We really enjoyed the tour with David. He’s knowledge is huge and the way he is lecturing very engaging. Thank you very much!
Private tour in Seoul David M
5.0
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David M.
4.8
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I am an American citizen who has lived in South Korea since 1982, exploring it myself, leading tours, working in its tourism field and writing about its history & culture. For jobs, I have mostly served as a Professor of Korean Cultural Tourism at leading universities in Seoul. My main passion remains continuous discovery of the beautiful Korean mountains, and the spirituality going on in them -- and showing and explaining the best of Korea's assets to others! I truly enjoy living here, and people respond that the enthusiasm shows and is infectious. Having guided more than 700 tours in Seoul and the rest of Korea, for an astonishing variety of people, I think that I know pretty well how to create excellent memorable experiences for whatever your particular interests are. Especially if you're looking for deep learning-experience of cultural, spiritual, religious and historical sites/events, I'm your guy! I'd be glad to show you around for a half-day (3-4 hrs), or a full day, or several days. Anything you need is possible, from just 1 hour at a nearby temple to overnight expeditions in wonderful areas outside of Seoul. Meals at great Korean restaurants can be included before or after the walk, or a visit to a charming traditional tea-house. I can pick you up at your hotel or meet you at an easy designated place, and we'll go from there, until you're satisfied and safely back. From 2001 I worked for the national Ministry of Culture and Tourism in various positions as a Tourism Marketing and New Programs Consultant for five years, gaining a lot of valuable knowledge and experience. I was an adviser to the authorities on cultural tourism for the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup and the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. I helped to design and launch the famous "Buddhist TempleStay" program. We can do one of those together if you like -- half-day, 24 hrs or 48 hrs. Or simply visit one of the best temples to see and learn about its artworks, views and history. I earned a Masters' Degree in the History of Korean Religions from Yonsei University in 1997. This led to my career as a teacher, speaker, writer and guide on the religious character of Korea's mountains, which goes ever-onward. I have published ten books on Korean culture and tourism, including the 1996 edition of the Lonely Planet KOREA guidebook. The most-famous of my books was "Spirit of the Mountains" (1999) about Korea's deep and varied traditions of veneration of mountains. My 9th in 2014 was the 600-page English Encyclopedia of Korean Buddhism, and my 10th in 2016 was a biography of Korea's greatest ancient Sage. Tour Guide in Korea for 25 years, for many organizations and individuals, up to VIP-level. 17 years as a Professor of Korean Cultural Tourism at two of the nation's top university Tourism departments. Have written 10 books and many academic & popular-media articles about Korea's traditional spiritual culture, sites, mountains and tourism. Master's Degree in the History of Korean Religions. National Honorary Ambassador of Korea's main mountain-system. Consultant to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. popular public speaker on all these matters. I do not have a car in Korea, do not drive. I can arrange for a mini-bus or taxi if you wish, at extra expense. Otherwise we will use the cheap taxis that are easy to catch, and Korea's excellent and fast system of subway trains, and buses, together.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message David M.
Would you like to see some sites that are "truly Korean" and yet quite unusual? This tour is entirely "off the beaten path" but is also right on a corner of downtown Seoul. It includes Inwang-san [Benevolent King Mtn], Seoul's center of Shamanic shrines and practice, and an interesting park with relics of the Joseon Dynasty's royal Neo-Confucian heritage. These are rarely-seen yet fascinating sites overlooking the busy modern centers of financial and government power. Our walking-tour will conveniently meet and finish at Metro subway stations. As the shrines are built on a very steep slope, some uphill walking is necessary on cement stairways, roads and paths; but it's worth it! This tour can meet on any day at any time at the Station, or I can pick you up at your hotel. I am a well-known expert on both Korean Buddhism and Korea's folk-religion traditions, and will give a fascinating tour! You will learn a lot about both Confucian & Shamanic beliefs & practices, and see some amazing photo-perfect sights!
We really enjoyed the tour with David. He’s knowledge is huge and the way he is lecturing very engaging. Thank you very much!
We had a wonderful trip. David is definitely extremely knowledgable and very enthusiastic to show us around and share his love to Korean history. We managed to see a unique location, off the beaten path, that we would have not be seeing otherwise. David had patience to answer all our questions and add more information and insight, especially since this is his research topic, and an area that is dear to his heart. We are very happy to have had that experience and recommend it to everyone who wants a taste of the less known, less touristic, Seoul!
David combines a deep knowledge of Korean history and religion with wonderful storytelling abilities and indefatigable energy, which makes for a memorable experience.
Very informative and well paced! I got to see a side of Korea and Seoul I wouldn't have known existed before this. I hope to one day get to join another tour.
Great tour! Got to see a shamanic village and was lucky enough to find an actual ceremony happening on the mountain. Copious information, and David was very flexible and accommodating to our wishes. It was very cool to have a guide that could take us to these little known nooks, very off the beaten path. Some of the locals knew him too. Very highly recommended for those who are interested in the shamanic and folk rituals of Korea. Couldn't get a better guide for this tour!
We meet at your hotel or the Gyeongbok-gung Metro Subway Station. I will show you around Sajik Park, including the Joseon-Dynasty Altars to the Earth and Harvest. Then we will visit the large modern shrine for Korea's Founding-King Dangun just up behind the Park, and learn about his myth and its continuing modern significance. Then we will proceed to walk for about 20 minutes up to the "Benevolent King" temple/shrine complex of Inwang-san, the very rocky mountain just west of the Palace, which has been the most active site of Korean shamanism for thousands of years. We will see the mystic Seon-bawi rocks, the Guksa-dang National Spirit Shrine, several examples of active outdoor shamanic shrines, and stand on top of a giant boulder for one of the best views of Seoul there is. We just might see some live-action Shamanism happening right in front of us - or we may not, you never know! When finished, we walk back down a shorter way.
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Easy to get there and back by taxi or other public transport; it's very close to downtown. On the mountain, we're just walking... some steep slopes!
Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
Gyeongbokgung Subway Station Exit one. Or your hotel or etc.
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