SEOUL, CULTURE & THE KOREAN WAR

Task Force Smith to Daegu

• After a refreshing restful night and breakfast, we will board the bus and start heading south.
• Our first stop is the Task Force Smith Memorial where we will discuss the Battle of Osan and the start of the Korean War in late June and early July 1950. The US Army’s unpreparedness for war, brutally demonstrated here, resonates across our military to this day.
• We have lunch on your own at one of the many unique and fun Korean highway rest stops. Known as hyugeuso, these are considered destinations rather than just quick pit stops. They are famous for their high-quality food, futuristic amenities, and exceptionally clean, often themed facilities. They are a major part of the Korean travel experience!
• We continue to Daegu, Korea’s fourth largest city and a major cultural and historic hub in the southeastern region, and check-in to our hotel.
• Dinner on your own in downtown Daegu.
• Hotel: Daegu Marriott Hotel (or similar).

Daegu, Nakdong River, Busan

• Breakfast.
• We begin the day with a short walking tour of Daegu, often called “Textile City”. The bus will drop us off in the Jung-gu district, where the city’s most significant modern and traditional history is concentrated.
• After a short walk, the bus will pick us up and our first stop will be just outside the city at the Nakdong River Victory Memorial Hall, where we will discuss the Nakdong River and its role in forming the famed Pusan Perimeter, the desperate defensive stand of American and South Korean units under the UN banner against the North Korean onslaught.
• We will leave the museum and drive toward the Nakdong River, the Pusan Perimeter’s western boundary and primary line of defense. We will discuss the movements of UN and North Korean forces from August to September 1950, and the battles that occurred.
• Lunch is on your own at a highway rest stop near Yeongsan, around the Nakdong Bulge, a semi-circular bend in the river where some of the most brutal fighting occurred.
• After lunch we drive into Busan, taking in the gorgeous views of the mountains as we come to understand the geography of the region.
• Our hotel is nestled at the end of Haeundae Beach, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Korea! Take a walk along the beach and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
• Dinner will be on your own – consider one of the many restaurants right off the beach, famous for premium seafood and Korean BBQ, or walk to the Haeundae Market, a popular destination for street food and fresh seafood.
• Hotel: The Westin Josun Busan (or similar).

History of Busan

• Breakfast
• Board the bus and take the drive across the Geoga Bridge to visit Geoje Island, the site of the Geoje POW Camp where North Korean and Chinese prisoners of war were held during the Korean War. We will visit the Geojedo POW Camp Historic Park, designated as Cultural Heritage Material, exploring the camp ruins and learning about its complicated history.
• Lunch on your own at a highway rest stop right on the water with a beautiful view of the Geoga Grand Bridge and the other small islands off the coast of Busan.
• In the afternoon, we visit the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan – the only UN cemetery in the world. It serves as the sacred final resting place for 2,300 service members from 11 countries who fought under UN Command during the Korean War.
• After a short drive back, we will enjoy a group dinner at Camelia, the beautiful Westin restaurant looking out over Haeundae Beach.
• Hotel: The Westin Josun Busan.

The Beauty of Busan

• After four packed expedition days, it’s time to relax! This day is yours – on the beach at Haeundae, poolside at our gorgeous hotel, or shopping in downtown Busan.
• We also recommend the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a rare 14th century Buddhist temple built directly on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea. It is truly magnificent! Head to Haeundae BlueLine Park, where you can ride the Sky Capsule, a colorful, private mini-train that glides along a raised coastal track offering stunning unobstructed ocean views. There are several stops, so go as far as you want along the coast! See Gwangalli Beach, a more casual beach offering views of the Gwangan Bridge. If you are feeling adventurous, take a short ride to the Jalgachi Market, Korea’s largest seafood market! You can browse the massive selection of live fish and have your choice prepared fresh. Or visit Huinnyeol Culture Village, known as the “Santorini of Busan”, offering a more peaceful coastal walk with sea-facing murals and narrow alleys.
• Lunch and dinner on your own in Busan.
• Hotel: The Westin Josun Busan.

