What to See, Eat and Do in Korea (and Beyond)
This is how we spent a day as traditional Korean cobblers. When it comes to traveling, nothing beats a good hands-on experience. We always find them to be a great way to immerse ourselves off the beaten path in unique aspects of foreign culture.
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” and Seoul is no exception. As soon as November comes around, Christmas decorations, events and festivities all start to roll out. For a little over two months, Seoul is engulfed in holiday cheer. Here’s some of our favorite ways to take in those sweet Christmas vibes.
It is officially winter in Korea which means it’s going to be cold. Snow isn’t always guaranteed, but sub-zero temperature and chilly nights are. So we’ve got tips to keep you warm and your holidays bright this December!
Seorae Village is a charming little corner of Seoul often called “Little France” because of its strong French community, French school, and European-style cafes and bakeries. And every December, for one day only, this quaint neighborhood comes to life with a beautiful Christmas market.
I’ve rounded up a list of all the K-foods I noticed in the KPDH, along with some of our local recommendations on where to enjoy them on your next Korea trip. Let’s see how many of these Korean foods you recognized and how many you’ve tried. How big of a K-foodie are you?
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.
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.
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.
