Are there any visible effects of the country’s political history?
Seoul is a very modern city because it had to be completely rebuilt after three years of war, although Koreans have become good at rebuilding over many centuries of being invaded by the Chinese, the Mongols and most of all the Japanese; and ancient palaces have been restored. South Korea has boomed economically and people worked hard to catch up on things they lost during the devastating Korea War years, and there is hardly any poverty. But you can visit the border to see the ongoing political situation – you can also visit one of the tunnels the North Koreans started digging in an invasion attempt. All down the east coast you find military lookout posts and razor wire fencing, again as defence against North Korean invasion. There is a big US military garrison right in the middle of Seoul, and if you visit the area called Hooker Hill at night, you can see the soldiers relaxing with a beer. How much do basics like a pint of beer, a meal in a restaurant and hotel stays cost? Compared to
