Spring in South Korea may be the most popular season, but the winter is another world altogether. As the temperatures dip in the winter and the cherries are no longer blooming, the country becomes isolated from tourists. Thanks to its proximity to Siberia, the winter in South Korea is cold, bitter, and even harsh at times. But, even in these trying conditions, the charm and allure of South Korea will dazzle you.

10-Day South Korea Winter Itinerary

The serene grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, without its usual crowds, in winter

Best done between December and March, this 10-day itinerary is ideal for those looking to get a taste of South Korea’s winter without feeling too rushed.

Days 1, 2, 3, 4 – Seoul

Seoul is the heartbeat of South Korea. On one hand, it is a high-tech metropolis with huge skyscrapers, world-class transport, and urban architecture. On the other, it is a historical city with sprawling palaces, Buddhist temples, and traditional markets.

As the mercury dips, imagine yourself enjoying steaming hot street food, taking part in a tea ceremony, hiking up snowy mountains, or sailing to islands that are covered in thick snow. In the evenings, the entire city is lit up with a million lights, bringing in the holiday cheer. Frankly, you can spend your entire trip in Seoul and you’d still not run out of things to do. But, here are a few offbeat experiences we recommend to make the best of Seoul in 4 days.

1. Grub on winter eats at Gwangjang market – Of all the markets Seoul is blessed with, nothing beats Gwangjang when it comes to traditional Korean food. Under a thinly insulated roof, a range of shops run by caring ajummas put up a feast. Try the hotteok (sweet Korean pancake), bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), and mayak gimbap (rice rolls). Don’t forget to be covered in enough layers since the market is relatively open.

2. Embrace Buddhism – The Jogyesa temple is more than a century old and has become the centerpiece of Korean Buddhism over the years. In the winter months, visit in the evening to see the fully illuminated temple, a sight to behold.

The Jogyesa temple in the centre of Seoul in its illuminated glory at night

3. Partake in a tea ceremony – The ancient Korean tea tradition is kept alive in a handful of teahouses in the city. Our pick is the Dawon tea house nestled inside the Kyungin fine art museum.

4. Watch street performers in Hongdae – While Myeongdong is the paradise for shoppers, Hongdae is where you’ll find the youth. In the winter, with a hot coffee or some soup to give you company, watch groups belt out fantastic performances to K-pop songs on the streets.

5. Spend a day at Nami Island – Made famous by the TV show, “Winter Sonata,” Nami Island is the perfect romantic getaway. Snow blankets the entire island from the barks of trees to the lake, making for a beautiful setting to spend your day in.

Walking in Nami Island in the winter is almost like a scene from a romantic flick

Days 5, 6, 7 – Pyeongchang

One of the best-kept secrets of South Korea, Pyeongchang is the complete winter dream. Originally a small fishing community and one of the country’s poorest regions, Pyeongchang boasts of some of the world’s top ski resorts today. The region received a huge facelift in 2018, as hosts of the 2018 Winter Olympics. A new high-speed railway line was also launched as part of the games, cutting the journey from Seoul down to just 2 hours.

When the snow begins to fall, Pyeongchang turns into a winter wonderland

In spite of the boost the Olympics gave, Pyeongchang has still not seen a huge influx of tourists, making it a relatively calm place to enjoy a quiet Korean winter. Our recommendations for things to do:

1. Ski, Ski, Ski – Whether you’re an amateur or an expert, the Yongpyong Ski Resort has just the right options. Even at 2 AM in the night, the resort has ski courses running. So, arm yourself with a bottle of Korean Soju and enjoy skiing in the dark with the Milky way for the company. This can also be done as a day-trip if you wish to stay elsewhere.

2. Live in a cabin – Retire into this cabin in Jeong Seon, far from the madding crowd. Hosted by a local family, the cabin has the classic Korean ondol heating system and all facilities to cook your meals. Make a trip out to the nearby town centre to experience a fascinating skywalk as well as a railbike ride.

