We Went Together

South Korea · 5–23 June 2022

South Korea

Nineteen days from Seoul to Jeju: hanbok, long drives, a car ferry, volcanic shores and a final night under the fireworks.

Seoul

Exploring Seoul

We began in hanbok, Korea’s traditional dress, at Gyeongbokgung Palace, then settled quickly into the parts of Seoul the children enjoyed most: Korean barbecue—one of Vanessa’s favourite meals—a taekwondo lesson with a very patient instructor, and naps in the stroller as we kept exploring.

Korean barbecue meal shared by the family in Seoul
Sophie and George asleep in their stroller at a Seoul market

Jeonju

One Night in Jeonju

On the way south, we stayed in Jeonju’s old town, in a traditional house among its low lanes and tiled roofs.

Traditional accommodation in Jeonju
Vanessa and Sophie walking through Jeonju’s old town
Walking Jeonju’s old town.

Mokpo to Jeju

Across on the Car Ferry

Mokpo was a stop with one purpose: to take the car across to Jeju. The ferry turned the crossing into part of the trip rather than simply the way there.

Car ferry at Mokpo harbour
Family on deck during the ferry crossing to Jeju

Jeju

The Days Between

Jeju also had room for the things that made a long trip work: a meal out by the coast, Hello Kitty Island, a museum moment where Sophie and George were simply happy to be together, and a drive through the canola flower fields along Noksan-ro.

At Noraba in Aewol, we made a point of trying its seafood ramyeon, a Jeju bowl piled with local shellfish and seafood.

Family meal of seafood ramyeon on Jeju
Children at Hello Kitty Island, a character museum on Jeju
Hello Kitty Island.
Sophie hugging George at Jeju Aerospace Museum
Jeju Aerospace Museum.
Sophie and George in hanbok in Jeju’s canola flower fields
In Jeju’s canola flower fields.

Jeju

Black Sand and Open Water

On Jeju, the island itself set the pace: volcanic shorelines, clear water and plenty of room for the children to play.

Sophie and George playing on a volcanic black-sand beach on Jeju
Family at a coastal viewpoint on Jeju
Jeju’s coast.

Everland

One Last Night

On our last night, we went to Everland before heading home. Sophie watched the fireworks while worrying that they might fall on her head.

Vanessa and the children at Everland

Singapore

Home

19 days · 18 nights · Seoul, Jeonju, Mokpo, Jeju and Yongin