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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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What To Do On a Rainy Day in Seoul: 50+ Things To Do
Many people exploring Seoul picture gorgeous sights such as Korean palaces, beautiful hiking trails, street food, shopping in the hotspots, and gorgeous views from stunning rooftop bars. But none of these things are quite as much fun to do when it’s raining. Though Seoul doesn’t experience a huge amount of rain (except during monsoon season), it can really spoil an outdoor experience – whether that’s by cluttering your Instagram snaps with umbrellas and cloudy skies, ruining your shoes, or generally making you feel gloomy. There are plenty of opportunities to have fun indoors in Seoul, so when you wake up to grey skies, it’s time to explore one of the…
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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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Couples Rings in Korea: What to Know and How to Make or Buy One
It goes without saying that couple culture in Korea is huge, with loved-up partners finding any opportunity to celebrate their romance together, there is literally a romantic holiday in every month of the year in Korea. From Valentine’s Day to White Day, and from couple’s outfits to couple rings, Koreans go to great lengths to show off their partnerships. So if you’ve got a new partner in Korea, you may want to celebrate your exclusivity with matching couple rings. First, though, you’ll need to know what are Korean couples’ rings, as well as where to buy couples’ rings in Korea, or how to make couples’ rings in Korea. Get ready…
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Top 15 Apps to Download When You Come To Korea
When coming to Korea for the first time, it can be overwhelming trying to work out how to navigate this new and exciting country. From finding the best places to eat in Seoul, learning how to get around the Seoul Subway, reading menus in Korean, and even going on exciting day trips from Seoul, it can quickly become overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors (particularly when they realize how unreliable Google Maps is in Korea!) Thankfully, we live in the modern world, and in the modern world, we can rely on our smartphones to help us do just about everything. If you’re traveling in Korea, make sure you get an eSIM or…
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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…
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Halla Arboretum Is A Free Forested Oasis In The Middle Of Jeju City
When most people arrive to Jeju Airport, they’re pretty quick to get out of Jeju City and head to other various parts of the must-see island. We’ve been known to do that as well, however, the past few trips, we stuck around a bit to see something in the area. Stick around and you can visit Halla Arboretum (한라수목원) for one. We’ve managed to visit this arboretum twice, once in the spring and once in the autumn and it’s really a stunning spot that’s easy to get to even if you’re not renting a car on Jeju Island. Halla Arboretum in Jeju is a great escape right near the airport.…
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Your Ultimate Guide To Jeju Orange and Tangerine Picking
Getting ready for a trip to Jeju Island? One of our FAVORITE things to do in Jeju Island is picking citrus fruit, eating citrus fruit, and just enjoying everything citrus fruit. If you’re like us, then get ready for a zesty adventure. One of the top autumn experiences to have on Jeju Island is picking citrus like the famous Hallabong and tangerines, so if you’re visiting Jeju in the fall, it’s a must do. The beautiful orchards on Jeju Island fill the air with a sweet aroma and while you pick, you eat, and while you eat, you pick, and at the end, you have a basketful of citrus you…
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Dasoni: The Korean Temple Food Restaurant In Jeju You Need To Find
You land on Jeju Island and you’re off for an adventure. What is your first stop? For us, it’s almost always filling up at Dasoni (다소니), well after picking our rental car. Located in Jeju City, this traditional Korean tea house is overflowing with rustic style and delicious food in the form of Korean temple cuisine. If you’re wondering where to eat in Jeju, start making a list and start with this restaurant, it’s definitely one of the best places to eat in Jeju. We usually stop here after we land or before we’re taking off because it’s located in Jeju City near the Jeju Airport. Dasoni is one of…
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The Myeongnyang Battle Festival: A Celebration of Valor and Victory in Haenam
When we’re planning a trip in Korea, we often plan them around a cool festival. With most festivals based around either food or some part of history in Korea, there are a lot of things to learn and eat. The Myeongnyang Battle Festival (명량대첩축제), held in Wando-gun around Uldolmok, is a vibrant and meaningful celebration that honors the spirit of Jeolla-do’s people and the heroic and well-known Korean General Yi Sun-shin. This annual event commemorates the remarkable victory in the Battle of Myeongnyang. If you haven’t heard of it, fear not, that just means you have more to learn and some place new to visit. The Myeongnyang Battle Festival is…
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The Muan Mud Flats and The Other Mud Festival In Korea To Know About
When mud festivals in Korea come up, most likely people are talking about the Boryeong Mud Festival, but there’s another mud festival in the country and a beautiful ecological landscape to go with it in Jeollanam-do. The Muan Ecological Tidal Flat Land (무안황토갯벌랜드), featuring the largest educational facility for natural ecology in Korea, is a gorgeous escape and filled with some great muddy fun if you visit for the Muan Mud Flat Festival. Even if you don’t visit during the festival period, the Muan Eco Mudflat area is beautiful and feel remote despite being two larger cities. Get ready for an adventure in Korea! Get ready for an adventure to…
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A Quick Guide To The Five Palaces Of Seoul
Did you know there are five main palaces in Seoul, Korea? Oh, and bonus, there’s a royal residence, too. When you begin to plan your trip to this vibrant city and realize there are five palaces of Seoul to see, that can be overwhelming for even the best of travel planners. Which of the Seoul palaces should you visit? Which of the palaces in Seoul is the grandest? Is there even a difference? I’ve done full guides of all of the palaces, but with this Seoul palace quick guide, I’m going to break it down so you know which one is right for you. Honestly, if you have the time,…
