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Christine Liu

I have a deep passion for exploring and traveling, as it allows me to encounter new cultures, meet new people, and witness the incredible diversity of our world. I have traveled to more than 30 countries and had the opportunity to study and work in various places, such as Europe, Japan, and most recently, South Korea.

South Korea has captured my heart with its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and the hospitality of its people. I am delighted to have the opportunity to show you the magnificent beauty of this extraordinary country and provide my assistance in creating an unforgettable travel experience for you.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Everything South Korea! It is a fascinating country where the old and the new are in perfect harmony. Whether you're drawn to the vibrant cityscape of Seoul, fascinated by the rich cultural heritage of Gyeongju, seeking a serene temple stay experience, or yearning to explore the breathtaking natural landscapes of Jeju Island, I'm here to help you enjoy a personalized travel experience that caters to your unique interests and preferences. From must-visit landmarks and local culinary delights to immersive cultural experiences, family-friendly activities, K-pop encounters, and outdoor adventures, you can rely on me for insights and recommendations that will ensure your journey through South Korea is full of unforgettable moments and cherished memories."

How did you get involved in travel?

"During my time studying in France, I often found myself strolling along the picturesque banks of the Seine River in Paris, completely captivated by the stunning architecture and numerous museums that lined its shores. In my free time, our university organized trips to the magnificent castles of the Loire Valley. It was there that my French professor advised me not to miss the opportunity to explore other European countries. Following this advice, I traveled to Italy with my friends during the holidays. The cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan left me completely enthralled. It was during these moments that my love for travel blossomed.

After graduating, I made the decision to pursue a career in the tourism industry. Having worked as a tour guide for over fifteen years, I had the privilege of leading travelers to explore China's breathtaking landscapes and rich historical heritage. I also took groups to visit South Korea and Japan, where I encountered countless beautiful places and met amazing people.

One day, I received an unexpected email from someone I didn't recognize. They introduced themselves as a French couple I had met five years ago on a train in Japan while guiding a group. They expressed their deep appreciation for my professionalism and passion and requested my assistance in planning their trip to South Korea the following year. I was both surprised and deeply touched by their kind words. Working closely with them, I created a travel itinerary that catered to their interests, ensuring they had a truly memorable time. This experience marks the beginning of my journey as a travel specialist, crafting tailor-made trips for travelers and helping them fulfill their unique travel desires.

I find immense satisfaction in my work as a travel specialist for tailor-made trips. It allows me to help people uncover hidden gems and explore places at their own pace. The joy of witnessing their excitement and satisfaction is truly rewarding. I am grateful to be able to play a role in making their travel dreams come true."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I have had numerous memorable travel experiences, but one that stands out is a camping trip with my family on a mountain. It was a unique adventure that I will never forget. It all started when my husband and I decided, almost on a whim, to embark on our first-ever outdoor camping experience. Along with two other families, we began a three-hour drive and had to go up a narrow, steep, and winding road to reach the mountaintop. There, we set up the camps right underneath a wind turbine at a wind farm.

After successfully arranging our tents, we were treated to a stunning sunset. As the night fell, the kids and the guys retired into the tents, while us girls gathered around a small table with steaming cups of tea. We spent hours chatting away, marveling at the magnificent stars twinkling in the night sky. Later, after midnight, we witnessed an incredible surprise—the shape of the galaxy became visible before our eyes. It was a truly magical sight that exceeded our wildest expectations!

In the morning, we woke up early to witness a heartwarming sunrise. The sky was adorned with fluffy clouds, and in the distance, we could see hundreds of wind turbines majestically standing tall. It was a breathtaking view that left us in awe of nature's beauty and the courage of human beings.

That's why I love to travel and explore. You can always see something you cannot see at home, and you will meet people you have never encountered by staying in one place."

