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Art Classes and Contemporary Art at CICA in Gimpo
We are always on the lookout for immersive experiences and opportunities to learn and being lovers of all things art museums in Seoul, I was searching out other awesome art spaces and came upon the Czong Institute of Contemporary Art, or CICA, in nearby Gimpo, Korea. If you like heading off to the unknown, taking adventure, and getting the kids involved, definitely look into this fun artistic opportunity. Smaller local art spaces like CICA as well as SODA Museum in Hwaseong are super fun to visit in Korea and get involved with. Don’t miss these artistic opportunities in Korea. Get ready to visit CICA Museum in Gimpo: (This post contains…
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Why May Is Called Family Month In Korea
Did you know May in South Korea is affectionately known as “Family Month”? The month of numerous family-centered holidays, May is the month to honor transitions in life and to celebrate numerous businesses including hotels, restaurants, and so on over discounts and family-friendly promotions. The most celebrated of the holidays in May in Korea are Children’s Day, Parent’s Day, and Teacher’s Day, but there are actually more family-centered holidays during the month of May. Get ready to read all about them and celebrate, celebrate, and celebrate some more. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no…
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The New Zealand Wine Festival in Seoul and Busan: 2024
The New Zealand Wine Festival recently took place in Seoul under the theme of ‘Kia Ora Aotearoa, Hello New Zealand’. Kia Ora is a Māori greeting symbolizing health & support, while Aotearoa, land of the long white cloud, symbolizes the country. From delightful garden celebrations, introducing an array of wines, offering different styles & flavors, performances for local youth groups to the opportunity to win some pretty great prizes, this festival is the perfect way to kick off the season of events and fun. If you missed this great wine festival in Seoul this year, keep an eye out for next year. But also, don’t forget that this wine festival…
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10 Things To Do In Gapyeong, Korea
Gapyeong, an area just east of Seoul, Korea in Gyeonggi-do, is a popular daytrip spot for many Seoulites looking to get out of the city and into nature for at least a day. On top of being home to numerous hills, forests, and rivers, there are also some interesting museums, quirky cafes, and musical hot spots that visitors can enjoy. If you’re looking for a quick getaway, a last minute wander, or just a cool area to explore in Korea, get Gapyeong on your radar and mark these things to do in Gapyeong on your map before you go. The best things to do in Gapyeong, Korea are whatever things…
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It’s Wine Time! The New Zealand Wine Festival in Korea 2024
One of the best events each spring in Korea is coming up! An event for the wine lovers in Korea, the New Zealand Wine Festival hosted by the Kiwi Chamber of Commerce, which hosts an event in both Seoul and Busan each year, has tickets available now. Whether you’re a wine novice or a seasoned oenophile, you’ll find plenty of reasons to go to the wine festival. The choice isn’t really about whether to attend, it’s deciding if you should go to the festival in Seoul, Busan, or both! (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at…
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Where To Find The Fluffiest Pink King Cherry Blossoms In Korea
As the spring air fills South Korea with its temperate embrace, a particular spectacle of nature, you know the one I speak of, draws both locals and travelers from out of their homes and into the streets. The light pink cherry blossoms burst into bloom and crowds rush to see them. While these iconic light pink cherry blossoms are gorgeous, there’s another cherry blossom that I personally look forward to – the double cherry blossom (겹벚꽃), or the King cherry blossom as some people call them. Distinguished from their single-petaled counterparts, King cherry blossoms boast lavish, deep pink petals that unfurl in double layers, creating a fuller, more opulent display.…
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Purito From Green Avocado Cleansing Balm Review
The first time I tried a cleansing balm years ago, I didn’t really get it to be honest. It wasn’t my jam. It added a step to my skincare routine that I didn’t deem necessary. All the things. Pivot to a decade later and I’m now more knowledgeable of my skin and what it needs and I’ve realized finding the right cleansing balm is a game changer. That first one did NOT work for my skin and it put me off cleansing balms for a decade. Can you believe that? I was recently given the Korean beauty brand Purito’s From Green Avocado Cleansing Balm and with trepidation, I decided to…
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5 Korean Ghosts and Creatures To Be Scared Of
Whether you’re interested in reading some spooky tales before Halloween this year, or just interested in Korean folklore and mythology, there are some truly creepy and scary creatures you should learn about. From the vengeful spirits of the gwishin, who wander the earth unfulfilled, to the cunning dokkaebi, who navigate the moral compass of right and wrong with mischief, they are just the beginning to the lore you can explore in Korean history and culture. Korean mythology is fascinating… you’ll see. Find out about the creatures that will freak you out in Korea: *Images in this article were generated using AI. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…
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One Of The Best Makgeolli Bars In Seoul: Sanullim 1992
