SOONCHON CITY, SOUTH KOREA - A gentle knock on a rice paper door signals it’s time for us to begin a journey 1,600 years back in time.

SEOUL - This has always been the Rodney Dangerfield of Asian cities - it never gets any respect. This industrial giant has always taken a back seat to Asia’s other major cities.

SEOUL - The children of South Korea are so well behaved, we tell our guide as we see young people bow to their elders, help old people across streets and open doors for their parents.

SEOGUIPO CITY, SOUTH KOREA - This is one resort town tourist find very bear-able. In fact, most people can barely contain their excitement for this Jeju Island retreat. And it’s all because of the bears that live here.

JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA - Why were outcasts and criminals always exiled to the most beautiful places on Earth back in ancient times?

JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA - We were travelling the beautiful coast road that wraps around this tourist island headed to the airport after a few days of R&R when someone in the car pointed at the rocky shoreline and asked “what’s that?”

SEOUL - There are hundreds of attractions and lots to do and see in Korea – but here’s 20 things Travelife.ca writers suggest you put on your “must do” list when in Korea:

PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA – The woman yells “Qi Chuang! Qi Chuang!” in Mandarin as she slams our cabin door and orders us to get out of bed and fetch our travel documents for inspection halfway through our 27-hour train journey from Beijing to Pyongyang.