A cabin in the Korean alps, away from the hustle and bustle

3. Temple stay at Woljeongsa – Spend 2 days at the temple as part of the traditional temple stay program, a short insight into the teachings of Korean Buddhism. Get a complete digital detox while learning nuances of the Korean culture.

4. Go Ice Fishing – Every winter, the town of Jinbu-myeon in Pyeongchang hosts the annual Trout festival wherein locals partake in ice fishing to catch trout and devour it as a community. A lot of folk programs also take place alongside the festival to add flavour to the occasion.

Days 8, 9, 10 – Jeonju

After soaking in the deep winter in the Korean Alps, make your way to the country’s South Western town of Jeonju. The erstwhile capital of the Joseon dynasty that ruled over Korea over a 400-year old period, Jeonju is where traditional Korea remains well preserved. In 2012, Jeonju was also declared the UNESCO City of Gastronomy, a nod to its high-quality food scene. While a lot of people visit Jeonju on a day trip, we recommend spending 2-3 days here as there’s plenty to experience, especially in winter.

1. Drink as the Koreans do – Jeonju is one of the few places in the country that hosts makgeolli towns (bar strips serving Korean rice wine) to this day. Similar to the concept of Spanish tapas, walk into an establishment like Yetchon makgeolli and just order a kettle of wine to be treated to 15+ delicious sides.

2. Warm up in a Korean spa – The Red Ginseng Spa, located in Jinan outside of Jeonju, is one of the finest Korean spas. This wacky and unique spa is based on the principle of Yin and Yang and is nothing like an ordinary spa. (Think communal message, mind-blowing views, and ancient techniques).

3. Eat one of the world’s BEST meals – Bibimbap is a Korean dish that is much loved around the world. But, in Jeonju, the birthplace of the dish, you’ll encounter the authentic version of bibimbap and truly understand why this dish is often considered among the world’s finest.

What Lonely Planet rates among the top 10 eating experiences on the planet, a bibimbap in Jeonju

4. Live in a traditional Hanok – Jeonju is home to the largest collection of hanoks, i.e traditional Korean houses with a large courtyard and minimalistic living style. At the Jeonju Hanok Village, many families have opened up homestays giving tourists a chance to live in a floor-heated Hanok and just how the Koreans have for centuries.

Other Destination Ideas in South Korea for the Winter

If you’ve more time on your hands, here are some suggestions for winter destinations that you may consider adding to your itinerary

1. Seoraksan National Park – In the far eastern side further from Pyeongchang, this biosphere reserve is spectacular in all seasons including winter. With astounding views to meet you at the top of the hike, this is among the best hikes in the country.

2. Gyeongju – The historical city plays home to the 8th century Bulguksa temple among other ruins. The Silla dynasty ruled from here and have left behind many fascinating architectural gifts for travellers to witness, including their unique garden tombs.

Everywhere you turn, beautiful and historic Korean temples will stare at you

Important Facts For Preparation for Travel to South Korea in the Winter

1. While spending a winter in South Korea is worth every bit of the effort, it is critical to be well prepared to deal with the conditions. Unlike a lot of other cold places, what makes South Korea harder in the winter are the gusting winds from Northern Siberia.

2. Ensure every accommodation you book has a heating system. Most Korean homestays/ hotels follow a floor-heating system called ondol. Double check if this facility is available before booking, especially in Pyeongchang.

3. Dress up in multiple layers – Although the temperature can get incredibly low on the outside, most cafes/ hotels/ subways maintain a very warm temperature. As you’ll be moving in and out of buildings/ subways, it is important to be able to remove a layer or two when required.

4. While the holiday season of Christmas and New Year is not particularly big in South Korea, it is best to avoid trips to destinations like Nami Island on a weekend or a major holiday as a lot of local tourists tend to travel at this time.

5. While South Korea has brilliant train connectivity, a road trip is not a bad idea. But, unless you have extensive experience driving in the snow, we recommend sticking to public transport. In regions like Pyeongchang local buses operate even in the deep winters.