Christine is part of the following groups: South Korea Travel Agents, South Korea Family Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Christine

Seoul/Jeju Island
South Korea | Oct 12 - Oct 25, 2026

K
Kevin M.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Nov 04, 2026
Christine did an excellent job coordinating and organizing our trip. We had a handful of issues related to weather that she helped to mitigate by providing updated itineraries, additional suggestions, and getting us in touch with guides with minimal notice. She's a highly skilled professional Read more

Christine did an excellent job coordinating and organizing our trip. We had a handful of issues related to weather that she helped to mitigate by providing updated itineraries, additional suggestions, and getting us in touch with guides with minimal notice. She's a highly skilled professional

Hotel Reviews
Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel Itaewon

Great place, very modern amenities and centrally located. The only issue is the bathroom was strangely designed and was essentially a wall-to-wall glass cube!

Authenticity & Character
Centrally located; easy to access
Location
About 7-10min walk to the subway
Staff
The staff was very kind and spoke good English, especially the breakfast crew!
Cleanliness & Comfort
The size of the room was perfect for two travelers
Benikea Hotel Seosan
Seosan

Great place, very modern amenities and centrally located. The only issue is the bathroom was strangely designed and had a large window in it!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The staff went out of their way to ensure my wife and I had extra pillows, which was great for our rest!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Mt. Hallasan, Tea Plantation and Spirited Garden Tour
Full Day Mt. Hallasan, Tea Plantation and Spirited Garden Tour
Jeju Island

We only did a portion of this tour because the weather was so bad. Our guide did a great job repositioning what we did during the day, but I don't feel comfortable providing a full scale rating of the experience simply because we didn't see much of the island.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Excursion to Korean DMZ + Suspension Bridge Tour
Full Day Excursion to Korean DMZ + Suspension Bridge Tour
Seoul

Our guide did an excellent job coordinating with other tour groups to get us into the DMZ, and we enjoyed exploring this borderland between North and South Korea with his guidance. The suspension bridge tour was less compelling to us, but that's okay.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Go on a Hiking Tour of Bukhansan and Ancient Seunggasa Temple
Go on a Hiking Tour of Bukhansan and Ancient Seunggasa Temple
Seoul

This was an incredible hike and tour of the temple and was probably the highlight of the trip for me. It is a large scale temple complex with a Buddha at the very top and a lovely little temple cat.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sightseeing in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village & N Seoul Tower
Sightseeing in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village & N Seoul Tower
Seoul

Largely this ended up being a photography tour for me and my group and the girls dressed up in hanboks for when we were on the palace grounds. It was gorgeous and a lot of fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Christine Liu

Thank you again for such a wonderful and varied experience!
South Korea | Oct 12 - Oct 25, 2026

P
Paul Z.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Oct 26, 2026
I had 3 guides:
1) Sophia Kim: An absolutely incredible guide. Helpful, knowledgeable, supportive, funny. Her only weak spot was a lack of knowledge of wildlife, which was the entire focus for this portion of the trip. She did the absolute best she could, calling experts, checking the internet for good spots, so she made the best of it. But do try and pick a wildlife expert next time a client requests a wildlife tour.
2) Danny Kim: He put up with the chaos of our group very well. He was... Read more

I had 3 guides:
1) Sophia Kim: An absolutely incredible guide. Helpful, knowledgeable, supportive, funny. Her only weak spot was a lack of knowledge of wildlife, which was the entire focus for this portion of the trip. She did the absolute best she could, calling experts, checking the internet for good spots, so she made the best of it. But do try and pick a wildlife expert next time a client requests a wildlife tour.

2) Danny Kim: He put up with the chaos of our group very well. He was patient, and thoughtful and helpful and accommodating. When people didn't want to do a particular event, he made sure we were safe and entertained while the rest of the group went off with him. Other than 4 of us catching the flu, we had a very fun time with Danny.

3) Mickey Park: We only had 1 day with him, and with the typhoon weather we had to drastically change the itinerary, but he handled it like a pro, and made sure we did cool indoor stuff the whole day, even as several of us were succumbing to the flu exhaustion.

