BEST FIRST STOP
Seoul
Allow: 4-5 days
Move: subway + bus
Choose for: culture, food, nightlife
DESTINATION EDIT
Three places,
three different rhythms.
For a first trip, Seoul is the easiest base. Add Busan for coast and food, or choose Jeju when landscapes and a slower road trip matter more than city variety.
SIMPLE COMBINATIONS
Build a realistic route.
Seoul only
Stay in two contrasting areas without losing time to domestic transfers.
Seoul + Busan
Take the KTX between the two cities in roughly 2.5 hours.
Seoul + Jeju
Fly to the island and keep at least three full days for weather flexibility.
All three
Use KTX for Busan and a domestic flight for Jeju; avoid one-night stops.