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Tap Water In Korea: Is It Safe to Drink… and Why Most Koreans Don’t
Fill up a glass of water from the tap in Korea and start drinking it in front of your Korean host and watch their reaction. Despite the tap water in Seoul going through more rigorous quality testing than most developed cities in the world, the vast majority of Koreans won’t drink it. They’ll reach for bottled water, a filtered pitcher, or boiled water before they’ll drink straight from the tap. So, what’s going on? The short answer: yes, tap water in Korea is safe to drink. The longer answer involves old pipes, a government overhaul, a cultural preference that data hasn’t shifted yet, and some genuinely interesting statistics about what’s…
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Pil-dong: The Arts & Culture District Near Myeongdong
If you travel like I do, then you’re constantly staring out bus or car windows until something catches your eye and then you quickly tag it on the map to come back to later. That’s how I found the Pil-dong Arts and Culture Street. Located just outside of the Namsangol Hanok Village and the beautiful Korea House in Jung-gu up the road from the popular Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul, Pil-dong is a hidden gem of colorful facades and artistic installations in backstreets where you’d never expect to find them. I love that Seoul has so many of these arts and culture areas. Some of them are much more popular…
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Best Daytrips From Seoul: 25 Places To Go Near Seoul
Daytrips daytrips are so fun, daytrips daytrips, there’s something for everyone! Seoul is a fantastic city to visit or live in, but sometimes, it’s nice to get out too. There are a TON of places to go near Seoul and I have traveled extensively here, there, and everywhere so let me fill you in. You’d be surprised how far across the country you can get in just one day. Ready for a day trip from Seoul? This is the guide for you with some of the easiest places to get to with public transportation, and some spots nearby that you need a car for. Get ready to travel in Korea.…
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How to Visit the DMZ From Seoul: Imjingak, JSA, and Cheorwon
I was featured on CNN for sharing hidden gems in the DMZ, and after more than 15 years living in Korea, I’ve visited multiple times across both major areas. If you want to visit the DMZ, take a DMZ tour, or figure out how to see the JSA (FYI, JSA has been closed for a few years now, but I know it’s a top question when people think about the DMZ), this is everything you need to plan the trip. It sounds like a trek. It’s actually easier than most people expect. One thing trips people up before they even start planning: the DMZ can close to tourists for political…
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Wonimisan is a Magical Mountain of Azaleas South of Seoul
Cherry blossoms aren’t the only early spring blooms to burst forth each year in Korea and some of the other blooms are really magical. Azaleas (진달래) are just beautiful and you can see them in numbers on the Wonmisan mountainside (원미산) just south of Seoul in Bucheon. Looking for a mountainside of flowers this spring in Korea? Here is where to go. Plan your trip to see azaleas this spring in Korea: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.) How To Get There Address: 21-1san, Chunui-dong, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do…
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14 of the Most Picturesque Places To See Cherry Blossoms In Seoul
It’s spring in Korea and everyone awaits the coming of the fluffy white cherry blossoms to truly celebrate the season. Cherry blossoms bloom in Korea from the end of March starting down on Jeju Island so everyone in Seoul waits as they watch the photos online from cities across the nation until finally, the trees in Seoul burst into fluffy white and pink floral beauties. There are some super popular cherry blossom spots, hidden gems, and everything in between in Seoul. Literally, you can see cherry blossoms all over the city so don’t think you must head to the “must see” spots. Enjoy any cherry blossom scenery you find here,…
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The Kpop Lightstick Guide: Official Prices, Real Sellers & How to Spot a Fake
Having seen a number of KPop acts over the years while living in Korea, the idea of the lightsticks wasn’t new to me. However, I was recently working on a trends project for a company and realized just how vast the KPop lightstick phenom is. I went down the rabbit hole and have found the best websites to buy Kpop lightsticks online right now. A Kpop lightstick (응원봉, eungwonbong) is an official, group-branded handheld light that fans use to show support at concerts, most run between $30 and $90 depending on the group and version, with rare or limited editions climbing well past that. These days, whether you’re at concerts…
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Koo House: A Gapyeong Museum of Art & Design
There are some pretty cool things to do in Gapyeong just east of Seoul, but some get a bit more attention than others. The next time you take a trip to Gapyeong, bypass some of the more popular touristy destinations and find the hidden gems the locals check out. Koo House Art Museum is one of those gems that is a fun stop for everyone and something a bit artsy to see. It’s fun. It’s colorful. It’s a great daytrip option. Plan a trip to Gapyeong that includes Koo House Art Museum: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
