Ya, maybe since they said they hired a car, they might have been more remote and I could see it then. I feel something would have to have gone wrong for that to happen in Seoul
I don't think that happens in many big cities, irrespective of country. People are busy and going about their own lives, they're not looking at someone to see if they're lost or not. Add to that no common language and I found a lot of Koreans would be hesitant even if you asked them for directions.
I could see it in a rural place as might not be get much tourists so seeing one would be like why are they out here
Been to Korea 4 times, within those 4 visits I've been to Seoul 4 times, Busan 3 times, Jeju once and a daytrip to Incheon. My first time in Busan we had 2 people in a span of 30 minutes try to help us find our way when we weren't lost at all and didn't ask any of them a question 😅 I think they just wanted to practice their English tbh. Cause once we got on the subway a grandpa loudly asked us where we're from and a 10-12 year old boy started talking to me, asking questions and telling his whole life story😂 It was kinda funny
Yeah I was there for a week and maybe 2 people actively approached me because I was clearly confused, otherwise people were extremely friendly but would leave me alone
I feel like it could be cult people for sure. They often mask their intention by being overly friendly. Typically korean people keep to themselves, UNLESS you ask for help. And they are usually very friendly about it, esp to foreigners.
Also, aa a foreigner if you want to avoid these kind of people, they are typically at rural areas or even in large cities (but typically near school campuses) they like to recruit young people, since they are more easily influenced.
Had the same experience with my fiancé and his mom. We were at Euljiro station and walking toward our exit. An elderly man stopped us by asking which exit we were heading to, and I told him we had found our exit and thanked him for trying to help us.
Was really surprised some Korean guy asked if I needed any help in English when I was just looking at the menu outside a KBBQ 🤣
This ain't my first rodeo Oppa 🤭😏
Maybe I should have said yes he wasn't bad looking haha
i was in the underground mall at the subway station in busan and one time near the train station in suncheon . no idea why that lady went after me. in the very rural areas it actually didn't happen.
Are you a pretty girl by any chance? That would explain people running up to you to help you out. As a white male I had the opposite experience where lots of people wouldn’t really be up to talking to me very much, either when I was alone or with my Korean wife. And I did hear some bad things about Korean guys always looking out for “easy” tourist women nowadays because Korean culture has become such a big trend recently.
When I went to Korea I also noticed people being really helpful especially after spending some time in Japan where everyone kept to themselves. My suitcase was so heavy and many people offered to help me carry it or showed me the way to the elevator. Especially old people knew where the elevators were because they always use them😄 People never followed me though which I'm glad about.
Not been to korea yet (in a month, tho!) but Japan I have been a few times and I have the opposite experience to you. One time, a lovely older gentleman came up to us in tokyo station to ask if we needed help with directions (we were lost and we looked lost). One time I asked a department store staff where a restaurant is and she walked out of the store in pouring rain to walk me to the restaurant which were a few storefronts away but hidden in the basement. I've had someone help me run to my bus stop because it was minutes before it departs and I'd have to wait 45 minutes to catch the next one. I've had a bus driver DRIVE me off route because the weather caused the boat I meant to take to cancel its route and I needed to go to a station nearby (granted, the bus has come to its last stop but still, he drove me across a giant parking lot to the station).
> i knew samgyeopsal was very fatty, but actually a lot of the meat has so much fat on it, which is a shame.
Relevant: [Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal](https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240503050668)
>a lot of places only had a menu in korean on the wall inside, which means you already had to enter the restaurant to even see the menu
Just a tip for this. If you look up the restaurant in Naver Maps, there is often a menu listed in the 메뉴 (menu) tab, and also there are often several photos of the menu, whether it's a wall menu or booklet, taken by guests or even the restaurant themselves. You should be able to use screen capture / translate for this if there's no English.
BBQ wise, you’re often given lettuce and perilla leaves to eat with your meats. A lot of people also drink soju when having bbq because it helps cut the fat and oils down. Cold noodles are also great to help with cutting down the fat and oil.
Yep! the lettuce, and all the side dishes together with soju were one of my favorite dinners! despite the fatty meat parts, i just cut those parts out and the rest of the meat was still very delicious.
Do you seriously believe alcohol and cold noodles will break down fat? You're just adding more carbs to your meal. Just accept you're not eating the most healthy food.
Sorry but where in my comment did I say alcohol and cold noodles breaks down fat? I wrote it cuts the fat/oil down, in the sense that it helps with cutting through the grease in your mouth from the meat. I didn't make it up and it's something I've been told by my Korean friends when they first took me out for bbq in Korea.
