• Monday
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    What is Open On Mondays In Seoul?

    If you’re new in Korea or planning your perfect Seoul itinerary, it might take you by surprise to see that a large number of tourist attractions in Seoul are closed on Mondays. From Namsangol Hanok Village to The National Museum, plenty of tourist attractions take their weekly holidays on Mondays, as they stay open on the busy weekends. Before you travel to Korea, it’s important to take note of what is open in Seoul on Mondays, what is closed on a Monday in Seoul, and what to do on a Monday in Seoul. This way you can ensure you visit everywhere on your bucket list! There are plenty of tourist…

  • New Zealand Wine Festival, Seoul, Korea; 2023
    Events In Korea (한국의 행사)

    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…

  • double cherry blossom (겹벚꽃)
    Explore Korea (한국 탐험하기)

    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.…

  • Korean trash cans
    Life In Korea (한국의 삶)

    Guide to Throwing Away Trash in Korea: In Public and At Home

    Whether you’re visiting Korea as a tourist or have moved to your first Korean apartment, you’ve probably run into the issue of how and where to throw away your trash. There are very few bins on the Seoul sidewalks, so from your first day in the country, you’ll soon find yourself carrying trash around for most of the day Whether you’ve moved into a Korean apartment, a university dorm, or you’re simply staying in an Airbnb in Korea, you’ll find that throwing out the trash isn’t quite as simple as putting your waste into a trash bag and throwing it into a large garbage bin. From buying the correct trash…

  • Purito From Green Avocado Cleansing Balm
    Korean Beauty

    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…

  • Korean ghosts and creatures
    Korean Culture (한국 문화)

    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…

  • Sanullim 1992 (산울림1992), Hongdae, Seoul, Korea
    Food In Korea (푸드 인 코리아)

    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.…

  • Lotte Department Store (롯데백화점)
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    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…

  • Korean food, Kimbap Cheonguk food, kimbap, bibimbap
    Food In Korea (푸드 인 코리아)

    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…

  • Mecenatpolis, Hapjeong, Seoul, Korea; rain in Korea, umbrellas
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    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…

  • Korean Italy Towel, Korean exfoliation
    Korean Beauty

    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…

  • Myosa Seoul, Seongsu-dong, Seoul, Korea
    Food In Korea (푸드 인 코리아),  Korean Pop Culture

    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…

  • couple rings in Korea, couple culture, dating culture in Korea
    Korean Culture (한국 문화),  My Korean Husband (나의 한국인 남편)

    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…

  • Korean apps, apps to download to travel to Korea
    Travel Planning (여행 계획)

    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…

  • Korean kimbap/gimbap, Korean food
    Food In Korea (푸드 인 코리아)

    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…

  • Yeongpyeongsa Temple (영평사), Sejong, Korea
    Chungcheongnam-do (충청남도)

    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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