When you look up bars in Seoul, you’re more often shown the newest and most modern spaces to enjoy libations. The thing is, the holes in the wall and the cozy wooden more traditional-themed pubs so so often provide some of the best places to drink in Seoul. Take Sanullim 1992 (산울림1992), one of the best bars in Hongdae, it’s cozy and rich with Korean culture not to mention it has a stunning menu of over 200 Korean traditional alcohols and delicious food to top it off. While the youngest of Hongdae’s visitors are headed to the clubs or watching buskers, the older or just wiser visitors are headed here.…
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The Shopping Malls In Seoul That Shopaholics Love
It’s practically impossible to visit Seoul, Korea and not plan some sort of shopping spree. I was recently writing a shopping guide to Seoul for the Cathay Pacific Inflight Magazine and decided to expand on it here and focus on just the incredible shopping malls in Seoul. Whether you’re buying amazing Korean beauty and skincare products or stocking up on Korean food, Korean fashion, or the cutest stationary products in the world, there’s so much to want to take home with you. I visit the shopping malls in Seoul more often for the pop-up events and exhibitions. Suffice to say, there’s a lot to do in these shopping paradises. Get…
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The Kimbap Cheonguk Menu Explained: What To Order From Kimbap To Noodle Soups
I was talking with some new students to Korea about budget-friendly food in Korea and where they can get simple but good Korean meals and brought up Kimbap Cheonguk, Kimbap Nara, Kimbap Paradise, Kimbap Heaven, Kimbap Country… basically, all of those budget-friendly kimbap spots. Not the most flamboyant restaurants in Korea, but plenty of food to choose from. Actually, it was while talking with them I realized how daunting these Korean restaurants’ menus are. While most Korean restaurants stick to and promote one or a few main dishes, Kimbap Cheonguk has a substantial looking menu, though if you know how to take it apart, you can easily find the right…
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Exfoliating Korean Style: Why You NEED The Korean Italy Towel
After years of living in Korea, more than 15 in fact, I can say without a doubt one of the biggest lessons I have learned while living here is skincare and exfoliation is a major part of the Korean skincare regime and should be apart of everyone’s skincare regime. I didn’t know adults could have baby soft skin until I moved to Korea and was shown the err of my showering ways. Get ready to find out how to amp up your shower routine and why you really really need to. Meet the Korean exfoliating towel, or the Korean Italy towel. Step into any Korean jjimjilbang or spa or just…
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Yanggaeng Is Trending In Korea Thanks To K-Pop
In yet another show of retro and traditional Korean products re-emerging and even trending in fact, yanggaeng (양갱) is hot! K-pop sensation Bibi’s latest hit, “Bam Yang Gang,” has stirred up a craze and yanggaeng, a traditional Korean jelly dessert, sales are trending up. First it was the newtro (뉴트로) trend and then the Halmennial, the combination of “halmeoni” (할머니), the word for grandmother in Korean, and “millennial” as younger connoisseurs were embracing all things nostalgic so it’s no surprise that yanggaeng is now reaping the rewards. Whether you want to try it because of the song, or are just interested in all things traditional Korean, let me fill you…
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A Tasty Journey Through Korean Kimbap: More Than Just “Korean Sushi”
I watched a video where a woman referred to Korean kimbap (김밥) as “Korean sushi” and I wondered why that moniker would ever start considering there’s no raw fish. Not to mention, it’s not Japanese, doesn’t have wasabi… okay, we’ll get to the differences between sushi and kimbap later. Suffice to say, I love kimbap, it’s a Korean food staple and if you are a newcomer and don’t have any knowledge of the budget friendly Korean food offering that is pretty darn versatile, let me fill you in on the delectable variety of kimbap available and the common misconceptions about this popular Korean food. Korean kimbap is a Korean food…
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Yeongpyeongsa Temple: Visit When The Flowers Bloom In Sejong
I’d heard inklings of a beautiful mountainside in Sejong covered in Siberian chrysanthemums and decided to check it out. We had enjoyed an autumn road trip south and decided to stay the night in the area but wanted to see this mountain of flowers. Pulling in after sunset, we were lucky enough to see Yeongpyeongsa Temple (영평사) on Janggunsan Mountain just before it got too dark but just in time for their annual Siberian Chrysanthemum Festival. Yeongpyeongsa Temple in Sejong is a must visit, especially in the autumn when the chrysanthemums bloom: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
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National Museum of World Writing Systems: A Cultural Landmark In Incheon
Head to Songdo in Incheon, Korea and you can find a beautiful and groundbreaking museum, the National Museum of World Writing Systems (국립세계문자박물관). There are already some fun and cool reasons to visit Songdo Central Park, but as of 2023, there’s a new one. The museum is Incheon’s first national museum and aims to comprehensively examine the world’s writing systems and their historical value. The museum not only does a fantastic job of displaying information, but the information is available in nine different languages! This is one of the most foreign friendly national museums in Korea thus far. Get ready to visit one of the coolest national museums we’ve found…
