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Best Day Trips From Seoul With Kids: A Local Parent’s Guide
Seoul has so many great things to do with kids from museums to kids cafes and parks in between, but sometimes you just want a bigger adventure, a more open space, or a place that feels a little more out of the way, special even. Day trips from Seoul with kids can be absolutely worth it. The Seoul subway system is massive and far reaching into the suburbs so sometimes you can get out a lot easier than you ever realized. I’ve seen a lot of lists that just throw every nearby attraction together, but as a parent raising a child here, I think about things a little differently. Can…
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What Is Pungmul in Korea? A Guide to Korea’s Rhythmic Folk Performance Tradition
You might hear it before you see it. A sharp metallic clang cuts through the air, the deep barrel drum answers back, and then suddenly a whole swirl of color, ribbons, spinning hats, stomping feet, and smiling performers comes into view. That is often how pungmul (풍물) enters the scene in Korea. It’ll make you want to stop, stare, dance, strut, and join in the fun. If you have spent any time at traditional festivals in Korea, there is a good chance you have already seen pungmul without knowing its name. I have watched these performances at the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul, at the Jeju Fire Festival, and at…
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The Jeju Haenyeo Museum: Preserving the Spirit of Jeju’s Sea Women
In recent years, something beautiful has been happening on Jeju Island in South Korea. More visitors are arriving not just for the beaches, oreums, and black pork barbecue, but specifically to learn about the haenyeo, Jeju’s legendary female free divers. As interest in sustainable travel, women’s history, and UNESCO cultural heritage grows, so too does curiosity about these remarkable sea women. The haenyeo culture of Jeju was inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and while the number of active divers has declined as the women age, awareness and appreciation from visitors helps keep their legacy alive. On the eastern side of Jeju Island, in the quiet coastal…
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The Udo Sora Festival: A Spring Seafood Party on the Island That Looks Like a Cow
If you’re coming to Jeju Island in the spring, let me put a fun event on your radar: The Udo Turban Shell Festival (우도소라축제), also called the Udo Sora Festival. I always recommend a daytrip to nearby Udo Island. Come to Jeju Island and then island hop to another island? Yes. Getting to Udo is super easy and going during this festival makes the visit even more fun. The festival is one of those very Jeju events where fresh seafood, local pride, and a breezy island atmosphere all collide. Open to everyone and free to enter, you just need to get yourself onto the island and you will have a…
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Jeju In Spring: Where To See Jeju’s Famous Canola Flowers
Most people think spring has arrived when the cherry blossoms bloom. But if you live in Jeju like I do, you know spring actually begins in a bath of vibrant yellow. Tiny golden blooms spill across farmlands, climb volcanic hills, and frame the sea and the oreums of Jeju Island in the most cinematic way. Every year from mid-February through the end of April, Jeju canola flowers bloom overlapping with the camellias of winter and the cherry blossoms of later spring. The canola flower blooming season lasts longer than cherry blossom season, much longer. If you’re planning a spring trip to Jeju Island, here are the places to find the…
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Inside Seongeup Folk Village: The 600-Year Old Fortress Town Still Lived In On Jeju Island
You might think Korea’s folk villages are frozen in time, preserved only for visitors, tourists, and school trips. But, did you know that some of them are still real neighborhoods where people wake up, cook meals, and go about daily life? Which may or may not include thatching their roof? If you’re looking for culture things to do in Jeju, Seongeup Folk Village (성읍민속마을) is one of the most unique historic attractions in Seogwipo. This isn’t a reenactment or a recreated set. It’s a living village that has been continuously inhabited for around 600 years. Behind lava stone walls and thatched roofs, residents still call these traditional Hanok home, and…
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Hundertwasser Park: The Surprising Homage to an Austrian Painter in Korea
