Korea Living

Losing your phone while traveling is more serious than simply losing an expensive device. Your phone may contain your passport photos, flight information, hotel reservation, credit cards, banking apps, digital boarding passes, social media accounts, and the contact details of everyone you know in Korea. It may also be your only map, translator, camera, and way to contact your family. If you lose your phone in South Korea, however, do not immediately assume that it has been stolen. Many lost phones are handed to subway staff, taxi companies, police stations, airport lost-and-found offices, or nearby store employees. The most important thing is to act in the correct order. This guide explains how foreign visitors can track, protect, report, and potentially recover a lost smartphone in Korea. Foreign traveler checking a bag after losing a phone in Seoul First: Borrow a Phone or Find Internet Access You will need another device to locate and protect your phone. Ask your hotel rec...

A growing number of travelers are arriving in Seoul with an unusual appointment already added to their itinerary: a personal color analysis. Instead of simply buying the same lipstick, foundation or outfit they saw on a K-pop idol, visitors want to discover which colors actually suit their own skin, hair and eyes. During a consultation, an analyst places different colored fabrics near the customer’s face and observes how each shade changes their overall appearance. The final result is usually described using a seasonal category such as spring, summer, autumn or winter. Many Seoul studios go further. They may recommend makeup shades, hair colors, jewelry metals, clothing combinations and products sold at Korean beauty stores. Personal color analysis is now promoted alongside Korean makeup, hair salons, scalp spas and skincare as a modern K-beauty travel experience. But how useful is it? How much does it cost in Seoul, and what should foreign travelers confirm before making a r...

K-beauty tourism in Seoul is no longer limited to filling a suitcase with sunscreen, sheet masks and lip tints. Foreign visitors are increasingly booking personal color consultations, Korean makeup sessions, hair salons, skin treatments and scalp spas as part of their travel itineraries. