20 incredible experiences in South Korea that'll knock your socks off

Are you ready to fall in love with South Korea? The buzzing cities, the ancient temples, the incredible food, the relaxing spas and the colourful pop culture ... all add up to one fantastic holiday destination. It is the next big thing in Asia for travellers hungry for something new. Here are the country's 20 most fascinating - and delicious - surprises.

1. K-pop bands are worshipped

The boy bands! The girl bands! K-pop, Korean pop music, has gained such an enormous fan following it's now as big as the global 1960s Beatlemania phenomenon. You've probably heard of BTS, the seven-member boy band formed in 2010, which has gone on to international superstardom, but did you know they've inspired dozens of imitators? If you're flying Korean Air, look out for boy band SuperM, featured in the pre-flight safety video.

2. Playing dress-ups is encouraged

Traditional Korean attire, known as hanbok, is a common sight on the streets of Seoul. In the city's historic streets and near temple grounds you'll find many hanbok rental shops offering dress-up costumes for men, women and children. A popular activity for families, friends and couples is to get kitted out like characters from a historic K-drama and then pose for photographs against the backdrop of ancient palaces. Search #hanbok on Instagram and TikTok for inspiration.

3. Aussies don't need a visa waiver

Australian passport holders can visit South Korea as a tourist for stays of up to 90 days without applying for a visa or visa waiver. Nationals of countries that are not exempt from the requirement of obtaining a visa waiver should apply online (k-eta.go.kr) at least 72 hours prior to departure to South Korea and pay 10,000 Korean Won (approximately AUD$12) per person.

4. There are plenty of flights from Australia

South Korea's magnetism as a tourist destination is growing rapidly, and airlines are taking notice. That means lots of choices for travellers, with direct flights from major Australian cities to South Korean capital Seoul on carriers including Jetstar, Korean Air, Asiana and T'way Air. Set price alerts on Google Flights for sale fares and promotions. Return flights in economy from Sydney to Seoul are often priced under $1000.

5. Korean skincare is amazing

Many beauty and skincare devotees claim Korean products are simply the best and most effective in the world. Thanks to innovative, natural ingredients including snail mucin, bee propolis and fermented seaweed, you can pump up the collagen regeneration and youthful glow. Dive into deeply hydrating face masks, refreshing toners and exfoliating booties for the feet at retail juggernaut Olive Young. The brand's flagship location is in Seoul's Myeongdong district, with more than 1000 branches throughout South Korea.

6. You can sleep in a bathhouse spa

If you love onsen bathing and being pampered, the "jjimjilbang" Korean bathhouse experience is not to be missed. Similarly to Japan's onsen culture, most bathhouses require visitors to be completely naked and to thoroughly shower before entering the hot pools. Book in for a traditional body scrub and you'll walk away with silky smooth skin. Many jjimjilbang are open 24 hours, and for a small fee you can opt to spend a night in the sleeping room.

7. Korean food is having a moment

Salty, sweet, spicy and tangy flavours create a delicious symphony in the Korean culinary world. Dive in to crispy fried chicken and beefy bibimbap bowls at lively barbecue restaurants where the cold draft beer never runs dry. It's not all fun, games and indulgence, however. One of the key characteristics of Korean cuisine is the use of pickling and fermentation, with good-for-the-gut kimchi available everywhere. The vegan food movement is also gaining momentum, as more locals and travellers explore the benefits of a meat-free menu.

8. Some of the best food is eaten on the street

Great news for travellers on tight budgets and adventurous eaters who love to try a bit of this and a bit of that: The street-food scene in South Korea's cities is thriving. Every night from about 5pm, street vendors fire up the woks and get ready to sizzle the deep-fryers. For a few dollars per plate, feast on spicy rice cakes, egg bread, tornado potatoes, fried chicken, kimchi pancakes and juicy dumplings. Feed the sugar rush with Oreo churros for dessert.

9. Public bins are hard to come by

This one baffled me at first. Where are all the rubbish bins in South Korea? Turns out, Koreans pay for the disposal of their household rubbish based on its weight. Looking to save a few bucks, many people began illegally discarding their waste in public bins. The government's response? They strategically reduced the number of public trash cans. If you can't find somewhere to throw away your food wrappers and empty drink container, try 7-Eleven or fast food outlets.

10. Korea has bullet trains like the ones in Japan

Travel from city to city in South Korea on high-speed trains and enjoy the comfort and convenience of a well-organised network. KTX bullet trains connect Seoul, Busan, Yeosu and other key tourist destinations at speeds of up to 330 kilometres per hour. Train stations are located in the centre of towns, closer to hotels than city airports. It's worth the upgrade to first class travel for more legroom, roomier seats, complimentary snacks and bottled water.

