Most visitors to South Korea arrive in Seoul — and stay there. The capital is extraordinary, but it is only one side of the country.
Beyond Seoul, a network of smaller cities offers a quieter, more local experience of Korean life. All three destinations in this guide are reachable from Seoul by KTX high-speed train in under three hours.
South Korea's Hidden Gems Beyond Seoul
Daejeon: The City That Built Its Name on Bread
- From Seoul by KTX: approx. 50min
- Key Spots: Sungsimdang Bakery, Mt. Bomun, Baseball Stadium
Daejeon sits near the geographic center of the peninsula, long overlooked — and quietly becoming one of Korea's more interesting stops.
Much of the reason is Sungsimdang, a bakery that has operated since 1956 and built its entire identity around one policy: no locations outside Daejeon. Visiting the city is the only way to experience it. Signature items include pollock roe baguette, fried soboro, and seasonal strawberry siru cake. Beyond the bakery, Mt. Bomun offers hiking and the Hanwha Eagles stadium draws local baseball crowds.
Gangneung: East Sea Coastline and the Origin of Korea's Coffee Culture
- From Seoul by KTX: approx. 2h (from Cheongnyangni Station)
- Key Spots: East Sea, Anmok Beach & Coffee Street
Korea's East Sea coastline is known for deep, clear water and consistent waves. Gangneung is its most accessible gateway from Seoul — and its most interesting draw is not the beach itself but what grew up alongside it.
From Gangneung Station, a ten-minute taxi ride brings you to Anmok Beach and Korea's most celebrated Coffee Street. Two decades ago, this stretch of road was lined with instant coffee vending machines where couples would stop on coastal drives. Today it is a row of independent specialty cafés looking directly out over the East Sea — a quiet piece of Korean cultural history that happened to grow up by the sea.
Yeosu: One of Korea's Most Revered Sunrise Spots
- From Seoul by KTX: approx. 2h 40min
- Key Spots: Dadohae (island-scattered sea), Hyangiram
Yeosu sits on Korea's southern coast, home to the island-scattered sea and a clifftop hermitage that draws visitors at all hours of the day.
Hyangiram — a small Buddhist hermitage set into a cliff face overlooking open water — takes its name from a direct description: a hermitage facing the sun. The cliff faces the horizon without obstruction, and it is widely considered one of the clearest places in Korea to watch the sunrise. On New Year's Day, visitors make the climb before dawn, carrying their wishes for the year ahead. The rest of the year, it rewards the same unhurried attention.
There is nothing elaborate about it. Modest in scale, quiet in atmosphere — the kind of place that leaves an impression more polished destinations rarely do.
Getting There by Train
Korea's KTX high-speed network connects Seoul to all three destinations in under three hours. Tickets can be purchased in English at:
- korail.com/global/eng
- Korail Talk app
- Station machines
Foreign nationals can also purchase a Korail Pass (2–5 days unlimited travel) at the same link.
A Note on Traveling During Korean Holidays
If you are planning regional travel, it is worth knowing that Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) are the two periods when Korean railways are at their busiest.
Demand for tickets is fierce — last year, more than 40,000 people queued online for Seollal reservations alone. For international visitors, traveling outside these periods is strongly recommended.
Discover Korea Beyond the Obvious
The destinations in this guide are the kind of places that rarely appear on a standard itinerary, and that tend to leave a stronger impression for it.
Korea has more to offer than most itineraries allow for. We would be glad to help you find it.
[FAQ]
Q. What are the hidden gems in South Korea beyond Seoul?
A. South Korea's regional cities offer landscapes and experiences that contrast significantly with the capital. Yeosu's southern coastline and clifftop hermitage, Gangneung's East Sea beaches, Gyeongju's ancient royal tombs and temples, Jeonju's preserved hanok village, and Tongyeong's island-dotted harbor are among the most visited destinations beyond Seoul.
Q. How do I get from Seoul to other cities by train easily?
Many hidden gems are accessible by KTX from Seoul. Daejeon takes approximately 50 minutes, Gangneung approximately 2 hours (from Cheongnyangni Station), and Yeosu approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. Tickets and schedules are available at korail.com/global/eng.
Q. When should I avoid traveling by train in Korea?
Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) bring significantly higher demand and can make tickets very difficult to secure. Traveling outside these holiday periods is recommended for international visitors.
Q. How much does a KTX ticket from Seoul cost?
Fares vary by destination and seat class. As a general reference, Seoul to Daejeon typically starts from around 24,000 KRW; Seoul to Gangneung from around 27,000 KRW; Seoul to Yeosu from around 50,000 KRW. Prices are higher for first-class (KTX Special) seating.
Q. Is it easy to travel South Korea by train as a foreigner?
A. Yes. KORAIL's booking platform is available in English, Chinese, and Japanese, and tickets can be purchased online, via app, or at station machines without requiring Korean language ability. Major KTX stations have English signage, and most intercity routes are straightforward to navigate. The Korail Pass — available exclusively to foreign nationals — simplifies ticketing further for visitors planning to travel between multiple regions.
| Edited by Sia Shin, The Pylon Square
