Seoul Seeker: A Travel Guide to Seoul, South Korea

White snow flurries swirl by as the train slowly rattles in. A child asks their parents if they’re there yet. Overhead, the train safety video featuring a man signing Korean Sign Language and the cast of “Pororo the Little Penguin” is playing on mute for the third time in a row. On the train speakers, “잠시 후 종착역인 서울역에 도착하겠습니다” rings out twice and is then repeated again in English, “We will soon be arriving at Seoul Station. The final destination of this train.” As the train pulls into the station, families can be seen scurrying about, hauling suitcases and children along. And people sit on the waiting area steps, clutching their iced americanos while carefully eating pastries. Everyone is bundled up in their thickest winter coats. A few brave the cold coatless for a few snow pictures. It’s winter in Seoul.

Traveling is a wonderful and exciting experience. There’s so much to do, so much to see and so much to learn about no matter where you go. Traveling to South Korea is no exception. If you ever get the opportunity to travel to South Korea, I would highly recommend it. The country not only offers beautiful scenery and delicious food, but the culture – both pop and traditional – is fascinating to learn about and experience. However, a vital portion of traveling is the planning phase. Who are you going with? How will you get there? Where will you stay? What is your budget? Before embarking on your journey, you should be prepared according to your destination. Digital creators like Max (@maxnotbeer) and Lily (@_lilyis) who provide quick videos about traveling make research so much easier. When I was planning my trip to Korea, I researched some locations I would like to visit, some foods I’d like to try, and even what concerts I could possibly see. While I wasn’t prepared for everything, I still had an amazing time and learned a few things that I think would benefit others. This travel guide is not comprehensive nor does it reflect all that South Korea has to offer. I was only able to visit for just over two weeks from the end of December to the beginning of January, so everything is based on my experience during the winter holiday season.

Before Leaving

Before traveling to South Korea, there are a few things you can do to prepare for the journey. I would recommend learning a few common Korean phrases and the Korean alphabet known as Hangul. With the Korean language, there are two different forms of speech. Formal speech has five different levels to it and informal speech has two different levels to it. In most situations, formal speech is the best choice. Listed below are some examples of common phrases and words that will aid you in your travels.

Hello - 안녕하세요 (an-nyong-ha-se-yo)

I’ll leave in good health* - 안녕히가세요 (an-nyong-hi-ga-se-yo)

*Used as a way to say goodbye

Thank you - 감사합니다 (gam-sa-hap-ni-da)

Yes* - 네 (ne)

*Yes is used as a response to thank you, so instead of saying you’re welcome say yes.

No - 아니요 (a-ni-yo)

Wait - 잠깐만요 (jam-kkan-man-yo)

Excuse me - 실례합니다 (sil-lye-hab-ni-da)

I’m sorry - 미안해요 (mi-an-hae-yo)

Restroom - 화장실 (hwa-jang-sil)

With the help of technology, there are a few apps that will help you navigate better and overall make the trip more enjoyable.

Navigation apps:

KakaoMap or Naver Map are the best options for navigation. Google and Apple Maps will still work in Korea, but they may show fewer locations or be missing information. The main differences between the map apps are that KakaoMaps works better if you search in Hangul and Naver Maps will accept either and show better tracking for bus routes.

Kakao Taxi is the go-to taxi service in Korea with Uber, also known as UT, being a viable option. For Kakao Taxi you may need a Korean phone number to order a taxi. With Uber, you can use the same account as the one in America.

Translation app:

Papago is an absolute must. Papago is a more accurate translation app for Korean and people in Korea may ask to communicate with the app.

Delivery app:

If you’d like to order takeout, you can use the Shuttle app. The app is foreigner-friendly; the Live Chat monitors and the drivers know English.

There are a few important cultural differences you should know before landing in Korea. The most important difference is that you do not tip in Korea. Tipping may come off as rude, instead be sure to be extra polite and thankful. A part of being polite is bowing to others. While you do not need to use a 90-degree bow in most situations, a deep incline of the head or a 45-degree bow will show your gratitude and respect. However, there are some situations where you need not be polite like we are in Western cultures. Korea is a fast-paced and often crowded place; oftentimes if someone lightly bumps into you or brushes against you on the street or a subway, they will not say sorry. Minor incidents like this are expected to happen often, so they do not see a need to acknowledge them. On the busy streets of Korea, be sure to keep an eye out for motorbike delivery drivers, as they may use crosswalks or park on the sidewalk.

An extremely important note, there are often no public bathrooms or trash cans available . Some restaurants and cafes may have restrooms for paying customers, but be sure to bring a pack of portable tissues just in case the bathroom isn’t supplied with toilet paper. You must hold your trash until you can find a trash can or trash pile.

