Live Your Best Lives
When people think of South Korea, the first things that come to mind are probably "star-chasing," "Koreans," and "plastic surgery." I initially had that same mindset, but after arriving in South Korea, I realized that, even beyond the star-chasing, I loved the country. I went there twice in 2018, once in the summer and once in the winter. I hope to return twice more in 2019, once in the spring and once in the fall.
Many people ask, "Is it expensive to go to Korea? Is it troublesome? What if I don't speak the language? Is there anything else to eat besides kimchi?"
There are single-entry visas and five-year multiple-entry visas (the required documents are not difficult. It is said that the review in the area around Liaoning is stricter because there are many Koreans who work illegally in South Korea, so the requirements for documents are stricter. If you want to go there for fun, you can apply for a single-entry visa first)
It used to be popular to rent an egg and pick it up at the airport. But my friend and I thought it would take up too much space, so we decided to buy a SIM card. It cost 50 yuan for 7 days of unlimited data.
Exchange in Myeongdong! Exchange in Myeongdong! Exchange in Myeongdong! Just bring your RMB and go to Myeongdong to exchange. The exchange rate in Myeongdong follows Alipay. If you want to buy a subway card first, you can exchange 100 RMB at the airport. The airport exchange rate is around 140 RMB, while in Myeongdong it's 162 RMB, a difference of around 20 RMB. That's still enough for a meal!
There are direct flights to Xiamen now (Xiamen Airlines, Korean Air), with the fare being around 2,000 in the off-season and 2,000-3,500 in the peak season.
The cost of a layover is around NT$1600-2000, depending on whether you're leaving early or late. Regarding layovers, it's up to you to decide. If you have enough time and energy, the cost is generally acceptable.
Both accommodations were found by friends. Accommodation in Korea generally includes breakfast. It is recommended to stay near Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Dongdaemun.
Our first hotel was the Seoul Dongdaemun N Hotel, located near Dongdaemun. They had twin and double rooms with multiple beds. Breakfast was served in the basement from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and was Western-style.
The second time we stayed at 24 Guesthouse near Myeongdong, which also provided breakfast every morning. The second time was cheaper than the first time, costing just over NT$800 per person for 8 days.
Location: The first time I stayed there was near Dongdaemun, and the second time was just a 10-minute walk from Myeongdong. Every hotel in Korea has a small refrigerator, so it’s really convenient for summer trips!
The flight attendant will hand it out in advance on the plane, and you need to fill it out in English. If you don’t know how to do it, you can search it on Baidu in advance and fill it out on the plane.
If you're visiting tourist spots, don't be afraid. Most people there speak Chinese! Some even speak it better than us Chinese. (Many salesgirls have a Korean accent, so you can imagine that.)
It's not just kimchi, but side dishes will definitely include kimchi, radish, etc. Koreans tend to like spicy food, but it's a sweet and spicy one...
Friends who like to drink hot water, be prepared, there is only ice water here...
Hanchao Map, Hanchao Subway, Shilla Duty Free App, Lotte Duty Free App (The first two are self-explanatory, so I highly recommend them! No need to worry about finding your way around the subway. With the second two, you can order directly on the app and pick up at the airport, saving you time and money. The app offers a 10% discount, which you can then use as points. Shilla points are like cash!)
When shopping, don't throw away your receipts. You might not know that you can get a tax refund, usually 30,000 won, and the refund will be deposited into your Alipay account. If you order a lot of things through the app and your flight is early, it's best to arrive at the pickup point two hours in advance to pick up your items.
Regarding exchange rates, Korean meals generally cost around 50 won per person. If you're into BBQ, that's another story. You can calculate your budget based on how many days you'll be staying and how many meals you'll have. It's always better to have extra money on hand, as Myeongdong is very convenient for exchanging money. Prices in Korea are still quite high, but salaries are also high.
My friends all say that the boy in front looks a lot like Jay Chou... Oh, not bad.
Don't rush to exchange money in Myeongdong. While there are plenty of shops, they vary in size, so try a few. Even a 0.50 extra is still a lot of money, right? Etude House, Nature Land, Uniqlo, MCM, Innisfree, and many more are all available in Myeongdong. Some offer on-the-spot tax refunds, while others will give you a tax refund form that you can return at the airport. You can get a tax refund for just 30,000 won! These things are really cheap. For example, an Etude House eyebrow pencil is only 10 won. Besides cosmetics, clothing, shoes, and snack shops, Myeongdong also offers street food and dining options. Most restaurants specialize in soups and rice, cheese dishes, BBQ, and bibimbap.
There are a lot of delicious food near the Boulevard. I went to eat the soup and rice in the second picture. But they said they were out of stock recently and only had barbecue.
If you're eating this type of tteokbokki, I recommend ordering one portion of tteokbokki, one portion of fish cake, and one cheese sausage; it's enough for two people. Cheese octopus and cheese chicken are also highly recommended.
