Patrick Suen, a Chinese blogger and columnist, specialises in writing about about Korean culture. He was appointed as a speaker by Korea Tourism Org and promotes Korea in Hong Kong. Here, Patrick writes about Korea’s best-kept secret: Jeju Island …

Beyond Seoul
If your idea of a holiday to Korea is visiting Dongdaemun or Myong-dong, then you really are missing out on some of the best in Korean culture. On your next trip you should look beyond the bright lights of Seoul, starting with one of the country’s most natural attractions: Jeju Island …  

Raw Natural Beauty
In many Korean movies and TV series, you will notice that they often contain beautiful natural scenery — sweeping landscapes and dramatic shorelines. That’s because they were filmed on Jeju, Korea’s largest island. 

There are countless wonderful paths for hiking on this wild, volcanic island — and it’s the perfect way to explore Jeju — to enjoy the raw majesty of the  scenery.  In addition, Jeju has its own special culture, in stark contrast to many of the cities in mainland Korea.

Jeju locals speak both Korean and their own dialect; and because Jeju is a great tourist attraction, many of the staff at hotels, resorts and restaurants speak several languages! 

What Makes Jeju Special?
There is a saying that Jeju has three specialities:  strong winds, plenty of rocks and more women than men!  The island has a long, exposed coastline (which explains the strong winds);  the volcanic nature of the island means that there are lava stones everywhere;  and a lot of the men have left the island to seek work — leaving behind the women, many of whom are divers known as “Haenyo” (which literally means, “Sea Women”) whose job it is to harvest seafood.

Jeju In A Nutshell
Jeju Island, also known as the “Island of the Gods,” is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and foreigners. It remains the top honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds, and is also regarded as one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world.

For more information on visiting Jeju island, click here.

Seoul in March is a time of cherry blossom and azalea, winter jasmine and rhododendron in bloom.  A time to celebrate the arrival of Spring — the best weather of the year in South Korea’s dynamic capital city.

“It sounds perfect, are there any great getaway packages to Seoul at this time of year?”

Yes. Cathay Pacific Holidays are offering a 3-day, 2-night package at the new, luxurious Sheraton Seoul D-Cube City Hotel, from HKD3,580.  Part of the D-Cube City lifestyle in southwestern Seoul,  D-Cube City is already an established landmark in the city … boasting a 1,300-seat theatre and the famous D-Cube Park.

“When is this package available and where do I find out more information?”

The Sheraton D-Cube City Seoul package is available now, so jet on over to Cathay Pacific Holidays for full details and to make a reservation. 

Image source: Weekend weekly magazine