Korea Living

Walk into a Korean supermarket or department store before Chuseok or Seollal , and you may see something that makes foreign visitors stop and look twice. Beautiful gift boxes stacked everywhere. Blue, gold, and premium-looking packaging. And inside? Spam. Lots of Spam. For visitors from countries where Spam is usually thought of as cheap canned meat, the obvious question is: "Wait... Koreans actually give Spam as a gift?" Yes, we do. And it's not a joke. Spam gift sets have been a familiar part of Korean holiday culture for decades. The reason makes much more sense when you look at Korea's history—and how the meaning of a "good gift" has changed over generations. S pam gift sets displayed for Chuseok at a supermarket in South Korea. Spam Wasn't Always an Everyday Food in Korea To understand Korea's relationship with Spam, we need to go back to the Korean War and the difficult years that followed . Food was scarce, and meat w...

Autumn in Seoul doesn't arrive all at once. One week, the city still looks mostly green. Then yellow ginkgo leaves begin appearing along the streets, maple trees turn red, and suddenly Seoul feels like a completely different city. As a certified tour guide in Korea, I think autumn is one of the best seasons for exploring Seoul on foot. The weather is cooler, the skies are often clear, and you don't have to travel far from the city center to find beautiful fall colors. But where should you actually go? Instead of giving you a huge list, here are six of my favorite places to see fall foliage in Seoul , depending on the kind of experience you're looking for. When Is the Best Time for Fall Foliage in Seoul? This is probably the first question travelers ask. Seoul's autumn colors generally become most impressive from late October into early November , although the exact timing changes every year depending on temperature and weather conditions. Mountain areas such a...

Autumn is one of the best seasons to travel around South Korea. The summer heat finally disappears, the air becomes cooler, fall colors begin spreading across the country, and some of Korea's most exciting festivals take place between September and November. As a certified tour guide in Korea, I always tell foreign visitors not to choose a festival simply because it appears on a long "things to do in Korea" list. Some festivals are worth planning an entire trip around, while others are perfect additions to a Seoul itinerary. So, if you're visiting Korea this fall, here are my picks for the best autumn festivals in Korea in 2026 —and which one might be right for you. 1. Seoul International Fireworks Festival 📅 September 5, 2026 📍 Hangang Park, Seoul If you're already in Seoul on September 5, this is an easy recommendation. The Seoul International Fireworks Festival lights up the night sky above the Han River with spectacular displays by profes...

South Korea's autumn harvest festival, Chuseok (추석) , is often described to foreign visitors as "Korean Thanksgiving." That's a useful introduction, but if you grew up in Korea, Chuseok is remembered through much smaller and warmer moments. For me, one of those memories is sitting with my entire family making Songpyeon (송편) . As a child, I didn't care much about making the perfect shape. I was more interested in what was hiding inside: sweet sesame or beans? I loved the warm sesame-and-sugar filling. Beans? Not so much. Every bite felt like a tiny Chuseok lottery. If you're new to the holiday, first read my guide to Chuseok: Korean Thanksgiving & Traditional Culture for the meaning of Chuseok, ancestral traditions, holiday foods, and cultural experiences. Here, let's explore the more playful side of the holiday—the food, games, and traditions Korean families shared together. Songpyeon: A Chuseok Memory You Can Taste Songpyeon is a small ric...

In many Western cultures, seeking guidance about the future involves Western Astrology, Tarot cards, or birth charts. These systems rely primarily on planetary alignments, mathematical calculations, and symbolic archetypes. However, in South Korea, there exists a far more intense, direct, and ancient spiritual practice known as Musok (무속 - Korean Shamanism) . Rather than calculating charts, a Korean shaman, known as a Mudang (무당) , acts as a living conduit to the spirit realm. Through an intuitive reading called Sinjeom (신점) , the Mudang bypasses analytical logic, communicating directly with deities, ancestors, and nature spirits to deliver raw, unfiltered spiritual messages. From ancient village rituals to the massive global success of the 2024 occult thriller film Exhuma (파묘) , here is a deep dive into South Korea’s most mysterious living tradition. A shaman who performs fortune-telling Part 1. Astrology vs. Sinjeom: The Power of Direct Spiritual Connection To understand Ko...

Long before K-pop and Korean cinema took the world by storm, a dynamic, high-flying martial art was serving as South Korea’s ultimate global ambassador: Taekwondo (태권도) . Literally translating to "the way of the foot and hand," Taekwondo is far more than just a sport or a system of self-defense. Practiced by over 100 million people across more than 200 countries, it is a global phenomenon rooted in ancient martial traditions, strict discipline, and deep philosophical respect. From its ancient origins on the Korean Peninsula to its status as a permanent Olympic sport—and even its unique place in Korean pop culture history—here is the complete story of South Korea’s national martial art. Taekwondo aerial kick Part 1. Roots and History: How Taekwondo Was Born While modern Taekwondo was officially standardized in the mid-20th century, its philosophical and physical roots stretch back over two millennia. Ancient Martial Arts: Ancient Korean kingdoms developed indigenous...