Overall, Korea is a very safe country to travel in; the theft rate is low. People generally leave their items unattended in public places and if a lost item is found, it will be left there for its owner to reclaim. Additionally, if you’re walking home after dark, no one will bother you.

Regarding what kind of money to bring, depending on the strength of the U.S. dollar at the time, it might be more beneficial for you to exchange U.S. dollars for South Korean won in the U.S., especially if your bank doesn’t charge you a conversion fee. In case you run out of South Korean won, be sure to bring some U.S. dollars to convert. I personally exchanged $300 and needed to convert a little more cash in Korea, so it’s better to convert slightly more than you think you need. Especially if you’re not planning to use a debit or credit card while in Korea. When using cards, you may have to pay a currency exchange rate. Alternatively, there are temporary card companies, such as Wow Pass and Namane, that enable travelers to convert their currency to South Korean won on cards for a fee. Furthermore, as a U.S. citizen, you should keep your passport on you at all times. Not only does it work as a form of identification, but it also will help you apply for tax exemptions at certain stores like Olive Young.

Deciding between using international data or a Korean SIM card can be difficult. Your cell phone provider might offer a good deal for international call, text, and data, however, there are benefits to using a SIM card. Having a SIM card with calling capabilities will make certain activities easier. If you’d

like to attend a concert, order a taxi, or confirm texted access codes for apps, having a Korean phone number is highly beneficial. Korea has wifi everywhere, so you can also travel with wifi only or data only.

And finally, baggage. When deciding what to bring, first think about what you want to do in Korea. If you want to shop and bring home more clothes, pack lighter. I highly recommend bringing a checked and a personal bag on the way to Korea and then returning with a checked, carry-on, and personal bag. Luggage is decently cheap in Korea, so you can save a little money and hassle on the way there and ensure you have enough space for all your goodies to make it back home.

Travel & Transportation

Now the next step: getting to Korea. When booking your flight, carefully choose which season you want to visit during. Korean summers can be very warm, spring has cherry blossoms, fall is crisp, and winter can bring heavy snowfall. Do your research on the conditions for each season, whether it be monsoon season or a blizzard, it’s important to be prepared. There will be a lot of stairs and hills to climb, so if you’re traveling in a wet or snowy season, make sure to pack the correct shoes. No matter if your flight crosses the Pacific Ocean or flies over Europe, the journey will be long and tiring, so be sure to stretch. To help reduce jet lag, it’s best to try and sync your sleep schedule with Korean Standard Time while on the flight.

In Korea there are four main ways of traveling: you can take a train, bus, taxi or you can walk. You will need a Tmoney card to use subways and buses. You can get Tmoney cards almost everywhere. The SIM card booth in the 인천 (in-cheon) airport gives you a free Tmoney card if you buy their SIM card, otherwise, convenience stores and some retail stores like ARTBOX will carry Tmoney cards. Some taxis do accept Tmoney as a payment method, but know that taxis are very expensive in Korea. Tmoney cards may be refilled at almost any convenience store and the subway stations. To refill your card at a subway station, you will need cash smaller than 50,000 South Korean won. Convenience stores also require South Korean won to refill Tmoney cards. It’s important to note that there is a difference between trains and subway trains in Korea. Trains are the above ground, long distance transportation option. The trains travel to cities like 부산 (bu-san) or 대구 (dae-gu), and even the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Whereas the subway trains stop in smaller intervals and travel mostly below ground around 서울 (se-oul).

If you take a bus or a subway train in Korea, there are a few rules you should follow.

- There are designated elderly and pregnant seats, often color-coded, so do not sit in those seats unless you are elderly or pregnant.

- All bags should be worn in front of your body to keep the walkway clear.

- You cannot share Tmoney cards, each individual must tap on and off the bus/train.

- You should not play audio loudly from your phone.

- Don’t speak loudly on public transportation.

- When using an escalator, stay on the right side if you want to stand, and use the left side if you want to walk up.

Accommodations

For living accommodations, you can stay in a hotel or Airbnb. The price difference between the two depends on when you’re traveling and the quality of the establishment. If you choose to stay at an Airbnb, beware that Korea has no division between the shower and the rest of the bathroom, so when you shower the whole room may become wet. On the other hand, hotels have adopted the Western style of bathroom, especially business hotels, which may have the shower divided from the rest of bathroom. With booking hotels, especially more popular or business hotels, there is a higher chance that hotel receptionists will know English. With Airbnbs, the hosts’ profiles will state if they know English.

When picking a location to stay at, consider the surrounding area. Staying close to a subway stop or a bus stop is convenient and cuts down on travel time. Picking a location towards the heart of Seoul or your chosen city may be more expensive; however, the ease of access to activities and stores is a great benefit.

