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Jessica Wang

My philosophy is that travel is about personal reflection and growth, about meeting people of different cultures, taking in the beauty of nature, and experiencing authentic activities. Let me know your interests and preferences, and I'll work out a trip plan that is specially tailor-made for you!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"With years of experience and a passion for Korean culture, history, and cuisine, I'm dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for travelers looking to explore this captivating country. From bustling cities like Seoul and Busan to serene landscapes, ancient temples, and mouthwatering street food, I strive to provide personalized itineraries and insider knowledge to ensure an immersive and authentic journey through South Korea. Whether you're seeking advice on the best hidden gems or guidance on navigating cultural nuances, I'm here to make your South Korea adventure truly exceptional."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I studied Tourism English in college. After graduation, I worked as a tour guide for over ten years. Then, I was qualified to work in our overseas offices, so I got lots of opportunities to travel around, mainly in Asian countries."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"My most memorable travel experience was the hiking trip in the minority regions in North Vietnam. My friend and I had been hiking for about four hours in the deep mountains that were really off-the-beaten-path. That area was so beautiful and tranquil. We breathed the crisp air and immersed ourselves in the gorgeous views. Then, we got lost. We went around and around the mountain but always got back to the same place. Suddenly, we spotted a local farmer with his cow!! He walked with us for more than an hour just to point out the right direction for us. His kindness, friendliness, hospitality, and his bright smile deeply impressed us and made our trip so memorable!!!
"

Jessica is part of the following groups: South Korea Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
South Korea K-Drama Tour: Seoul, Jeonju, Gyeongju & Busan - 10 Days
Immerse yourself in Korean drama on this 10-day tour of South Korea. You'll visit the country's most famous locations, featured on film, from Seoul to Jeonju, Gyeongju, and...
History & Culture in South Korea: Seoul, Andong, Gyeongju & Busan - 10 Days
From temples and traditions to street food and high-speed trains, you'll learn about South Korea's history and culture on this 10-day tour. Start by exploring Seoul and South...
South Korea Cultural Discovery: Seoul, Andong & Gyeongju - 7 Days
Discover South Korea's cultural wonders and history as you cover the peninsula from Seoul to Gyeongju on this weeklong trip. In Seoul, you'll visit the colorful Gyeongbokgung...
Family itineraries
Family-Friendly Tour of Japan's Cities: Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka - 11 Days
Japan is a wonderland for families, with cultural, natural, and modern attractions that will appeal to all ages. This 11-day trip visits three of the country's most significant...

Recent trip reviews for Jessica

South Korea 2024
South Korea | Mar 31 - Apr 13, 2024

Maria
Maria F.
Kernersville, NC | Reviewed on May 26, 2024
My husband and I had a terrific vacation in South Korea the first two weeks of April 2024. Throughout 2023, we worked with our Kimkim agent Jessica Wang to plan our tour. From our initial email conversations to the final execution, Jessica made sure all our requests and concerns were addressed. This was our first trip to Korea, so we were eager to take it all in. Our plan included several days in Seoul, a tour of Taekwondowon, a visit to Andong with a stay in a traditional hanok and a... Read more

My husband and I had a terrific vacation in South Korea the first two weeks of April 2024.

Throughout 2023, we worked with our Kimkim agent Jessica Wang to plan our tour. From our initial email conversations to the final execution, Jessica made sure all our requests and concerns were addressed. This was our first trip to Korea, so we were eager to take it all in. Our plan included several days in Seoul, a tour of Taekwondowon, a visit to Andong with a stay in a traditional hanok and a visit to the Hahoe Folk Museum and Folk Village. We went on from there to Golgulsa Temple for a taste of Buddist life and seongmudo martial art. Gyeongju was next with more history of the Silla Kingdom, then on down to Busan. From Seoul to Busan we traveled with "Mr. Jones," our very attentive, friendly and knowledgable driver and guide. The last stop on the trip was Jeju Isalnd. We had some bad luck with some delicious food our first night there, and unfortunately ended up too ill to go out the next day. Jessica was terrific, checking in on us several times.
After flying back to Busan, we boarded the KTX train back to Seoul, an easy 2.5 hour trip.