11. You can (almost) visit North Korea

Organised tours depart from Seoul to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a buffer area between North and South Korea. It's a fascinating peek at the communist North, quite literally, as long-range binoculars are pointed in the direction of farmers and security personnel on the other side of the border. A mile-long tunnel runs underground between the two countries, which are divided securely by concrete blockades. March down as far as you can go, and you'll be within metres of Kim Jong Un's domain.

12. You can live like a monk for a day

Experience Korean Buddhist culture through an overnight stay at one of 26 participating temples in Seoul and other provinces. Learn about monastic life, meditate, enjoy a tea ceremony and sample nourishing vegetarian food. Discussions and cooking demonstrations are often led by the monks and nuns who live at the temples, making this one of the most authentic and affordable ways to immerse in Korean culture.

13. Hop on the busiest flight route in the world

Heard of Jeju island? Known as the Hawaii of South Korea, the holiday destination is wildly popular with locals who love its white-sand beaches, mountain hikes, next-level resorts and fresh produce. In fact, the busiest air route in the world is the 70-minute flight from Seoul's Gimpo airport to Jeju. Last year, there were 13.7 million seats sold for the route on airlines including Jeju Air, Jin Air, Asiana and Air Seoul.

14. Skyscrapers stand beside ancient temples

Futuristic skyscrapers dot the city skyline in Seoul, emblazoned with brand logos of Korean tech giants like Samsung and LG. It's a tech-savvy, fast-forward, lightning-paced metropolis, where innovation is embraced and high-speed Wi-Fi is available everywhere. Look closer and you'll see ancient temples and elegant palaces standing regally within the concrete jungle. Bongeunsa, one of the oldest and most famous temples in Seoul, dates back to the eighth century.

15. Uber, what's Uber?

Despite the Uber app technically working in South Korea, you'll be hard-pressed to book a ride. Requests repeatedly time out while searching for nearby drivers. Instead, download the Kakao Taxi app, preferred by Korean riders. It is also possible to hail a cab on the street or from a cab rank. Defying logic, a red light indicates the cab is available, while a green sign means the cab is occupied or reserved. A sign in blue means the cabbie is off for the day.

16. Be wowed by cherry blossoms

Japan doesn't hold the monopoly on stunning springtime blooms. Travel to South Korea in March and April for the annual cherry blossom spectacular, when pink and white petals burst into life and shower the region in glorious colour. Some of the most beautiful flowers can be seen in Jinhae, Gyeongju, Hwagae, Jeju and Nami Island. Lively festivals celebrate the flowery transition from winter to spring, with music performances, street food and village parades.

17. The beauty of autumn

Spring isn't the only time of year when South Korea is a wonderland for nature-lovers. The vivid colours of autumn - rich reds, golden yellows, burnt orange - will have visitors snapping photos from the moment they land. Especially beautiful in the mountainous provinces, autumn foliage peaks in the months of September, October and November. Photography pros will tell you the tree-lined grounds of traditional temples and palaces are some of the prettiest spots to line up a shot.

18. Go Gangnam style

Remember the catchy pop song Gangnam Style? Released in 2012, the accompanying music video showed a baby-faced singer, Psy, dancing and prancing around Gangnam, an upscale neighbourhood in Seoul. Incredibly popular, it was the first video on YouTube to surpass one billion views. A monument to the success of the track and its signature move, - two enormous, crossed hands cast in bronze - holds court today in the centre of Gangnam, home to umpteen plastic surgery clinics, pricey boutiques and Asia's largest underground shopping centre.

19. Mermaids are real

OK, we jest, but squint a bit as you watch the female Haenyeo divers of Jeju Island and you'd be forgiven for believing mermaids exist. An incredible community of women free-dive in the waters off South Korea's largest island, collecting underwater sustenance in the form of abalone and sea urchins. In 2016, UNESCO inscribed the culture of Haenyeo on the official list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

20. The economy is pumping

In one of the most impressive economic leaps in modern history, South Korea has transformed from one of the poorest countries on earth to one of the richest and most technologically advanced. In the 1950s, the per capita GDP was under $US100 per annum. Today, according to the International Monetary Fund, South Korea's economy ranks as the 13th largest in the world. By comparison, Australia has the 14th-largest.

Explore the cities, islands and mountains of South Korea in these must-see destinations.