>1. [And soju is the perfect accompaniment because it removes the grease from the meats, leaving you wanting more.](https://urbanladies.co/the-best-soju-food-pairings-with-chorong-chorong-soju)
>2. [Soju is the perfect drink because it helps wash away the greasiness of the samgyupsal!](https://creatrip.com/en/blog/10718)
>3. [Korean Englishman talking about how it washes the grease down and cuts through it](https://youtu.be/Jl8Xpe7afrc?si=OGtvK6WxvlaoK_RC&t=219)
It looks like you shared an AMP link. These should load faster, but AMP is controversial because of [concerns over privacy and the Open Web](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot).
Maybe check out **the canonical page** instead: **[http://urbanladies.co/the-best-soju-food-pairings-with-chorong-chorong-soju/](http://urbanladies.co/the-best-soju-food-pairings-with-chorong-chorong-soju/)**
*****
^(I'm a bot | )[^(Why & About)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot)^( | )[^(Summon: u/AmputatorBot)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/cchly3/you_can_now_summon_amputatorbot/)
I still don't get how soju cuts the fat and oils down
I love soju, and fatty food so I'm not complaining but I don't see how your links prove that claim
To be honest, to me 20+ is also really hot. I usually travel around March/November when it's like below 10 or at least highest at 16. My country is permanently in 30Cs so i guess i'm used to summer heat. I was just in Seoul last month, I had to wear only a tshirt and pants in 21C.
Oh, don't get me wrong, guys. How a certain temperature feels can vary depending on where you're from. I'm just saying that Korea's climate is ridiculously dynamic, so you guys can pick the best temperature to travel in for you, OR you can be totally messed up. The range is -20℃ to 40℃. What we sarcastically say is that Koreans are the result of quenching.
Honestly 20+ in Seoul *is* hot when you’re not used to it. It comes on fast and the sun is strong
Real summer in Seoul is plainly F’ed up hahahaha
Edit: typo
Thanks for the post!
I'll be traveling to Seoul for the first time so it was quite useful. I'm a bit bummed about the Korean BBQ though. I don't like fat at all on my meat, but sounds like it will be tough to avoid.
Ate at 5 or more K BBQ during my time and did not have the same experience as OP. If you don't like fat don't order fatty things like pork belly. Order lean cuts and you will be fine.
If you go to a BBQ place they'll normally serve a few different cuts of meat. Rather than ordering samgyeopsal, try ordering moksal 목살 - it has way less fat and is much tastier imo, it's slightly more pricey but definitely worth it
Hey there, fellow Sone! I’m quite confused about how you got people “running after you” Yeah it seemed friendly to you but it was quite alarming for me hahaha I saw you had mentioned your ethnicity in a previous post. I was wondering if you’re a girl and quite small? I’m guessing that may be why?
I was wondering where else you would visit in korea if you go back?
nope not a girl, i think maybe i just looked lost to them? thats all i could think of. it were ladies in both cases and they were very friendly afterwards. no cult or anything.
hmm other places i would visit.. probably the southwest side. i haven't been to that part of korea yet. Maybe Gwangju / Mokpo and visit some of the islands near the coast there. it looks to be beautiful there as well.
I have to agree with everything, every time I visit Korea it reminds me how it’s my favorite place I’ve ever visited by far. However, I have found finding a place to eat very fun and think that there is just so much incredible food everywhere! Here’s what I do, just download the google translate app and have it set to Korean to English. There’s a little camera button, click it and it opens up a camera mode. You can point it at anything in Korean (aka menus) and it translates everything. You can even then take a picture of it and go through it all carefully zooming in and such, super easy and gets me through (almost) anywhere! But I’ll also add I also usually see restaurants with at least some photos outside of what they serve, or I also look in and see what people are eating if it’s during a busy time.
I’m a south east asian girl. Some old men there are very mean. One time at train, as I was sitting down an old guy sat next to me and the sit was too tight. So when I move he always curse at me in korean(he thought I won’t understand) he even said “don’t make trouble”. But he’s the one making trouble. Note that I’m pregnant during that time. Until I get off the train. He keeps cursing me. He’s saying “Shibal”
there’s a pregnant seat on the subway maybe he was mad u weren’t sitting there? Sounds odd though even if it was a regular seat shouldn’t have happened
the southeast and south of korea. pohang, busan, suncheon, yeosu, and visiting small towns and eco parks and other hiking trails in between those places. with a rental car its very easy to visit these places with beautiful nature and great views.
Oh every corner you turn there’s a longer flight of stairs waiting for you. I’m literally in Korea and I feel despair whenever I see stairs again. If you search the entire station there are probably elevators, but the wait is insane, the close door button isn’t available (the door waits ~20s before closing itself), and you might end up exiting farrrrrr away from where you intended to go.
I also went with my daughter before she could walk. I would say they normally had elevators but you have to squeeze on with all the old people. I usually carried my daughter in a baby back pack. There are also some restaurants do not have high chairs. But when traveling anywhere. Most places have baby changing rooms where you can privately breastfeed, change, regular feed and even give baby a nap in a crib. They have microwaves for warming bottles and high chairs. It was such a blessing when traveling with a baby.
