Many of Seoul’s most popular sites don’t give much information. Or, should I say, don’t give much interesting information. But Joe McPherson, creator of popular food blog ZenKimchi, has invested much of his time – years, in fact – into unearthing the more sinister stories of the city’s dark past. He tells these captivating tales …
This article was originally published in May 2013 but is still just as relevant today amid the most recent missle tests and threats from North Korea. While eating breakfast at my hostel in Barcelona in April 2013, a CNN news brief aired declaring that tensions were high and nuclear war was imminent on the Korean …
Once the country’s largest market for trading antiques and artwork, Insadong has over the years developed into a bustling yet quaint destination that is now recognized as one of Seoul’s most iconic neighborhoods. Fairly well preserved and organized to represent Korea’s culture of both the past and the present, Insadong is the premiere locale to …
With its great service, endless array of dining and entertainment facilities and optimal efficiency, Incheon Airport is one of the best in the world. It’s also one of the most traveled which can make the entire airport experience incredibly frustrating during peak travel periods like Chuseok and Chinese New Year. But did you know that …
This is the second part of a two-part series of a walking tour through Seoul’s university neighborhoods. To read Part 1: Edae, click here. Sinchon at night | © Sami Paju / Flickr From Hello apM in Edae, pass Sinchon Railway Station, which separates Ewha Women’s University and Yonsei University, and is the oldest railway station …
As the familiar hues of nightfall spill across the skies, herds of tourists flood into the streets of Myeongdong. 6.8 million of them a year, to be exact. Neon starts to flash overhead, filling the streets with an instantly recognizable buzz, barely audible over the rhythmic beats of K-pop that blare from hidden speakers. Shop …
Nestled between Inwang and Bugak mountains, Buamdong is a peaceful backwater 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 …
Note: This post was updated May 2017. There are few moments in everyday life that feel as good as walking out of a salon with a fresh cut, a new color and an amazing blowout. A visit to the hair salon has the ability to make one feel like a new person, free of any …
Although no longer the capital of Seoul’s art and music scene, present-day Hyehwa is a neighborhood that still bursts 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,” due to its close proximity to quite …
Perhaps no other neighborhood in all of Seoul embodies Korea’s youth culture as well as Hongdae. Here, the streets are alive with a youthful spirit that fosters a creativity evident in the sounds of busking musicians, in the colorful graffiti on the walls and in the unique fashion and hair styles sported by the young …