If you're a regular at Korean variety shows, this place might look familiar. Gwangjang Market is a place where you can find all sorts of Korean snacks, including live octopus. It's also a popular spot for local Koreans to sit and enjoy a few drinks and snacks, much like a food stall or barbecue.
Translated from Korean, this is called sugar cake, which is actually the fried sugar cake we eat. Seaweed rice rolls, with some of the sauce prepared by my aunt, are delicious.
On snowy days, fried chicken and beer are a must! Even without snow, fried chicken and a drink are still a good option! (There wasn't any snow the few days I stayed there, TT) Don't look at how little it is; it's actually more than two people can finish. When they get tired of it, they'll have two pieces of radish to help with the greasiness. They don't seem to consider this a full meal; they'll just eat and chat in the restaurant! Talking about life and ideals~
When you come to Korea, you must visit Myeongdong, Namsan Tower, Hongdae, Gwanghwamun, and Hanok Village.
A place with a particularly beautiful night view. It is said that if couples come here to write a love lock, they will never be separated (I am single, so I can't understand this).
A gathering place for young people! It's a bit like a student street, but you can see a lot of talented people here. I have to praise Koreans for being able to debut easily!
This is the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. If you are wearing hanbok, you can enter for free. Hanbok can be rented around. In fact, wearing hanbok in the scenic area is quite a feeling, and it looks great in photos!
There is a bookstore near Gwanghwamun - Daewoo Bookstore. Some idols also come here and it has appeared in Korean dramas. After strolling around Gwanghwamun and Hanok Village, you can come here to drink coffee and take photos. I think it is very pleasant.
There are more than 800 houses that retain the traditional Korean style and are still inhabited. They are similar to traditional Chinese alleys and courtyards.
A place where you can forget your worries? Once you arrive, it truly is a place where you can relax. You might think it's just a river, but once you actually arrive, you'll experience something magical.
This is a park where friends pitch tents and camp, where couples go on weekend dates and stroll their pets, where friends go for bike rides when the weather is nice, and where you can enjoy performances when you're feeling down. It's a place where you can relax on weekends, bike, camp, and eat ramen with friends on nice days! How wonderful!
Speaking of parks, Korea has quite a few. I recommend Haneul Park. I haven't been there yet, but seeing the photos makes me want to go! It's said to be the closest place to the sky, and you can get there by taking the subway to the World Cup Stadium.
Image from Weibo
Recommended for those cute guys who like taking photos.
The large container building is also a popular check-in spot. There are also many snack shops and small jewelry stores nearby.
This trendy place has incredibly cheap clothes, but it's only open at night. Doota Duty Free is right across the street, so shopping enthusiasts shouldn't miss it. You can take the subway to Dongdaemun Station or Dongdaemun Culture Plaza.
As all the fans know, this is the mall where SM sells peripherals of their own artists. Those who don’t like to chase stars can go shopping in the mall next door. You can see this library when you walk to the end. It will look better at night. Take Subway Line 2 to Samseong Station Exit 5 or 6 to arrive.
I heard Daegu is the Africa of Korea, with extremely hot summers. The pace of life in Daegu is much slower than in Seoul. I didn't get to visit Daegu in August, so I decided to go there this time. I don't know if it's because it's winter, but the shops in Daegu close very early.
Recommended places in Daegu: Modern Alley, Qianshan Observatory, Seomun Market, Eworld Amusement Park.
I have to praise South Korea's high-speed rail and the conscientiousness of the Korean people. Korean high-speed rail doesn't require real-name registration; you can buy your ticket the same day at the self-service train counter at the station (the one at Seoul Station has English information, but when we returned, the one in Daegu was only in Korean). There's no security check or ticket inspection required. When departure time approaches, a large screen displays it. You go to the corresponding platform, wait for boarding, find your seat, and sit down. There are conductors on board, but they don't check tickets. They're truly conscientious!
It's like going on an outing with two friends...
There's a tower in Daegu called 83 Tower, similar to Namsan Tower, but it's inside an amusement park. If you're visiting the amusement park, you can go directly up there, or you can just go to the tower for the night view. There's a free shuttle bus that runs every 30 minutes.
Korean food is pretty much the same, but eating rice and soup on a cold day is incredibly comforting. I really like the pace of Daegu. It's a small city, and prices are lower than in Seoul. You should definitely come back and experience it next time. Daegu also has tons of dessert shops, so if you love trending food, don't miss out. Daegu is really small.
Overall, South Korea is a very welcoming and welcoming country, full of people who enjoy life. If you go to eat rice cakes on the street and you happen to speak a little Korean, the ladies will chat with you about family matters, but they won't be repulsed and will want to keep talking. I've always wanted to go to Busan, but the weather is too cold and Busan is by the sea. I hope to visit again in the spring! If anyone wants to go to Korea and has questions, please feel free to ask me~