6. Korean subways are a haven for shoppers. So, if you’re from a warm country and do not have a lot of winter clothes to take with you, get it on your first day in Seoul at bargain prices. The quality is top-notch, as well.

With some basic preparation, traveling in South Korea during the winters can be a charming affair. It will win you over before you blink your eye.

Consider spending the next winter holidays in South Korea, you’ll be thoroughly surprised!

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I’ve asked a fellow travel blogger, Ashley from Wanderdolls, who has been teaching english in Seoul, to share her experience with you guys. She is sharing it in a 3 article series; this is the last one, what it’s really like living in Seoul Korea. See part 1 & 2 through those numbers’ links. Feature image from Ian Muttoo.

Now, when you’re off work – the fun begins.

It can however sometimes be hard to separate work and life balance as you’ll get quite close with your coworkers and you might even end up out drinking with your bosses.

Seoul has a heavy drinking culture and has been likened to being the Ireland of Asia.

It is super cheap to buy booze ($1 soju!) and you can get it anywhere anytime. Club 7-11 will be the new hot spot. I often found myself with friends sitting out at a table at 7-11 having some beers and just chatting away.

It’s totally fine to just be having a picnic in the park and enjoying some beers or wine with it. Don’t eat or drink on the subway, though – or you’ll get some intense glares from ajumma (older Korean women).

Beyond the party culture, Seoul has a lot to offer.

It has a long history with many museums around you can check out to find more. There’s tons of shopping – whether you like big, loud, deal hunting markets (go to Dongdaemun night market), or giant department stores (visit Myeongdong), you’ll find what you need.

For us North American’s though you might have Koreans pointing you to the ‘big size’ areas. There are loads of stores that’ll have your sizes (think Uniqlo, H&M, Forever 21), but you may have a harder time with shoes over-size 8US, and bras over a B cup.

Their cafe culture is also pretty amazing.

Well beyond the simple cute and coffee there are theme cafes for whatever you may want.

Want to play board games? There’s a board game cafe.

Want to snuggle up with your Korean girlfriend/boyfriend who still lives with her parents while ‘watching a movie’ – there’s a cafe for that.

Hang out with cats, dogs, sheep, or even raccoons?! There’s a cafe for that. Watch out, though, they’ll steal your seat!

Korea also has a bustling art and music scene.

Insa dong is full of galleries and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza always has a cool exhibit going on. Hongdae and Sinchon has loads of venues to catch live music.

You should also keep an eye out for free K-Pop concerts that seem to show up at city hall and some universities from time to time.

It’s PSY!

Whatever it is that you’re into, you’ll find it in Seoul.

If you’re worried about getting home sick – don’t.

You’ll find the comfort of the familiar in your language and customs from the huge expat community. You can find (most) of the foods you want somewhere in the city.

Also, the internet is SO FAST that you can skype from anywhere. Literally anywhere, there’s wifi in the parks. It’s awesome.

It’ll definitely be a change, but it’s a worthwhile one. You’ll meet so many amazing people, and the kids can really light up your days (most days).

Take anything negative with a grain of salt, you can often chalk it up to culture or language barriers. Although there were ups and downs, teaching in Korea was one of the best experiences of my life, and I can only recommend it.

This was part 3 (what it’s really like living in Korea) of a three-part series about teaching English in Seoul. Part 1 was how to get the job and part 2 was what it’s like teaching there as a job.

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The post What it’s Really like Living in Seoul Korea appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I’ve asked a fellow travel blogger, Ashley from Wanderdolls, who has been teaching english in Seoul, to share her experience with you guys. She is sharing it in a 3 article series; this is the second one explaining what it’s really like teaching English in Korea. See parts 1 & 3 through those number’s links. Feature image from Tony.

What it’s Really Like Teaching English in Korea

So, you’ve found a job that you think is good, you’ve packed your bags, hopped on the plane and landed in Korea.

You’ve (somehow) made it through your orientation, met your coworkers, and are getting into the swing of things.

