Grace had a wonderful time chatting with friend and guest Robert about their respective trips to South Korea earlier this year. They discussed highlights and let downs, yummy and interesting food and drinks they tried, and the virtues and pitfalls of intensive planning versus flying by the seat of your pants. They reflected on the changes they have noticed over several visits to South Korea and talked about hopes and plans for future trips there. They also recommended helpful apps and websites, gave travel tips, and, in the language section, suggested useful Korean phrases to learn. 

Dramas Mentioned:

Can We Get Married (2012)

Coffee Prince (2007)

The Tale of Lady Ok (2024)

Itaewon Class (2020)

City Hunter (2011)

Healer (2014)

The K2 (2016)

Vagabond (2019)

Arthdal Chronicles (2019)

I Am Not a Robot (2017)

One Spring Night (2019)

Lovely Runner (2024)

Places and activities mentioned

- Hannamdong (한남동) (Seoul)

- Seoul Forest and Atelier Street just north of it (Seoul)

- Cafe streets, e.g. Cheongsudang (청수당) bakery and Soha Salt Pond in Ikseondong (익선동) (Seoul)

- Leeum Museum (리움 미술관) (Seoul)

- Gentle Monster eyewear shop and Nudake cafe in Dosan Park (Seoul)

- Hongdae and Ryse Hotel (Seoul)

- The National Museum of Korea (Seoul)

- Night walk along Cheonggyecheon, starting at DDP and ending in Myeongdong, with a stop for dessert at Gwangjang market (Seoul)

- Namsan hike, including Whitestone Gallery and Komfortabel cafe + cable car (Seoul)

- Night walk among Silla dynasty sites, including burial mounds and the oldest standing astronomical observatory in Asia, Cheomseongdae (첨성대) (Gyeongju)

- Bulguksa temple complex (Gyeongju)

- Gyeongju National Museum (Gyeongju)

- Hwangnidan-gil 황리단길 cafe street (Gyeongju)

- Seodaemun Prison History Hall (Seoul)

- Nagwon Musical Instrument Arcade (Seoul)

- Daejanggeum Park (Yongin)

- Korean Folk Village (Yongin)

- Suwon Hwaseong Fortress wall walk (Suwon)

- Yongyeon Garden Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (Suwon)

- Hwaseong Haenggung (Suwon)

- Suwon fried chicken street (Suwon)

- Inspire Entertainment Resort (Incheon)

- Apgujeong Rodeo Street (Seoul)

- Insadong culture street (Seoul)

- Hyundai Department Store Yeouido (Seoul)

- Lotte World Tower - Seoul Sky (Seoul)

- Seongsudong (Seoul)

- Starfield Library at the Coex Mall (Seoul)

- Danbam - restaurant/bar from Itaewon Class (Seoul)

Food, drinks, and restaurants mentioned:

- Gabojeong Hanwoo galbi restaurant (가보정) - also had excellent banchan (Suwon)

- Suwon Fried Chicken Street

- Hanjeongsik style meal - table covered in banchan

- Gyejang (계장) marinated crab

- Hotteok (호떡) - filled flatbread

- Ggwabegi - twisty donut

- Dakgalbi (닭갈비) - spicy chicken stir fried with veggies, tteok, and sometimes cheese. Bbandak Bbandak (빤닭빤닭) in Myeongdong 

- Chimaek (chicken + beer) at BB.Q Chicken 

- Myeongdong Kyoja (명동교자) - Bib Gourmand gyoza restaurant

- Mr. Ahn's Craft Makgeolli (안씨 막걸리) in Itaewon (이태원)

- Sool Gallery in Bukchon

- Alice and other cocktail bars in Cheongdamdong (청담동) 

Apps and websites mentioned:

- Catchtable - for restaurant reservations 

- VisitKorea website - to verify business details

- Naver Maps for navigation and directions + Google Maps to look up place names in Korean 

- Uber - for calling cabs (more familiar for westerners, and just as effective as Kakao T)