Category: from Korea
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Gyeongju was Korea’s ancient capital for a thousand years. Here’s why this open-air museum city belongs on your itinerary, and how to explore it.
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Chimaek, Korea’s fried chicken and beer combo, is a national ritual. Here’s the history behind it, and how to order it like a local at a chi hof pub.
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Chuseok, Korea’s harvest festival occurring from September 24 to 26, celebrates family, food, and traditions like charye and seongmyo, where families honor ancestors and eat together. Visitors should book transportation early, as travel becomes crowded, while many local businesses close. Experience the quieter cities and the delightful aroma of songpyeon during this time.
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Unmanned stores have become a prominent feature in Korea, with around 12,000 locations as of June 2026. These include ice cream shops, laundromats, and claw machine arcades, reflecting a shift in consumer habits. While offering convenience and lower prices, they face challenges like theft and market oversaturation.
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In Korean restaurants, diners use a call bell to directly summon staff, instantly addressing needs like ordering or payment. This system reflects Korea’s fast-paced “ppalli-ppalli” culture, enhancing efficiency. While evolving with self-service kiosks and robots, the call bell remains a key aspect of dining, epitomizing the country’s unique service approach.
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Dear reader, Talk to enough travelers planning a trip to Korea, and you’ll notice almost every itinerary starts and ends in Seoul. I get it. Seoul alone could easily swallow a week and still leave you wanting more. But today I want to tell you about a different city, the one where I went to…
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Dear reader, “When’s the best time to visit Korea?” It’s the question friends visiting from abroad ask me every single time they start planning a trip. Cherry blossoms in spring, energy in summer, snow-covered palaces in winter, Korea has a real case to make in every season, which makes picking just one answer genuinely hard.…
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During hot summers in Korea, travelers can find relief in “mudeowi swimteo” or heat wave shelters. These air-conditioned spaces, including subway stations, community centers, and libraries, are available for anyone to use at no cost. Knowing their locations can enhance comfort when temperatures soar, making summer visits more enjoyable.
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Korea traditionally had two age systems: the “Korean age,” where individuals are considered one year old at birth and gain a year collectively on January 1st, and the “international age,” starting at zero. A law enacted on June 28, 2023, standardized age calculation to international age for legal purposes, but Korean age remains relevant in…
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The T-money card is essential for navigating Korea’s public transportation, allowing easy access to subways and buses with a simple tap. Purchase the card at convenience stores for around 3,000 to 4,000 won, and top up with cash. It works nationwide and can also be used for small purchases at shops. Refunds for unused balances…