Most K-Pop fans could probably make their own "reasons to visit Korea" list without much thought. The chance to magically meet their favorite idol and slip them a love potion or to visit some of the hallowed ground on which the country's most famous dramas and music videos have been filmed are high priorities for most super fans.

There's a lot more to Korea for travelers than just its idol hotspots, though, and more travelers than ever - 11.1 million foreign visitors in 2012, to make it the 20th most visited country in the world - are booking their tickets into Incheon International Airport.

That desire to visit Korea is a somewhat new phenomenon to the county. It's not easy to draw visitors to a country in a rebuilding period, so for the decades after the Korean War tourists stayed away. It also has stiff regional competition. While Korea has always been a land filled with dramatic landscapes, an island getaway, fascinating historical sites, and miles of stellar hiking, tourists have often chosen other Asian destinations including Japan's hyperactive cities, the Great Wall of China, or the lazy beaches of Thailand over a trip to South Korea.

That changed a little following Korea's international hosting duties for both the 1988 Olympics and the 2002 World Cup. Both events, combined with Seoul's emergence as a huge player in the international business field, helped transform the country into the teeming, futuristic destination that it is today.

If you're are itching to go, check out this promotion from the Korea Culture and Information Service, which could send you and a friend to Korea for a free 3-day trip! We know you'll still want to cross off a few idol destinations off your Korea bucket list, but here are a few other things to don once you're there.

Attend a Festival

One of Korea's most fun festivals is the Lotus Lantern Festival, held every year in honor of Buddha's Birth on April 8. There are celebrations around the country, but the main parade and lantern lighting takes place at the Seoul Plaza. Get a spot on the parade route to see traditional Korean dancers, huge illuminated floats, and folk performers and music.

Another favorite with foreign visitors is the Boryeong Mud Festival. It's as simple as it sounds: head to the beach on the coastal city of Boryeong, get drenched in mud, rinse off in the ocean, repeat.

Hike Seoraksan

Hiking is a true national pastime in Korea, and the Seoraksan National Park is one of the finest spots to do so. The park, which is an easy weekend trip outside of Seoul, draws national and international tourists with attractions including a waterfall, a mysterious rock formation called the Ulsanbawi, and the "Valley of a Thousand Buddhas," named for the valley's rock formations that resemble parallel stripes of Buddhas.

The main attraction, though, is scaling Mount Seoraksan. It's challenging enough that you'll feel like a superhero after doing it (one that deserves all the celebratory soju and samgyeopsal you'll down after the climb), but it's not so tough that you need years (or even months) of experience. Autumn is the most popular time of year to scale it to enjoy the fall foliage.

If you want to climb like a Korean, make sure you're packing the right gear. That means full hiking apparel from head to toe, a walking stick in at least one hand, and a backpack full of the essentials, like rice, purple yams, and soju. You won't have to work hard to make friends with some of these hikers, but make sure you can keep up - you're in a country full of speedy hikers.

Wade in the Waters of the Dwitree Aroma Pool Village

Korea's Asian neighbors like Thailand and the Philippines get most of the credit for the picturesque beaches in the region, but Korea has more than a few resorts worth a stay.

If you don't have time to fly or take a boat to Jeju Island, book a suite at the Dwitree Aroma Pool Villa in Gangwon-do. These sleek villas are tucked into the mountains of Jeongseon-gun and are connected by crystal clear waters that either require swimming or Venice-style gondola-ing to get around. Spend lazy days in the water and nights on the villa's deck sipping on wine and eating savory Korean BBQ for a perfect getaway.

Hit Historical Spots like the DMZ and the Korean War Memorial

It's tough to imagine an ancient Korea when you're buzzing through one of Korea's modern subways or sleek shopping complexes, but the country has a turbulent, fascinating history that has shaped it into what it is today.

The DMZ and the Korean War Memorial in Seoul are two of the spots that you can see some of the country's most recent past. The DMZ in particular is a destination unlike any other. Arrange a trip through a tour group from Seoul and peek over the border into the North, climb inside one of the underground tunnels built during the war to infiltrate South Korea, and learn about the ongoing conflicts and efforts at reunification between the two sides.

Dongdaemun Night Market

There's probably nothing you really need at Dongdaemun's Night Market. But there will be stalls and stalls and stalls and stalls full of the things you never knew you wanted. It exists almost in a bizarre otherworld - a place where you show up at 1 am, have to elbow your way through a sea of people to buy a $15 pair of platform heels emblazoned with robots, pop in a warm tent to throw back a beer, work your way through another crowd to pick out a new phone case that has your favorite idol's face on it, and then pick up a corn dog for your 4 am commute back to your hotel. It's a completely mystifying, hysterical, and necessary experience.

Visit a Jimjilbang

It's tough to convey the thrill of a jimjilbang if you haven't already been. The description makes some germophobes and never-nudes a little jittery. It's a bathhouse, where in some rooms men and women gather together (in uniforms reminiscent of physical education classes that they give you at the door) to relax in steam or cold rooms. In other parts of the jimjilbangs, males and females gather separately and fully unclothe to enjoy hot and cold public baths all designed to reinvigorate. You can also pay an ajumma (who is also often nude or nearly nude) to give you a scrubdown that leaves you feeling creamy all over for days afterwards. You'll walk out the door feeling refreshed and so silky smooth.

The other great thing about a jimjilbang is that you can do it wherever you are in the country (even if you have a long layover there are some great ones near the Incheon airport.). If you're in Seoul or Busan you have your choice of some of the city's more upscale havens, but even if you're in the middle of nowhere and need a scrubdown after a long hike, just ask at your hotel or a local restaurant for a recommendation. Even the most barebones of jimjilbangs is a restorative and uniquely Korean way to spend a few dollars and hours.

Have you been to Korea? Have any other suggestions of things to do? Share them in the comments section below!