Newbie from South Korea Checking In

[bwdenman]

I'm originally from Oregon but currently living in South Korea. I was encouraged to check out this site by my Wrangler Forum bretheren. I look forward to seeing what the Expedition Portal is all about. Cheers.

[haven]

Welcome, Bwdenman!

Please tell us more about adventure travel in South Korea. With 25% of the country's population living in Seoul, and another 25% in the surrounding region, that must leave a lot of open countryside to explore. I imagine that many of the roads to rural areas are unpaved and rough, where high clearance and 4x4 are advantages. Have you found a local Jeep club?

[bwdenman]

South Korea is about the size of the state of Indiana. The major difference is that Indiana has 6 1/2 million people compared to 49 million in South Korea. There is a lively off road community hear in Korea. Unfortunately for me my Wrangler is back in Oregon on blocks under a tarp in a garage.

There are a few off road vehicles preferred by Sorks. The SsangYong Korando is a small 4x4 SUV produced from 1983–2006. The name Korando is a contraction of "Korea Can Do".

There just isn't alot of 'open spaces' here in Korea. The only place the Koreans have not built on are nationally protected lands. If you could drive through North Korea that would open up a route to China and Russia.

My wife and I were talking about how cool it would be to drive from Seoul through North Korea through Russia and then through Europe. Put our rig on a ship in England and then drive from New York back to Portland. That would be some adventure.

[bwdenman]

On a a side note. My great Seoul to Portland overland adventure would not be in my 95 YJ. It would be in something more like this!

[bwdenman]

My wife is from South Africa. After our daughter was born we took a trip back there. We went on safari at Kruger National Park. Those safari jeeps are pretty sturdy expedition vehicles.

[tacomadave]

Welcome to the forum,

I recently was browsing craigslist and found n interesting Korean SUV, a SSangYong Musso imported and for sale in Vancouver, can't find the listing now though, anyway, its a really ugly SUV with a very nice Mercedes diesel engine. See many of these over there?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SsangYong_Musso

[bwdenman]

Welcome to the forum,

I recently was browsing craigslist and found n interesting Korean SUV, a SSangYong Musso imported and for sale in Vancouver, can't find the listing now though, anyway, its a really ugly SUV with a very nice Mercedes diesel engine. See many of these over there?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SsangYong_Musso

My principal has a Musso. They are extremely ugly. There are quite a few rigs over here that don't have much curb appeal. There are also a couple that look nice. I will let you be the judge.

Here is a sampling of Korea's finest.

[Life_in_4Lo]

Ssangyoung makes licensed Mercedes motors and is/was a higher end brand in Korea.
They got bought out by a Chinese auto company (SAIC) who quickly f'd it up, gutted the technology and left it bankrupt.
I think Mahndira (Indian) owns Ssangyoung now

Korea is much more into sedans, crossovers and sportscars, as is most of the world, when it comes to status vehicles or expensive ones. Offroad SUV's are not popular or widely used.
Work trucks are more in the line of a Bongo II.

I have never heard the term "SORK". Is that military or caucasoid slang?

[bwdenman]

Sork/Nork is an expat term (slang) for South Korean or North Korean. You are right about the sedans. They are nutty for them here. I drive a 4 door Daewoo Laganza. They also like the smaller suv's like Sorento and Tucson. I think a big ole' Ford F-250 would freak out the Koreans. The trucks here are not like back home. Those Bongo trucks have go cart wheels.

[JPageCJ]

Anyohaseyo!, I am also a new forum member and living in South Korea as well... I saw two 4 door Rubicons in the Seoul Area not to long ago, both appeared to be well used off road and both sporting some off road modification's .. not a common sight here as im sure you know. Id love to Experience some Korean Offroading seeing that the country is nearly 70% mountains it would make for some great drives. As Crowded as it is i have experienced some of the best hiking i have ever done here in the land of the morning calm.