7 reasons why South Korea is the perfect family vacation spot

There's a cultural reason behind South Korea's exceptional child-friendly amenities, making it an ideal destination for families traveling with kids.

With a birth rate of just 1.05 children per woman, South Korea has the lowest fertility rate worldwide.

In South Korea, no expense is spared when it comes to their children, often dedicating the majority of disposable income and family vacation time to a single child.

This 'pocket-8' culture—named for the wealth and attention lavished on each child by two sets of grandparents and doting aunts and uncles—has inspired everything from meticulously designed 'kid cafes' where kids play and parents socialize, to a thriving luxury hotel scene catered to family staycations.

Let's explore why traveling with young children in South Korea is such a delightful experience.

1. Hotels are child-friendly wonderlands

While it's unclear which South Korean luxury hotel first introduced the concept of expansive play areas for children, most major hotels now compete with one another by offering creative play zones and seasonal activities for kids.

This has led to the rise of a new travel trend in South Korea – staycations known as 'hocance' (a blend of 'hotel' and the French word for vacation, 'vacance'). During peak holiday seasons, hotels are often completely booked by local families with children.

'It's been fascinating to witness the surge of the 'hocance' trend in recent years among families with children,' says Diane Na, assistant director of sales marketing at Le Méridien Seoul. 'In 2019 alone, sales of our 'hocance' packages more than doubled.'

Le Méridien Seoul (formerly Ritz Carlton Seoul) transformed its rooftop into a children's water park during summer, while also offering a beautifully designed year-round play area for kids, which is connected to an adults' lounge. The hotel also hosts drop-in children’s cooking classes for guests.

Lotte Hotel on Jeju Island is a favorite among families, featuring children’s pools, drop-in cooking classes for kids, a vast indoor play area, and Hello Kitty-themed suites on a dedicated Hello Kitty floor for children.

Paradise City Incheon is another family-friendly resort, known for its children’s bowling alley and expansive indoor and outdoor play zones. Recently, it introduced a quirky indoor theme park called 'Wonderbox' for kids, offering a darkly whimsical experience.

The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul has partnered with Lego to create the world's first Lego-themed kids' lounge, featuring a brick pool, graffiti wall, and a race track.

2. Playful kid cafes can be found all around South Korea

Kid cafes, available in nearly every neighborhood across South Korea, are hourly pay-to-play indoor spaces for children.

What makes these cafes truly remarkable is how they balance the needs of parents with the fun activities kids love.

Not only are these cafes designed with an open layout, allowing parents to watch their kids play while enjoying a meal, drinks, and adult conversations, but they also cater to South Korea's Instagram- and blog-obsessed culture, offering visually stunning designs and food that goes beyond expectations.

Lilliput, a popular kid cafe chain found in major South Korean cities, even has a spa-themed cafe brand called Plouf, which offers indoor pools, mini manicures, and blowout stations for kids.

3. Shopping with kids becomes a fun experience

Department stores across South Korea are family-friendly, offering services like drop-off kid cafes, free stroller rentals (sanitized after every use), loaner push cars (strollers designed like cars), private nursing rooms, and kid cafes located on the children’s clothing floors.

In Seoul, Shinsegae Department Store’s Gangnam branch boasts a drop-off kid cafe where parents can leave their child for up to two hours while shopping. It's conveniently located next to a children's food cafe serving fresh meals for babies and toddlers.

The store also features a high-tech children’s lounge with a napping room equipped with cribs, a toddler-friendly changing room, and a dedicated feeding room complete with a sanitizing machine, microwave, electric kettle, and bottle soap.

4. Clever and innovative kid products

Insulated stacking lunch boxes. Specially designed towels to keep your little ones dry while brushing their teeth or washing their faces. LED umbrellas that light up. UV sterilizing pacifier cases for on-the-go. Toddler beds that convert into playmats.

Ingenious children’s products that seem like they belong in a dream come true for parents are not only easy to find but also affordable to buy.

Seoul’s Namdaemun (South Gate) and Dongdaemun (North Gate) markets feature entire sections dedicated to children’s toys, accessories, and clothing.

5. Amazing museums for kids

South Korea is home to a diverse selection of children’s museums, offering the perfect escape on rainy or hot days.

You could easily spend three hours at the Hello Kitty Museum on Jeju Island and still not see all of its adorable pink-themed exhibits and interactive play zones.

On Jeju Island, the Teddy Bear Museum explores the history of teddy bears, while Seoul's Children's Folk Museum presents interactive exhibits about mythical creatures from Korean folklore.

Meanwhile, petting zoos like Zoolung Zoolung in Seoul and Hi Zoo in Busan let kids feed a variety of animals, from sharks and wallabies to hedgehogs and crested porcupines.

6. Just one word: KidZania

The Seoul location of this global family entertainment chain offers children the chance to role-play jobs that are unique to South Korea.

In the Nongshim section, kids can assemble their own ramen cups using a ramen machine, while the Korean Air area lets them decide if they want to pilot a flight simulator in a pilot’s uniform or assist as a flight attendant.

They can also try their hand at assembling hamburgers at Lotteria or become bug-busters at CESCO.

The main attraction is the firefighting unit, where mini firefighters use actual water to put out real fires in a three-story building.

7. Convenient drop-in medical care is readily available

Finally, you'll find a wide range of affordable, high-quality drop-in medical care available in every neighborhood.

Not only can you rest easy knowing that emergency care is readily available, but you might even be able to get your child’s teeth cleaned during your visit, as medical costs in South Korea are often significantly lower than in many other countries, even without insurance.

Seoul, in particular, boasts a large number of English-speaking dentists, a result of the growing popularity of dental tourism in recent years.