Favorite parts:
* Walking amongst the farm fields with Sophia Kim spotting spoon bills and geese and storks and praying mantises.
* Solo walking through Seoul Forest Park and spotting all the birds and bugs
* Being introduced to Tteokbokki by Sophia Kim and wanting to eat it every day now
* Experiencing the underground market on Jeju and eating black pork.
* Having the best burger of my life at Welcome Burger on Jeju Island.

Least Favorite Parts:
* Not focusing on wildlife at the DMZ the first day.
* Discovering that the giant park west of the hotel was entirely walled off by the US government.
* Being told that the hike for Ancient Seunggasa Temple was "Easy". NOTHING about that was easy. That is an advanced, all uphill hike. OMG exhausting!
* Getting rained out of all the outdoor activities on Jeju

All in all it was a fantastic experience and I am very thankful to Christine for organizing it all and making run as smoothly as she could.

Next time, I need to return to Jeju when it's sunny, and experience Busan as well!

Hotel Reviews
Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel Itaewon

The breakfasts were tasty but limited, and the bathroom is very unorthodox and not very private.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Benikea Hotel Seosan
Seosan

Perfect hotel. Only minor complaint is walking distance to nearest restaurants.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Whistlelark, BW Signature Collection
Jeju Island

Another bathroom that isn't very private, but the breakfast had plenty of options.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Oct 30, 2026
Hi Paul, Thank you so much for sharing such detailed feedback! I'm really happy to hear that you had a fantastic time in South Korea, and I truly appreciate your kind words about me and our guides. I'll be sure to pass your lovely comments along to Sophia, Danny, and Mickey. I'll also take your suggestions to heart, especially regarding wildlife expertise and the hiking difficulty, so we can make future trips even better. And absolutely! You're always welcome back to South Korea. I'd love... Read more

Hi Paul,

Thank you so much for sharing such detailed feedback! I'm really happy to hear that you had a fantastic time in South Korea, and I truly appreciate your kind words about me and our guides.

I'll be sure to pass your lovely comments along to Sophia, Danny, and Mickey. I'll also take your suggestions to heart, especially regarding wildlife expertise and the hiking difficulty, so we can make future trips even better.

And absolutely! You're always welcome back to South Korea. I'd love to help you plan another trip to Jeju with sunny skies this time, along with a visit to Busan! Hopefully, we'll have another wonderful adventure together. 😊

Warm regards,
Christine

Our driver guide in Seoul, Taylor was very go...
South Korea | Oct 10 - Oct 19, 2026

J
Joel D.
Portland, OR | Reviewed on Oct 21, 2026
Our driver guide in Seoul, Taylor was very good and our driver guide in Busan/Gyeonju was great Read more

Our driver guide in Seoul, Taylor was very good and our driver guide in Busan/Gyeonju was great

Hotel Reviews
SIGNIEL BUSAN
Busan

Top shelf

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
SIGNIEL SEOUL

Top shelf

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hwangnamgwan Hanok Guesthouse
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Half Day with Gyeongju National Museum, Tumuli Park, Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond
Half Day with Gyeongju National Museum, Tumuli Park, Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond
Gyeongju
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Haedong Yonggungsa, Haewundae Beach and Traditional Market Tour
Full Day Haedong Yonggungsa, Haewundae Beach and Traditional Market Tour
Busan

Danny our driver and guide was the highlight

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Explore Seoul Highlights
Explore Seoul Highlights
Seoul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
a lot of traffic in Seoul......not something that could be improved
Personal Color Analysis experience in Seoul
Personal Color Analysis experience in Seoul
Seoul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Half-Day Gyeongju Highlights: Bulguksa, Seokguram & Folk Craft Village
Half-Day Gyeongju Highlights: Bulguksa, Seokguram & Folk Craft Village
Gyeongju
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Korean DMZ Tour
Full Day Korean DMZ Tour
Seoul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Gamcheon Culture Village, Songdo Skywalk and Jagalchi Market
Full Day Gamcheon Culture Village, Songdo Skywalk and Jagalchi Market
Busan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Same as before: Danny , our guide and driver was great
Transport
Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Oct 22, 2026

