Seoul attractions

A Girl’s Guide to Gangnam, Day One: Sinsa-dong

Psy may have put Gangnam on the map with his bow-ties and “gentleman”ly behavior, but the fact of the matter is… Gangnam is for girls. Recently, I took a bit of a staycation in Seoul’s upscale district in search of the area’s best shopping, dining and entertainment facilities and made a point to take plenty …

A Girl’s Guide to Dongdaemun

Imagine a place where you can buy everything you need at a reasonable price. In one convenient location. At any time of the day. While such a fantasy land might only seem like the stuff of dreams, in Korea, it’s a reality and it goes by the name of Dongdaemun. Here, mammoth modern shopping complexes …

A Blast from the Past: Exploring the Market Streets of Euljiro

Before the days of discount supermarkets and department stores, markets were the primary locales for shopping, trading and gossiping in Korea. Unfortunately, due to rapid modernization and an increase in more convenient shopping facilities over the past few decades, the country’s traditional markets have continuously lost patronage and are quickly diminishing both in size and …

Seoul’s Modern Architectural Marvels

After the end of the Korean war, Seoul, like many Korean cities, was left in shambles. Reasonably so, rebuilding efforts were focused more on practicality than aesthetics to reconstruct the city quickly and efficiently. These days, however, Seoul’s skyline is an eclectic mishmash of contemporary architecture, from towering cement apartment complexes to eye-catching glass and …

Dae-oh Book Store 33 Cafe: A Place of History, Culture and Family

When I first moved to Korea, I spent every minute of my free time getting lost in the neighborhoods of Seoul. Wandering the unknown became a hobby and through it, I was able to learn a lot about my new home and discover many a hidden gem, whether it be a cafe, an interesting sculpture …

Hanok Hideaways

The creak of old wooden floors.  The sliding of beautifully crafted doors.  The upward curves of tiled roofs and the enchanting calm of courtyards.  Hanok, or traditional Korean houses, are delightful dwellings where those who enter them can’t help but be hypnotized by their charm.  Constructed in accordance with nature and geographical location, hanoks were …

10 Ways to Stay Warm During Winter in Korea

Let me just make one thing clear. I am not a fan of Korean winters. Sure, the snow can be beautiful and the holiday decorations do make me all fuzzy on the inside but on any given day from December to March, the last place you’ll find me is outside. Coincidentally, many Koreans share my …

An Impromptu Hike on Dobongsan

“Serendipity.  Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you’ve found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.” – Lawrence Block Earlier this week, I felt the need to get out my apartment and take advantage of the beautiful weather.  A friend had told me about …

The Sinister Side of Seoul

Halloween is just around the corner and though it may not be a traditional holiday here in Korea, there’s still plenty to do to get in the spirit.  Kindergartners carve pumpkins, dance clubs hold costume parties and local amusement parks host haunted houses. But for those of us who need a bit more horror in …