Were we surprised to stumble upon an immersive tribute to an Austrian artist on Udo Island? Yes. Is it kind of the perfect place for it though? Again, yes. The Hundertwasser Park (훈데르트바서파크) pays tribute to Friedensreich Hundertwasser, an artist, architect, and environmental activist who believed humans were merely guests of nature. The park manages to fit beautifully, and somewhat improbably, on an island off the coast of Jeju Island. Udo Island makes for a great daytrip or weekend trip from Jeju Island, and this is just one reason why. The artist rejected straight lines, uniformity, and concrete-heavy modern architecture, so when you visit, you’ll find a world of fantastical…
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The Gangnam Food Guide: From Handmade Tacos to Buckwheat Noodles
Gangnam is well-known for K-beauty treatments and glossy cafes, but there are also some really good restaurants in the area. Between office towers and down quiet side streets are some genuinely great restaurants that locals return to again and again. When I’m meeting friends, these are the Gangnam restaurants I recommend. This list mixes comfort food, international flavors, and Korean classics, all done well and without unnecessary fuss. From handmade tortillas and old-school American burgers to buckwheat noodles, Thai late-night eats, and honeycomb makgeolli, these spots show a more grounded side of Gangnam dining. If you’re looking for reliable, satisfying places to eat in Gangnam, start here. Get ready to…
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Inside Jeju’s Lemon Museum in Jeju: A Lemon Farm, Cafe, and Hands-On Experience
When people think of Jeju fruit, tangerines usually steal the spotlight. Winter photos of orange-filled baskets, roadside tangerines, and citrus-themed cafes are practically synonymous with the island. But farmers on this island in Korea have been branching out into other sweet crops including kiwi and lemon, oh and not so sweet but delicious olives too! And so we found our way to the Lemon Museum (레몬뮤지엄), not so much a museum in actuality, but a very friendly lemon farm that invites visitors to slow down, sip something zesty, and experience a different side of Jeju’s agriculture. Part cafe, part experience space, and part photo-friendly farm, the Lemon Museum is family-friendly…
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Hueree Nature Life Park: A Family-Friendly Place for Flowers, Photos, and Tangerine Picking
Visiting Jeju is all about getting into nature if you ask me. The island is gorgeous, but of course, if you’re traveling with children, it can be a bit more difficult to cover as much as you want. Hueree Nature Life Park (휴애리자연생활공원) is one of those family-friendly things to do in Jeju that is very purpose built with flower fields for beautiful photos, animals to feed, hands-on activities, and clear walking paths that make it easy to manage little legs. I wouldn’t call this a wild nature escape, but the curated and structured Hueree experience is great for visitors, especially families, traveling in Jeju who want colorful scenery, simple…
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A Love Letter to Korean Paper: Exploring Hanji House in Bukchon Hanok Village
Bukchon Hanok Village is not just home to beautiful alleys lined with Hanoks, traditional Korean homes, with tiled rooftops. It’s also home to a number of places and spaces built to showcase Korean traditional craft and among them is the Hanji House (한지가헌), devoted to traditional handmade paper. I stopped in as I was passing by a number of years back and since, always make the stop when I’m in the area. If you appreciate traditional Korean craft, colorful displays, and artistic installations with a story to tell, then Hanji House can be a quick stop on your adventure into this popular district of Seoul, Korea. If you’re interested in…
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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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The Many Faces of Kimchi: A Guide to Korea’s Most Famous Ferment
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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Why the Leeum Museum of Art Is a Must-See in Seoul (Even If You’re Not an Art Lover)
Looking for one of the best art museums in Seoul, the Leeum Museum of Art (리움미술관) should be high on your list. Located near Itaewon, this world-class museum provides a look at traditional Korean art, modern masterpieces, and contemporary works under one architecturally interesting roof (well three actually). It’s one of the few places in Korea where you can move seamlessly from Goryeo celadon ceramics to international contemporary artists in a single visit. Plan your visit to the Leeum Museum of Art, one of the best art museums in Seoul: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking…
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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 and most ambitious flagship store by Olive Young, what really sets Olive Young N Seongsu apart are the free, personalized experiences that…