Hopefully, you’ve even picked up some Korean – or at least the general hello (ahn-yeong-HA-say-yo 안녕하세요!), thank you (kam-sahm-ni-da 감사합니다), water (mul – 물), and bathroom (hwa-jang-shil 화장실). You will eventually get used to the excessive amount of syllables.

Assuming you’re teaching in Seoul – as most first timers do – you’ll find it surprisingly easy to get around. Nearly all of the street signs are in English, the subway signs are in English, and most people will at least try to talk to you in English.

You could very easily get through living in Seoul without learning a lick of Korean. I don’t suggest this, but you could do it.

When you first start teaching by yourself the kids will be very excited. If you’re working in a private academy (or Hagwon) it is likely that they are fairly well behaved and can understand some English.

Many Korean students begin learning English from infancy. You may not be used to just how excited they are to meet you, though. Prepare to be treated like you’re at a petting zoo.

This is particularly true if you have blonde hair, curly hair, arm hair, a beard, or anything that is even slightly less common among Asians.

Occasionally students can get a little grope-y too so if you’re a curvier woman bear this in mind. Note: I’m referring to students who are about 4-6 years old – they’re just a little overly curious.

Korean students also do this thing to one another, and sometimes teachers, called Ddong Chim. This is where the kids try to stick their fingers up your butt. No seriously. It’s like the Asian wedgie – though it seems a little more invasive. Ddong Chim translates to poop needle. After a while they’ll stop (hopefully) but it may take a few times of slapping their hands away and attempting to discuss the word ‘inappropriate.’ You can, of course, tell either the Korean teachers or the parents but this may lead to the kids hating you or worse, them getting harshly punished at home. It’s easier to just roll with it.

Rolling with it and being flexible is certainly something you’ll need to get used to when working in Korea.

Some things may turn out to not be exactly as described in the contract. Contracts in Korea are less to the letter and more of a general arrangement.

As long as you feel comfortable, are getting paid on time, and nothing terrible or abusive is happening, do try to be flexible.

The actual teaching part of the job ranges anywhere from lots of fun to incredibly tedious and boring. You could be going on field trips and playing games and singing songs, or (this is more true with older students) you could be following grammar textbooks all day. It’s great if you get a mix as too much of either one can be exhausting.

You will hopefully have a prep period where you can do your marking and planning for other classes. If you work in a more traditional school, private academy, or public school, you’ll need it.

If you work in an English Village where there isn’t really grades, your prep period consists more of making samples of crafts.

Your hours will vary greatly depending on your school and placement. Typically you’ll work 8-9 hours a day (including prep & lunch), but if you got one of those ‘after school’ positions you may only be working 4 or 5.

I’ve heard of teachers having longer working hours but I’d avoid those places like the plague unless you get some serious pay or benefits. Also, split shifts. Thankfully I’ve never had them, but I’ve met some teachers (usually those that teach adults) that will teach very early in the morning for 3-4 hours, have a few hours off, then have to teach again until as late as 10 pm! Not for me.

It is required that you get two days off but you may not always have a Monday to Friday Schedule. This is particularly true for private academies and English Villages.

There are also two periods during the school year (Summer and Winter Camp) where you may be working 6 days a week for a couple weeks. Take this into consideration when looking at your contracts.

Most first time teachers will get a salary between 2.0 and 2.3 million won. This is roughly $2000 to $2300 US per month.

Much of the time you also get your apartment for free as well as some meals (usually lunch). It’s quite easy to save in Korea, as if you’re eating Korean food and not partying or shopping too much you can often get by on $1000 USD or less. You can save more if you get more or of your meals covered and don’t have to commute.

You can save more if you get more or of your meals covered and don’t have to commute.

For those feeling really ambitious you can always get a side job in Korea. This is a big gray area and will depend on your contract and your agreement with your school. It is technically illegal to work outside of your contract on an E2 Visa. It is also something that is very common. If you get permission from your school and register yourself you’ll in the clear. If you do decide to tutor outside your contract don’t go through any recruiter as if they get caught, so does everyone they recruited. You could also try your hand at acting or doing voice overs!

