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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…
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Conrad Hotel: Where To Stay On Yeouido In Seoul
Yeouido Island sitting in the Han River that cuts through Seoul, Korea is the main financial district in the capital and is also home to various governmental departments as well. Being centrally located in the city and providing gorgeous views of the Han River, one would think more travelers would be staying there. While many business travelers know the island well, it doesn’t yet seem to garner attention from the tourists and family travelers… but it should be. Not only are the rooms spacious and the views gorgeous, but the food options are delectable. Opened in 2013, Conrad Seoul (콘래드 서울 호텔) is a Hilton Hotel named after the founder…
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Alpaca World Korea: How To Get There From Seoul & What You’ll See
We took an adventure from Seoul out to Alpaca World (알파카월드) at the beginning of spring this year and the chilly weather now in the autumn has me remembering it. Pictures of alpacas swarmed my Insta last autumn and I saved the spot to wait until it got warmer for us to go. Yes, there are indeed alpacas in Korea and they’ve come all the way from Australia. Are the alpacas in Seoul? No, but close enough. Do you want to go to Alpaca World? You’ve come to the right place. If you’ve got kids in Seoul and want to find some more spots to introduce them to animals and…
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Resom Forest & The Have9 Healing Spa: The Perfect Wellness Getaway in Korea
Resom Forest (리솜포레스트리조트) is a resort in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea that seeks to provide healing through nature and water. The resort sits in a forest of trees that has been there for a 1000 years and the buildings were built to coexist with their natural surroundings. Through eco-friendly construction and ideals and providing holistic and natural healing programs, the resort has effectively integrated nature, healing, and even adventure for guests that make the trek out to the area. Resom Forest is a spectacular getaway for the adventurer and might just have the best spa in the country. If you’ve had enough city time in Seoul and needs a break to the…
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Insadong: A Guide To The Traditional Artsy Fun Neighborhood In Downtown Seoul
Insadong is a popular neighborhood in Seoul, Korea that is known for its mix of traditional and contemporary and being near must see spots like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village means it’s easy to find and caters to tourists as well as locals in downtown Seoul. There are traditional tea houses and art galleries, fun photo-zone spots and restaurants galore. Whenever I have a visitor we invariably end up in Insadong at some point and it’s definitely the district to buy all of those Korean souvenirs if that’s what you need to take home. Some popular souvenirs include the traditional masks that you can see worn in Andong, Korea…
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What To Pack If You’re Traveling To Korea: The Only List You Need
Need a packing list for Korea? This is the spot. Whether you’re traveling to Korea for a short term trip or long term travel, it’s good to be safe rather than sorry. Korea has four seasons and here is what you need to have for each one. I get a lot of questions throughout the year like: What should I pack for Korea in the winter? Do I really need a parka for winter in Korea? How hot is it in the summer in Korea? What do I need to pack for the summer in Korea? Do I need a mask in Korea? Basically, there are a lot of questions…
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Deoksugung Palace: The Most Unique Palace In Seoul
Deoksugung Palace in Seoul, Korea is the smallest of the five palaces in the capital but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be visited. It’s the most unique palace with various architectural styles and is the only palace to feature a western style garden, fountain and building. Deoksugung Palace means ‘palace of virtue and longevity’ and it is a beautiful palace to visit in downtown Seoul. If you’re in downtown Seoul, it’s easy to visit sitting centrally located and right next to a subway station. It’s a where to see a changing of the guard ceremony if that’s what you’re looking for as so many often are. Looking for some specific…
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Three Tips For Healthy Eating in Korea
Being healthy while traveling can be difficult for the unprepared. Imagine moving abroad and just not knowing where to start. Many foreigners and expats that come to Korea have common issues after they first arrive and many of them are related to health. Is it possible to be healthy in Korea? What Korean foods are healthy? What Korean foods aren’t healthy? Where can I find healthy foods? Where can I get organic food? There are so many questions and so I’ve invited Dawn Wheeler to share her vast knowledge on the subject. It is completely possible to be healthy in Korea… if you know where to find the natural foods…
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Cool Architecture To See In & Around Seoul, Korea
There are new and improved buildings around Seoul and Korea being built all of the time. Not all of them are beautiful or interesting. In fact, most of them are high rise apartments BUT, there are some that are quite distinctive and for all of the right reasons. If you’re coming to Seoul and want to find the architectural highlights, the buildings that embrace the future with sleek lines, interesting facades, and staircases for days, here is a great start to making an awesome itinerary with the architecture highlights. Want to take some epic photos in Seoul? Don’t miss these Instagrammable places in Seoul. These are some of the must…
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Dream Park: The Flower Park Near Seoul You Have To See To Believe
I’ve now been to Dream Park (드림파크) in Incheon, just outside of Seoul, three times. It’s a difficult spot to explain with some quirks but it is also home to an amazing flower park that is relatively unknown and quiet most of the year. If you can get there, it’s worth the trip especially in the autumn, but we found some beautiful flowers in the spring in Korea the first time we managed to find the park so there’s that. Each autumn in Korea, it’s a rush to find all of the flower fields and autumn blooms as well as fall foliage as it bursts into color. From forests to…
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The Coolest Rest Stop In Korea Has An Illumination Theme Park
I’ve been in Korea for thirteen years and been driving for six of them. I’ve been on buses that pulled off at rest stops and pulled off at many on my own road trips and up until this month, I didn’t know there could even be a “cool” rest stop, but there is. Generally, rest stops in Korea feature a large cafeteria space with tables and chairs to eat food from one of multiple fast options. There is a convenience store and large bathrooms. There are also a few coffee shops too, but that’s about it and that’s pretty standard. You don’t really need much more out of a rest…
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Rugby Clubs In Korea & The Seoul Rugby Charity Dinner
Rugby is a sport that may not have a ton of history in Korea but it definitely has some avid fans and those fans have even gone on to start rugby clubs around the country. Whether you want to play, promote, or support these programs, there’s a chance to be apart of the sport from Seoul down to Busan. Recently, I was invited out to the Seoul Rugby Charity Dinner. Hosted every four years in the run up to the Rugby World Cup, this event held at the JW Marriott this year, raises money for a number of charities here in Seoul, Korea. The event is hosted by the South…
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Off The Beaten Path In Korea: The Hamchang Art Road In Sangju
There are some great places to go in Korea to see artworks and some are so off the beaten path, you really need to be an art lover… or maybe a small town fan. Personally, I love visiting small towns in Korea and hitting townie festivals like the Icheon Sansuyu Festival or visiting the small Hanok Village in Seongju, Gyeongsanbuk-do. Small towns are charming and the people, too. Hamchang in Sangju lived up to my small town expectations with friendly people and the bonus was the scavenger hunt for art. If you want to get off the beaten path in Korea, take a day trip from Seoul or maybe stay…
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Daytrips From Seoul: Oido Island & Daebudo Island
There is more to Korea than Seoul and so often people just miss it. Did you know there are islands just off the west coast and some are even accessible via the Seoul subway system? We took a day trip down to Oido Island and Daebudo Island and it definitely reminded me that I need to get out that way more. Want to take a trip outside of Seoul for the day or the whole weekend? There are awesome islands to visit like Yeongjongdo Island and Ganghwado Island to name a couple and here are two more spots to look into. You won’t be sorry. From ocean blues and salty…