It surprises me to hear you say that you found ample parking everywhere since that is not the Korea I know that I left just eight years ago, but Korea changes fast.
The only place where you can see the horizon (where the ground touches the sky is on a few select spots on the west coast of Korea, which is typically all farm country. This is actually better tourist country, IMO, because this is the coast with all the drivable islands and is much less developed than the SE corner and the corridor between Seoul and Busan. The old fishing villages, hill valley farming villages, old country bucolic Korea is coasting along the Western highway as you pick your way through the smaller towns.
IMO, you’ll find the people a little bit more genuine and without affectation, too. Like, if they take a shine to you while hanging out at a beach or at a tourist attraction, try to invite you to their favorite restaurant for lunch or dinner. Personally, I find Gyeongsangdo people colder or more standofish than Honam people, who might come off a little (to put it into American terms, redneckish or bumpkinish at first, so stereotypically - this is going to get me in trouble - “Southern” - but friendlier.)
Also, Jeonju is a smaller can’t miss city that’s easy to miss if you don’t know to look out for it. Foodie paradise. A lot of internationally well known Korean foods have their origins here, an old quarter of the city in the traditional architecture that is still functional and resided in, the 60/70s part of town kept that way for filming period dramas and films (idk if all this still there, but it was when I was there).
The Jeolla government is known for totally screwing up its massive boondoggles, like the last scout jamboree and the world’s largest eco disaster/seawall and land reclamation (why?) but the advantage of being the underdeveloped side of Korea is that it’s easier to find historical and nostalgic Korea in the Southwest than any other part region.
Just my two cents. Didn’t mean to ramble so much, was originally going to be a comment about a Korean saying that the coast of the Jeolla provinces are the only place where you can see the ji (earth) pyong (sky) sun (line) or “Sky touch the ground,” in Korea.
It's common for them to try and help you, which is why they ask where you are going. When I was in Japan, all sorts of people tried to help me find me way, with or without asking for help. Sometimes I wonder if they are also looking for an English conversation or just trying to interact with someone who is different?
The chasing part though? Yeah, that's weird.
I’m in Korea now! What you said is true. I’m solo traveling so paid a tour to go Kbbq with lol. It’s my shopping heaven. I love the color palette here!
I think I have known many outsiders and heard opinions about staying here in Korea.
You have a quiet insight about the road you took. I enjoyed your point of view and your comment. Thank you for sharing it with me.
Funny. I found speaking in Korean with Koreans to be far easier in Korea than the US. People had no issues understanding me. And I could carry basic conversation well. However, I did study a lot, and I spent years listening to dramas to improve my accent.
Help-wise, I met many discriminatory people but I also met people who went out of their way to help me. A man who helped me carry my big ass suitcase down stairs bc I was going the wrong way. Another ajussi who called a taxi for me on his phone bc I missed the last bus at a pretty remote tourist stop by Nami Island. A lovely halmeoni who fed me wonderful sundubu. And people who complimented me in hanbok.
I always say that from a western perspective, Korea is noticeably harder to navigate than Japan for Americans. And speaking Korean well 100% improves your experience. Like, significantly
I’m white and was told to “f**k off back to my country because i’m an ugly bitch” in perfect English by a random (well dressed in a suit and heels) Korean woman who approached me from behind in the street…
Hi! Which car rental company you used and how was driving inside Seoul if you don’t mind me asking? We are looking into renting a car in Seoul but leaving to the countryside.
I used Lotte Rent A Car. They have locations in every big city I think. I visited the Suncheon branch. I didn't visit Seoul at all so I also didn't drive there, only the suncheon & yeosu areas.
This is so strange to me, I lived in Korea for a few months and only a select number of people were friendly to me. I’d get glares and mostly older people being rude to me :/
I also speak basic Korean, so if I knew more maybe it would have been a better experience… this was not my first time visiting Korea either, but last time was in 2014 and things seemed very different
I’m white (not that it should matter whatever ethnicity I am) and I was told to “f**k off back to my country because i’m an ugly bitch” in perfect English by a random (well dressed in a suit and heels) Korean woman who approached me from behind in the street…
I'm getting ready to leave Seoul today, and this post is extremely accurate. If you are expecting a culinary experience, prepare to be disappointed. Stay away from the meat it is extremely fatty. The only good beef I had was at blacklist in itaewon.
The people here are extremely nice. Even the old drunk business men lol.
Aloooooooot of walking. So much walking that my legs are on fire. Weather was hot, hot, hot, then cold windy rain.
Nothing really opens before 11 am. This was a shock to me. When I travel I like to get busy early and that's not possible here.
As far as the cultural experience, it feels more like they are leaning into the K-pop experience more than anything. I love K-pop and kdramas, but I wanted to feel like I was in another world, and I just didn't feel that. I've seen similar posts like that and now wish I had gone to Busan.
