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Whip It Up in Seongsu: Make Your Own Skincare at WHIPPED House
In the heart of Seongsu-dong in Seoul, the air buzzes with the excitement of pop-ups and emerging beauty stores. One of the places getting a lot of attention due to their viral concoctions is WHIPPED House. While WHIPPED is going viral online for its amazingly soft and rejuvenating skincare products, visitors can experience the magic of whipping in person when they visit, learning how to create their very own WHIPPED product and, in the process, appreciating the craftsmanship and the brand’s distinctive ethos and style. Was I excited to see what WHIPPED was all about? I sure was. If you want to do more than just shop at WHIPPED House,…
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Korea in March: The Weather, Tips From A Local, Flowers and Things To Do
March in Korea is like a soft awakening after the long slumber of winter. The chill still lingers, but hints of spring start to peek through in the form of budding trees and the first brave blooms. It’s a month of transition, where the weather keeps you guessing, seriously be prepared for cold winds but you’ll start sweating in the sun. After nearly two decades here, I’ve learned to embrace March for what it is: a time of anticipation. You’ll spot farmers prepping their fields, cafés switching out their menus for spring-themed treats, and locals heading outdoors to soak up the longer days. It’s the perfect time to wander, explore,…
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From Hanoks to High-Tech: Discover YLESS, Bukchon’s Futuristic Beauty Playground
What if I told you that beneath the serene charm of of Bukchon’s traditional hanoks lies a futuristic K-beauty playground waiting to be discovered? Walking down the alleys and streets of Bukchon Hanok Village, it’s easy to feel transported back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392 – 1910). With beautiful hanoks, traditional Korean buildings, everywhere you look, people adorned in traditional hanboks, traditional dresses, you’d never guess that just around the corner, futuristic K-beauty innovations are quietly redefining the landscape. Enter YLESS (와이레스). A venture by Koreatech, the creators of Kahi and pioneers of the multi-balm craze that came out of Korea in 2020, the YLESS Flagship Store blends traditional Korean…
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Craft, Culture, and Color: Discover Maison Danha’s Bojagi Experience in Seoul
Danha (단하한복) is a name you may not know, though you should, with a modern Hanbok style you’re sure to remember. They splashed onto the Hanbok scene in 2018 and made waves when they were featured in BLACKPINK’s music video “How You Like That” in 2020. Their bold prints and bright colors that pay homage to traditional Korean patterns are stunning and on top of that, they’re focused on sustainability. Their Hanboks are gorgeous and I plan to get one, but until I do, I signed up for their bojagi bag-making workshop just to visit their space and learn more. With my daughter along for the adventure, we headed to…
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The Viral 15-Step Korean Scalp Treatment From Korea: Everything You Need to Know Before Booking
Aging brings many changes, and for me, one of the most noticeable has been my scalp health—thinning hair, dryness, and overall irritation. Moving to Korea and adjusting to the water brought on similar scalp issues actually, and so for the years I’ve been here, I’ve been more in-tune with my scalp and hair. Fortunately, I live in South Korea, where scalp care isn’t just an afterthought, it’s an obsession. With a beauty and wellness industry dedicated to hair health, I knew I had to dive in and try one of the most talked-about treatments. The 15-step Korean scalp treatment has taken social media by storm, with videos of the intricate,…
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SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Poremizing Quick Clay Stick Mask Review
If you love the deep-cleaning power of a clay mask but hate the mess they usually create, you’re not alone. So, when I saw the Madagascar Centella Poremizing Quick Clay Stick Mask by SKIN1004 in this super easy to apply innovative stick form, I jumped on it. It promises to cleanse pores, soothe sensitive skin, and leave your complexion refreshed. But does it live up to the hype? Spoiler: This was fantastic for travel and really cleaned out my pores: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)…
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Exploring Seoul’s Seosomun Shrine: Where Architecture Meets Martyrdom
The first time I visited the Seosomun Shrine History Museum (서소문성지 역사박물관), I went for the architecture. I had seen photos and had no real idea what history this museum in Seoul would be detailing, but every museum I find in Korea has something fascinating to teach. While I initially visited for its modern design, I left with a newfound understanding of Korea’s Catholic martyrs and their resilience.” Seomun Gate is a sacred place for Korean Catholics. It was here that countless Catholics were executed after standing up against Joseon’s class-based society and declaring that all humans were equal under God. After the death of King Jeongjo in 1800, Catholics…
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How To Eat Your Way Through Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market On Jeju Island
We were on the search for a parking lot while in downtown Seogwipo to pick up a new bicycle and the closest place was in the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market (서귀포매일올레시장). As we walked through and saw and smelled all of the goods, we decided to grab the bike and then grab a meal. If you’re in the area, you’ll want to as well. This market is a traditional market that has one end of vendors selling vegetables, fruit, pots, pans, and other housewares and then one end that caters to the numerous tourists in the area. There are souvenir stops, citrus juices, citrus ice creams, citrus tanghulu, and then…
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Explore 8 Themed Floors at Hongdae’s Ultimate Culture Cafe
When most people are looking for a fun night out neighborhood in Seoul, an area filled with cafes, buskers, street art, and fun, they’re probably looking for Hongdae. There are so many things to do in Hongdae that you could spend days upon days exploring. Because of this, it makes for a great district to stay in Seoul (speaking as someone who lived there for a decade). Now that you’ve got your bearings, we’re going to zoom in to a spot that’s about to blow up, if you ask me. If you’ve walked down the main shopping and fun street of Hongdae recently, you may have noticed the 8-story building…
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Sulwhasoo In Bukchon: Timeless Beauty and Tradition with a Ginseng Twist
The Bukchon Hanok Village is becoming home to more than just tea houses and traditional Korean restaurants. These days, you’ll find more and more Korean beauty flagship stores and shops catering to the foreign tourists visiting the area. Take the beautiful House of Sulwhasoo Bukchon (북촌 설화수의 집), opened in 2021 for an example. Sulwhasoo really kicked off the Korean beauty focus to the area and as far as Korean beauty brands go, this is the best of the best. Not only is their flagship store gorgeous, but it’s an experience and for any Korean beauty enthusiast or skincare obsessed visitor, it’s a must see. I’ve been using Sulwhasoo for…
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Did you know there are 24 Korean seasons?