It is technically illegal to work outside of your contract on an E2 Visa. It is also something that is very common. If you get permission from your school and register yourself you’ll in the clear. If you do decide to tutor outside your contract don’t go through any recruiter as if they get caught, so does everyone they recruited. You could also try your hand at acting or doing voice overs!

This is part of a 3 part series which started with how to get a job in Seoul. Now that we’ve learned what it’s really like teaching English in Korea, next we can see what it’s like living in Korea.

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I’ve asked a fellow travel blogger, Ashley fromWanderdolls, who has been teaching english in Seoul, to share her experience with you guys. She is sharing it in a 3 article series, starting with how to start teaching English in Seoul. Feature image from Carmine.shot.

How to Start Teaching English in Seoul

Upon finishing university all I knew for sure is that I wanted to travel. A speaker came into my lecture one day and had mentioned teaching abroad as something she did upon finishing school.

I did some digging and found it was a pretty popular choice for those fresh out of school and looking for ways to travel – and of course among those who went into the education field.

I took a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course that was hosted at my school but turned out I didn’t really need one. Sure, some places required them, it looks good on your resume, and I felt more comfortable teaching because of it. Buuuutttt… unless it’s a true college course, part of your major or you’re a licensed teacher, most schools don’t care if it was thousands of dollars in class or a fifty dollar online course.

Side note: Although there are different acronyms – TEFL/TESL/TESOL there is virtually no difference in them.

Once I completed my course, I scoured the internet for ESL teaching jobs.

My TEFL instructor suggested Asia for first-time teachers, as the demand is quite high. Google took me to a few forums and job boards but the best results were found through Dave’s ESL Café.

The majority of the postings were from China and Korea but you could find jobs for anywhere – from Costa Rica to Poland.

With a little research, I determined that I wanted somewhere that I could make enough money to live on comfortably and send some home for student debt payments. This ruled out a lot of South America and Southeast Asia.

The salary would be comfortable to live on whilst there, but with exchange rates, it wasn’t nearly enough to send home.

I began a more focused search into South Korea, Japan, China, and Hong Kong.

After a few applications and back and forths between companies, I was beginning to get some job offers.

Some were offering me contracts without an interview – a big red flag – and this was primarily from Chinese schools. Others had very long drawn out applications that included essays on what I liked about their culture and why I wanted to teach there – this came primarily from Japanese companies.

I received an offer from a school in Hong Kong, and it looked pretty good, but the cost of living was just so high that without provided accommodation I just couldn’t do it.

Most companies from South Korea on the other hand, provide round trip airfare, accommodation, and even meals! This was great to hear as a broke recent graduate.

I received some job offers and had a phone interview and that was that. All was left was logistics and I’d be set for my first job in Korea at Seoul English Village.

Job hunting in Asia: they favor white North Americans with a ‘neutral’ accent. Adding a photo to your resume is all but mandatory (but you do send your passport in). This can be shocking to some when hunting for jobs and seeing titles like “Caucasian female teacher – US/Canada only – send resume and photo.” Also to qualify to teach in most countries in Asia you must be from a ‘Native English Speaking Country’ – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, Ireland, the USA, or Canada.

Seoul English Village – Suyu Campus

I was sent the contract the following day and thankfully already had most of my paperwork prepared. Most companies wanted assurances that you had all your documentation upon applying.

Documents include:

•    Valid Passport
•    Multiple Passport photos
•    Criminal Background Check
•    Original University Degree
•    Sealed university transcript

Your documents are required to be notarized and apostilled – check with your Korean embassy for exact details regarding an E2 Visa.

Off I went with my documents and signed contract to my Korean Embassy.

The whole process was completely underwhelming. Went in, took a number, gave them my papers and my passport, received a receipt like paper that said when I could pick it up, and left.

