Photography Tour South Korea and Jeju 2022
Photography workshops in a country where the clash of tradition and modernity couldn’t be more different!
There is probably no other country this fascinating, a place where millennia-old tombs, pagodas, and temples, meet a technology-driven, future-oriented nation.
“South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world!” says Daniel Thomas Faller. He should know, after all, he has been living, working, and photographing in his adopted country South Korea for more than seven years now.
“Moments and shots captured straight from life, that’s what fascinates me!” says Dominik Baur. The well-known Swiss professional photographer has taken pictures of prominent people and also remote places in this world.
Travel with Dominik Baur and Daniel Thomas Faller right into the heart of a country that, despite K-Pop, K-Drama, and the Netflix series Squid Game, is considered to this day as one of the secret hot spots. Listen to the evocative prayer of the monks, who loudly express their connection with nature using drums and bells. Explore Seoul with its modern and vibrant Gangnam district and get exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into the demilitarized zone along the border with North Korea. Admire the hard-working Haenyos, the female divers who submerge without oxygen tanks up to 20 meters to harvest seafood on the volcanic island in Jeju.
23.OCT. – 05.NOV.2022
Sunday – Saturday
14 Days / 12 Nights
Life / Photography / Travel
12 P
Highlights of tour
- Street photography in a city of ten million, where culture, modernity, technology, and religion are reflected in the cityscape.
- Visit Gwangjang Market, one of the oldest traditional markets in South Korea.
- Bukchon Hanok Village, a Korean village in the middle of Seoul with traditional Hanok houses, pagodas, and alleys provide the perfect setting for unique pictures.
- Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of five palaces in Seoul. Experience the amalgamation of ancient South Korean culture amidst modern architecture.
- Enjoy the sunset on the top platform of Lotte World Tower. A breathtaking view of the city of Seoul from one of the tallest buildings in the world.
- DMZ, the demilitarized border zone between North and South Korea with a former Swiss officer of the NNSC.
- Night photography of the skyline of Seoul and Busan.
- Haeinsa Temple one of the most impressive temples in South Korea is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We also take a look behind the scenes during an unforgettable temple visit.
- Artists’ district Gamcheon, which has been transformed by artists and residents into an art village in Busan.
- Sunrise at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, which is located right by the sea.
- Visit Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan, one of the most important fish markets in Asia.
- Watching the last sea women of Korea, the famous Haenyeo divers, who dive for shells in the depths of the sea on Jeju without compressed air tanks.
- Climb the extinct volcano Seongsan Illchulbong on Jeju Island and marvel at the Manjanggul Lava Cave.
Itinerary
Seoul
DAY 1
Individual arrival in South Korea
After your individual arrival in Seoul, you will already be expected at the airport and driven to your hotel.
Seoul guard
DAY 2
Arrival Seoul | South Korea
Welcome to the “Land of the Morning Calm”! After individual arrival, your journey through the tiger state begins in the capital Seoul, where we will personally greet you at the airport and take you directly to your hotel in Seoul. In the afternoon we will get to know all guests as well as the workshop and tour guides. After a short introduction about the current program, we will explore our surroundings with the camera. In the evening we will meet for a typical Korean dinner. Overnight stay in Seoul.
Seoul Market
DAY 3
Seoul | Markets and Hanok houses
We start the second day with a visit to the Gwangjang market. We immerse ourselves in the authentic market hustle and bustle of the oldest and largest covered market in South Korea. Over five thousand stores offer Korean textiles as well as Korean food. The street food hotspot in Seoul. In the afternoon, we stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, which has a centuries-old history. We will visit the traditional Hanok houses, which were created from stone, wood, earth, and rice paper. There we will also photograph Korean women in their Hanbok, the traditional Korean costume. Overnight stay in Seoul.
Lotte World Tower
DAY 4
Seoul | Gangnam and night photography
Gangnam is probably the best-known and craziest neighborhood in Seoul. Busy streets, beautiful people, fashion, and trends – a paradise for street photography. Today you will be impressed by the many skyscrapers and witness the vibrancy of the youth. In the afternoon we will settle on floors 117 to 123 of Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in Korea and the 5th in the world. From there we will enjoy a unique view of Seoul and capture the sunset with our cameras. Overnight stay in Seoul.
