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Korea’s Most Expensive Multi Balm? Move Over PDRN, This Kahi Balm Is Made With Caviar
A caviar-infused, beluga-fermented multi balm that costs more than some people’s monthly skincare budget? That’s right, it exists. Is it bougie nonsense or bougie brilliance though? Spoiler: if you love the original KAHI Wrinkle Bounce Balm, this is its grown-up, prestigious sibling. The star? Beluga caviar from Korea’s coast, fermented into a concentrated anti-aging oil that KAHI calls K-Fillen. It’s definitely making my skin glow. If you’re curious about what makes the Cavi Balm special, when to use it, and whether it’s worth adding to your routine, here’s your deep dive: Who is KAHI? If you’ve ever seen a K-drama star swipe a balm stick over their cheeks before running…
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Best Time To Visit South Korea: My Honest Take After Living Here For 20 Years
You might expect me to say the best time to visit South Korea is just spring or autumn and call it a day. Those are beautiful seasons to be sure what with the cherry blossoms and foliage, but after living in Korea for almost two decades, I’ve learned that every season has its own magic… and it’s own challenges. And, if you only get time off in winter, well, that’s when you’re coming, isn’t it? Winters are cold and bright, summers are hot and sticky, and the shoulder seasons are gorgeous but busy. If you know what to expect, plan around the weather, and pick the things to do, you…
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Gwangju Kimchi Festival: A Delicious Dive Into Jeolla’s Boldest Flavors
When it comes to foodie celebrations, Korea has a ton and the townie fun that they entail is worth making the trip when you hear about one. One of the most popular food festivals in Korea is of course in celebration of that iconic side dish known as kimchi. You might think you already know all there is to know about kimchi, but visit the Gwangju Kimchi Festival (광주김치축제) and you’ll not only get to taste Korea’s most iconic fermented dish, but you’ll also get to celebrate the cabbage concoction that graces every table in the country at meal time. Head to Gwangju Korea in the autumn and you will…
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Korean Words That Made It Into The Oxford English Dictionary
Did you know you might already be using Korean without realizing it? Thanks to K-pop, K-dramas, Korean food, and even Netflix hits like Squid Game, the Oxford English Dictionary has added dozens of Korean words to its official pages. It really astounds me how much Korean has infiltrated the vernacular. When I first arrived in Korea in 2006, most of my friends only associated the country with the Korean War and North Korea and knew nothing else about K-pop or kimchi. Look how far we’ve come! The OED, considered the accepted authority on the English language, now recognizes terms that once lived mainly in Seoul cafes, PC bangs, or your…
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Korea In December: The Weather, Travel Tips, Flowers and Things To Do
December in Korea always feels a little big magical to me. The air turns crisp, the cities start to sparkle, and suddenly everyone seems to be moving a bit slower, savoring the last moments of the year. It can get cold, of course, but December isn’t the deep-freeze kind of winter that January sometimes brings. It’s that in-between season where you can still wander comfortably as long as you’ve got a good coat and something warm in your hands. After nearly twenty years of living here, I’ve noticed that December is when Korea really leans into atmosphere. Streets glow with holiday lights, mountains get their first dusting of snow, and…
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Bojagi: Korea’s Traditional Art of Cloth Wrapping
Spend some time in Korea and you’re bound to receive a gift that isn’t wrapped in plain old wrapping paper, but is lovingly decorated with cloth. Bojagi (보자기), Korea’s traditional cloth wrapping method, is one of my favorite cultural traditions, not only practical and sustainable, but just beautiful. Stop into places like Sulwhasoo’s Flagship Store in Bukchon or Geumokdang’s yanggaeng shop in Insadong and you can have your purchases wrapped in beautiful bojagi before you go. For centuries, Koreans have used a simple square cloth to carry lunch boxes, protect precious belongings, wrap wedding gifts, and cover food in the kitchen. While it may look simple, bojagi carries history from…
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Mongvely: All You Can Eat Korean BBQ Restaurant in Myeongdong
Korean BBQ is one of those must eat meals when in Korea, but have you been to an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant yet? I used to have a group of friends that absolutely loved the AYCE meat restaurants and we went often. Not just for those groups of guys that want to devour a ton, they’re also great options for the Korean BBQ first-timer so you can try a bit of this, a bit of that, and find the meat cuts you love, the side dishes you need, and the sauces that make everything better. If you’re in the Myeongdong area and want to try a Korean BBQ all-you-can-eat option,…
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The Best Korea-Themed Advent Calendars for 2025
When I first arrived in Korea in 2006, I was aghast that the holidays just weren’t celebrated in the same over the top fashion. Stockings were not hung by the chimney with care, and persimmons were more fitting than visions of sugar-plums. Suffice to say, in the past decade, more and more of the decorations, twinkle lights, and traditions have made it to South Korea and one that I love is the advent calendar. If you love skincare, K-beauty minis, or all things K-pop, there are some great advent calendars that are not only fun for you, but even gift-worthy. Not just for kids anymore, these Korean advent calendars are…
