Korea Living

Updated: September 2026 You have just arrived in Seoul and need a transportation card. Should you buy the familiar Tmoney card, or would Seoul’s unlimited Climate Card save you more money? This decision has become more confusing in 2026. Seoul’s transportation card system has changed, overseas credit cards can now be used at more subway ticket machines, and the 30-day Climate Card is being replaced for residents. At the same time, short-term Climate Card passes for tourists are continuing. The important point is that neither card is automatically better for every traveler. Tmoney is more flexible and can be used across South Korea. The Climate Card offers unlimited rides but works only within its designated service area. Your best choice depends on where you are going, how many times you expect to use public transportation, and whether you plan to travel beyond Seoul. As a certified local tour guide, here is my practical comparison of Tmoney and the Climate Card for internati...

October is one of the best months to visit Seoul. The exhausting summer heat has usually faded, the air becomes cooler, and autumn colors begin appearing across the city. You can walk around royal palaces without sweating through your clothes, hike on Namsan or Bukhansan, and spend an evening beside the Hangang River without the heavy humidity of July and August. However, October weather in Seoul can also surprise first-time visitors. A sunny afternoon may feel warm enough for a short-sleeved shirt, while the same evening can suddenly feel chilly—especially near the Hangang River or on top of Namsan. The beginning and end of the month can also feel like two different seasons. So, what is Seoul really like in October? What should you wear, when can you see fall foliage, and what should you know before packing? As a certified tour guide who regularly walks around Seoul with international visitors, here is my practical guide to visiting Seoul in October 2026. Seoul cityscape und...

Sit down at a Korean restaurant for the first time, and something surprising may happen before your main dish even arrives. Small plates begin appearing on the table. Kimchi. Seasoned vegetables. Pickled radish. Fish cake. Bean sprouts. Maybe rolled egg, seaweed, or something you cannot immediately identify. Then comes another surprise: nobody seems to have ordered them. Welcome to the world of banchan (반찬) , one of the most distinctive parts of Korean dining culture. But banchan is more than a collection of free side dishes. It reflects the way a traditional Korean meal is structured—and the idea that many of the foods on the table are meant to be enjoyed together. Traditional Korean meal with rice, soup, kimchi and various banchan side dishes What Does Banchan Mean in Korean Food? The Korean word banchan (반찬) simply refers to the dishes eaten alongside rice. That sounds similar to a “side dish” in English, but the role of banchan in a Korean meal is somewhat differ...

Sit down at a restaurant in Korea and you may notice something unusual before your food even arrives. The chopsticks are metal . Not bamboo. Not wood. And if you're using Korean chopsticks for the first time, you may quickly discover something else. They're surprisingly difficult to use. Try picking up a slippery piece of japchae or a tiny bean with thin stainless steel chopsticks and suddenly eating lunch can feel like a test of hand-eye coordination. So why does Korea use metal chopsticks when wooden or bamboo chopsticks are much more common elsewhere in East Asia? The short answer is that Korea has a long history of using metal eating utensils, while the stainless steel chopsticks seen everywhere today were also shaped by Korea's modern industrialization. And no—the answer isn't simply that Korean kings used silver chopsticks to detect poison. The real story is much more interesting. Korean metal chopsticks and spoon on a traditional Korean rest...

If a Korean friend tells you “Fighting!” before an exam, job interview, or difficult day at work, don't worry. They're not telling you to fight anyone. In Korea, 파이팅 (paiting) —also commonly said and written as 화이팅 (hwaiting) —is an expression of encouragement. Depending on the situation, it can mean: “You can do it!” “Good luck!” “Go for it!” “Hang in there!” “Let's do this!” It's one of those English-looking words that has developed a very Korean meaning. And once you spend some time in Korea, you'll hear it everywhere. Korean actor saying fighting as an expression of encouragement What Does “Fighting” Mean in Korean? The simplest translation is: “You've got this!” Korea.net describes 파이팅 as an expression used to show support or cheer someone on, particularly in situations such as sports, while its meaning can also extend to “good luck.” The important thing is that Korean “fighting” has almost nothing to do with the normal English meaning of...