What to See, Eat and Do in Korea (and Beyond)
For my money, Mangwon Traditional Market (망원시장) has been a long time favorite of mine. It’s not massive compared to some markets, but that’s part of the charm. It’s smaller, more manageable, packed with personality and it’s been around for over 40 years. You’ll find fresh produce, dried goods, snacks, street-food stalls and even hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
Located inside Canal City Hakata (a huge shopping and entertainment complex in Fukuoka), Pokémon Center Fukuoka just reopened in June with a full makeover and Latias and Latios front and center. Latias and Latios were chosen as the Fukuoka’s mascots for their connection to Kyushu, the island where Fukuoka is located and the real-world inspiration for the Hoenn region in the Pokemon games.
Right now the Seoul Regional Tourism Center is hosting a free “Local Trip Thu-Fri-Sat” program. The feel is “travel-without-leaving-Seoul” so you get a taste of countryside or coastal region culture (depending on the theme) while staying in the city.
Studio Dragon is holding a special “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” pop-up right in here in Seoul! Located in the second-floor basement (B2) of The Hyundai Seoul, this pop-up up brings the tasty world to “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” to ours. I’m not going to lie, the pop-up is small, what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in really cute official merch. They have everything from posters, stickers, and embroidered bookmarks to scrunchies, hoodies and even Ji-yeong’s bag, gabangi!
Beer first flowed into Korea during the Japanese occupation. In the early 1930s, Japanese companies established breweries here, mainly to supply beer to settlers and officials. At the time, beer was seen as an upscale, imported-style drink, pretty much reserved for the elite or special occasions. By 1933, Yeongdeungpo became home to two of Korea’s major breweries, which later evolved into OB (Oriental Brewery) and Hite Brewery.
Mongvely is smack in the heart of Myeongdong, making it super convenient if you’re shopping, sightseeing, and have built up a good appetite. It’s a beef and pork BBQ spot that offers buffet/all-you-can-eat style, where you can pick out your cuts of meat and bring it back to grill at your table. The vibe is lively, smells good (because hello, BBQ), and usually pretty full particularly around dinner time. The clientele is mostly foreign because of the location, but that doesn’t mean it should be simply written off as “touristy” (like we almost did).
Mullae Art Village is a unique, industrial neighborhood full of metal workers, workshops, art galleries, and artist collectives. It might sound like an eclectic mix (and it is), but it’s an amazing place to visit.
If you’re a fan of old-school charm mixed with just the right amount of Seoul nostalgia, Hakrim Dabang (학림다방) is the kind of cafe you’ll never forget. Tucked away in Daehak-ro since 1956, Hakrim Dabang is the city’s oldest surviving dabang (traditional cafe), where time seems to slow down the moment you climb that creaky wooden staircase. Honestly it feels a bit like walking straight into a time capsule.
The COEX Aquarium has officially reopened as the Sea Life COEX, Seoul Aquarium. But it’s not just a name change, it’s a full blown glow-up! There are now 14 themed zones packed with over 650 species and more than 20,000 marine creatures, ranging from Amazonian ecosystems to shark kingdoms.
One of my favorite things about living in Korea is eating at Korean convenience stores. It’s not just the colorful displays or wide varieties of foods available at cheap prices, it’s that the menu is always changing and if you don’t have a favorite item yet, you’ll find one eventually.
I have shared so many of my favorite Korean designers and hanbok brands, but I’ve never shared the one that started it all (for me). Teterot Salon (때때롯살롱) used to just be Chima Jeogori (치마저고리), a tiny indie shop in Sinchon that sold me my first daily hanboks back in 2016. I guess you could say it was my gateway brand because, honestly, there was no looking back after that.
We’ve found the most beautiful view of Seoul and you can only get it from the top of this gigantic helium balloon in the middle of the city. SEOULDAL (서울달), is a mash-up of “Seoul” and dal (moon in Korean) and it’s a giant moon-shaped helium balloon that takes you 130 meters into the air for an unbeatable aerial view of the Han River and Seoul’s gorgeous skyline.