Haeinsa temple
DAY 5
Haeinsa Tempel Stay | Nature and place of silence
In the morning we will take the high-speed train KTX from Seoul to Daegu. Around noon we arrive at Haeinsa Temple. The temple is one of the most important legacies of the country’s Buddhist roots and houses the Tripitaka Koreana, the oldest Buddhist scriptures. Located within the Gayasan National Park, it is so well nestled in its surroundings that it gives the impression that the mountain and the temple are one. You will experience the daily life of the temple together with the monks and peek behind the scenes. After an introduction and tea ceremony, we will have dinner together early in the evening. We spend the night in Haeinsa Temple.
Busan
DAY 6
Busan | South Korea’s gateway to the world
Today early morning at 4 am you will attend the morning prayer and the Yebul ceremony at Haeinsa Temple. After breakfast and a temple tour, we leave Hapcheon in the direction of Busan. The afternoon is dedicated to street photography, where we discover the busy port city of Busan with its many small alleys and markets. Towards evening, a spectacular skyline of Busan awaits us, which we will shoot by the famous Haeundae Beach. Overnight stay Busan.
Jagalchi Fishmarket
DAY 7
Busan | Jagalchi fish market and Gamcheon
Early in the morning, we will enjoy the sunrise at Haedong Yonggusngsa Temple, which is located just a few meters from the surf. Then comes the highlight of the day – the Jagalchi fish market. Hardly any other market in East Asia offers such a wide selection of fresh fish and seafood as this one. From crabs to octopuses, you can find everything in this fish market that did not escape the fishermen’s nets. A special feature of this fish market is you can choose your meal directly from the seafood market’s fish tank and it will be prepared right on the spot. In the afternoon, we will explore the Gamcheon district with its colorful houses and winding alleys. Overnight stay Busan.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
DAY 8
Seoul | Gyeongbokgung palace and portrait shooting
After breakfast, we embark on the KTX high-speed train and arrive in Seoul in a little less than 4 hours. The afternoon is dedicated to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is the largest palace built in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. In front of one of the many ornate Korean backdrops, we will organize a portrait shooting where you will photograph models dressed in the traditional costumes, the Hanbok. Overnight stay Seoul.
Gyeongdong Market Seoul
DAY 9
Seoul | Namdaemun market and night photography
In the morning we take a look at the largest Buddhist community in Korea, the Jogye Order. Amid market hustle and bustle and palaces, Jogye Order is a sanctuary not only for the monks. We then immerse ourselves in the authentic market hustle and bustle of the traditional Gyeongdong and Namdaemun markets. Later in the afternoon, we visit Dongdaemun Market, which has been one of the most important wholesale clothing markets since its opening in 1905. We conclude our day of street photography with night and architectural photography at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park. Overnight stay Seoul.
DMZ
DAY 10
Seoul | DMZ – Exclusive Insights
Today we visit the demilitarized zone at the border between North and South Korea. Since 1953, Swiss and Swedish officers have been in South Korea as neutral observers. As a former officer, Daniel Thomas Faller has lived and worked in Panmunjeom, Korea for 3 years in the service of the NNSC (Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission). We will start with a short introduction about the Korean War, the Armistice Agreement, and developments that radiate into today. After lunch, you will visit the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel and peek at the “other side” while visiting the Dora Observation Platform. A very special highlight of this tour is a visit to Camp Greaves. It served as a military base for the 506th US Second Infantry Division for about 50 years after the Korean War Armistice Agreement. Today it is a site of postwar remembrance. Overnight in Seoul.
Volcanic Island
DAY 11
Jeju-do | Volcanic island
After breakfast, transfer to Incheon International Airport will be organized for guests without a connecting program. For them the photo tour ends here, individual journey home. The group with connection program Jeju will land on Jeju after one flight hour. We will cross the island to the south and pass Hallasan National Park. Arriving in the south of the island, we will explore the Jusangjeolli cliffs. The Jusangjeolli were formed from lava from Hallasan volcano and have a cube or hexagonal shape. Overnight stay in Jeju.
