Why These Towns?
Each town pairs real local character with practical research, so you can compare the places that catch your eye side by side.
The Atlases / South Korea
The South Korea Atlas.
Korea’s shortlist brings tidal flats, royal tombs and mountains above the sea. Discover eight Korean cities and towns with a life well beyond a short visit.
BEYOND THE FIRST IMPRESSION
Picture Your Life
in South Korea.
Reedbeds at Suncheon Bay, royal tombs in Gyeongju, mountain trails above Sokcho. These eight Korean places offer more than a stop on an itinerary. Compare year-round living, travel to Seoul, healthcare and the rules and local conditions that shape ownership.
What Do We Look At?
Scenery and culture, getting there, everyday services, rental rules and natural risks.
Our Research Approach ↗What Do You Get?
Full town chapters, maps and image plates, plus country guidance on buying costs, renovation, residency and taxes.
Research reviewed 26 September 2026.
THE SHORTLIST
Get to Know
the Towns.
Start with the setting. Then read about daily life and the trade-offs. Every town opens a different possibility.
No. 01Jeonnam-Gwangju · Reed Bay, Walled Village and Mountain Temples
Suncheon ↗
Reedbeds and tidal flats open onto Suncheon Bay, with a living walled village and mountain temples nearby.
No. 02North Gyeongsang · Royal Capital of the Silla Kingdom
Gyeongju ↗
Royal tombs rise like green hills among the streets of the old Silla capital.
No. 03Gangwon · Lake City 80 Minutes from Seoul
Chuncheon ↗
Lakes and mountains frame a university city with rail links to Seoul.
No. 04Gangwon · East Sea Culture, Beaches and Coffee
Gangneung ↗
Gangneung has historic houses, the Danoje festival and a coast of beaches and coffee shops.
No. 05North Gyeongsang · Floating-Stone Temple and Korea's First Academy
Yeongju ↗
Buseoksa’s mountain setting and Sosu Seowon’s scholarly history anchor a quieter Korean stay.
No. 06South Gyeongsang · Admiral's Harbor Among Five Hundred Islands
Tongyeong ↗
A working harbor, island ferries and a table shaped by the sea give Tongyeong its character.
No. 07South Chungcheong · Baekje Royal City on the Geum River
Gongju ↗
A fortress above the Geum and royal tombs recall Gongju’s years as a Baekje capital.
No. 08Gangwon · Mountain Port Beneath Seoraksan
Sokcho ↗
Seoraksan’s granite peaks rise behind the port, with lagoons and the East Sea in front.
INSIDE THE FULL ATLAS
234 Pages.
A Much Closer Look.
Go from first impression to the full picture: local history, living costs, property questions and the sources behind every finding.
Buy the South Korea Atlas · $39 ↗