It took about half an hour. Luckily I was in driving distance from my embassy as I hate the idea of my passport being in the mail, but if that’s not the case for you, you’ll need to mail everything in and wait.

A few days later I picked up my passport to see it complete with a full page visa sticker! This is the first one I’ve ever gotten, so I was pretty excited. I emailed my future employer and they booked me a plane ticket!

Everything happened really quickly. I was set to leave in only a few days!

I was so excited though, I got in as much family and friends time as possible, packed my bags and off I went.

Thankfully I had a direct flight from Toronto to Seoul but it was still painfully long. Fifteen hours of flight time. But then, I finally arrived.

Drowsy and confused I found my bags and went through immigration. Everything was in order. The Incheon Airport is fantastic and has multiple English speaking help desks.

Regardless of if you’re getting picked up or not (unfortunately I wasn’t), they’ll point you in the right direction. If you’re headed into Seoul, DON’T take a cab. It’ll be a long and expensive journey. You can take a bus or the train and end up central enough and then if need be take a cab.

Your first couple weeks at work will be BUSY. Not only will you have orientation with your school and learning how things work, but…

• You’ll be moving into your new apartment (expect it to be small compared to North American standards)
• You’ll have to do a medical test (and pass it, otherwise lose your visa)
• You’ll register yourself with immigration to receive your Alien Card. Yes, you’ll be an alien – a foreigner, or waygook as the Koreans call it.

All of this while being super jetlagged.

You’ll get the hang of it though, meeting other teachers really helps the transition and spending time exploring is really exciting. Although you’ll be tired and things are new just put yourself out there. Accept that invitation for BBQ, or the lunch or coffee. Introduce yourself to the Korean staff so you don’t stay in a little foreigner bubble. You’ll thank yourself later.

Now that you know how to start teaching English in Seoul, check out post #2: what teaching and living in Korea is really like.

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Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Seoul

Tell us a little about  yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Seoul.

Hey there! I’m Laura. I’m an American expat who’s been living in Seoul, Korea, for the past two(ish) years. While I certainly love budget-friendly travel, I’m a fan of luxury living as well. I’ve seen my fair share of both sides of the coin and I have to say that Seoul really does have a lot going on if you’re looking to spend a little extra for the luxury.

I currently live in Sinsa-dong, one of Seoul’s ritziest neighborhoods. I love all the food offerings, clubs and restaurants my neighborhood has to offer.

What makes Seoul a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

To be quite frank, Seoul has it all! This city has incredible, state-of-the-art transportation systems as well as some of the most unique architecture on this side of the world. The food is great, the clubs and shopping are exquisite.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Seoul?

I think it’s a toss up between the Park Hyatt and the JW Marriot. Located on the upscale Teheran-ro, the Park Hyatt boasts modern rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, three restaurants, a spa as well as an indoor pool so it would have to be my choice. On the weekends, the JW offers a wine concession in the basement of its facility, offering all-you-can-drink wine as well as finger foods. There’s a lounge area if you’d like to mingle with friends or a room with live music as well.

What about boutique hotels in Seoul, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

There are some really cool and trendy hotels in addition to the upscale options mentioned above. The most well-known would be the Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel located in Seoul’s lively and cultural Itaewon neighborhood. The colorful, modern interior matches the one-of-a-kind interior which comes equipped with cozy bedding and a welcoming atmosphere. Another great option is Hotel April, which is reminiscent of a New York City loft. The brick features of this Gangnam hotel give off an urban vibe and its location can’t be beat.

While these two options are wonderful, another popular choice of travelers are Air B&B’s. Many of Seoul’s wealthiest will offer their homes for an extended stay, which is an opportunity people shouldn’t pass up!

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler in Seoul?

Travelers can cruise along the Hangang River at night or visit a number of top-notch spas throughout the country. Koreans love spa treatments and it’s something that is part of the country’s culture. There are a number of 24-hour spas, also known as jimjilbangs, located in Seoul.

