South Korea, Seoul
Seoul is one of my favourite eat/ shop/ play destination. This blog was put up quickly for a friend who is going there soon.
1) Daedo Sikdang
431-2 Hongik-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
BBQ Hanwoo beef (韩牛). Korean top grade beef equivalent to Japanese wagyu. Reared exclusively in Korea and not exported. Melt in your mouth wagyu and yet much cheaper than our normal steak.
2) Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market
674, Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
Opens 24 hr
Buy your seafood at any stall at level 1 and you will be directed to level 2 restaurant to have your seafood cooked in your preferred way (bbq, steam, fry, chilli, etc). Abalone are cheap so I will recommend that. Skip king scallop as it is totally not worth and it will shrink to tiny bits and tend to be quite tough. Go for scallop in shell instead.
3) Palsaik Samgyeopsal (八色)
Eight Flavoured marination pork belly. There are many branches (Sinchon/ Hongdae/ Dongdaemun), just choose the one closest to you. Eight flavoured pork has to be eaten in sequence.
Ginseng > Wine > Pine leaves > Garlic > Herb > Curry > Miso paste > Hot
4) Sulbing Bingsu (shaved ice) with many flavours. Personally, I like the melon flavour best. There are many branches, just choose the one convenient for you.
5) Goryo Samgyetang 高丽参鸡汤(Gwanghwamun branch)
5-1 Sejong-daero 23-gil, Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Samgyetang (Ginseng chicken soup). Many sites recommended Tosokchon Samgyetang but I have never tried there. I have read up on the background of Tosokchon and Goryo Samgyetang restaurant. Tosokchon first open in 1983 while Goryo Samgyetang opened in 1960 and famous with locals. I would love to think that Tosokchon was riding on the fame of Goryo samgyetang as Goryo samgyetang was claimed to be the first samgyetang in Korea. Moreover, Goryo samgyetang is the usually crowded with locals instead of foreigners queuing in the cold. So I deduced that I would like Goryo Samgyetang more than Tosokchon 😂
Exit 7 from Gwanghwamun station and walk towards the Starbuck. The building is at the back of Starbuck via a back alley. You should see a sign like this, just follow the sign.
1) Dragon Hill Spa Jimjilbang (Korean bath house)
40-712 Hangangno 3(sam)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
+82 2-792-0001
Opens 24 hours
You have not experience Korea if you have not been to a Jimjilbang. A place for korean family to chill out in different types of sauna (jade room, rock salt room, pine wood room, etc). Korean believes in detoxing through the skin (the largest organ in our body), so through sauna, one can get rid of the toxic from the body through the perspiration. Don't forget to try the hard boiled egg and sweet rice water to replenish your body nutrient after sauna. Most jimjilbang cost around 10000 to 2000 won per person per entry for 12 or 24 hours usage. I would recommend Dragon hill spa at Yong san MRT station. Reason being it is the biggest and more reputable bathhouse as well as foreigner friendly. It is located at the right next to Yongsan station. I would recommend that you plan this stop together with Noryangjin as they are only a station away from each other.
2) MBC World
267 Seongam-ro, Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
A great place to experience korean drama or music industry especially if you are great fan. There are many interactive and interesting technology used for you to interact with your idols. Don't miss the hologram concert! Super thumb up!
3) Everland – Korean Disneyland with Korean character.
If you want theme park, go to Everland instead of Lotte World theme park which is the indoor theme park similar to KL Berjaya Times Square, not worth the visit. To get to Everland, there is a special express bus that takes your from Dongdaemum to Everland. Visit their website for more details. The express bus coupon give you discount entry to Everland, so it's worth it!
4) N tower – City view and there is a bear museum similar to Jeju bear museum if you are interested.
5) Cheongbok palace – Highly recommended to rent a Hanbok (Korean traditional clothes) and visiti the palace. Do note that you get free admission to the palace if you wear the Hanbok. You can see the exchange of guards at the entrance facing Gwanghwamun MRT station, do check out the timing. I would recommend that you plan your Goryro Samgyetang meal together with your palace visit
6) Bukchon hanok village – it’s like our katong area… conservation traditional korean residential houses. Do keep volume low as the residents will be very piss off with the constant noise from tourists.
