Culture Events

BTS Media Show + Purple Lounge at DDP: What to Expect (Seoul Guide 2026)

There are moments in Seoul where you realize the city isn’t just hosting an event, it’s transforming into it. With the long awaited return of BTS, that’s exactly what’s happening in Seoul. Right now, the entire city seems to be shrouded in a hue of purple and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in no exception. This is part of the larger “BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL” project, which is basically Seoul turning into a living stage. At night, the entire structure lights up with BTS visuals and, during the day, fans move through a quiet listening space filled with their music.

Culture Events

Inside the BTS ‘Arirang’ Pop-Up at HYBE Yongsan (Seoul Guide)

If you’re in Seoul right now, it kind of feels like the city is quietly (or not so quietly) orbiting around one thing… BTS! The kings of K-pop have officially made their comeback with their FREE concert at central Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square. And with that, they have ushered in a whole itinerary of BTS-coded events all over Seoul.

Attractions Culture Events

The Seoul Lantern Festival has Been Extended!!

Imagine strolling along a softly lit stream in the heart of Seoul, surrounded by glowing lanterns of every shape and size, from traditional hanji lanterns inspired by Korean history to playful media art and interactive light experiences all set against a winter night’s backdrop. That’s the Seoul Lantern Festival (서울빛초롱축제), one of our favorite events of the year!

Attractions Culture Events Food

3 Must-Visit Christmas Markets in Seoul

“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.

Cafés Food

3 Cafes to Try this Holiday Season

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.

Culture Events

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty Pop-Up in Seoul

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!

Culture Events

Yeongdeungpo’s NEW Original Beer Festival

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.

Food Restaurants

The Best All You Can Eat KBBQ in Myeongdong

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).

Food

Cheap Eats, Korean Convenience Store Style

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.

Fashion Style

Teterot Salon: Korean Fashion and Modern Hanboks

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.