Haenyeo
DAY 12
Jeju Island | Haenyeo – Daughters of the sea
On today’s tour, we will leave the southern part of Jeju and explore the east of the island. We will climb the extinct volcano Seongsan Illchulbong Here we will have an impressive view of the overgrown volcanic cone and the surrounding sea. The highlights of today are the sea women of Jeju, the famous Haenyo divers, who dive without oxygen tanks up to 20 meters to harvest seafood. We will end our day tour with a visit to Manjanggul Lava Cave, the longest in the world (over 13 kilometers long). Overnight stay in Jeju City.
Myeongdong, Seoul
DAY 13
Seoul | Myeongdong and Street-Photography
In the morning we leave Jeju Island and arrive in Seoul by midday. In the afternoon we will explore the lively Myeong-dong district. Here, in addition to the many typical stores, there are also the famous street food vendors offering specialties such as chicken soup with ginseng, Korean dumplings (mandu), and much more. Overnight stay in Seoul.
Seoul
DAY 14
Seoul | Departure
After breakfast at the hotel and organized transfer to Incheon Airport, our photo tour ends. Individual journey home.
Currency/Price per person
from KRW 4’500’000 / CHF 3’400.00 per person
from KRW 5’770’000 / CHF 4’350.00 per Person with connection program Jeju
from KRW 5’770’000 / CHF 4’350.00 per Person with connection program Jeju
Swiss francs/reference price.
Price and program changes expressly reserved!
Costs included
- Transfer Incheon Airport – Hotel Seoul – Incheon Airport
- Flights Seoul – Jeju / Jeju – Seoul in economy class (only on connection program Jeju)
- All transports (partly minibus) according to program
- KTX high speed train Seoul – Daegu / Daegu – Busan / Busan – Seoul in 1st class
- Private workshop / guided tour by Dominik Baur and Daniel Thomas Faller during the entire tour (from/to Seoul) in German and English
- Private guided tour to the DMZ, demilitarized zone
- Fee photo model Hanbok portrait shooting
- 11 nights in a middle-class hotel (Jeju connection program) / 8 nights (without Jeju connection program) on base single room incl. breakfast
- 1-night temple stay (shared room) as per program incl. Breakfast
- Entrance fees according to the program
- incl. taxes and fees
Not included
- International flight to/from Seoul
- Meals and alcoholic beverages
- Cancellation/travel insurance
- Personal expenses and tips
Online Information Event
In the run-up to the photo trip, you can register for an online information event. There Daniel Thomas Faller and Dominik Baur will present the photo trip and answer your questions. These will take place as follows:
Thursday, 28. July 2022 | 7 pm (Swiss time) in English and German language
Please register via e-mail: connect@myschauplatz.com
Entry requirements Covid (as of March 14th, 2022)
The quarantine (7 days) conducted on all overseas entrants after the outbreak of the Omicron mutant virus will be exempted from March 21 for those who have completed vaccination in Korea and abroad with registration of their vaccination history. From April 1, the exemption will extend to those who completed vaccination abroad but have not registered their vaccination history.
Additional Information
- The photo tour starts and ends in Seoul. We can help you with flight bookings to and from Seoul
- Citizens of EU and Schengen countries can enter the Republic of Korea (South Korea) visa-free, short-term stays (less than 90 days and no gainful employment) are possible without a visa. However, all visa-free entrants must apply for an “electronic travel authorization” (K-ETA: Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) online via the K-ETA website or app at least 24 hours prior to departure. Further information is provided by the K-ETA website or the relevant South Korean mission abroad.
- Time difference: CET summer +7 hours, winter +8 hours.
- Best travel times: April-June and September-November. The summer months are very warm and humid. South Korea can be easily traveled throughout the year.
- Fun facts: Population: 50.4 million / Area: 2.5 times that of Switzerland / Capital: Seoul / Language: Korean. English is not widely spoken outside the major cities.
- The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 12 people. The photo trip takes place with a minimum of 8 participants.