Korea again? How many times do you have to go there before you get tired of it?

I get that a lot each time people hear that I’m traveling yet again to K-pop country. And why not? Aside from Korea’s world-famous pop music, not to mention soap operas (Koreanovelas, if you please), there are several more reasons to love one of the most dynamic and colorful countries in the world.
Check out these five things that keep me coming back to the Land of the Morning Calm.

Have you heard of Jumong or Jang Geum? Queen Seon Deok, perhaps? Jang Yeong-sil? If you are a fan of Korean drama, these names should sound familiar. But did you know that they are not just characters from television soap operas? These people are in fact inspired by important figures in Korean history. Yes, these dramas employ creative license of sorts on their depiction of the country's historical events. Even so, one cannot help but be fascinated by the colorful history of Korea spanning more than 5,000 years. A visit to the National Museum will give you a glimpse of the Korean peninsula’s ruling kingdoms in days of old – from Goguryo, Baekje and Silla kingdoms to the dynasties of Koryo and Chosun. Here, you will learn how Korea has preserved and maintained their political independence and cultural distinctiveness amidst colonization from neighboring countries. Find out where Korea’s kings and queens fulfilled their destinies at Seoul’s five grand palaces: Gyeongbukgung, the largest of them all; Changdeokgung, a World Heritage Site with a secret garden; Changgyeonggung whose allure lies in being less crowded; Deoksugung where traditional and western architectures meet; and Gyeonghuigung which was used by the royal family as some sort of a safe house during emergencies.

This country is simply teeming with surprises. One moment you are surrounded by modern buildings, and the next you bump into old architecture like ahanok, a traditional Korean house known for its ondol(an underfloor heating system). That’s South Korea for you: preserving their rich heritage while embracing the conveniences of the modern world.

Gaining momentum as a world cuisine, Korean food is more than just kimchi. Although kimchi is a phenomenon in itself. Despite its appearance, Korean food is rather simple – prepared with the freshest ingredients and cooked using simple cooking methods. Must-tries are bibimbap (mixed rice topped with vegetables and beef slices), bulgogi (soy-marinated beef) and samgyupsal (grilled pork belly usually wrapped in lettuce or perilla leaves). Never leave South Korea without sampling galbijjim (beef rib stew) in Gangnam Myeonok in Insadong; samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup made primarily of a whole young chicken stuffed with rice, ginseng, garlic and jujube), and seafood ramyun at 55 Beonji in Bukchon Village. If you are on a tight budget, there are various street food you can try such as tteokbokki (rice cake doused in sweet and spicy red sauce called gochujang), twigim (fried food), sundae (not the dessert but blood sausage in Korea), gimbap (rice roll that looks like Japanese sushi), odeng (fish cake), and hotteok (Korean pancake), among others.

Living in a country with only two seasons: wet and dry, a tropical lass like me sees it as quite an adventure experiencing Korea's four seasons. In spring, around April, when nature awakens from its deep slumber, don’t miss the Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival featuring cherry blossoms in full bloom. In summer, when the scorching sun makes its presence known, head to Sinchon and join the water fight at the the Sinchon Water Gun Festival. In autumn, go outside the city to enjoy the gorgeous foliage. Watch the vibrant greens of summer change to a rich palette of red, orange and yellow. One of the best destinations to enjoy autumn is on Nami Island.

For those who are into the latest trends in fashion and beauty, South Korea is a shopper’s paradise. One of the world’s fashion capitals, Korea has both modern shopping centers and charming traditional markets selling luxury brands, latest fashion items, cosmetics, souvenirs and what have you.For Korean handicrafts, head to Insadong. Beauty products? Myeongdong is the place to be. Those looking for secondhand gadgets and other electronics should visit Yongsan. Dongdaemun and Namdaemun have high-quality fashion essentials. Incheon has a huge underground shopping area called Bupyeong Modoo Mall. A word of advice: If you're a fan of discounts, travel to Korea during the month of October for the Korea Grand Sale where foreigners get special discounts.

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Contributor Writer Glaiza Lee is a K-drama addict and a freelance writer who writes inspiring stories for various publications. Writing about the things she loves the most keeps Glaiza on her toes, with packed luggage in tow.