Hi Joel,
Thank you so much for your kind feedback! I’m delighted to hear that Danny and Taylor made your trip to Korea both smooth and memorable. I’ll be sure to share your kind words with them—it means a lot to our team. And we hope to welcome you back to Korea someday!
Best,
Chrsitine

Wonderful Trip to S. Korea
South Korea | Sep 21 - Oct 4, 2026

C
Charles M.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 06, 2026
I just completed a private tour of South Korea organized by Christine of Kimkim. The trip fulfilled all my expectations and was an excellent introduction for a first visit to a country I've always wanted to visit. As usual with Kimkim the arrangements were first rate, from airport transfers, hotel pick ups, and private and group tours. Seoul was a great beginning, and I had a private tour of the city highlights with Hera, who was informative, lively and flexible. She rearranged our... Read more

I just completed a private tour of South Korea organized by Christine of Kimkim. The trip fulfilled all my expectations and was an excellent introduction for a first visit to a country I've always wanted to visit. As usual with Kimkim the arrangements were first rate, from airport transfers, hotel pick ups, and private and group tours.

Seoul was a great beginning, and I had a private tour of the city highlights with Hera, who was informative, lively and flexible. She rearranged our schedule on the fly to accommodate both crowded venues as our tour fell on a major holiday, the Korean Thanksgiving, as well as rain in the afternoon. Hera knows the city well and easily found parking at Namsan Park and Gyeongbokgung Palace, which was my favorite place as I enjoy history. We also visited Bukchon Hanok Village and later Kwangiang Food Market where Hera described the various dishes available. She also recommended a resturant for lunch were I had an excellent local dish, Samgyetang, a ginger soup with a small whole chicken stuffed with rice.

The next day I visited the DMZ on an all group tour with Julie. It was fascinating. Julie was knowledge and she made the historical reality of a divided Korea relatable. We crept thru a tunnel leading from the DMC into South Korea, viewed North Korea across the DMZ, and meet a North Korean defector and heard her story.

From Seoul I took the train to the city of Gyeongju. A driver picked me up at my hotel and drove me to Seoul Station and walked me inside and ensured I knew which platform my train departed from.

At Gyeonjgu my driver/guide, Luke was waiting for me, and we spend the afternoon visiting various Silla Dynasty locations, from Tumuli Park with their curious royal tombs, to the Gyeongju National Museum with a first-rate collection of Silla artifacts and an excellent narrative of Silla history. We visited the beautiful Woljeonggyo Bride and the interesting Cheomseongdae Observatory. Luke provided detailed explanations with historical background on each place.

The next day Luke took me to Bulguksa Temple, and Seokguram Grotto. Both Buddhist sites dating back to the 8th Century CE. Both were located in beautiful settings and the buildings lovely. We drove to Busan that afternoon and on the way to my hotel Luke took me to a spa where I enjoyed a bathhouse experience that is part of Korean culture. We also took a walk around parts of the city.

Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Oct 06, 2026
Hi Charles, I’m so happy to hear that you had a wonderful and rewarding trip! 😊 I’ll definitely pass along your kind words and let Hera, Julie, and Luke know how much you appreciated their help and service. It’s hard to believe that when you first reached out to me about your trip, it was already late October last year — almost a whole year ago! And now, we’ve finally completed the entire journey together. It’s been such a pleasure to be part of your trip from the very beginning to the end.... Read more

Hi Charles,

I’m so happy to hear that you had a wonderful and rewarding trip! 😊 I’ll definitely pass along your kind words and let Hera, Julie, and Luke know how much you appreciated their help and service.