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The Seoul Robot & AI Museum: Where Technology Meets Imagination
Seoul, Korea is where people always seem to be pushing the envelope with tech, figuring out where it can be used and jumping on the next newest thing so it’s not surprising that it is now home to the Seoul Robot & AI Museum (서울로봇인공지능과학관), or RAIM for short. Not just a bunch of robots, it’s a hands-on, do-it-yourself experience where technology and art combine with architecture to introduce how we may be living, working, and dreaming in the future. If you’re looking for things to do in Seoul with kids, this is definitely one to add to your list. They will be blown away by the interactive displays and…
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Bunker des Lumières: From Secret Bunker to Immersive Art Space in Jeju
Always on the hunt to find the amazing regenerated spaces in Korea, I saw an article about Bunker des Lumières (빛의 벙커), a former military bunker turned arts and culture space just down the road and knew we had to visit. The thing with Jeju Island though is that when the weather is nice, all you want to do is spend time outside. So, we waited for the first rainy day, the kind where outdoor plans wash away fast, and headed to the bunker. Instead of staying cooped up, we were underground in a world of moving colors, mesmerizing sounds, and beautiful light. This once secret state communications bunker is…
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Naejangsan National Park: Korea’s Most Famous Fall Foliage Destination
Fall foliage in Korea with those vibrant reds, warm oranges, and dazzling yellows is a sight and when it comes to getting out to see it and there is one spot in Korea that Koreans flock to year after year. Naejangsan National Park (내장산국립공원) is where Korea truly shows off her colors. Every November in Korea, this mountain in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do, turns into a living painting of red maples, golden ginkgoes, and deep orange oaks. There are some great hiking trails in Naejangsan, but it also has one of the most family-friendly trails in Korea as well. It’s a perfect spot to be immersed in fall foliage without strenuous hiking…
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Korea In November: The Weather, Travel Tips, Flowers and Things To Do
November in Korea is the gateway to winter, but it still holds onto the last golden moments of autumn. That doesn’t mean it’s all chilly winds and bare trees. Not at all. November can be cozy and warm in its own way, especially if you’re prepared to embrace the changing season. After years of experiencing November here, I’ve come to love its quiet charm. The crowds thin out, the foliage lingers in the south, and it’s the perfect time for a peaceful getaway. Layer up, grab a warm drink, and enjoy Korea’s scenic trails, historic sites, and the start of its festive winter lights. Will you be traveling to Korea…
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2025 Seoul Lantern Festival: A Winter Walk With Lights in Downtown Seoul
You might think winter nights in Seoul are quiet, best kept indoors, but head downtown to Cheonggyecheon Stream and Gwanghwamun Square and you’ll see dazzling lights glowing in the dark. The Seoul Lantern Festival (서울빛초롱축제) is an exhibition of traditional hanji lanterns and vivid LED installations on the most popular stream in downtown Seoul, Korea. Free to visit, and perfect for slow night strolls and photos, the festival has run since 2009 and now draws millions each winter in Korea with displays and light shows. If you’ll be in Seoul this December, save the dates on your calendar and make sure to visit to see the colorful displays. (This post…
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Inside Korea’s Cosmetic Tourism Boom: My Experience With Genioplasty, Elasticum, Accu 2 Part, and Submentoplasty
When you think of traveling to South Korea, you probably imagine bustling Seoul streets, K-dramas, or maybe a steaming bowl of kimchi jjigae. But for millions of visitors, there’s another reason to book a flight here: cosmetic and medical tourism. There has been a boom in recent years with tourists coming to Korea for not only surface level beauty treatments like facials, but more in-depth medical treatments. Korea offers not only highly trained specialists and cutting-edge procedures, but also affordable prices compared to the US or Europe. A treatment that might cost thousands of dollars in New York could be a fraction of the price in Seoul. I’ve lived in…
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Jinjak Kakii: Where To Eat Oysters in Bukchon
Did I find the largest oysters in Seoul? I think I did! While seafood is usually something I look for when I’m visiting the coasts of Korea, when presented with oysters, my husband will tell you I can’t pass them up. Jinjak Kakii (진작 카키), a restaurant serving some of the biggest, freshest oysters I’ve ever eaten, is now on my list for where to eat in the Bukchon Hanok Village and it should be on yours too! On the quieter side of the touristy downtown area of Seoul, it is near two other favorites, Salt House Deli and London Bagel Museum. Jinjak Kakii has oysters from Tongyeong, Korea and…
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Boutijour Lotus Leaf Anti-Pollution Repairing Toner & Snow Lotus Lifting Serum Review
You might not think of lotus leaves when you reach for skincare, but in Korea, they’ve long been a symbol of resilience, purity, and renewal. Boutijour takes that tradition and bottles it into modern, mindful formulas designed for today’s busy, urban lifestyles. If you’re looking for skincare that feels indulgent yet practical, and offers protection against city living, these two products deserve a closer look: the Lotus Leaf Anti-Pollution Repairing Toner and the Snow Lotus Lifting Serum. I got to learn about Boutijour at their shop in Seoul and now after a full year using their toner and serum, I’m in love. It was love at first sight, but now…