1) Sinchon – Street near Er Hwa Women’s university. Shopping haven for the youth, especially girls.
2) Myeongdong – Most visited place where you can get all your fashion and beauty stuff.
3) Dongdaemum – whole sale and retail shopping 24 hours. Usually more happening after 8 pm. Try Migole, hello APM building for retail. For wholesale, designer’s club building but
have to buy at least 2 -5 pieces per design.
4) Lotte Mart – at Seoul station. Big supermarket where you can buy any kind of Korean goods at duty free price. They offer boxes for you to pack and check in. Some items need to
collect at the airport. Beauty products are cheaper here but no sample or promo packages.
Range is smaller too. Recommended to do on your last day in Seoul. You may want to buy freshly made kimchi and ask them to wrap properly to bring up the flight. Do NOT buy from the market where they just use plastic bag and clingwrap as the gas from the kimchi will burst in your luggage making all your clothing into kimchi marinate.
5) Hongdae – It’s like Tokyo harajuku. It’s a pubbing area at night, shopping by the day. Good place to experience Korean haircut (Juno salon), try hello kitty or Charlie brown café, etc.
6) Insadong – if you like cultural or art stuff. I personally didn’t find it very fantastic.
7) Namdaemum – food stuff but lotte mart can get most of the things in fixed price. No need to bargain. This is 24 hours too…
8) Gwangjang market – dried good n street food. Good place to get your fresh ginseng and chilli powder. Also Korean traditional rice biscuits which resembles our traditional wedding biscuit. Recommended to do it together with your visit to Dongdaemun
9) Underground shopping mall at Myeongdong for kpop stuff or shopping
What to buy
1) Snail cream (It’s skin brand seems to work best for me)
2) All form of cosmetic… cheap…
3) Sun blocks
4) Face mask, hand mask, etc… all kinds of masks
5) Alor Vera – Nature republic (in tubs)
6) Clothings (Dongdaemun/ Myeongdong/ Sinchon/ Hongdae)
7) Fresh ginseng/ ginseng wine
8) Korean titbits from Emart or Lotte mart supermarket.
9) Kpop stuff
10) Health drinks like job tears tea, green tea, malt tea, ginseng concentrate, etc
Disclaimer: All the recommendations were based on my personal opinion/ experience.
Eat
1) Daedo Sikdang
431-2 Hongik-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
BBQ Hanwoo beef (韩牛). Korean top grade beef equivalent to Japanese wagyu. Reared exclusively in Korea and not exported. Melt in your mouth wagyu and yet much cheaper than our normal steak.
2) Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market
674, Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul
Opens 24 hr
Buy your seafood at any stall at level 1 and you will be directed to level 2 restaurant to have your seafood cooked in your preferred way (bbq, steam, fry, chilli, etc). Abalone are cheap so I will recommend that. Skip king scallop as it is totally not worth and it will shrink to tiny bits and tend to be quite tough. Go for scallop in shell instead.
3) Palsaik Samgyeopsal (八色)
Eight Flavoured marination pork belly. There are many branches (Sinchon/ Hongdae/ Dongdaemun), just choose the one closest to you. Eight flavoured pork has to be eaten in sequence.
Ginseng > Wine > Pine leaves > Garlic > Herb > Curry > Miso paste > Hot
5) Goryo Samgyetang 高丽参鸡汤(Gwanghwamun branch)
5-1 Sejong-daero 23-gil, Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Samgyetang (Ginseng chicken soup). Many sites recommended Tosokchon Samgyetang but I have never tried there. I have read up on the background of Tosokchon and Goryo Samgyetang restaurant. Tosokchon first open in 1983 while Goryo Samgyetang opened in 1960 and famous with locals. I would love to think that Tosokchon was riding on the fame of Goryo samgyetang as Goryo samgyetang was claimed to be the first samgyetang in Korea. Moreover, Goryo samgyetang is the usually crowded with locals instead of foreigners queuing in the cold. So I deduced that I would like Goryo Samgyetang more than Tosokchon 😂
Play
1) Dragon Hill Spa Jimjilbang (Korean bath house)
40-712 Hangangno 3(sam)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
+82 2-792-0001
Opens 24 hours
You have not experience Korea if you have not been to a Jimjilbang. A place for korean family to chill out in different types of sauna (jade room, rock salt room, pine wood room, etc). Korean believes in detoxing through the skin (the largest organ in our body), so through sauna, one can get rid of the toxic from the body through the perspiration. Don't forget to try the hard boiled egg and sweet rice water to replenish your body nutrient after sauna. Most jimjilbang cost around 10000 to 2000 won per person per entry for 12 or 24 hours usage. I would recommend Dragon hill spa at Yong san MRT station. Reason being it is the biggest and more reputable bathhouse as well as foreigner friendly. It is located at the right next to Yongsan station. I would recommend that you plan this stop together with Noryangjin as they are only a station away from each other.