It’s hard to believe that when you first reached out to me about your trip, it was already late October last year — almost a whole year ago! And now, we’ve finally completed the entire journey together. It’s been such a pleasure to be part of your trip from the very beginning to the end. 😊

Thank you again for trusting us and for sharing your experience with me. If you or your family and friends ever decide to visit South Korea, Japan, or other destinations, I’d be more than happy to help you plan another wonderful trip!

Wishing you all the best, and hopefully we’ll have the chance to work together again someday. 😊

Best wishes,
Christine

Best South Korea Tour ever
South Korea | Aug 23 - Sep 10, 2026

Henville
Henville R.
Leicester, NC, USA | Reviewed on Sep 27, 2026
Our guides were great. Nicole was really amazing and fun to be with on our tour of the Fortress in Suwon. We wanted to detour to Osan to take some pics of my old base but wasn’t able to do so but everything else went well. Billy our guide for our trip from Seoul to Gwangju, Daegu, Cheongju, and Pusan was extremely well versed in the history of the different dynasties and period of Korean history. He did everything to ensure we had a great time as we journeyed through the land of South Korea.... Read more

Our guides were great. Nicole was really amazing and fun to be with on our tour of the Fortress in Suwon. We wanted to detour to Osan to take some pics of my old base but wasn’t able to do so but everything else went well. Billy our guide for our trip from Seoul to Gwangju, Daegu, Cheongju, and Pusan was extremely well versed in the history of the different dynasties and period of Korean history. He did everything to ensure we had a great time as we journeyed through the land of South Korea. Christine was always available to help and to fix anything that went wrong or keep us informed of any changes or updates to our itinerary. We love the Hotel arrangements and the food offerings at each location. Our tour in Daegu and Cheongju as well as Pusan were great. The people we met were so warm and attentive to our being able to have a wonderful experience in South Korea. We were able to visit the Language Institute in Seoul and Pusan and attended church on two Sabbaths and met some wonderful people of our faith. We enjoyed the spiritual fellowship with them and great food as well. Our trip to Jeju had a small hiccup with airport security but Christine came to the rescue and remedied the situation. Thanks for all your help Christine. You were great. We plan to visit again in 2030. Hope to stay in touch with Billy(Lee Kyung Jong), so we can see him again soon. Thanks to everyone involved in making our trip to South Korea so enjoyable and such a memorable success.

Hotel Review
Nine Tree Premier Hotel Insadong
Seoul

Great stay and good breakfast. Perfect location to access all of Seoul’s attraction. Wonderful staff. Great for long stays or short stay.

Authenticity & Character
Great service, authentic Korean food and good amenities
Location
Close to everything you’d want to do in Seoul.
Staff
Warm and helpful. Quick to respond to any request.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great room service each day.
Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Sep 28, 2026
Hi Roger,
You are such thoughtful and considerate people, and I truly appreciate your kindness throughout the journey.
Thank you very much for your understanding, support, and wonderful cooperation throughout the trip. It has been a genuine pleasure assisting you, and I am very grateful for the trust you placed in me. I sincerely hope you will have the opportunity to visit Korea again in the future. If you do, it would be a great honor and pleasure for me to have the opportunity to assist... Read more

Hi Roger,
You are such thoughtful and considerate people, and I truly appreciate your kindness throughout the journey.

Thank you very much for your understanding, support, and wonderful cooperation throughout the trip. It has been a genuine pleasure assisting you, and I am very grateful for the trust you placed in me.

I sincerely hope you will have the opportunity to visit Korea again in the future. If you do, it would be a great honor and pleasure for me to have the opportunity to assist you once again.

Wishing you both many more wonderful journeys and happy memories ahead.