If you have any interest in martial arts, go to Taekwondowon! It is a beautiful campus, with indoor and outdoor training areas. The theatrical TKD demonstration was really fun, and I think we got VIP'd because after the show, we were invited on stage for a little training! Andong and Gyeongju are great small cities with tons of history going back to the Silla Kingdom. We enjoyed an impromptu tour of the Hangeul Museum in Seoul. Mr. Kim, a docent, took us under his wing and guided us through the invention and development of the Korean alphabet and language. We learned more about 20th century Korea in Busan, especially the development of Gamcheon Culture Village and also Haedong Yonggungsa Temple.

We very much appreciated all the planning and attention Jessica and her team put into our vacation. It made everything flow smoothly with no worries.

Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on May 29, 2024
Dear Maria, Hope you are doing great and thank you for sharing your fantastic adventure with us.It is so pleasant to know that you and your partner had an amazing time in South Korea from exploring historical sites to immersing yourselves in martial arts at Taekwondowon.The personalized touches, like the impromptu tour of the Hangeul Museum and the attentive service of your driver and guide, Mr. Jones, surely added to the overall enjoyment of your journey. We are looking forward to your... Read more

Dear Maria,

Hope you are doing great and thank you for sharing your fantastic adventure with us.It is so pleasant to know that you and your partner had an amazing time in South Korea from exploring historical sites to immersing yourselves in martial arts at Taekwondowon.The personalized touches, like the impromptu tour of the Hangeul Museum and the attentive service of your driver and guide, Mr. Jones, surely added to the overall enjoyment of your journey. We are looking forward to your next trip to south Korea again.

Wish you and your family happy all the time.

Best regards from Asia.
Jessica

Read all South Korea reviews

Great trip to South Korea with a few glitches
South Korea | Apr 12 - Apr 23, 2024

Vincent
Vincent K.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on May 23, 2024
We had a great trip to South Korea planned by Jessica. She provided a lot of options for activities in each city and made helpful suggestions for things to do and places to go during our free time. She also checked in with us during the trip to see how our day went, and how each of the local guides did.
The local guides were, for the most part, very accommodating to our needs. Jessica provided us with some of their names and phone numbers in advance. But two of them were substituted at the... Read more

We had a great trip to South Korea planned by Jessica. She provided a lot of options for activities in each city and made helpful suggestions for things to do and places to go during our free time. She also checked in with us during the trip to see how our day went, and how each of the local guides did.
The local guides were, for the most part, very accommodating to our needs. Jessica provided us with some of their names and phone numbers in advance. But two of them were substituted at the last minute - "Jake" became "James" in Seoul and "Kevin" became "Jake" in Busan. The KimKim website says that their local guides all have years of experience, but Jake told us that he had just started guiding and we were his second tour ever. James' English wasn't that great, so he didn't understand some of the questions that I asked. Clover, our guide in Jeju, was terrific. She modified the tour to our interests and was very easy to chat with. I'm not sure we would have purchased a private day tour of the DMZ had we known that there was a mandatory bus within the DMZ area that all tour groups had to use. Jones, our guide, was very nice, but he probably should have warned us that the walk down (and back) from the Infiltration Tunnel was VERY long and steep. (We probably would have skipped it, had we known.)
Some of the communication between KimKim and the local guides could have been improved. In one case, the guide didn't realize that the admission to the observation deck of the tower was included, so we paid for our (and his) admission fees, since we wanted to go up to see the view. Later, when I was recapping the day's events to Jessica, I told her that we paid for the admission fees. She told me that the admissions were included in the price that I paid KimKim, so KimKim promptly refunded that amount to me.
Overall, I'd say that KimKim is a useful service for people who are traveling to another country for the first time and don't want to do all the research on their own to figure out where to visit and what to see (or even how to find a private tour).

Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on May 24, 2024
Dear Vincent, Hope you are doing fantastic and thanks a lot for your thoughtful feedback about your tour to South Korea with us. It is my great pleasure to tailor your tour to your preferences. It's great to hear that our team provided a valuable service for your travel needs, especially for first-time travelers navigating a new country. We're also glad that Clover in Jeju modified the tour to your interests and was very easy to chat with. Since the number of international travelers... Read more

Dear Vincent,

Hope you are doing fantastic and thanks a lot for your thoughtful feedback about your tour to South Korea with us. It is my great pleasure to tailor your tour to your preferences.

