Seoul neighborhood

Seoul’s Hipster Hangouts: Sangsu

After exploring Hapjeong, one of Seoul’s most popular hipster hangouts, it’s time to move toward Sangsu, one of my personal favorite neighborhoods, thanks to its cool cafes, indie vibes and relative anonymity. As the sun sets and the crowds begin to fill the streets of Hongdae, let your stomach lead the way off the beaten path. …

Seoul’s Hipster Hangouts: Hapjeong

Although Hongdae will no doubt remain the go-to student neighborhood for funk and fun, a number of youngsters are beginning to disperse to Hapjeong and nearby Sangsu, bohemian locales on the outskirts of the rowdy neighborhood that caters to Seoul’s alternative crowd. Here, polished twenty- and thirty-somethings seemingly straight off the cover of Kinfolk sip …

Seoul Walks: Sweets & Shopping in Sinsa, Part 3

This is part two of a three-part Seoul Walks series. In this segment, I’ll introduce to you Sinsa-dong’s best dessert cafes, nightlife spots and a Korean-style spa fit for a princess. For the previous post, click here.Dessert Alley  No visit to Sinsa is complete without a visit to one of the area’s many dessert cafes, and …

Seoul Walks: Sweets & Shopping in Sinsa, Part 2

This is part two of a three-part Seoul Walks series. In this segment, I’ll guide you along Serosu-gil and Garosu-gil and introduce to you Sinsa-dong’s best international eats and cultural galleries. For the previous post, click here.An International Feast  Just as famous as Sinsa’s boutiques are its atmospheric restaurants and there are plenty of options …

Seoul Walks: Sweets & Shopping in Sinsa, Part 1

Psy may have put Gangnam on the map with his catchy songs and swanky style, but the now-famous district that sits just south of the Han River is a whole lot more than bowties and horse dances. And there’s no better place to get the true “Gangnam Style” experience than in Sinsa-dong, a quaint neighborhood …

Hanging Out in Hyehwa

Once the center of Seoul’s art and music scene, Hyehwa is a neighborhood bursting with creativity and youthful energy. The area is situated in the northeastern part of the capital and is also known as Daehangno, a nickname derived from dehag, or “university,” because of its close proximity to a number of learning institutes. Over …

Sampling Seoul: A Night Dining Tour with O’ngo Food Communications

Korean cuisine, much like the country’s people, is vibrant, flavorful, eclectic and packs a lot of punch. It’s so diverse that it would take years to try each banchan (side dish), variety of kimchi (there’s over 200!) and regional and seasonal specialty. Fortunately for gastronomes eager to sample Korea’s tastiest cuisine in a limited amount …

Exploring the Hidden 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’s major cities.  Sadly, due to rapid modernization and an increase in more convenient shopping facilities over the past few decades, traditional markets have continuously lost patronage and are quickly diminishing in size and number.  …

Afternoons in Buamdong

Nestled between Inwang and Bugak mountains, Buamdong (부암동) is a peaceful neighborhood located in the center of Seoul, shielded by nature from the neon and concrete that drench the remainder of the metropolis.  Boasting only a single bus stop, Buamdong is not the most convenient place to visit.  It’s this very remoteness, however, that has …