temperatures averaging around 15°C.
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