One of my favorite spas is located a short walking distance from my apartment in Sinsa-dong. Spa Lei is a women’s-only 24-hour spa that offers anything from mineral baths (think chrysanthemum, mugwort, rose and kelp pools) to manicure serves and even massages. It’s a cultural experience unique to Korea as you’re doing most of these activities completely naked. I don’t think it gets more personal or adventurous than that!

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Seoul?

I really love to have picnics by the river in the summer or take trips out to some of the smaller islands close to Seoul. Seoul is filled with quirky cafes and restaurants if that’s more your style, though. There are cute cafes tucked away in every neighborhood, but my favorite ‘hoods would have to be Itaewon, Hongdae and Sangsu.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Seoul and what are their best dishes?

I really like Bamboo House for more upscale Korean fare. Located in the heart of Gangnam, Bamboo House offers quality Korean beef in a sophisticated and cozy environment. The multi-course menu offers an array of options from Korean pancakes to more traditional dishes such as jap-chae (glass noodles pan fried with vegetables.)

If you’re interested in an upscale Korean barbecue experience, be sure to check this place out!

Address:

658-10 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Subway Line:

Yeoksam Station (Line 2) Exit 7

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

My personal favorite is Han’s Bakery. I am legitimately obsessed with a specialty cheesecake they make. If I’m being completely honest, I was never a fan of cheesecake for the first 25 years of my life until I tried Hans’ version and now I’m hooked. The price tag for a small cake is a bit steep at $40, but it’s totally worth it – I promise.

I’ve been lucky to live by both of Hans’ locations. There’s one in Suji-gu, a suburb outside of Seoul as well as in Sinsa-dong, where I’m currently located.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers in Seoul?

One of my favorite local designers at the moment is New Kidz Nohant. The clothing style is certainly very Korean (think slightly conservative, extremely comfortable and sensible) but is totally universal. My favorite project by the design team is the Hangeul  Fashion Project. The design team paired up with the famous Korean actor Yoo Ah In to create unique t-shirts like this one.

Seeing as I’ve lived in Korea for the past two years of my life, I really love the combination of English and the Korean alphabet and I love the sleek style. I have a t-shirt as well as a bag. The great news about supporting this brand is that Yoo Ah In donates all of the proceeds to the Beautiful Foundation, a non-profit that supports the wellbeing of underprivileged Korean youth.

There are plenty of local boutique shops located throughout Seoul. I highly recommend peruising through Sinsa-dong’s Garosu-gil street as well as skimming the shops in the nearby Apgujeong neighborhood. If you’d like a more comprehensive list of suggestions, check out this link!

Time for a great sunset view in Seoul… where would you go?

I highly recommend watching the sunset from N. Seoul Tower. I don’t think there’s a better view of the city, if I’m honest. One of my favorite activities is climbing the stairs to the top, walking around for a bit and heading down just before sunset. The views of the city on the way down are stunning and you get a nice workout in, too!

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

I really like the cocktails at a place called The Beastro. Located in Seoul’s trendy Hongdae neighborhood, The Beastro is also close to a variety of clubs where locals party until the sun comes up.

If you end the night at a fancy club, which one do you head towards?

Octagon, one of the most talked about clubs in Seoul is a popular spot to dance the weekday blues away. The bottle service option is always a must as the tables are situated in an open space above the dance floor, providing space away from the crowd but still gaining access to the bumping atmosphere.

Laura Nalin is an American expat who has been living and working in Seoul since 2013. Laura currently lives in Gangnam, Seoul’s most affluent neighborhood that gained international fame after the hit song infiltrated bars and clubs across the world. She loves exploring the nooks and crannies this beautiful city has to offer and has made it a point to eat at every Indian curry house and pizza joint so long as she’s been in Seoul. An avid lover of the band Phish and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Laura has never been one to stay in one place for too long. Laura is about to relocate south of the equator to New Zealand, and will be traveling for six months with her boyfriend through Southeast Asia on the way. If she’s ever stuck in a rut, she remembers the lyrics from one of her favorite Phish songs: “the trick is to surrender to the flow.” Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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