Expect the unexpected in Korea

Korea offers an intoxicating blend of tradition and cutting-edge modernity. This video includes ACM-produced voiceover powered by AI.

Transcript

00:00Unlike its neighbor Japan, Korea still flies under the radar for most Aussie tourists,

00:08but it offers an intoxicating blend of tradition and cutting-edge modernity,

00:13and with the global phenomenon of K-pop and shows like Squid Game hitting the mainstream,

00:19it won't be the dark horse for long.

00:30The off-duty gate guards are heading back to the military base, under the commander's order.

00:55One prime example of hyper-modern Korea is its incredible bullet train network,

00:59dubbed Korea Train Express, or KTX, transports 250,000 people a day at over 300 kilometers per hour.

01:08There are 69 services every day between Korea's two biggest cities, Seoul and Busan,

01:13with the 420-kilometer trip from one side of the country to the other taking just over two hours.

01:23The cute pods of the Hyundai Sky Capsule monorail are a spectacular way to see Busan's coastline,

01:29as are the dizzying skywalks arching out more than 30 meters above the rocky shore,

01:35north of the gritty harbour city.

01:45But Korea is also a foodie paradise, with a mouth-watering array of street food and seafood,

01:53plucked fresh from the sea of Japan.

01:55Much of the food in more casual restaurants is cooked by formidable older women,

02:00affectionately known as aunties.

02:04The Jagalchi fish market in the heart of Busan is the biggest seafood market in Korea,

02:09and it's a showcase for both the weird and the wonderful.

02:12from octopus, to crayfish, to stingrays fermented in their own urine,

02:22or the aptly named dog penis fish is just one of many unforgettable sights,

02:28now in a country, that should be at the top of every traveller's bucket list.

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