Warmest regards,
Christine

A superb family trip
South Korea | Aug 1 - Aug 12, 2026

Betsy
Betsy B.
Washington D.C., DC, USA | Reviewed on Sep 25, 2026
The planning phase was super - we were hoping to trust kimkim to interpret our requests and preferences into an itinerary that met our needs and would make our travel experience smooth and enjoyable. They delivered. Every day was thoughtfully planned with the right amount of activity and also room to improvise when we decided in the moment we wanted to do something different. We had support from private guides and scheduled activities so we didn't have to figure out many logistics, but also... Read more

The planning phase was super - we were hoping to trust kimkim to interpret our requests and preferences into an itinerary that met our needs and would make our travel experience smooth and enjoyable. They delivered. Every day was thoughtfully planned with the right amount of activity and also room to improvise when we decided in the moment we wanted to do something different. We had support from private guides and scheduled activities so we didn't have to figure out many logistics, but also flexibility to explore or simply skip things based on our energy levels. The only challenge was overcoming the time difference and a bit of a language barrier negotiating some of the details.

The guides were all excellent in different ways, and I would recommend them all. They were funny, enthusiastic, and friendly and truly enhanced our experience in all of the places we visited. The Hello K cooking class and the Jinyeon traditional music performance were especially notable, but we found so much to enjoy every day. I also recommend the National Museum of Korea, the United Nations Peace Memorial, and the charming Hotel 28 Myeongdong where we stayed during our first leg in Seoul.

This is the first international family trip that we have done, and it was a stellar experience. We had a beautiful and memorable visit to Korea that we will remember for years to come.

Hotel Reviews
Maison Glad Jeju
Jeju

Felt luxe, and everything was quite nice, but lacked personality. Good location and an excellent breakfast.

Hotel 28 Myeongdong
Seoul

We LOVED this charming little hotel. It was a perfect place to spend our first nights halfway across the world.

Authenticity & Character
Location
We could walk to many restaurants, shops, and sites
Staff
Very kind, polite, and attentive, They spoke English extremely well.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great amenities and exceptionally well maintained
Shilla Stay Busan Haeundae

For a huge hotel they did a good job. Beach town vibes. Not fancy, and some of the choices in the rooms were odd, but pleasant enough, and well situated.

Activity Reviews
Explore Seoul Highlights
Explore Seoul Highlights
Seoul

Sebastian was amazing!

Go on a Hiking Tour of Bukhansan and Ancient Seunggasa Temple
Go on a Hiking Tour of Bukhansan and Ancient Seunggasa Temple
Seoul

This is a challenging hike! We enjoyed it but it was VERY hot and we probably shouldn't have done it during the heat wave.

Korean Full-Course Meal Cooking Class at Local Home with Local Market Experience
Korean Full-Course Meal Cooking Class at Local Home with Local Market Experience
Seoul

Perfectly lovely in every way

Jinyeon: Korean Traditional Music Performance with Modern vibes
Jinyeon: Korean Traditional Music Performance with Modern vibes
Seoul

Unexpectedly moving. Loved learning about Korea from a musical lens.

Discover the Culture of Busan with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Discover the Culture of Busan with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Busan

Jino was a delight. Such a kind and sweet young man. We loved seeing Busan with his perspective.

Family-Friendly Mt. Hallasan, Tea Plantation, and Arte Museum Tour
Family-Friendly Mt. Hallasan, Tea Plantation, and Arte Museum Tour
Jeju Island

Jimmie was fun and interesting - loved hearing about his mother's diving, and appreciated all of his recommendations. The Arte Museum was an unexpectedly awesome experience.

Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Sep 28, 2026

Hi Besty,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad we made your family's trip to Korea smooth and memorable, and that the guides and experiences stood out. We'd love to help with your next adventure.
All the best,
Christine

An Amazing 8 Days in Korea
South Korea | Sep 1 - Sep 8, 2026

PHYLIPA
PHYLIPA S.
Idaho Falls, ID, USA | Reviewed on Sep 09, 2026
We had an amazing eight days in Korea, and much of the credit goes to Christine at KimKim. From the beginning, she listened to what we wanted and created a thoughtful schedule that was not only well designed, but actually honored throughout our trip. Every transfer was prompt, communication was excellent, and we always knew what to expect next.
That level of organization made the trip remarkably stress-free. We had only one hiccup during our eight days, and Christine resolved it immediately....
Read more

We had an amazing eight days in Korea, and much of the credit goes to Christine at KimKim. From the beginning, she listened to what we wanted and created a thoughtful schedule that was not only well designed, but actually honored throughout our trip. Every transfer was prompt, communication was excellent, and we always knew what to expect next.
That level of organization made the trip remarkably stress-free. We had only one hiccup during our eight days, and Christine resolved it immediately. Her attention to detail, responsiveness, and genuine care made us feel that we were in very good hands.
A real highlight was having Kory in Seoul and Lucy in Busan as both our drivers and guides. This was an enormous advantage. Navigating the traffic and parking in two major cities would have added a great deal of stress, and instead we could simply enjoy the experience.
Kory brought Seoul’s history to life with his storytelling and knowledge. Our day at the DMZ was especially moving and became a true core memory for us. He clearly loves his country and city, and that enthusiasm was contagious.
Lucy was a wonderful ambassador for Busan. Her love for her city was infectious, and her knowledge, storytelling, and joyful personality made every stop enjoyable. Her timing was also exceptional—we seemed to arrive everywhere just before the crowds.
We also enjoyed a phenomenal Korean cooking class, along with many other experiences that gave us a wonderful mix of history, culture, food, and everyday Korean life.
A note for other travelers: We are an active retired American couple in our 60s and 70s, and this itinerary was very manageable for us. That said, it does involve a fair amount of walking on uneven surfaces, getting in and out of cars and trains, and navigating some smaller hotel rooms compared with typical American accommodations. We knew this going in, so we packed light, wore good, durable walking shoes, and managed our expectations. With that preparation, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
What impressed us most about KimKim was that the trip worked exactly as planned. The schedule was honored, transfers were prompt, communication was excellent, and when something unexpected happened, it was handled immediately.
Christine, Kory, and Lucy each played an important role in making our eight days in Korea exceptional. We came home with wonderful memories and a much deeper appreciation for Korea. We would highly recommend KimKim to anyone looking for a well-planned, personalized, and worry-free experience.

Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Sep 15, 2026

Hi PHYLIPA S.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for taking the time to share such kind words. It truly means a lot to me.

Your support and trust are greatly appreciated, and they encourage me to keep doing my best to provide an even better and more thoughtful travel experience for my clients.

It was such a pleasure assisting you with your trip, and I sincerely hope we’ll have the opportunity to plan another wonderful journey together in the future. I would be absolutely delighted to work with you again!
Best
Christine

Excellent
South Korea | Aug 5 - Aug 9, 2026

E
Eli W.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Aug 10, 2026
Excellent service throughout the entire process. From the planning stages to the final day of the trip, the team was attentive and helpful. When I missed the pickup time for a scheduled tour, my advisor was quick to help me catch up with it. Every driver was polite and took the extra time to not only get me to my destination but also guide me through an unfamiliar country. I could not have hoped for better help. Read more

Excellent service throughout the entire process. From the planning stages to the final day of the trip, the team was attentive and helpful. When I missed the pickup time for a scheduled tour, my advisor was quick to help me catch up with it. Every driver was polite and took the extra time to not only get me to my destination but also guide me through an unfamiliar country. I could not have hoped for better help.

