Anyone ever been to S.Korea?

Travel Info
I'm going to get stationed there in Oct... I would like to travel and see their culture. I want to get away from the base to see the real side of it. Also, how are the women? where can you meet ones that are not like the women that are waiting at the base gate on paydays?

Travel Tips

I lived in Korea for a year. It is an interesting culture and an interesting place to live.

I lived in Seoul. It is overly crowded. The transportation system is very convenient. The food is great. The women are very kind and beautiful. Sometimes, you can make new friends through other friends. You can make some friends at bars, but still keep a distance until you get to know her.
Others

Don't go........
Been there.
Welcome to Korea! If you add on and tell us where you are going to be stationed or think you will be we can give you a lot of good info on where to go and what to do. Yongsan (Seoul) is the place to be. A lot of women all over the place. Pretty and friendly - and looking for Americans that they can practice their English conversation with or who will teach them English. Anyone that can't meet the love of their life here definitely has problems. Don't go looking for hookers because that will really get you busted - its called "Human Trafficking" here and the MPs and Korean police are death on it. Only fools and drunks go after hooks. I've enjoyed it here and figure you will too. .
Korea is an amazing place.

First of all, be prepared for the considerable culture shock.
Second, don't fight it and try to impress your own values on things or fall in to the ' well that's not the way we do it back home' attitude.. Soak up the wierdness and go with the flow.

Don't make the mistake of thinking we westerners are superior and try to show off or be boastful, it's a very common mistake with young westerners and , believe me, it goes down like a lead brick.

The culture is all around you there but make a point of breaking away from the groups of westerners who will initially 'show you the ropes'. Once you are aclimatised, strike off on your own. Just catching a bus or a train to another city is an experience in itself. If you like to get freaked out (a la fairground ride.), jump on a crowded city bus! It is a blast!

Korean women are 100% feminine, beautiful and kind (most of the time!). They do not respond at all well to bad mannered stuff like wolf whistles, getting chatted up at a bar ( without an introduction) and the usual bragging attitude often displayed by young 'waegooks' (foreigners).
Power play is better left for the middle aged Korean drunk guys who still think they count for something ( you WILL meet them sooner or later). It does not impress anyone these days, especially the ladies who tend to be attracted to the more positive male side, strength of character, sensitivity, kindness, good manners etc. If you happen to be handsome and can sing, you are in with a shout.

I was in Korea two months before I struck out. All that happened in that time is that I got drunk everynight with the same group of westerners who had been there like three years, never learned the language and spent most of the time laughing at and critiscising the Korean ways. The only Koreans I met in that time were the same bar stool hangers on who liked to be seen with foreigners.
One day , I got up early, got a taxi into town (alone) and , almost the minute I stepped out of the cab, A very nice old gent in a suit bowed to me , introduced himself and within about two minutes I had a dinner invite with his family. WOW!
Within one month, all my spare time was taken up with invites from friendly Koreans. Visits to mountain top temples, a trip to see the famous Turtle Ship which helped to defeat the Japanese fleet in days gone by. An all night sauna experience. Dinner dates and introductions to other Koreans on a daily basis. I even ended up with my own TV spot on MBC because of a chance introduction.

You have the right idea, get away from the crowd at the base and get out there, stand on a busy street corner with a street map looking lost and lonely and you will have company very very quickly. ( The further away from a base, the better the company)

Have a blast, its a great place.
Annyongi Kassayo!
I've been to S. Korea. Try visiting GyungBookPalace in Seoul. Korean women are beautiful. [;
American part Korean