2) MBC World
267 Seongam-ro, Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
A great place to experience korean drama or music industry especially if you are great fan. There are many interactive and interesting technology used for you to interact with your idols. Don't miss the hologram concert! Super thumb up!
3) Everland – Korean Disneyland with Korean character.
If you want theme park, go to Everland instead of Lotte World theme park which is the indoor theme park similar to KL Berjaya Times Square, not worth the visit. To get to Everland, there is a special express bus that takes your from Dongdaemum to Everland. Visit their website for more details. The express bus coupon give you discount entry to Everland, so it's worth it!
4) N tower – City view and there is a bear museum similar to Jeju bear museum if you are interested.
5) Cheongbok palace – Highly recommended to rent a Hanbok (Korean traditional clothes) and visiti the palace. Do note that you get free admission to the palace if you wear the Hanbok. You can see the exchange of guards at the entrance facing Gwanghwamun MRT station, do check out the timing. I would recommend that you plan your Goryro Samgyetang meal together with your palace visit
6) Bukchon hanok village – it’s like our katong area… conservation traditional korean residential houses. Do keep volume low as the residents will be very piss off with the constant noise from tourists.
Shopping
1) Sinchon – Street near Er Hwa Women’s university. Shopping haven for the youth, especially girls.
2) Myeongdong – Most visited place where you can get all your fashion and beauty stuff.
3) Dongdaemum – whole sale and retail shopping 24 hours. Usually more happening after 8 pm. Try Migole, hello APM building for retail. For wholesale, designer’s club building but
have to buy at least 2 -5 pieces per design.
4) Lotte Mart – at Seoul station. Big supermarket where you can buy any kind of Korean goods at duty free price. They offer boxes for you to pack and check in. Some items need to
collect at the airport. Beauty products are cheaper here but no sample or promo packages.
Range is smaller too. Recommended to do on your last day in Seoul. You may want to buy freshly made kimchi and ask them to wrap properly to bring up the flight. Do NOT buy from the market where they just use plastic bag and clingwrap as the gas from the kimchi will burst in your luggage making all your clothing into kimchi marinate.
5) Hongdae – It’s like Tokyo harajuku. It’s a pubbing area at night, shopping by the day. Good place to experience Korean haircut (Juno salon), try hello kitty or Charlie brown café, etc.
6) Insadong – if you like cultural or art stuff. I personally didn’t find it very fantastic.
7) Namdaemum – food stuff but lotte mart can get most of the things in fixed price. No need to bargain. This is 24 hours too…
8) Gwangjang market – dried good n street food. Good place to get your fresh ginseng and chilli powder. Also Korean traditional rice biscuits which resembles our traditional wedding biscuit. Recommended to do it together with your visit to Dongdaemun
9) Underground shopping mall at Myeongdong for kpop stuff or shopping
What to buy
1) Snail cream (It’s skin brand seems to work best for me)
2) All form of cosmetic… cheap…
3) Sun blocks
4) Face mask, hand mask, etc… all kinds of masks
5) Alor Vera – Nature republic (in tubs)
6) Clothings (Dongdaemun/ Myeongdong/ Sinchon/ Hongdae)
7) Fresh ginseng/ ginseng wine
8) Korean titbits from Emart or Lotte mart supermarket.
9) Kpop stuff
10) Health drinks like job tears tea, green tea, malt tea, ginseng concentrate, etc
Disclaimer: All the recommendations were based on my personal opinion/ experience.
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