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Jumiso: Toner, Serum & Cream Review
About a year ago I was introduced to the brand Jumiso through the KBeauty Collective here in Seoul. The collective seeks to promote awesome clean Korean beauty companies and their products. Jumiso (주미소) is a Korean beauty brand that wants to “give smiles to their customers”. Their name literally means that with the words 주 (ju), to give; and 미소 (miso), smile. Jumiso is a subsidiary of the KBeauty brand Helloskin and the products feature some adorable design and packaging. All of the Jumiso products are manufactured in Korea and their top priority is listening to their customers. All of their products are cruelty-free and vegan friendly too. Want to learn…
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Where To Stay On Jeju Island in Korea
Jeju Island has been called the Hawai’i of Korea and it is gorgeous. There is a ton to do too whether you want to visit Jeju in the winter or the summer. The problem is, it’s definitely bigger than you might think so it’s super important to choose the right spot to stay to see exactly what you want. Don’t even think you can see the whole island in one weekend. You really need to think of the island as four quadrants and then stick to that one area when you visit and see what you can see there. Jeju Island is an absolute must visit if you’ll be spending…
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ShuShu and Sassy: The Kid Friendly Skincare Brand & The Kids Beauty Salons In Seoul
There are kids’ cafes all over Korea but now there are also kids’ spas and beauty salons too! If you’re looking for the cutest most Instagrammable places to take your kids in Seoul, it has to be ShuShu and Sassy (슈슈앤쎄씨). When our little lady was younger we visited the Tayo Kids Cafe and the Pororo Kids Cafe but she is quickly getting too old for all of that madness it seems. One of the hottest trends in Korea right now is taking kids to get their own manicures, pedicures and glittery hair extensions and my daughter really jumped right onto that bandwagon. Children wanting to mimic their parents is…
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The Australia Chamber Of Commerce Australia-Korea Business Awards 2020
This past weekend I was invited to attend the prestigious Australia-Korea Business Awards hosted by the Australia Chamber of Commerce, or AustChamKorea. The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AustCham) was established in 2008 and now consists of more than 250 members representing Australian services, manufacturing, energy and financial industries. AustCham supports Australian companies in Korea and Korean companies looking for business opportunities with Australia to meet the interests of both countries. Getting to attend these events as a bystander that isn’t affiliated with a Korean or Australian company makes for a unique experience where I become more of a spectator and it’s brilliant to learn about some awesome companies…
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Signiel Hotel: The Tallest Hotel In Seoul With The Best Views Of The City
SIGNIEL Seoul is one of the best luxury hotels in Seoul, Korea. It is in the tallest building in Korea and that should tell you that it most definitely features the best views of the city. You will literally be seated above airplanes and helicopters. I looked out the window after a massage to see helicopters flying at least five floors lower than where we sat. That is just amazing and I could have easily spent my entire stay just gazing out the window watching the tiny ants below and the lights flicker on in the evening. SIGNIEL Seoul is not only amazingly high, but it is gorgeous and the staff…
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Petite France: How To Get There From Seoul & What To Do There
Petite France (쁘띠프랑스) is one of those popular spots for tourists to get away to when they head out of Seoul. It’s in Gapyeong, an area that has a lot to do so it’s a great area to take a day trip from Seoul to see not one, but multiple fun things. From gardens and parks with light festivals to farms, islands, and unique villages, there’s a ton to do in the area. So, it’s no wonder there are tours that head out there daily and often include a stop at Petite France. Petite France is one of those Instagrammable hot spots to the east of Seoul in Korea that…
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Did You Know There Is A Golden Temple In Seoul? Find Suguksa Temple
I have lived in Seoul, Korea for quite awhile and I have seen a lot of Buddhist temples here. I love a visit to a temples in South Korea. They are peaceful and calming and beautiful. Often set up on the mountain or in forests, the views are good and the ambiance lovely. Most temples in Korea are painted reds and greens and maybe there’s a bit of yellow and white in the artwork. That’s pretty standard so when I saw a glimmer of gold as I drove down the street near my house and saw a sign for a temple, I was intrigued. After visiting Suguksa Temple (수국사), I…
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O’Sulloc Tea: Why It’s The Best Souvenir Or Gift From Korea
Ever wonder what the best souvenir in Korea is? It’s one of the top asked questions in expat groups. People are headed home and want to take a gift. Family is coming and want to take gifts back. While there are various options, I think O’Sulloc tea is the absolute best souvenir and gift from Korea. Not only is it from Korea and homegrown, but it’s also a premier product. O’Sulloc Tea is one of those brands that can convert people I think. It’s just that good. Honestly, I’ve given a ton of Korean-centric gifts in the past decade while living in Korea from the metal chopstick sets with holsters…