It's great to hear that our team provided a valuable service for your travel needs, especially for first-time travelers navigating a new country. We're also glad that Clover in Jeju modified the tour to your interests and was very easy to chat with.

Since the number of international travelers coming to South Korea this year is significantly higher than we anticipated, we lack experienced tour guides during the peak season. We will try our best to arrange more training to help them to be more capable and store more experienced tour guides. Thank you very much for your understanding and kind suggestions.

We regret any inconvenience caused by the confusion of changing guides at the last minute. Although, as we talked about before， an unexpected situation occurred with one of our recent travelers whose flight was canceled, so we had to make adjustments and reschedule some of our tour guides, we should have kept you updated on any changes in advance.Thank you again for sharing your feedback, and we hope to welcome you back for more memorable adventures in the future.

Best regards,
Jessica

Most amazing trip in Seoul, South Korea
South Korea | Apr 8 - Apr 20, 2024

Eliza
Eliza C.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Apr 24, 2024
I had the most amazing wk tour. Originally opted for 5 days but Odynova tours and KimKim suggested 7 for a more comprehensive tour and it worked out really well. The tour guide, Ms Jang, was friendly, courteous and very informative. She was always on time and met me at my hotel each morning. I had a few reschedulings for my departure transfer but Jessica from KimKim/Odynova tours, was able to respond immediately and made the changes for me. I was very impressed by how efficient they were... Read more

I had the most amazing wk tour. Originally opted for 5 days but Odynova tours and KimKim suggested 7 for a more comprehensive tour and it worked out really well. The tour guide, Ms Jang, was friendly, courteous and very informative. She was always on time and met me at my hotel each morning. I had a few reschedulings for my departure transfer but Jessica from KimKim/Odynova tours, was able to respond immediately and made the changes for me. I was very impressed by how efficient they were on resolving curveballs in my end and all with a friendly manner and followed up after as well. I will not hesitate to book through them again and recommend them to anyone looking for a tour in Seoul. South Korea. Thank you. Jessica, KimKim, Odynovs and Ms Jang. I am bringing back memories that will last a lifetime!

Hotel Review
NINE TREE PREMIER HOTEL MYEONGDONG II
Seoul

Bed was a little too firm. Only complaint but that’s my individual preference . The rooms were clean on arrival and always kept clean. Cleaning staff were on top of it and I was very happy. Front desk was helpful, the gym was adequate and the rooftop lounge had a great view and my fav drink - toddy. Very satisfied with the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Heart of Seoul. Within walking distance to anything.
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
Seoul Highlights & K-drama Tour
Seoul Highlights & K-drama Tour
Seoul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Seoul Food Tour: Street Eats and Korean BBQ
Seoul Food Tour: Street Eats and Korean BBQ
Seoul
Quality of Experience
K
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Suwon and Yongin Tour From Seoul
Full Day Suwon and Yongin Tour From Seoul
Seoul
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on Apr 25, 2024
Dear Eliza, Hope you have a great day.It is my great honor and pleasure to customize your tour to South Korea and try my best to do recommendation to meet your preference. I'm glad to hear you had such a fantastic tour experience with us. We are also so delighted to know that Ms. Jang made your time in Seoul even more enjoyable with her friendly and informative guidance. Thank you for sharing your positive experience with NINE TREE PREMIER HOTEL MYEONGDONG II as well. It's great to hear... Read more

Dear Eliza,

Hope you have a great day.It is my great honor and pleasure to customize your tour to South Korea and try my best to do recommendation to meet your preference. I'm glad to hear you had such a fantastic tour experience with us. We are also so delighted to know that Ms. Jang made your time in Seoul even more enjoyable with her friendly and informative guidance.

Thank you for sharing your positive experience with NINE TREE PREMIER HOTEL MYEONGDONG II as well. It's great to hear that despite the firm bed, the cleanliness, helpfulness of the staff, and amenities like the gym and rooftop lounge left you satisfied. Your recommendation speaks volumes about the quality of service provided by everyone involved. We are proud of them.

Thanks a lot again for sharing your wonderful trip with us and look forward to the next trip again.

All the best,
Jessica

Read all South Korea reviews

Jessica planned a great experience for us and...
South Korea | Apr 8 - Apr 14, 2024

S
Steve L.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Apr 23, 2024
Jessica planned a great experience for us and was very attentive to all the details. Read more

Jessica planned a great experience for us and was very attentive to all the details.