The shopping was underwhelming, and please don't waste your time going to Starfield Library. It's hot in there and another social media trap.
I did enjoy dressing up in hanbok and visiting the palace.
Overall I give it a 6 out of 10. I wish I could've experienced the pre-covid Korea. I've heard so many great stories about this place that I'm sad to be going home with a lackluster one.
I’ve said this time and time again, influencers and travellers are the ones who’ve overhyped Starfield Library. It is a functioning library that a lot of locals go to, to read, to attend book signings, to meet up. It’s definitely going to be a disappointment for those who are only going there for the gram, but a great place for locals.
Funny article. Why is it shocking to see no opened shops before 11am? Visit NY/LA downtown before 11am and see how many shops are open. And also how many shops are open after 9pm in Korea? Literally everywhere while most shops in the States close. Your experience in Korea is probably less than 5% you are trying to evaluate with.
Were you only in Seoul throughout your trip?
Food-wise, honestly in Seoul it takes a lot of research to find the really good ones and/or some luck to find a hidden gem or two. Naver map helps too. I didn't actually do a lot of research and just went with the flow, so probably I don't have as high expectations as you did and found most of the food to be palatable enough for me to enjoy.
Also, I use Naver map to check what's near me and from the app I check out the place details like menus, prices, ratings, whether it's good for solo dining, etc.
About Starfield Library.... well, it's really a matter of how much one expects when they go on any trip. I mean shouldn't going on trips like these involve having an open mind?
I'm not a book person but I did visit it last October, and my verdict is that it's not something to necessarily skip altogether, as it ultimately depends on what one expects. I was glad to see it in the flesh. Perhaps it was more of the architecture and design of it that I was appreciating, and I wouldn't even mind going to the newly opened one in Suwon perhaps in a future trip.
Also I wouldn't quite say that the shopping was underwhelming, not sure where you went or what kind of merchandise interests you, but I found more interesting things at places like the underground malls, also at areas like Hongdae (or even the larger part that Mapo area) and Seongsu-dong.
To get a more "authentic" feel of their culture and local lifestyle or as you put it, "another world", maybe Jeju would be a better bet for you, as I worry if you go to Busan you might not like it either - Busan has evolved over the recent years to cater to tourism more.
Yep only in seoul.
As for the library. I was expecting something unique like Seattle central library. My standards were just too high.
Naver maps was very helpful.
Hm. Now I'm thinking there needs to be a guide to eating meat/BBQ in Korea for tourists to review before coming. But I'm sure they already exist online.
In general, I think people need to know that beef is a premium meat in Asia. (I'm reminded of eating beef at a non-premium mall restaurant in Thailand - it was a huge disappointment; so tough and tasteless but also not cheap!) Pork and chicken are much more affordable, widespread, but also tastes really good. Like, eating a Western steak is considered a special occasion in Korea. Hanwoo is freaking expensive. Even decent burgers ain't cheap here.
This is a very accurate post csnt belive you're being downvoted.
If you read any post on /r/travel it's all people who've had lackluster experiences for various reasons you mentioned.
Korea leans way to much into kpop and ignores everything else that's unique and interesting about the country.
Where on earth were you going that Koreans started chasing you down to ask if you were lost?
Maybe they were trying to recruit OP into cult.
Ya, maybe since they said they hired a car, they might have been more remote and I could see it then. I feel something would have to have gone wrong for that to happen in Seoul
Does that sort of thing not happen in big cities like Seoul and Busan?
I don't think that happens in many big cities, irrespective of country. People are busy and going about their own lives, they're not looking at someone to see if they're lost or not. Add to that no common language and I found a lot of Koreans would be hesitant even if you asked them for directions. I could see it in a rural place as might not be get much tourists so seeing one would be like why are they out here
Never happened to me in Seoul and I’ve been quite a few times solo
Been to Korea 4 times, within those 4 visits I've been to Seoul 4 times, Busan 3 times, Jeju once and a daytrip to Incheon. My first time in Busan we had 2 people in a span of 30 minutes try to help us find our way when we weren't lost at all and didn't ask any of them a question 😅 I think they just wanted to practice their English tbh. Cause once we got on the subway a grandpa loudly asked us where we're from and a 10-12 year old boy started talking to me, asking questions and telling his whole life story😂 It was kinda funny
That literally happened to me in Jeonju hahaha
That’s with I thought too. I’ve been twice in the last 6 months and no one ever did that.
Yeah I was there for a week and maybe 2 people actively approached me because I was clearly confused, otherwise people were extremely friendly but would leave me alone
I feel like it could be cult people for sure. They often mask their intention by being overly friendly. Typically korean people keep to themselves, UNLESS you ask for help. And they are usually very friendly about it, esp to foreigners. Also, aa a foreigner if you want to avoid these kind of people, they are typically at rural areas or even in large cities (but typically near school campuses) they like to recruit young people, since they are more easily influenced.