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Korean Eating Etiquette: 8 Rules Before You Sit Down
The food is served and you are ready to dig in… but wait, do you know good table manners in Korea? I’ve made plenty of mistakes around the dinner table in Korea, chief among them tapping my father-in-law’s soju glass when he poured his own drink. I’ll get to that story later. There is a lot to know about eating in Korea and I should add that a lot depends on who you’re eating with. I’ll get to that later too. Anyway, you’re ready to eat in Korea. Before you do, let’s learn the Korean eating etiquette so you can dig right in. What to know about Korean table manners: (This…
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AXIS-Y: 6 Korean Skincare Products You Need In Your Life
We are going to unpack a TON of info on the Korean skincare brand named AXIS-Y in this post. If you haven’t heard of them yet, AXIS-Y is all about hydration and revitalization and I’m going to review 6 of AXIS-Y’s top products right in this post! There are some awesome Korean skincare brands out there and this has fast become one of my favorites. My skin is supple and glowing and in the winter, I’m surprised when that happens. Are you interested in AXIS-Y skincare? Here’s what you need to know: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
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Haslla Art World: Immersive Art, Pinocchio Museum, and Hillside Sculptures in Gangneung
When thinking of the coastal city of Gangneung, many people conjure images of the white sand beach and summer sun. But, there’s way more than that and while Gangneung is an ideal summer destination in South Korea, it’s also great every other season because there is still plenty to do. Thus, here’s what you need to know about Haslla Art World (하슬라아트월드), and how to plan a trip to this awesome art experience on the east coast of Korea. Looking for things to do in Gangneung? This should definitely be on the list. Plan a trip to Haslla Art World in Gangneung: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I…
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14 Things To Do For Valentine’s Day In Seoul
Valentine’s Day is just one of numerous romantic holidays in Korea. It’s a big one though. If you’re revving up to celebrate your love and you need some romantic things to do in Seoul or the best date ideas in Seoul, you’ve come to the right place. Couple culture in Korea is out of this world with couples often wearing matching clothing and even buying matching underwear. Thus, you can imagine that a romantic holiday such as Valentine’s Day is up there in popularity for couples in Korea. Here’s what you need to know to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Seoul: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a…
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The Coolest Culture Space In Korea Is In A Cave In Gwangmyeong
In the summer we were studying rocks and lava and decided to take a field trip south to Gwangmyeong Cave, or Gwangmyeongdonggul, (광명동굴). When Seoul starts to get too hot and humid to bear, take a trip here. The interior of the cave has a dramatic temperature difference from the outside and you can fill it literally as soon as you take one step in the entrance. Visiting is a really cool thing to do near Seoul… literally. Once a mine, today, it is the largest themed cave park in Korea. Plan your visit to Gwangmyeong Cave: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of…
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Udo Island: Complete Day Trip Guide From Jeju with Things To Do, Food, and How To Get There
Jeju Island is much larger than you might expect which means you really need to know what you want to see before you go and stay near those things. If you’re staying on the west side of Jeju Island, for example, then you would really never have time to get to Udo Island (우도), which is off the eastern coast of the island. Stay near the beautiful Seongsan Ilchulbong though, then Udo Island is not only doable, but it’s one of the best day trips you can take in Korea. We’ve visited four times now and it’s still one of our favorite adventures in Korea. What you’ll find in this…
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Modern Hanbok Guide: Where To Buy Modern Hanbok Online & In Seoul
Modern Hanbok is one of the biggest fashion trends in Korea right now, and one that’s been quietly building for years before the rest of the world caught on. Traditional Korean silhouettes, updated with lighter fabrics, simplified cuts, and contemporary color palettes that you can actually wear day to day. I have five Hanboks myself: one traditional, four modern. Once you have one, you tend to end up with more. You might have already seen modern Hanbok without realizing it. BTS members have worn Leesle. BLACKPINK wore Danha Seoul in the “How You Like That” music video. Tilda Swinton wore Tchai Kim. These aren’t just celebrity endorsements, they reflect a…
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How To Celebrate The Year Of The Tiger In Korea
Happy New Year! 2022 has begun and with it the Year of the Tiger, the black tiger to be precise. In Korean, this year is called “Iminnyeon”, 임인년, with “Im” meaning black, “in” meaning tiger, and “nyeon” meaning year. Korea is known as the “Land of tigers”. Tigers, which once roamed the Korean peninsula, are so ingrained in Korean history and folklore that you’ll even see Korea depicted as a tiger… it just takes a little imagination. So, what does the Year of the Tiger mean? And, how can you celebrate the Year of the Tiger in Korea? Here’s what you need to know… What to know about the Year…