Activity Review
Full Day Hiking in Seoraksan National Park - Biryong Falls Course
Full Day Hiking in Seoraksan National Park - Biryong Falls Course
Sokcho

The hiking and national park were stunning. The hike was not to hard but provided great scenery.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on Apr 24, 2024

Dear Steve,

Greetings from Jessica and so happy to know that you have a enjoyable and amazing experience with your trip to South Korea. Seoraksan National Park is absolutely stunning and we all love it.It's great to know that the full-day hike along the Biryong Falls Course in Sokcho provided breathtaking scenery without being overly challenging.Thanks for sharing your positive feedback and we look forward to welcoming you back to this lovely country again.

Warm regards,
Jessica

Read all South Korea reviews

Our 10 day trip to Korea was absolutely amazi...
South Korea | Apr 7 - Apr 17, 2024

David
David G.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Apr 21, 2024
Our 10 day trip to Korea was absolutely amazing. Our travel planner, Jessica, worked with us to cater to our every desire from hotels, private tour guides, private car service, and plenty of recommendations on what to see and do. We spent six days in Seoul, two in Busan and two in Jeju. At every step, from pre-planning, to booking, to checking in with us during the trip, Jessica was checking in to ensure all of needs were being met. Our tour guide in Seoul, Don Lee, was fantastic. Jade Park... Read more

Our 10 day trip to Korea was absolutely amazing. Our travel planner, Jessica, worked with us to cater to our every desire from hotels, private tour guides, private car service, and plenty of recommendations on what to see and do. We spent six days in Seoul, two in Busan and two in Jeju. At every step, from pre-planning, to booking, to checking in with us during the trip, Jessica was checking in to ensure all of needs were being met. Our tour guide in Seoul, Don Lee, was fantastic. Jade Park expertly showed us around Busan. And Suzie was a wonderful guide in Jeju.

We couldn't be more impressed with everything Korea had to offer - it's incredibly clean, the people are friendly and many speak English so language wasn't a problem, the sights are amazing, and the food scene is off the charts. It was a trip my family will remember forever. And I'll look to KimKim to set me up with all of our future vacation plans.

Activity Reviews
Full Day Gyeongbokgung Hanbok Experience and Gwangjang Market
Full Day Gyeongbokgung Hanbok Experience and Gwangjang Market
Seoul

A must see. Definitely rent the traditional wardrobe for an elevated experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Haedong Yonggungsa and Haeundae Beach Tour
Half Day Haedong Yonggungsa and Haeundae Beach Tour
Busan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Manjanggul Cave and Seongsan Ilchulbong Tour
Half Day Manjanggul Cave and Seongsan Ilchulbong Tour
Jeju Island
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square and Jagalchi Market
Half Day Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square and Jagalchi Market
Busan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Petite France and Nami Island Tour For Families
Full Day Petite France and Nami Island Tour For Families
Seoul

Zero stars for Petite France. 5 stars for Nami Island. Anyone who has actually been to France will likely find Petite France a little silly and not worth spending any time there. Nami Island was absolutely amazing so spend as much time there as possible.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Hyeopjae Beach, Spirited Garden and Green Tea Plantation Tour and Arte Museum
Half Day Hyeopjae Beach, Spirited Garden and Green Tea Plantation Tour and Arte Museum
Jeju Island
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on Apr 23, 2024
Dear David, Hope you are doing fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience. It's fantastic to hear that your 10-day trip to Korea was so amazing.It is my great pleasure to provide you and your family an enjoyable and memorable trip from accommodations to recommendations. Your detailed descriptions of Seoul, Busan, and Jeju make me very proud of them. It's also wonderful to hear about the exceptional tour guides you had throughout your journey. I'm glad you enjoyed the... Read more

Dear David,

Hope you are doing fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience. It's fantastic to hear that your 10-day trip to Korea was so amazing.It is my great pleasure to provide you and your family an enjoyable and memorable trip from accommodations to recommendations. Your detailed descriptions of Seoul, Busan, and Jeju make me very proud of them. It's also wonderful to hear about the exceptional tour guides you had throughout your journey. I'm glad you enjoyed the cleanliness, friendliness of the people, and the incredible food in Korea.