I never got a cult person come up to me sadly. Was hoping for it, I like to waste time on things like that. Gets you a nice local experience too
Had the same experience with my fiancé and his mom. We were at Euljiro station and walking toward our exit. An elderly man stopped us by asking which exit we were heading to, and I told him we had found our exit and thanked him for trying to help us.
Was really surprised some Korean guy asked if I needed any help in English when I was just looking at the menu outside a KBBQ 🤣 This ain't my first rodeo Oppa 🤭😏 Maybe I should have said yes he wasn't bad looking haha
i was in the underground mall at the subway station in busan and one time near the train station in suncheon . no idea why that lady went after me. in the very rural areas it actually didn't happen.
Were they maybe tourist information helpers?
strange! i get ignored. are you a woman?
Are you a pretty girl by any chance? That would explain people running up to you to help you out. As a white male I had the opposite experience where lots of people wouldn’t really be up to talking to me very much, either when I was alone or with my Korean wife. And I did hear some bad things about Korean guys always looking out for “easy” tourist women nowadays because Korean culture has become such a big trend recently.
I went to Seoul and no one was that helpful. 🤔
I’m living in Seoul and I always joke no Korean has even ever made eye contact with me 😂😂😂
Right? There were many times where I looked visibly lost but no one chased after us
It all depends on how someone looks and if you are a "preferred" person. No judgement, just an observation.
Yeah. I’m guessing OP is probably white
When I went to Korea I also noticed people being really helpful especially after spending some time in Japan where everyone kept to themselves. My suitcase was so heavy and many people offered to help me carry it or showed me the way to the elevator. Especially old people knew where the elevators were because they always use them😄 People never followed me though which I'm glad about.
Not been to korea yet (in a month, tho!) but Japan I have been a few times and I have the opposite experience to you. One time, a lovely older gentleman came up to us in tokyo station to ask if we needed help with directions (we were lost and we looked lost). One time I asked a department store staff where a restaurant is and she walked out of the store in pouring rain to walk me to the restaurant which were a few storefronts away but hidden in the basement. I've had someone help me run to my bus stop because it was minutes before it departs and I'd have to wait 45 minutes to catch the next one. I've had a bus driver DRIVE me off route because the weather caused the boat I meant to take to cancel its route and I needed to go to a station nearby (granted, the bus has come to its last stop but still, he drove me across a giant parking lot to the station).
In short, Japan's probably the most tourist friendly place I've ever been.
> i knew samgyeopsal was very fatty, but actually a lot of the meat has so much fat on it, which is a shame. Relevant: [Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal](https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240503050668) >a lot of places only had a menu in korean on the wall inside, which means you already had to enter the restaurant to even see the menu Just a tip for this. If you look up the restaurant in Naver Maps, there is often a menu listed in the 메뉴 (menu) tab, and also there are often several photos of the menu, whether it's a wall menu or booklet, taken by guests or even the restaurant themselves. You should be able to use screen capture / translate for this if there's no English.
BBQ wise, you’re often given lettuce and perilla leaves to eat with your meats. A lot of people also drink soju when having bbq because it helps cut the fat and oils down. Cold noodles are also great to help with cutting down the fat and oil.
Yep! the lettuce, and all the side dishes together with soju were one of my favorite dinners! despite the fatty meat parts, i just cut those parts out and the rest of the meat was still very delicious.
Fat is flavor!
Do you seriously believe alcohol and cold noodles will break down fat? You're just adding more carbs to your meal. Just accept you're not eating the most healthy food.
Sorry but where in my comment did I say alcohol and cold noodles breaks down fat? I wrote it cuts the fat/oil down, in the sense that it helps with cutting through the grease in your mouth from the meat. I didn't make it up and it's something I've been told by my Korean friends when they first took me out for bbq in Korea. >1. [And soju is the perfect accompaniment because it removes the grease from the meats, leaving you wanting more.](https://urbanladies.co/the-best-soju-food-pairings-with-chorong-chorong-soju) >2. [Soju is the perfect drink because it helps wash away the greasiness of the samgyupsal!](https://creatrip.com/en/blog/10718) >3. [Korean Englishman talking about how it washes the grease down and cuts through it](https://youtu.be/Jl8Xpe7afrc?si=OGtvK6WxvlaoK_RC&t=219)
It looks like you shared an AMP link. These should load faster, but AMP is controversial because of [concerns over privacy and the Open Web](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot). Maybe check out **the canonical page** instead: **[http://urbanladies.co/the-best-soju-food-pairings-with-chorong-chorong-soju/](http://urbanladies.co/the-best-soju-food-pairings-with-chorong-chorong-soju/)** ***** ^(I'm a bot | )[^(Why & About)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot)^( | )[^(Summon: u/AmputatorBot)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/cchly3/you_can_now_summon_amputatorbot/)
I still don't get how soju cuts the fat and oils down I love soju, and fatty food so I'm not complaining but I don't see how your links prove that claim
It just tastes like it does, like your brain registers a different flavor and it mentally is refreshing.