Food & Drinks

Korea has many different delicious foods to try. Within Korea, there are many different cuisine types available due to all the different cultural crossovers. I would suggest trying to eat a different food for each meal. You can sample many different foods from street food vendors for a low cost. Street food vendors often only accept cash, so be sure to save a little bit of pocket money for these delicious snacks.

Suggested foods and drinks to try:

- Bibimbap (Rice bowl)

- Tteokbokki (Spicy rice cakes)

- Bulgogi (Marinated beef)

- Samgyeopsal (Pork belly)

- Japchae (Glass noodles)

- Korean BBQ

- Korean Fried Chicken

- Korean Corn Dog

- Kimbap (Seaweed rice vegetable roll, similar to sushi but no raw meat)

- Kimchi-jjigae (Kimchi soup)

- Jajangmyeon (Korean Chinese hybrid black bean noodles)

- Jjamppong (Korean Chinese hybrid seafood soup)

- Eomukguk (Fish cake soup)

- Bogeo-iritang (Pufferfish soup)

- Baked goods (Breads, pastries, etc.)

- Bungeo-ppang (Fish shaped pastry)

- Screw Bar Ice Cream

- Melona Ice Cream

- Samanco Ice Cream

- Chilsung Cider (a soda similar to Sprite)

- Fruit Ade drinks (sparkling water with fruit chunks of choice)

- Korean coffee

Sightseeing

There are many beautiful sights to see in South Korea. Between locations filled with culture, the natural landscape of the country, and pop culture spots, you will have no shortage of places to visit.

A must-see for historical and culture lovers is Gyeongbokgung Palace or Changgyeonggung Palace. At these palaces, you can walk the grounds of these historical sites and learn about the purpose of the various buildings. At Gyeongbokgung you can see the changing of the guards ceremony and learn more history as it is the larger palace. Changgyeonggung is smaller, but less busy. This palace is the better choice if you want to have a photoshoot. Between the two palaces, there is Bukchon Hanok Village. This village is a popular tourist spot as it has restored traditional houses, hanoks, that were once owned by nobility or high-ranking government officials of the Joseon Dynasty. If you do decide to visit the village, please keep in mind it is still a residential area. Additionally, there are many temples across Seoul that you could visit. For more curated and information-rich history, you could tour the various museums in Korea such as the National Museum of Korea or the Seoul Craft Museum.

To enjoy the beauty of Korea’s landscape to the fullest, you should first and foremost visit N Seoul Tower, also known as Namsan Tower, to view Seoul from a mountain vantage point. At the tower, you can also attach a lock to the fences, see traditional performances, and enjoy a bite to eat while overlooking all of Seoul. Another must-see is the Han River. You can walk or bike along one of the longest rivers in Korea, and stop at the various restaurants and parks all while taking in the wonderful city view. In Namsan Park, Bukhansan National Park, or any of the various parks in Korea, you can enjoy the local flora and fauna while walking through numerous hiking trails. Whether taking in the city or exploring the wilderness, Korea has many beautiful sites to offer.

If you enjoy sports, you can walk around the Olympic Park originally built for the 1988 Summer Olympics, or visit the Seoul World Cup Stadium built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. At the Seoul World Cup Stadium, you can purchase tickets for a stadium tour or you can see the small soccer museum inside dedicated to Korea’s soccer history and art inspired by FC Seoul and its players.

Activities

Korea is jam-packed with thousands of possible activities to do. When planning your trip, think about things you’d like to do. Would you be more interested in do-it-yourself activities? Do you prefer shopping? Or would you rather find a relaxing pastime? I personally wanted to participate in do-it-yourself activities and shop around. Due to time constraints, I was unable to indulge in all of the recommendations listed below, so I would recommend doing research on specific companies before choosing what to add to your itinerary.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) activities are extremey popular in Korea. There are many stores that help you create custom souvenirs to bring home.

- Phone cases - Nemamdaero Cafe, Bonobo Cafe

- Keychains - Sunoa, Wappen House, Bear Seoul

- Rings - Banji Cafe

- Perfume - Greedy Scent, Proust, Maison de Parfume 121 Le mal du pays

- Photo Booths - Photoism*, dont lxxk up, BYTP - Street Photo Platform

*Photoism is the photo booth company that allows you to take photos with idols.

Relaxing/health and wellness activities are also extremely popular. Oftentimes the procedures or sessions will be cheaper than in America. The Korean beauty industry offers many options to appeal to anything a person might need.

- Spa/Bathhouse

- Skincare treatments

- Photoshoot - Sanho Mansion, Blue Bird Studio, Cool Captures

- Hair cut

- Eyeglasses/contacts

- Personal color - Diod

Wallets beware, there are many shops with enticing items inside. From stationery to sporting goods, the stores of Korea have it all. I would highly recommend shopping around the underground markets and malls, frequently attached to subway lines, as they often have the cheapest prices and most interesting finds. The same goes for the basement-level stores on the streets, while the prices might not be as low as underground markets, they definitely are cheaper and more varied than surface-level stores. A heads up if you do visit a mall, most of the time the first floor will be filled with all the luxury brands with the less expensive stores on the upper or lower floors. Furthermore, beauty and skincare salespeople at any store, anywhere WILL try to sell you anything they can as fast as they can.

