Ready to Explore Seoul for 5 days with a 10-year Multiple Entry Visa

What an incredible birthday gift! The South Korean Embassy surprised my wife and me by granting us a 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa. It's worth noting that, at best, we were expecting a visa with a maximum validity of 5 years. We were thrilled by the news, while our two kids and my 70-something mother received 5-year visas. We believe it played a role in the favorable outcome by carefully preparing our application and including a cover letter requesting a multiple-entry visa. Interestingly, Korean visas are now issued on printed bond paper instead of being stamped. The document is called a Visa Grant Notice and informs whoever is reading it that the applicant has been granted a South Korean visa. When it's time to travel, it has to be presented to the Immigration Officer. 

Now that all the paperwork is handled, we are excited to share the details of our upcoming 5-day trip to Seoul with you.

Accommodation: Although we had been planning this trip for quite a while already, we refrained from making any accommodation arrangements until we had the necessary travel documents. When we received our visas, I immediately booked a spacious duplex apartment with a large terrace near the Gangnam Finance Center through our trusted online booking site, Airbnb. The 80 sqm floor area and prime location will make our stay comfortable and convenient. We promise to share a more detailed blog about our experience staying in this incredible place in the future. But for now, here's a glimpse of what awaits us: 

Itinerary: Instead of relying on my usual practice of scouring various blogs and online recommendations, I sought help from my office colleague, Dra. Jing Comia, who is a certified K-pop fan and a seasoned traveler to Korea. Her extensive knowledge of the country led her to draft an itinerary specifically tailored for us. Allow me to share the highlights of our 5-day plan:

Day 1: Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station, Alpaca World, Nami Island, and Garden of Morning Calm.

Day 2: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong Market, and Everland Theme Park or Lotte World.

Day 3: Dongdaemun Design Plaza, The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul-Sejong Culture Center, Namsan cable car, Seoul Tower, and Myeongdong Night Market. Dinner will be at the renowned Michelin-starred Kkalguksu.

Day 4: Cheongyecheon Stream, COEX Mall/Library/Aquarium, Some Sevit Island (Avengers filming location), 63 City, Hangang River Cruise, Yeouinaru Station, Hongik University, and the Harry Potter King’s Cross Café & Trick Eye Museum.

Day 5: A well-deserved rest day, which will likely turn into a shopping spree!

Our excitement knows no bounds as we gear up for our 5-day adventure in Seoul. Rest assured, we will keep you updated on every detail of our trip. Stay tuned!

- dtravelingfamily

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