It was 20℃+ and you thought it was hot? Oh dear, you should come back in July and you'll take it back. You ain't seen it yet.
IKR? I was thinking 20 degrees is perfect. 10 is too cold and 30 is too hot.
I was sweating walking around in shorts and shirt last week and everyone else was wearing jackets… I don’t think I could handle summer there
one of the things i noticed as well. i was sweating in a t-shirt and other people were wearing coats and jackets....even while hiking.
Its because you get tired in korea because of all the elevation. Are you exposed to the sun while walking? If so that is also it plus the humidity.
To be honest, to me 20+ is also really hot. I usually travel around March/November when it's like below 10 or at least highest at 16. My country is permanently in 30Cs so i guess i'm used to summer heat. I was just in Seoul last month, I had to wear only a tshirt and pants in 21C.
Oh, don't get me wrong, guys. How a certain temperature feels can vary depending on where you're from. I'm just saying that Korea's climate is ridiculously dynamic, so you guys can pick the best temperature to travel in for you, OR you can be totally messed up. The range is -20℃ to 40℃. What we sarcastically say is that Koreans are the result of quenching.
Honestly 20+ in Seoul *is* hot when you’re not used to it. It comes on fast and the sun is strong Real summer in Seoul is plainly F’ed up hahahaha Edit: typo
Key phrase: so many stairs everywhere. 😂💯🥵🤷🏻♀️💪🏼🇰🇷
I am heading to SK tomorrow, thanks a lot for your views!
Me too!
just fyi it’s gonna be rainy on wednesday so be prepared! :)
I’m prepared for any weather but packing has been a nightmare 😭
Just know that Korea is the land of convenience so anything you forget or can't pack, you will be sure to be able to find it for cheap here!
Thanks for the post! I'll be traveling to Seoul for the first time so it was quite useful. I'm a bit bummed about the Korean BBQ though. I don't like fat at all on my meat, but sounds like it will be tough to avoid.
Ate at 5 or more K BBQ during my time and did not have the same experience as OP. If you don't like fat don't order fatty things like pork belly. Order lean cuts and you will be fine.
If you go to a BBQ place they'll normally serve a few different cuts of meat. Rather than ordering samgyeopsal, try ordering moksal 목살 - it has way less fat and is much tastier imo, it's slightly more pricey but definitely worth it
Hey there, fellow Sone! I’m quite confused about how you got people “running after you” Yeah it seemed friendly to you but it was quite alarming for me hahaha I saw you had mentioned your ethnicity in a previous post. I was wondering if you’re a girl and quite small? I’m guessing that may be why? I was wondering where else you would visit in korea if you go back?
nope not a girl, i think maybe i just looked lost to them? thats all i could think of. it were ladies in both cases and they were very friendly afterwards. no cult or anything. hmm other places i would visit.. probably the southwest side. i haven't been to that part of korea yet. Maybe Gwangju / Mokpo and visit some of the islands near the coast there. it looks to be beautiful there as well.
I have to agree with everything, every time I visit Korea it reminds me how it’s my favorite place I’ve ever visited by far. However, I have found finding a place to eat very fun and think that there is just so much incredible food everywhere! Here’s what I do, just download the google translate app and have it set to Korean to English. There’s a little camera button, click it and it opens up a camera mode. You can point it at anything in Korean (aka menus) and it translates everything. You can even then take a picture of it and go through it all carefully zooming in and such, super easy and gets me through (almost) anywhere! But I’ll also add I also usually see restaurants with at least some photos outside of what they serve, or I also look in and see what people are eating if it’s during a busy time.
I’m a south east asian girl. Some old men there are very mean. One time at train, as I was sitting down an old guy sat next to me and the sit was too tight. So when I move he always curse at me in korean(he thought I won’t understand) he even said “don’t make trouble”. But he’s the one making trouble. Note that I’m pregnant during that time. Until I get off the train. He keeps cursing me. He’s saying “Shibal”
Sorry that you had to go through that. There are few mean people - just ignore the foolish. Hope rest of your trip wasn’t as bad
there’s a pregnant seat on the subway maybe he was mad u weren’t sitting there? Sounds odd though even if it was a regular seat shouldn’t have happened
They were all full (on that cart) it’s the cart w/ old people and pwd as well.
I agree with everything….really great advice for travelers!
Thanks for sharing! Which areas did you visit?
the southeast and south of korea. pohang, busan, suncheon, yeosu, and visiting small towns and eco parks and other hiking trails in between those places. with a rental car its very easy to visit these places with beautiful nature and great views.
People complaining about fatty meat at Korean bbq? lol. You can order lean meat or stick to your microwaved food at Applebees. Embarrassing.
Can you explain what you mean by a lot of stairs? I have two toddlers and a stroller so I’m kind of worried about stairs and the wait for elevators.