- 동대문 (dong-dae-mun) Bead and Craft Market on the 5th floor (Art supplies and DIY shops)

- Artbox (Art, stationary, accessories)

- Daiso (Many various items, like Target without the food)

- COEX Mall - At COEX you can do less shopping and more sightseeing. Inside you can find the dazzling Starfield Library and outside you can see the iconic Gangnam Style Statue. Or you could watch a movie or visit the COEX Aquarium.

- Hyundai Mall

- For K-Pop lovers, there is the Everline K-Pop Gift Shop which often hosts lucky draw events. Lotte World Mall

- For Studio Ghibli lovers, a must-visit store is the Studio Ghibli Collection. Prices are a little expensive, but they have cute photo opportunities.

- Gotomall underground mall

- Lotte Young Plaza

- AK Plaza - The top floor of this mall is entirely dedicated to anime. And there’s also a WITHMUU store in the mall for all K-Pop-related needs.

Olive Young (Skincare and makeup)

seoul street (Unisex urban street-style clothing)

I enjoyed shopping around 명동 (myeong-dong) the most. The area had a lot of variety in stores, restaurants and street food vendors. It can be a very crowded area and difficult to navigate, so if you’d like to look around during less busy hours, go on a weekday in the middle of the day.

As a K-Pop fan, traveling to Korea can be a great opportunity to buy harder-to-find items and see artists perform live. There are a few different activities that you can see your favorite group at such as:

- Weekly music shows (Inkygayo, Music Bank, The Show, Show Champion, M Countdown, Show! Music Core – You will need a ticket and possibly a fanclub membership)

- Concerts and festivals (You will need a ticket and possibly a fanclub membership)

MBC Idol Radio filmings

I personally got to see the 2023 SBS 가요대전 (ga-yo dae-jeon). It was a very exciting experience, but also very stressful. Before you book concert tickets, plan how you will return to your accommodations. Korean concerts average four hours for just the performances, so public transportation may not be available by the time the concert ends. If the concert is in Incheon, you will most likely need to book a hotel there. The closer the venue is to Seoul the easier it will be to return via public transportation. When booking concert tickets you can either try buying them yourself which can be very difficult without a Korean phone number, Korean bank account, a fanclub membership, or a good handle on the Korean language (ticketing sites are not foreigner-friendly). Or you can purchase them through foreign-friendly resale sites like Trazy, Kstairway, Kkday and Creatrip. The resale sites will be more expensive, but they do make it easier to buy the tickets and they know English. Once you make it past planning the transportation and securing the tickets, seeing the show is a lot of fun. Keep in mind that Korean fans have different concert etiquette and behavior than international fans. You cheer during certain parts of the song, you only sing the fan chants and there should be no lightsticks or banners above your head.

Beyond concerts and festivals, you can visit various K-Pop stores across Seoul. There are multiple in Myeongdong and there are various locations that host lucky draw and pop-up events such as Everline, Soundwave and M2U Record. If you happen to visit during an idol’s birthday or a group’s anniversary certain cafes will host cupsleeve events, perfect for a refreshing drink and a cute photo opportunity.

An absolute must for any K-Pop fan is watching the various busking groups in 홍대 (hong-dae). It’s really exciting to see buskers perform the current hits and see how they add their own dance style to established choreography. We got to see two groups busk, Movement and One Of, and even with it being freezing, they hypnotized the audience with their performance. I would recommend for anyone, K-Pop fan or not, to stop and watch a busking team or two. Busking is heavily ingrained in the Korean entertainment industry, you could witness the rise of a new idol or the next big choreographer.

Other notable excursions in South Korea are having fun at one of their two amusement parks, Lotte World or Everland (make sure to buy a cute headband there too), and singing your heart out in a private karaoke room, a 노래방 (no-rae-bang). A popular and affordable noraebang is Su Noraebang.

In the end, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip and I’m incredibly grateful I had the opportunity to enjoy what Korea had to offer. On this trip, things went wrong, things went right and they were unforgettable all the same. I would like to give a special shoutout to Bear Seoul for helping me make some of the best gifts ever, Banji Cafe for allowing me to make five different rings, street seoul for supplying me with the comfiest hoodie I’ve ever owned, Movement and One Of for dancing through the bitter cold, making our last day in Korea memorable and finally, to Kstairway’s Danny for the SBS Gayo Daejeon tickets, you were a lifesaver.