Thanks a lot for sharing your feedback on the Full Day Petite France and Nami Island Tour. It's helpful to hear your perspective on the attractions. It sounds like Nami Island left a lasting impression with its amazing experiences. Your insights on Petite France provide valuable context for travelers considering the tour. We appreciate this a lot.

I'm so delighted to learn that you're considering KimKim for your future vacation plans. Looking forward to your next family adventure soon.

Wish you and your family happy all the time.

Warm regards,
Jessica

Read all South Korea reviews

Everything went so smoothly. We don’t speak...
South Korea | Nov 22 - Nov 24, 2023

N
Nicholas Y.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Nov 25, 2023
Everything went so smoothly. We don’t speak any Korean but all of the guides and drivers were so helpful and made our trip so easy and low stress. We had a wonderful time. Read more

Everything went so smoothly. We don’t speak any Korean but all of the guides and drivers were so helpful and made our trip so easy and low stress. We had a wonderful time.

Hotel Review
Grand Josun Busan
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Bulguksa temple and National Museum Tour
Full Day Bulguksa temple and National Museum Tour
Gyeongju

Our guides sang and James made all the difference. Great people overall and spent so much time making sure we were comfortable and having a good time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Fantastic! Couldn’t ask them to do any better.
Transport
Very comfy new van.
Visit Haedong Yonggungsa and Haeundae Beach
Visit Haedong Yonggungsa and Haeundae Beach
Busan

Beautiful temple. Well worth the visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sang and James were fantastic. Great tips so we didn’t have to wait too long for anything. Also picked us up and dropped us off at the most convenient locations for parking etc.
Transport
Half Day Gamcheon Village and Jagalchi Market
Half Day Gamcheon Village and Jagalchi Market
Busan
Quality of Experience
Fun time checking out this unique village.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sang and James did a great job explaining everything to us about the history and how this place came about
Transport
Great van.
Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on Nov 27, 2023

Hi Nicholas,

Hope you have a great day.

Thank you for sharing your amazing experience in South Korea with us. It brings us great joy to know that you enjoyed your time, especially delighted to hear that you have fantastic time with Sang and James. It’s our great honor to have played a part in making your vacation enjoyable.

Welcome you and your family back to South Korea again in the future.

All the best,
Jessica

Read all South Korea reviews

2 weeks in beautiful South Korea
South Korea | Oct 10 - Oct 17, 2023

J
Jody C.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Oct 24, 2023
Thank you Jessica. We appreciate your patience and hard work in working with us over many months to plan our family trip to South Korea. You never waivered through our many requests and changes as our plans changed. Thank you Sang, you were an excellent guide for our family trip. We felt very safe in your care and appreciated you sharing your knowledge of each of the areas we visited. Read more

Thank you Jessica. We appreciate your patience and hard work in working with us over many months to plan our family trip to South Korea. You never waivered through our many requests and changes as our plans changed.

Thank you Sang, you were an excellent guide for our family trip. We felt very safe in your care and appreciated you sharing your knowledge of each of the areas we visited.

Hotel Reviews
Lotte City Hotel Jeju
Jeju
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Crown Harbor Hotel
Busan
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ramada Hotel & Suites Gangwon Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lotte Resort Sokcho
Sokcho
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Surprised to find that 2 people had to sleep in mats on the floor.
Sotetsu Hotels The Splaisir Seoul Myeongdong
Seoul
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Laundry room big plus!
Activity Reviews
Half Day Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square and Jagalchi Market
Half Day Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square and Jagalchi Market
Busan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Busan City Tour with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Busan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch Tour
Half Day Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch Tour
Pyeongchang
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Exploring Sokcho Beach and Jungang Market
Half Day Exploring Sokcho Beach and Jungang Market
Sokcho

For our family we would have skipped the market and spent more time at the beach.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on Oct 26, 2023

Hi Jody,

Greetings from Jessica.

Thank you so much for your wonderful words and thoughtful feedback regarding Kimkim and your trip to South Korea! Working with you to plan and organize your vacation was truly a pleasure. We are grateful to have played a part in making your vacation enjoyable.Wishing you andyour family many more incredible experience ahead.

Best regards,
Jessica

Read all South Korea reviews