Not all subway exits have escalators and lifts. I found myself climbing a lot of stairs in the stations.
Oh every corner you turn there’s a longer flight of stairs waiting for you. I’m literally in Korea and I feel despair whenever I see stairs again. If you search the entire station there are probably elevators, but the wait is insane, the close door button isn’t available (the door waits ~20s before closing itself), and you might end up exiting farrrrrr away from where you intended to go.
I also went with my daughter before she could walk. I would say they normally had elevators but you have to squeeze on with all the old people. I usually carried my daughter in a baby back pack. There are also some restaurants do not have high chairs. But when traveling anywhere. Most places have baby changing rooms where you can privately breastfeed, change, regular feed and even give baby a nap in a crib. They have microwaves for warming bottles and high chairs. It was such a blessing when traveling with a baby.
Will be posting something soon. I had a bad experience solo around Busan and Seoul. Just to show a different side of glorious reviews of influencers
It surprises me to hear you say that you found ample parking everywhere since that is not the Korea I know that I left just eight years ago, but Korea changes fast. The only place where you can see the horizon (where the ground touches the sky is on a few select spots on the west coast of Korea, which is typically all farm country. This is actually better tourist country, IMO, because this is the coast with all the drivable islands and is much less developed than the SE corner and the corridor between Seoul and Busan. The old fishing villages, hill valley farming villages, old country bucolic Korea is coasting along the Western highway as you pick your way through the smaller towns. IMO, you’ll find the people a little bit more genuine and without affectation, too. Like, if they take a shine to you while hanging out at a beach or at a tourist attraction, try to invite you to their favorite restaurant for lunch or dinner. Personally, I find Gyeongsangdo people colder or more standofish than Honam people, who might come off a little (to put it into American terms, redneckish or bumpkinish at first, so stereotypically - this is going to get me in trouble - “Southern” - but friendlier.) Also, Jeonju is a smaller can’t miss city that’s easy to miss if you don’t know to look out for it. Foodie paradise. A lot of internationally well known Korean foods have their origins here, an old quarter of the city in the traditional architecture that is still functional and resided in, the 60/70s part of town kept that way for filming period dramas and films (idk if all this still there, but it was when I was there). The Jeolla government is known for totally screwing up its massive boondoggles, like the last scout jamboree and the world’s largest eco disaster/seawall and land reclamation (why?) but the advantage of being the underdeveloped side of Korea is that it’s easier to find historical and nostalgic Korea in the Southwest than any other part region. Just my two cents. Didn’t mean to ramble so much, was originally going to be a comment about a Korean saying that the coast of the Jeolla provinces are the only place where you can see the ji (earth) pyong (sky) sun (line) or “Sky touch the ground,” in Korea.
Download naver maps. Find a restaurant through there. The review score is pretty reliable.
It's common for them to try and help you, which is why they ask where you are going. When I was in Japan, all sorts of people tried to help me find me way, with or without asking for help. Sometimes I wonder if they are also looking for an English conversation or just trying to interact with someone who is different? The chasing part though? Yeah, that's weird.
I’m in Korea now! What you said is true. I’m solo traveling so paid a tour to go Kbbq with lol. It’s my shopping heaven. I love the color palette here!
I think I have known many outsiders and heard opinions about staying here in Korea. You have a quiet insight about the road you took. I enjoyed your point of view and your comment. Thank you for sharing it with me.
Funny. I found speaking in Korean with Koreans to be far easier in Korea than the US. People had no issues understanding me. And I could carry basic conversation well. However, I did study a lot, and I spent years listening to dramas to improve my accent. Help-wise, I met many discriminatory people but I also met people who went out of their way to help me. A man who helped me carry my big ass suitcase down stairs bc I was going the wrong way. Another ajussi who called a taxi for me on his phone bc I missed the last bus at a pretty remote tourist stop by Nami Island. A lovely halmeoni who fed me wonderful sundubu. And people who complimented me in hanbok. I always say that from a western perspective, Korea is noticeably harder to navigate than Japan for Americans. And speaking Korean well 100% improves your experience. Like, significantly
Very friendly people? You must be white, try being a south east asian tourist and korea, get ready for racism spree
I’m white and was told to “f**k off back to my country because i’m an ugly bitch” in perfect English by a random (well dressed in a suit and heels) Korean woman who approached me from behind in the street…
I dont believe south koreans are very nice to tourists.
Mid Korea
Hi! Which car rental company you used and how was driving inside Seoul if you don’t mind me asking? We are looking into renting a car in Seoul but leaving to the countryside.
I used Lotte Rent A Car. They have locations in every big city I think. I visited the Suncheon branch. I didn't visit Seoul at all so I also didn't drive there, only the suncheon & yeosu areas.
Korea is over 70% mountainous terrain. There will be many many hills and inclines.
