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Why I Always Check What Amorepacific Museum of Art Is Exhibiting
Whenever I’m in Yongsan and have even a sliver of free time, I check what’s on at the Amorepacific Museum of Art (아모레퍼시픽미술관). Sometimes it’s ancient Korean ceramics. Other times it’s contemporary installations that stop you mid-step. Either way, the exhibitions are consistently thoughtful, beautifully curated, and never feel rushed or flashy. What I love most is how quietly confident this museum is. It doesn’t shout for attention, but it always rewards curiosity. The curators seem to enjoy playing with light as well, which I always find intriguing. If you’re even remotely interested in art, design, architecture, or Korean culture beyond palaces and markets, this is art museum in Seoul…
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Kinds of Kimchi: A Guide to 14 Korean Varieties and What Makes Each One Different
You might be surprised how often the small talk starter in Korea is, “Do you like kimchi?” I always say yes, I do in fact like kimchi. But over the years I’ve heard plenty of foreigners say no. When I ask why, the story is just about always the same: they tried it once, didn’t love it, and crossed kimchi off of the keep-eating-list. Wait once? Which means one kind of kimchi and done? Kimchi is not a single dish. It’s more of a delicious dictionary of dishes. For folks outside of Korea, it is easy to assume the bright red, garlicky napa cabbage version is the whole story. It…
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A Taste of North Korea in Jeju: Eating at Daedonggang Chogyetang
You might not expect to find authentic North Korean cuisine all the way south on Jeju Island in South Korea, but there is a very authentic restaurant here and my husband is pretty happy that it’s just up the road because he is a Pyeongyang naengmyeon fiend. Daedonggang Chogyetang (대동강초계탕) in Pyoseon is run by a North Korean defector. We went looking for Pyeongyang naengmyeon and ended up devouring the chogyetang and more. This unexpected foodie find should definitely make your list of where to eat in Jeju. From cold soups to hearty meals, here’s what to eat at Daedong Chogyetang in Pyoseon: (This post contains affiliate links, which means…
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Olive Young Seongsu: A Tourist’s Guide To Korea’s Biggest K-Beauty Playground
If you’re curious about K-beauty, chances are Olive Young is on your list of places to check out when you visit Seoul. What started out as Korea’s first health and beauty store by the CJ Group in 1999 has evolved in to not only a locally known health and beauty general store, but is now a hotspot for tourists and so opening the Olive Young N Seongsu (올리브영N 성수) in one of the most popular districts of Seoul was just a matter of time. Besides being the largest Olive Young in Korea, what sets Olive Young N Seongsu apart are the free, personalized consultation experiences available on each floor. The…
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How To Celebrate The Year of The Horse In Korea
Happy New Year! 2026 is the Year of the Horse, the red horse to be precise. In the 60-year zodiac cycle, this combination carries some of the strongest energy possible. The horse is the seventh animal of the zodiac and has long symbolized strength, freedom, movement, and vitality in Korean culture. In Korean, this year is called “Byeongo” (병오) and if you want to celebrate the Year of the Horse in Korea, there are a number of things you can do. Get ready to learn about the horse in Korean culture and see what 2026 will bring. So, what does the Year of the Horse mean? And, how can you…
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Where K-Beauty Becomes An Experience: Seoul’s Best Flagship Stores
You might hear the term “flagship store” and think it just refers to a larger prettier version of a standard shop, but in Seoul, Korean brands open flagship stores with more in mind than just selling products. They create places you remember, the kind you talk about when you get home, and quietly plan to revisit the next time you’re back in the city. This list of the best K-beauty flagship stores in Seoul isn’t just stops to stock up on skincare and make up, they are tea houses, galleries, and architectural showcases, designed to pull you out of the rush of Seoul for a little while. You might be…
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Where Korean Herbal Medicine Becomes Skincare: Pyunkang Yul’s Flagship Store In Seoul
You might know Pyunkang Yul as a calm, minimalist Korean skincare brand trusted by people with sensitive skin. I was first introduced to them almost a decade ago, but did you know their roots go far deeper than beauty trends? Pyunkang Yul was born from Pyunkang Eastern Medicine Clinic, one of Korea’s top three traditional medicine clinics, with over 50 years of clinical history and more than 200,000 patients treated for chronic skin conditions. Step into the beautiful Pyunkang Yul Flagship Store and Tea House (편강 율 플래그십&티하우스) in Samcheong-dong near Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, and you’ll find a calming multi-floor space that blends skincare, traditional Korean aesthetics,…
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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…
