[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Budget-friendly ways to see more of Korea

K-campus

Published: 28 Oct. 2022, 10:37 Updated: 03 Mar. 2023, 18:03

[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Budget-friendly ways to see more of Korea

Purple Island's purple sightseeing cart is being driven on top of a purple road, surrounded by purple fences. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Avid travelers will agree that paying less to have just as much fun is the dream for all good globetrotters. At a time when prices are skyrocketing, travelers are even more sensitive when it comes to sticking to a budget.

Luckily, there's plenty of ways to have fun without breaking the bank in Korea. Below are four cost-efficient travel destinations that also offer unique experiences, as recommended by the Korea Tourism Organization.

At Naeto Traditional Market in Jecheon, you can find red fish cakes at the restaurant Oegatjip. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Jecheon Gastro Tour

The Jecheon Gastro Tour can be found in Jecheon, North Chungcheong. Participants of the tour get to taste five different dishes while walking along Yakseon Food Street and visiting local markets with guidance from an expert tour guide. The fee is 19,900 won ($14) for either walking course A or course B, both of which last for two hours.

Depending on the chosen route, the program offers different dishes. Starting with chapssaltteok, or sticky rice cakes, course A offers its participants dishes like white dandelion bibimbap, makguksu, sandwiches and red fish cakes. Course B consists of bulgogi with milk vetch root, makguksu, seunggeumchodanja (rice cake made with Korean angelica leaves) and Korean medicinal herbal tea, red fish cakes and craft beer.

“Red fish cakes” are the signature dish on the tour and are a popular street food item from Naeto Traditional Market, which is one the most popular traditional markets in the city. The fish cakes are boiled like jeongol or stew and covered with spicy gochujang (fermented hot pepper paste) sauce.

Red fish cakes at Naeto Traditional Market. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Visitors must remember to book in advance online before visiting. The tour is only conducted in Korean from Monday to Saturday. Visitors must inform the tour guide if they have any food allergies (rice, nuts, beef, pork, chicken).

To book a tour, visit citytour.jecheon.go.kr.

Purple Island's elderly residents, dressed in purple, greet the island's visitors on Purple Bridge. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Purple Island

Sinan's Purple Island in South Jeolla is a unique tourist destination that gained popularity after it was quite literally painted purple, ranging from the roofs to the walls, roads and signs. Even the tableware in the island’s restaurants is purple. Visitors are welcomed by the elderly residents who also dress in purple.

Purple clothes and accessories are a must-have for visitors, as they can take pictures at photo spots that are dotted around the island. Visitors who are wearing anything purple are exempted from paying the entrance fee (5,000 won ($3.50) for adults). There is also a walking trail that goes around Bakji Island and Banwol Island. It takes up to four hours to finish the course. For those who don’t feel like walking, purple bicycles are available to rent for 5,000 won per hour.

Kkotbun's shop at Gukje Market is now a must-visit attraction for those who visit the market. [CHANG SE-JEONG]

Traditional markets in Busan

In Busan, there are several traditional markets such as Gukje Market and Bupyeong Kkkangtong Market. You can find almost anything at Gukje market, including daily necessities, kitchen utensils, hardware, fabric and interior goods. “Kkotbun’s Shop”, a filming location for the movie “Ode to My Father”, is now a coffee shop and is considered the market’s specialty.

Across from Gukje Market is Bupyeong Kkangtong Market, a night market which sells clothing, imported products, miscellaneous goods and street food that you can buy for less than 5,000 won. The market operates every day from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Bupyeong Kkangtong Market opens every day from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Visitors can buy a variety of cheap street food here. [KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION]

Besides Gukje Market and Bupyeong Kkangtong Market, there are several other traditional markets in Busan such as Haeundae Market, Jagalchi Market and more.

A part of Mount Jiri Dulle-gil Course 3 in between Wolpyeong Village and Maedong Village. [KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION]

Mount Jiri Dulle-gil Course 3

Mount Jiri’s third trail spans 20.2 kilometers (12 miles) and takes up to seven hours to complete. The trail has a 10 kilometer section that allows visitors to get a taste of the surrounding mountains and rural life in the area such as Wolpyeong Village and Maedong Village.

Maedong Village is a popular resting destination as it has several bed and breakfast accommodations and restaurants that are easy on the wallet. Accommodation costs around 40,000 to 60,000 won ($28 to $42) per night and the restaurants serve dishes for between 7,000 to 8,000 won ($4.90 to $5.60).

Mount Jiri's trails are not easy to beginners. Trail maps online are often incorrect and signposts are not detailed. If you need help during your hike, you can go to or contact one of Mount Jiri's help centers dotted along the trail. There are a total of seven help centers.

For more information, visit jirisantrail.kr/wp/

BY BAEK JONG-HYUN, LEE JUNG-JOO, HAN HYE-RIM [lee.jungjoo@joongang.co.kr]