Seoul: Most trips to South Korea will begin or end in the dynamic capital, Seoul. Described by some as a cross between Hong Kong and Tokyo, Seoul seamlessly blends old and new in the form of ancient palaces and temples beside modern skyscrapers. There's great food, nightlife and shopping, plus sightseeing and museums galore.

Busan: In South Korea's second-largest city, you might get a few Gold Coast vibes. The busy port city boasts wide sandy beaches lined with sky-high apartment buildings and a relaxed feet-in-the-sand ambience. Stroll the boardwalk, take a dip in the mineral-rich hot springs or feast at Korean barbecue restaurants where carnivores rule.

Jeju Island: Dubbed the Island of the Gods, Jeju Island is a favourite destination of Korean honeymooners and families. So popular, the Seoul to Jeju flight path is the busiest in the world. Hikers will swoon over the lush green mountains, thrill-seekers will scream for the amusement park rides and foodies will lap up the signature seafood and grilled black pork.

Seoraksan National Park: Head out of the cities and into the vast national parks that make up 6.6 per cent of South Korea's land mass. Seoraksan is one of the loveliest, criss-crossed with hiking trails to suit varying ability levels. Mountain peaks and lake reflections are especially picturesque and photogenic in the autumn months when foliage turns from green to red, yellow and orange hues.

Gyeongju: The ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom, more than 2000 years old, is often described as a museum without walls. Ancient temples, palaces and folk villages have earned the UNESCO World Heritage distinction, retaining much of their original aesthetic. The evocative sense of time travel is magnified by the sight of tourists dressed up in traditional hanbok costumes.

DMZ: Close, but not too close, to dictator Kim Jong Un's domain, the Korean Demilitarized Zone separates North and South Korea. It's the most popular organised day trip from Seoul, a bargain at just $30. Learn about the history of the conflict that split Korea into two countries, ripped families apart and inspired countless escape stories.

South Korea is so close to Japan, it makes sense to combine the two in one memorable holiday. While there are plenty of flights connecting the countries, there's also a high-speed ferry with capacity for 502 passengers making waves.

The shiny red trimaran Queen Beetle, built by Austal in Australia, departs Busan daily, bound for Hakata port in Fukuoka, Japan. The journey takes three hours and 40 minutes, though I wouldn't mind if it took twice that long, so comfortable is the on-board experience.

My assigned seat in business class has much in common with a spacious airline business class seat: 140-centimetre seat pitch, AC power, USB port and a cocoon-like design to ensure privacy.

Shortly after departure, charming Japanese attendants hand out large gift boxes of scrumptious cookies to each passenger. A comfort pack containing cute grey slippers, a mask and sanitiser is placed on every seat. Drinks are dispensed from a vending machine, free of charge. Lemonade, hot chocolate and cappuccino has never tasted so good. While the alcohol and hot food isn't complimentary, the prices are very reasonable (less than $10 for my meal).

A kids' play area and nursing room make parents with little ones feel welcome, while the duty-free shop offers high-quality products at competitive prices. And the sunset that filled the sky with luscious shades of pink as we skimmed across the water? That was priceless.

Tips for riding the Queen Beetle:

* Book tickets in advance, especially during peak season and national holidays.

* Pricing is dynamic. Booking ahead gives you the best chance of nabbing cheap fares, which usually cost less than a flight on the same route.

* Arrive at the port early (at least 90 minutes before departure), passport in hand.

* Check-in attendants ask non-Japanese passengers to show evidence of an onward flight from Japan.

* Pack light, as luggage space can be limited when the ferry is at full capacity.

* Charge up your camera or smartphone. The views from the decks are stunning.

* Be prepared for seasickness, just in case.

* Learn more at jrbeetle.com/en/

Read more on Explore:

Getting there: Fly to Seoul Incheon airport from Sydney and Brisbane on Korean Air. See koreanair.com

Getting around: The KTX high-speed rail network provides fast and convenient connections between cities. See letskorail.com

Touring there: The Korea travel experts at InsideAsia can tailor a cultural adventure in Seoul and beyond. See insideasiatours.com

Staying there: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is the epitome of five-star luxury in the heart of South Korea's dynamic capital city. Don't miss a soak and a scrub at the glamorous urban spa, then re-tox with cocktails at Charles H, the hotel's popular speakeasy bar. See fourseasons.com

When to go: It all depends on what you like and how you plan to spend your time. South Korea has four distinct seasons, with very cold winters and hot, humid summers. The mildest weather is in spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November).

Explore more: visitkorea.org.au

The writer was a guest of Korea Tourism Organization.