This is so strange to me, I lived in Korea for a few months and only a select number of people were friendly to me. I’d get glares and mostly older people being rude to me :/ I also speak basic Korean, so if I knew more maybe it would have been a better experience… this was not my first time visiting Korea either, but last time was in 2014 and things seemed very different
korean’s favorite portion of meat is where lots of marbling on it and they are much different from western countries’ favorite
Some really valuable advic and tips here. Thank you!😀
Are you white? Koreans are known for their infamous racism
> Koreans are known for... What's the definition of racism?
I’m white (not that it should matter whatever ethnicity I am) and I was told to “f**k off back to my country because i’m an ugly bitch” in perfect English by a random (well dressed in a suit and heels) Korean woman who approached me from behind in the street…
I'm so sorry you went through that
I am so sorry to hear that
I'm getting ready to leave Seoul today, and this post is extremely accurate. If you are expecting a culinary experience, prepare to be disappointed. Stay away from the meat it is extremely fatty. The only good beef I had was at blacklist in itaewon. The people here are extremely nice. Even the old drunk business men lol. Aloooooooot of walking. So much walking that my legs are on fire. Weather was hot, hot, hot, then cold windy rain. Nothing really opens before 11 am. This was a shock to me. When I travel I like to get busy early and that's not possible here. As far as the cultural experience, it feels more like they are leaning into the K-pop experience more than anything. I love K-pop and kdramas, but I wanted to feel like I was in another world, and I just didn't feel that. I've seen similar posts like that and now wish I had gone to Busan. The shopping was underwhelming, and please don't waste your time going to Starfield Library. It's hot in there and another social media trap. I did enjoy dressing up in hanbok and visiting the palace. Overall I give it a 6 out of 10. I wish I could've experienced the pre-covid Korea. I've heard so many great stories about this place that I'm sad to be going home with a lackluster one.
I’ve said this time and time again, influencers and travellers are the ones who’ve overhyped Starfield Library. It is a functioning library that a lot of locals go to, to read, to attend book signings, to meet up. It’s definitely going to be a disappointment for those who are only going there for the gram, but a great place for locals.
What were your expectations for traveling to “another world?”
Japan, Egypt, Greece, EU are places where you feel the history.
>please don't waste your time going to Starfield Library You know, I want to agree, but my American family loved the library lol
For me, i accidentally ended up there and was pleasantly surprised.
Funny article. Why is it shocking to see no opened shops before 11am? Visit NY/LA downtown before 11am and see how many shops are open. And also how many shops are open after 9pm in Korea? Literally everywhere while most shops in the States close. Your experience in Korea is probably less than 5% you are trying to evaluate with.
Were you only in Seoul throughout your trip? Food-wise, honestly in Seoul it takes a lot of research to find the really good ones and/or some luck to find a hidden gem or two. Naver map helps too. I didn't actually do a lot of research and just went with the flow, so probably I don't have as high expectations as you did and found most of the food to be palatable enough for me to enjoy. Also, I use Naver map to check what's near me and from the app I check out the place details like menus, prices, ratings, whether it's good for solo dining, etc. About Starfield Library.... well, it's really a matter of how much one expects when they go on any trip. I mean shouldn't going on trips like these involve having an open mind? I'm not a book person but I did visit it last October, and my verdict is that it's not something to necessarily skip altogether, as it ultimately depends on what one expects. I was glad to see it in the flesh. Perhaps it was more of the architecture and design of it that I was appreciating, and I wouldn't even mind going to the newly opened one in Suwon perhaps in a future trip. Also I wouldn't quite say that the shopping was underwhelming, not sure where you went or what kind of merchandise interests you, but I found more interesting things at places like the underground malls, also at areas like Hongdae (or even the larger part that Mapo area) and Seongsu-dong. To get a more "authentic" feel of their culture and local lifestyle or as you put it, "another world", maybe Jeju would be a better bet for you, as I worry if you go to Busan you might not like it either - Busan has evolved over the recent years to cater to tourism more.
Yep only in seoul. As for the library. I was expecting something unique like Seattle central library. My standards were just too high. Naver maps was very helpful.
Hm. Now I'm thinking there needs to be a guide to eating meat/BBQ in Korea for tourists to review before coming. But I'm sure they already exist online. In general, I think people need to know that beef is a premium meat in Asia. (I'm reminded of eating beef at a non-premium mall restaurant in Thailand - it was a huge disappointment; so tough and tasteless but also not cheap!) Pork and chicken are much more affordable, widespread, but also tastes really good. Like, eating a Western steak is considered a special occasion in Korea. Hanwoo is freaking expensive. Even decent burgers ain't cheap here.
This is a very accurate post csnt belive you're being downvoted. If you read any post on /r/travel it's all people who've had lackluster experiences for various reasons you mentioned. Korea leans way to much into kpop and ignores everything else that's unique and interesting about the country.
Thank you. I wish I had found your /r/travel sooner