Seoul, South Korea is home for my soul (for obvious reasons). Although born in America, I am a daughter to immigrant, Korean parents. Growing up, I felt the clash between the eastern culture I was taught at home and the western culture that enveloped me in public. Understanding and resolving this dissonance allowed me to be the person I am today. I am proud to be Korean-American, and so this post is particularly meaningful for me. Although I didn’t grow up in Korea, I’ve visited several times throughout my life, and it has always felt like home.
Helpful Apps
Kakao T is South Korea’s ride-sharing app (most similar to Uber).
Naver Map is the best way to get around. I noticed that Google Map wasn’t always the most accurate especially when it came to the train or bus arrival/departure times! This app can also search for restaurants, activities, & more!
If you’re planning to mostly use the train in South Korea, make sure to download EZL Top-Up because it’ll quickly show how much is left in your train card!
Food
Korean food is known for its SOUPS AND BROTHS! No wonder Netflix’s show about Korean cuisine is titled “A Nation of Broth.” We serve Seaweed Soup on birthdays; make a kimchi broth on cold days; and mix anything we have in the fridge to create a concoction we call Army Stew. Korea is truly a nation that loves soup.
Admittedly, these soups don’t necessarily have a complex flavor profile or frankly, require much skill to make. However, the warmth and heartiness of the broth allows you to melt and let all your guards down. These soups symbolize childhood memories and comfort for me, so obviously, I’m a little biased. However, here are some soups that I highly recommend for anyone visiting South Korea!
- Kalguksoo (which roughly translates to “knife-cut” noodle)
An umami flavored broth usually made with anchovy, chicken, or beef stock. With your desired protein, it is served with thick noodles and various veggies and ingredients like garlic, potato, and zucchini. It is a home-style meal that will fire up your tummy and leave you surely satisfied.
- Budae Jjigae (AKA “Army Stew”)
The history of this soup is that those in the army would scrounge for any ingredients they had, throw it in a pot, and make soup out of it. Thus, the name “Army Stew” came about. Despite its unappealing origin, the flavors are packed with spicy, savory, and umami. This is usually a favorite by visitors from all over the globe.
- Kimchi Jjigae
This is a common soup eaten and loved by all Koreans. It’s usually made with pork or spam. And although scarlet in color, I promise it’s not too spicy! In fact, it’s just the right amount of heat and savory to make you keep wanting more!
Other Food Recommendations:
- Yangnyeom Gejang (spicy, marinated raw crab)
Also, Korea is known for its affinity to spice! I’m sure we’ve all seen the viral challenge of eating the “Buldak Spicy Noodle” that led to the explosion of the other Buldak flavors like Tom Yum, Carbonara, Tomato, and sooo much more. (If you like spicy food, I highly recommend checking this ramen out!) Another dish I highly recommend is a delicacy that I’ve only ever seen in Korea: Yangnyeom Gejang (which is spicy, marinated raw crab). If you don’t like spice, there’s another variation called Ganjang Gejang (which is soy-sauce marinated raw crab). Both are insanely delicious.
2. Live Octopus
Another famous place that is a must-visit in South Korea is the Gwangjang Market which is located in the Jongno District. I’ll be very candid and admit that a lot of the food here is duplicated at every stall. However, it has a lot of the basic Korean dishes and is a wonderful place to sit with friends on the heated bench, have a drink of Soju while chowing down on a variety of Korean appetizers.
However, if you’re on the hunt for more unique and “hard to find” dishes, this is an option for you! These octopus are ALIVE and FRESH. The seller will take the beautiful cephalopod out of its tank and directly show you its sentience before chopping it up and presenting it on a plate with sesame oil, spicy gochujang sauce, topped with dried seaweed and sesame seeds. Fair warning– it still moves even after being chopped, so make sure to chew thoroughly!
3. Hotteok
Hotteok is a small, circular pancake filled with a brown, sugar syrup. It is typically eaten as a snack or dessert. Everyone in Korea is familiar with this snack– the young’ins, the parents, the aunties and uncles, and all of their grandparents. It was first brought to Korea in the 1800s and has remained as a favorite since.
Activities
- Drinking / Partying
One of the most popular activities for visitors who come to Korea is probably to go out and drink. There is a huge drinking culture here whether it’s with friends, family, or coworkers. Due to this huge drinking frenzy, a lot of bars will stay open until 6AM or so (which is usually when the first morning train starts). Drinks are also really cheap here with Soju bottles starting at 1,900₩ (which is roughly $1.50 USD).
- Skin Treatment
If you never really cared about your skin, you might feel differently when in Korea because appearance is a huge priority. There are so many beauty tools and skincare products that are available at every corner. South Korea is at the cutting-edge of the latest and best tools needed to maintain and improve one’s appearance. Therefore, I recommend stocking up on products at Olive Young and maybe even reserving an appointment at a medspa to get a consultation to address any concerns. I personally had a consultation where I opted for the Pico-Toning and Pico-Laser! You can read about my experience here! The convenience and affordability in South Korea make this a must! Similar products or treatment would be double or triple the cost in the states, so how can you not?!
- Walk the Streets of Hongdae or Itaewon
There’s a lot of “hipster” and “cute” areas to explore in South Korea. However, I deliberately chose Hongdae or Itaewon because these areas are so multicultural and bustling. There’s a variety of shops, the best coffees, and amazing food to try. It’s easy to spend an entire day walking through these streets! Oftentimes, you can see street performers or food vendors lining the sidewalk too.
In addition, as of December 2024, a popular and growing trend is to go to a photobooth. When I went, it seemed like there was a photobooth at every block. The last time I took a photobooth picture was when I was 16. However, the modern places will usually have an interesting theme (e.g., a bathroom layout), props to use (e.g., animal ears), and, the best part, a video that comes with the photo strip! It definitely made for a very unique and fun experience.
Scenery
Seoul is a huge city that is bustling with people and sparkling with neon lights. There are tall skyscrapers and buildings all over. With each year, it seems to become more and more modernized. For a city, it is fairly clean and quite safe– even for solo female travelers! Although there isn’t anything that stands out too much about the architecture, it is like your typical, modern city.
Lifestyle
When I think of the people in Korea, I think of the motto, “Work hard, play hard.” Work culture in Seoul is quite intense with people often working 10+ hours a day. The average person seems very work-oriented and busy; the people are respectful but to themselves. Also, there is a distinct social hierarchy where people who are older or have a greater status must be respected. In fact, a more formal language is used for these individuals; if not, the person comes off very disrespectful.
Despite the social hierarchy and cultural norms, it is common to see groups of people altogether being loud and boisterous. It is obvious that people enjoy spending time together and having fun with one another. On a typical day interacting with people, I felt a surface level of mutual politeness and respect with a deeper level of honesty and candor.