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A Guide To Gyeongju, Korea: What To Do, See, Eat & Where To Stay
If you haven’t heard of Gyeongju, Korea yet, then you need to! Though Andong, Korea is often referred to as the most traditional city in the country, I’d say that Gyeongju is the most historical you can visit. Gyeongju is referred to as “the museum without walls” because everywhere you turn you can find another site with historical relevance to see. The city actually has more tombs, temples, pagodas, palace ruins, and other historical artifacts than any other place in Korea. I’d say it’s a must see, but that term is so overused at this point. I visited Gyeongju for the first time over a decade ago and found it…
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An Epic Travel Guide To Seoul, Korea For The First Timer
Seoul, Korea is huge and has gained a ton of attention in the past decade for not only a beautiful culture but also the Hallyu wave that has swept over the world. When you begin to plan your trip to the capital city of Korea it can seem overwhelming and you may not know where to begin. While I’m known for promoting the off the beaten path spots in and around Seoul and promoting new hot spots to check out, I wanted to create an essential guide for the first time visitor to this busy and fun capital of Korea. Having lived here since 2006 when I first came as…
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Taehwagang River Bamboo Forest: The Best Kept Secret In Ulsan, Korea
The Taehwagang National Garden (태화강 국가정원) is the most beautiful bamboo forest in Korea that I have visited and I have visited a few. When I walked into this gorgeous forest of green bamboo shooting into the sky, I remember wondering why I’d never heard of it. The Damyang Bamboo Forest is known far and wide in Korea and yet, there are other bamboo forests. There’s even a bamboo forest I visited on Geoje Island near Busan that is really off the beaten path too. Suffice to say, this bamboo forest in particular is a stunner… a massive stunner. If you haven’t visited Ulsan, Korea, it’s definitely time and when…
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Do I Need A Fine Dust Mask In Korea?
While I don’t often write articles on any negative aspects of living in Korea, unfortunately, this one needs to be done. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen me with a face mask, or dust mask, on from time to time and since I get a lot of questions from tourists about whether they would need one or not, I want to dig in and answer. Yes, yes you should have a face mask, as the Koreans call them, if you’re going to come to Korea. We aren’t living in a smog filled polluted country all of the time, but when it’s bad, it can be pretty bad.…
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A List Of The Best Korean Subscription Boxes: From Korean Beauty Boxes to Snack Boxes
As I was on the Internet checking out the gifts to give friends and family back home, I ended up down a rabbit hole of Korean subscription boxes. I had no idea there were so many and they are awesome to say the least. Subscription boxes are a great way to show someone that you care and if you’ve got a Korea lover in your life, then they’ll love anything on this list. While I culled together the best gifts to give Korea lovers in another post, I decided subscription boxes absolutely needed their own post because there are so many and they are super cool! Here are the best…
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A List Of The Best Gifts To Give Your Korea Loving Friends & Family
More and more people around the world are interested in Korea whether it be due to K-Pop or K-Dramas, or a friend that lives in Korea and can’t stop talking about it maybe, I’m not sure. Whatever the case, there are is a ton of interest in South Korea these days and there are plenty of unique gifts to send our Koreaphile friends and family abroad. Whether you need a gift for the K-drama fan, K-pop fan, or maybe the Korean language learner, I’ve got you covered. Here is the ultimate list of Korean gifts suitable for any holiday. Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift, Christmas gift, or just…
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Museum San: How To Get There From Seoul & What You’ll See
Museum San a couple hours from Seoul in Wonju, Korea is an intriguing museum designed by famed architect Tadao Ando. There’s an iconic photo that is posted on Instagram every so often with visitors standing beneath a bright red archway. The red is striking against the natural surroundings. It’s not the easiest museum to get to in Korea, but it’s definitely one of the most interesting as far as architecture and design. If you’re an architecture enthusiast or a design lover and you’re headed to Seoul, make sure you get this into your itinerary if you’ve got time for a little day trip. Museum San has about 1 million visitors…
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Youngwol Y Park: An Epic Art Museum In The Middle Of Nowhere In Korea
If you like hidden art museums and adventures in Korea, you need to find Youngwal Y Park (젊은달와이파크). It’s in the middle of nowhere in Gangwon-do, but if you can figure out how to make the trek out to Youngwol Y Park, it is so so worth it. Striking red installations stand out against the greens of the natural mountainous surroundings. It’s just beautiful. This year I’ve really enjoyed finding artistic installations in hidden spots like the Hamchang Art Road or in Gimpo at the Gimpo Sculpture Park, which is a bit more of a rustic artistic find, but there is just so much to see if you can manage…