Busan to Suwon

• Breakfast.
• We will depart early for our long drive north!
• As we leave Busan and the southeast, we will reflect on the timeline and events of the fall of 1950. This was a time of major transition in the war as General Douglas MacArthur prepares his amphibious counterattack for September 15 at Incheon. We will follow the path of Eighth Army 78 years later almost to the day in the second half of MacArthur’s strategy, the concurrent northward breakout of UN forces from the Pusan Perimeter.
• Lunch will again be at one of the amazing highway rest stops – there is always something fantastic to eat!
• While heading north we will drive through Pyeongtaek, where the current US and UN Forces are headquartered at Camp Humphreys, to include Eighth Army (which never left!). We will pass by Osan and Osan Air Base. Established in 1951, it is the only remaining US Air Force base in Korea built from scratch during the conflict.
• We will check in to the hotel, and then, after freshening up, head out to the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, it is celebrated as the pinnacle of the late Joseon Dynasty military architecture, blending traditional Korean construction with innovative Western scientific influences. The walls of the fortress stretch over 3.5 miles! They follow the natural topography of the land, including hilly and flat terrain. If we are lucky, we will catch the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, which runs during the fall, and features massive royal processions and traditional performances.
• You will have time on your own to explore as much of the fortress as you want, as well as having dinner on your own at one of the local restaurants.
• After enjoying the fortress illuminated at night, we will bus back to the hotel.
• Hotel: Marriott Hotel (or similar).

Incheon Landings – Operation CHROMITE

• Breakfast.
• After a short drive from Suwon to Incheon, we will start our examination of Operation CHROMITE, better known as the Incheon Landings.
• This high-stakes amphibious assault on September 15, 1950, was orchestrated by MacArthur, and fundamentally reversed the momentum of the Korean War. The operation bypassed the front lines to strike a decisive blow against the North Korean rear area.
• There were incredible tactical hurdles to overcome, like extreme tides, tight shipping channels, and high seawalls. The Joint Chiefs and many subordinate leaders felt the risk was too great, but MacArthur understood that success lay in doing what many thought to be impossible.
• We will visit several battle sites including Wolmido Island, where the 5th Marines landed, Red Beach and Cemetery Hill, where the main force of the 1st Marine Division scaled seawalls, and Observatory Hill, site of the Freedom Park and MacArthur Memorial. The US Army’s 7th Infantry Division also came ashore here to complete the X Corps’ forces.
• We will enjoy lunch boxes in Freedom Park.
• As we will be visiting on the anniversary of the landings, we will modify the day’s schedule as needed based on public commemoration events.
• After a short drive into Songdo, we will check into our hotel, right across the street from the Songdo Central Park and Songdo Hanok Village.
• Enjoy a walk around the lake and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the park before dinner on your own at one of the area’s many restaurants!
• Hotel: Sheraton Grand Incheon (or similar).

Incheon to Seoul

• Breakfast.
• After checking out, we will visit the nearby Memorial Hall for the Incheon Landing Operation. This hilltop memorial and exhibition hall superbly commemorates the landings and is a great way to finish up our visit to Incheon and Songdo.
• We then follow the path of the Marines pushing inland toward Seoul as we drive into the city.
• After checking into our hotel, with a short break and lunch there, we will go on a walking tour of the area, to include views of Seoul Tower, Namdaemun Market, the Seoul City Wall and Sungnyemun Gate (one of six still standing), City Hall, Deoksugung Palace, and Gwanghwamun Square.
• You have the rest of the afternoon to yourself to explore the city! Consider walking to the Gwanghwamun Gate and visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest and most iconic of the five grand palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty; or wandering through Insadong, the cultural heart of Seoul, with art galleries, tea houses, and the beautiful Jogyesa Temple. Our hotel will be located in Myeongdong, Seoul’s primary shopping and tourism district, with access to amazing shopping and fantastic food.
• In the evening, we recommend the Myeongdong Night Market to sample some of the most popular street food.
• Enjoy dinner on your own in Seoul.
• Lodging: Marriott Hotel (or similar).

