It's my first time traveling alone, where should I start?

I recommend small county-level areas where mountains and rivers harmonize, such as Yeongwol in Gangwon-do or Gurye in Jeollanam-do. Try practicing by using a rental car instead of public transport and staying at an accommodation located deep inside a village.

Is there any way to check 'soundproofing' when booking an accommodation?

Search for the words 'soundproofing' (bang-eum), 'noise' (so-eum), or 'next door' (yeop-jip) in the review search box. If you don't see any such words, it is highly likely that the soundproofing is quite good.

5 Criteria for Quiet Healing Destinations Chosen by a Travel Expert Who Only Seeks Untouched Places

1. If it has 'Yuwonji' (Amusement Area) or 'Haesuyokjang' (Beach) in the name, filter it out

When I first started traveling, I often blindly followed 'scenic spots' rumored on social media, only to end up having a terrible time. In particular, places with names like OO Haesuyokjang (Beach) or OO Yuwonji (Amusement Area) are 99% guaranteed to be full of crowds and noise. If you want a healing trip, you need the following strategies when searching for a location:

Pin places on your map app that have fewer commercial facilities (franchise cafes, large raw fish restaurant streets) that attract tourists.
Instead of searching for keywords like 'local hidden gems,' try twisting your search terms to something like 'places where locals go for walks' or 'small parks used only by village residents.'
When traveling by car, set your navigation to a small 'myeon' (township) administrative district nearby rather than a major tourist attraction; it is much quieter once you enter.

2. Accommodations must be 'Private Houses' or located 'Inside the Village'

Don't be deceived by the glamour of ocean-view hotels or resorts. We've all had the experience of waking up in the middle of the night due to noise between floors or the sound of conversations in the next room, right? For a quiet rest, the location of your accommodation is key.

When using Airbnb or Stayfolio, the 'private house' (entire place) filter is essential. You can only feel true liberation if you don't run into other guests.
Choose a place where the surroundings are fields or the middle of a mountain. Accommodations by the roadside will bring you insomnia rather than healing due to the sound of large trucks passing by all night.
Be sure to check the 'road view.' If the entrance is too close to a busy downtown area, reconsider before booking. Even if the village roads are narrow and entering is slightly inconvenient, it means it is tucked away, which is actually better.

3. The magic of day selection: Sun-Mon or Tue-Wed

Leaving on Friday and returning on Sunday is essentially paying for hardship. No matter where you go in Korea, weekends are bound to be crowded. If you really want a quiet rest, be bold and use a half-day off or a vacation day during the week.

A Sunday check-in and Monday check-out course is by far the best in terms of value for money and tranquility. Since most tourists leave on Sunday afternoon, you can feel like you've rented the Monday morning walking paths all to yourself.
On weekdays, waiting lines at famous restaurants disappear. Places that require a 1-hour wait on weekends are wide open at 11 AM on a weekday. A relaxed meal is a key element of a healing trip.

4. Let go of the pressure that you 'must do something'

Just because it's a healing trip doesn't mean there must be grand sights to see. In fact, the more items you have on your 'must-visit' list, the more your trip feels like homework. Lately, I travel with the following routine:

After checking in, I promise not to go beyond a 2km radius of the accommodation.
Two books I wanted to read and a few offline-saved YouTube videos are enough. Don't force yourself to plan a tour of tourist spots.
Enjoy the small pleasure of taking a walk around the neighborhood at sunset and buying a can of beer at the local supermarket. Even if you don't see any landmarks, a memorable trip is completed in these fleeting moments.

5. Prepare for data disconnection and a digital detox

No matter how quiet the place is, if your KakaoTalk notifications keep ringing, your brain won't have a moment to rest. If you want true healing, put your phone deep in your bag.

Make it a habit not to connect to Wi-Fi as soon as you arrive at your accommodation. Giving a heads-up to those around you that you 'won't be easily reachable' in advance is also a good method.
Bring a small notebook and pen instead of a camera. Recording a few lines of text is more calming to the brain than capturing the scenery in front of you with a phone camera.

💡 If you check the Monthly Coupon & Special Offers before booking your trip, you can save on accommodation and tour booking fees.