What to See, Eat and Do in Korea (and Beyond)
When most people think about experiencing Korean culture, they picture wearing a hanbok, visiting a…
If you’ve ever looked at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and wondered what it would be…
If you grew up watching Dragon Ball, there’s a pretty good chance you have at…
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!
The holiday season is upon us! Seoul has traded in its autumn foliage for glittering Christmas decorations, holiday displays and festivities that are all set to to roll out from November on. For a little over two months, Seoul is engulfed in holiday cheer. So if you’re looking to take in those holly jolly Christmas vibes, here are some of our favorite cafes to visit this time of year.
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.
Korean handbags have grown in popularity and now are one of the most popular K-fashion buys when visiting Seoul. There are loads of influencers going on about what the “Korean girlies are buying”, but less so when it comes to brands that are influenced by Korean culture like 71to96.
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?
Typically, Koreans aren’t really into the strong spiced flavor of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, so PSL hasn’t isn’t as popular here as it is in, say, Los Angeles. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be found. So if you’re look for a pumpkin spice latte to complete your autumn vibes, I gotcha covered.
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).