Hotel Review
Lemong Hotel

Very helpful staff and I placed perfectly in Seoul. You are only ever a few minutes walk from any convenience you could need, and a great market Street only a few blocks to the north.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to anything you might need.
Staff
Very helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Gyeongju UNESCO Highlights Tour with Local Ryan
Private Gyeongju UNESCO Highlights Tour with Local Ryan
Gyeongju

Very helpful guide with an intimate knowledge of gyeongju and its history.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Gyeongju National Museum and Tumuli Park Tour with Night View
Half Day Gyeongju National Museum and Tumuli Park Tour with Night View
Gyeongju
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Seoul Highlights: Gyeongbok Palace, Insadong & N Seoul Tower
Seoul Highlights: Gyeongbok Palace, Insadong & N Seoul Tower
Seoul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Aug 10, 2026
Hi Eli,
Thank you so much for your trust, support, and cooperation throughout the trip. I truly believe that it was because of your understanding and support that we were able to make this journey such a wonderful experience.
Your kind words and recognition of my work mean a great deal to me, and they are truly what motivates me to keep doing my best for every traveler. It has been a pleasure arranging this journey for you, and I sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity to meet... Read more

Hi Eli,
Thank you so much for your trust, support, and cooperation throughout the trip. I truly believe that it was because of your understanding and support that we were able to make this journey such a wonderful experience.

Your kind words and recognition of my work mean a great deal to me, and they are truly what motivates me to keep doing my best for every traveler.

It has been a pleasure arranging this journey for you, and I sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity to meet again on your next trip. I would be absolutely delighted to plan another wonderful journey for you in the future.
Best
Christine

Michael was amazing
South Korea | Jun 8 - Jun 19, 2026

C
Charles C.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jul 05, 2026
Michael was amazing Read more

Michael was amazing

Hotel Reviews
NINE TREE BY PARNAS SEOUL MYEONDONG 2
Seoul

Central AC is no good

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Shilla Stay Busan Haeundae

Location

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Discover K-drama Locations in European Villages & Nami Island
Discover K-drama Locations in European Villages & Nami Island
Seoul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Busan Sightseeing with Hot Springs Spa Experience
Busan Sightseeing with Hot Springs Spa Experience
Busan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Excursion to Korean DMZ + Suspension Bridge Tour
Full Day Excursion to Korean DMZ + Suspension Bridge Tour
Seoul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-Day Busan Highlights with K-drama Spot
Half-Day Busan Highlights with K-drama Spot
Busan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Gyeongbokgung Hanbok Dressing & Namsan Tower
Full Day Gyeongbokgung Hanbok Dressing & Namsan Tower
Seoul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Jul 15, 2026
Hi Charles, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback! I'm delighted to hear that you had a wonderful trip and that Michael made such a positive impression. I'll be sure to pass your kind words along to him—they'll mean a lot. I also appreciate your feedback about the air conditioning at Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeongdong 2. Thank you for letting us know. We value comments like yours, as they help us improve future travel experiences. It was a pleasure helping you... Read more

Hi Charles,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback!

I'm delighted to hear that you had a wonderful trip and that Michael made such a positive impression. I'll be sure to pass your kind words along to him—they'll mean a lot.

I also appreciate your feedback about the air conditioning at Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeongdong 2. Thank you for letting us know. We value comments like yours, as they help us improve future travel experiences.

It was a pleasure helping you plan your journey to South Korea. I hope you came home with many wonderful memories, and I'd be delighted to help you plan another adventure like Japan, China and other destinations in Asia in the future.

Wishing you all the best!

Warm regards,
Christine

Great trip in South Korea and Japan
South Korea | Jun 5 - Jun 27, 2026

Renee
Renee M.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jun 29, 2026

We had an incredible well planned trip through South Korea and Japan. Jay was an excellent tour guide in Busan, she knew so much about Korean history and the out of the way places in and around Busan. Irene was an excellent guide in Jeju, she also had deep knowledge of the island and its history. She was also flexible with us in our itinerary when we got tired late in the day. Overall it was an excellent trip!

Local specialist: Christine Liu
Christine
Christine Liu
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Jul 01, 2026

Hi Renee,
Thank you very much for your kind feedback and for your continued support and trust in my work. It has been a real pleasure assisting you, and I sincerely look forward to the opportunity to support your next journey.
Best
Christine