Battle of Chipyong-ni

• Breakfast.
• We depart early for Chipyong-ni, often called the “Gettysburg of the Korean War”. It was a decisive turning point where UN Forces successfully repelled a massive Chinese offensive, proving that the Chinese “human wave” tactics could be defeated.
• We will visit various sites around the battlefield, including the UN Forces Memorial – Twin Tunnels, locations around Chipyong-ni, and the Chipyong-ni Battle Memorial Museum.
• In the park outside the memorial museum, we will enjoy our box lunches.
• Following the drive back to the hotel, you will have time on your own in the evening.
• Dinner on your own in Seoul.
• Hotel: Marriott Hotel.

Korea and the DMZ or The Majesty of Seoul

• On our final day, you decide how you want to spend your time. You can choose from a guided tour of the DMZ or spending the day in the city exploring!

Option 1 – The DMZ

• This will be an early start so we can make our way to the DMZ!
• The Korean DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world, marked by barbed wire, an estimated 2 million land mines, and massive military forces on both sides.
• We take the bus from Seoul up to Paju, where we will check in at the Imjingak Peace Park. After exploring the Peace Park, we board a bus specifically for our tour of the DMZ area. We will visit the Third Infiltration Tunnel, one of the four tunnels dug by North Korea for a potential invasion, and Dora Observatory, the northernmost point on the South Korean side of the military demarcation line and offering the most comprehensive view into North Korea, including Kaesong City, the Propaganda Village Kijong-dong, and Kaesong Industrial Complex.
• Back at the Imjingak Peace Park, we will have lunch on your own at any of the cafés in and around the visitor’s center and then return to Seoul.

Option 2 – Day on Your Own in Seoul

• Whether you want to visit all the markets, palaces, or antique stores, there are plenty of things to do!
• Some ideas on how to spend your day:
• Military History and more: Go to the War Memorial Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Korea. Look out at Yongsan Park, formerly a US military base, right in the center of Seoul. Explore Itaewon, recognized as Seoul’s “international district”, with global dining and stores selling all kinds of vintage and antiques.
• Hiker’s Dream: Go to the Seoul Tower at the top of Namsan Mountain. Enjoy seeing Seoul from all sides, especially the incredible geography of the capital. Walk down Namsan to the Seoul City Wall and walk along part of the historic wall around the old city of Seoul.
• Market Mania: Explore all the markets! From Namdaemun to Dongdaemun, there is so much to see and enjoy.

• We will all meet up after our busy day for a final group dinner and farewell at the hotel.
• Hotel: Marriott Hotel.

Nature and Culture of Jeju

• Breakfast.
• Called the “Hawaii of Korea”, Jeju Island was formed entirely by volcanic eruptions approximately 2 million years ago. It is a world-renowned natural paradise holding a UNESCO “Triple Crown”: World Natural Heritage, Biosphere Reserve, and Global Geopark. Hallasan Mountain is the highest peak in Korea and sits at the island’s center.
• The culture of Jeju is also unique. The legendary community of female divers known as Haenyeo (Sea Women) thrive here. These women dive deep to harvest seafood such as abalone and sea urchins all without oxygen tanks!
• We will check out of the hotel and, at our first stop, view the Jusangjeolli Cliffs – stunning hexagonal basalt columns formed when lava cooled and solidified as it hit the sea.
• We will continue to Seongsan Ilchulbong, the volcanic tuff cone also known as Sunrise Peak. We will walk to the top to see the sweeping views of the island and its volcanic landscape.
• Lunch on your own at one of the many local restaurants below the peak.
• Next, we visit the Jeju Haenyeo Museum where we will examine the amazing work these generations of women divers have done and still do.
• From there we make our way to Hamdeok Beach to relax! Walk along the white sand, hike out to the observation deck, or just sit on the beach and enjoy the sun.
• Driving into Jeju City, we will check into our hotel.
• Explore downtown Jeju City on your own. We recommend you visit the Nuwemaru pedestrian shopping street just steps from our hotel.
• Group dinner at a Korean BBQ restaurant where we can try the local specialty, black pork.
• Hotel: Grand Hyatt Jeju (or similar).