There’s a longstanding joke among foreigners that live in Korea that pertains to how it is so often promoted that Korea has four distinct seasons. It is as if people, or perhaps the Korean tourism organization, think it is quite unique to have four seasons. As someone who grew up in Ohio in the US, I never really got all the four-season hubbub. I think the joke also plays off of how dreadfully hot, humid, and long summer in Korea can feel and how frigid and cold and long winter in Korea can feel and between them the delightful, but short, cherry blossom-filled spring in Korea, and the brisk pace of…
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A Bowl of Good Fortune: Regional Tteokguk Traditions Across Korea
Lunar New Year, or Seollal, is one of Korea’s most important holidays, a time for family gatherings, ancestral rituals called jesa, and starting fresh. At the heart of this celebration is tteokguk (떡국), a savory rice cake soup symbolizing purity, renewal, and the passage into the new year. Dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, the tradition of eating tteokguk is still intact and as the Lunar New approaches, I thought I’d share some of the regional Korean rice cake soup varieties that you may not have seen before. Each region of the country adds its own twist to the beloved dish and if you’re like me and my family, you’ll…
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DIY Keychains & Bags: Why You Should Find Wappen House In Korea
Walk down the street in Myeongdong or Bukchon or in cities like Busan, and you might come across a vibrantly colored shop that is yelling out for you to enter. It’s Wappen House (와펜하우스). Filled with patches of all shapes and sizes and themes from Korean culture to Korean food and topped up with cute animals, letters, and numbers, too, if you just love patches, you NEED to stop in. It’s not only fun, but it’s also family-friendly and it would make for a great unique Korean souvenir. Take the kids or make something for yourself. You can buy the patches on their own and take them home or the…
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Robots, Ramen, and K-Food: The Convenience Store of the Future in Insadong
When you think of Insadong, images of traditional Korean tea houses, antique shops, and calligraphy stores probably come to mind. But right in the heart of this historic cultural hub is something new, unexpected for many tourists I imagine, and quite futuristic: Ground Blue 49 (그라운드블루49). This futuristic convenience store feels more like a playground of possibilities than your typical corner shop. If you’ve heard of robots and want to see how they are actually being utilized in everyday life, this is a good stop to make. Get ready to see the future of convenience stores in Seoul. Robots are trending and you’ll see why: (This post contains affiliate links,…
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The Christmas Market and Museum on Jeju Island That Will Make You Feel Festive
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… in Seogwipo! If you’re a fan of festive markets, cozy winter vibes, and unique holiday gifts, then the Weihnachten Christmas Market (바이나흐튼 크리스마스박물관) in Jeju, is calling your name. As new residents of the island, I was on the lookout for how everyone celebrates the holidays down here. I’m well versed in how to celebrate Christmas in Seoul, but Jeju? Located around the Weihnachten Christmas Museum, this market has all of the charm and seasonal magic we could hope for. In Jeju this winter? Get ready to celebrate the holidays at the Christmas Market and Christmas Museum: (This post contains affiliate links,…
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How To Celebrate The Year of The Snake In Korea
Happy New Year! 2025 is the Year of the Snake or the Year of the Serpent, the green snake or wood snake to be precise. The snake is the sixth animal in the zodiac and is a symbol of wisdom and resurrection because it sheds its skin and hibernates to regenerate. In Korean, this year is called “Eulsa” (을) and if you want to celebrate the Year of the Snake in Korea, there are a number of things you can do. So, what does the Year of the Snake mean? And, how can you celebrate the Year of the Snake in Korea? Here’s what you need to know… (This post…
