Your Seoul Guide

Photo by Tim Winkler on Unsplash Updated April 2026 · 10 min read There is one day trip from Seoul that I recommend to every foreign friend who visits me, and it is not Nami Island. It is the DMZ. The Korean Demilitarized Zone is genuinely unlike anything else you will see anywhere in the world. It is a 250km-long strip of land that has divided a single nation for over 70 years, and it sits just one hour from the center of Seoul. Living in Gyeonggi-do, I am closer to this border than most people realize — and every time I head north toward it, something about that drive always puts things into perspective in a way that no book or documentary quite manages. If you want to understand Korea — not just visit it — this is the day trip to take. In this guide What is the DMZ — and why does it matter What you can see — the main DMZ sites How to book a DMZ tour Also worth seeing in Paju...

Image by Sebastian from Pixabay Updated April 2026 · 8 min read Busan is one of my favorite cities in Korea — and honestly, one I never need much of an excuse to visit. Seoul and Busan feel like two completely different worlds. Busan has the sea, the hills, the raw fish markets, and an energy that is distinctly its own. Every season works: spring along the waterfront, summer at the beach, autumn in the hillside neighborhoods, winter at Jagalchi with a bowl of something warm. If you are spending time in Korea and have a few days to spare, Busan deserves to be on your list. Getting there is easy. Here is everything you need to know. In this guide KTX — the best option for most people, and how to book Flying — when it makes sense SRT and express bus — other options Comparison at a glance FAQ KTX — The Best Option for Most People The KTX is South Kore...

Photo by Janis Rozenfelds on Unsplash Updated April 2026 · 7 min read Seoul's subway system is excellent — I say this all the time and I mean it. But there are days when the subway is not the answer. When you are heading somewhere with no convenient station nearby, carrying too much to comfortably squeeze into a rush hour train, or out late when the last train has already left, a taxi is just the better option. I usually get around by car, but there are times when a taxi just makes more sense — heading somewhere with no parking, or a neighborhood where driving just adds stress. On those days I call one through Kakao T. It takes a few taps and a car is outside within minutes. This guide covers how to do exactly that — which apps to use, how to pay as a foreign visitor, what the different taxi types mean, and a few practical things worth knowing before you get in. In this guide Kakao T: what it is and how to use it K-...

Photo by Jo Quinn on Unsplash Updated April 2026 · 8 min read There is a specific kind of hunger that hits when you walk past a bunsik stall. It does not matter that you just ate. The smell of tteokbokki sauce — sweet, spicy, faintly smoky — is basically a reflex trigger for anyone who grew up in Korea. I have been eating street food my whole life, and it is still one of my favorite things about living here. Korean street food has changed a lot since I was young. Some things have stayed exactly the same — the classics are still everywhere, still cheap, still as good as they ever were. But some things are different. The egg bread carts that used to be on every corner are harder to find now. The pace of food trends has become almost absurdly fast. And a whole new category of viral snack culture has emerged that did not exist a decade ago. This guide covers all of it — the classics you need to try, the seasonal things worth hunting down, and the viral foo...

Photo by Nathana Reboucas on Unsplash Updated April 2026 · 8 min read Every time a friend from abroad visits Seoul, the first message I get after they land is some version of: "I can't connect to anything, how do I get data?" I've received that message enough times that I finally decided to write it all down properly. I know how disorienting it is to arrive somewhere without data. I've been that person standing at a foreign airport, roaming charges ticking up, trying to figure out which SIM to buy from a rack of options I don't understand. It's not fun. Korea has excellent connectivity options for visitors — some of the best in the world, actually — but the choices can be confusing if you don't know what you're looking at. This guide covers everything: what to buy, where to buy it, how much it costs, and which option actually makes sense for your trip. In this guide What you need to know be...

Updated March 2026 · 7 min read Photo by Jason Oh on Unsplash The T-money card is the single most useful thing you’ll buy in Korea. It takes about two minutes to get and costs a few thousand won — and for the rest of your trip, you won’t have to think about transit at all. Just tap and go. In this guide What is T-money and what can you use it for? How to buy and recharge your T-money card How to use it — subways, buses and taxis Beyond the basic card: T-money designs and the T-money Shop FAQ As a Korean who uses public transit almost every day, I’ve had a T-money card in my wallet for as long as I can remember. These days I mostly use the transit feature built into my credit card — Korea’s postpaid transit system means you can link transportation payments to a credit card and settle at the end of the month, which is ho...

Updated March 2026 · 7 min read Photo by Jungyeon Min via Pixabay Korean fried chicken is not the same thing as regular fried chicken. The technique is different, the flavors are different, and the culture around it is entirely its own. If you’re visiting Korea and you haven’t ordered chicken delivery at least once, you’ve missed something. In this guide Chimaek: chicken, beer and Korean culture The styles: what makes Korean fried chicken different The brands: which ones to try and what to order How to order delivery from your hotel or accommodation FAQ In Korea, fried chicken is not fast food in the way most people think of it. It’s a social event. It’s a late-night ritual. It’s what you order when there’s a soccer match on, when you’ve had a long week, when you’re sitting on the floor of your living room ...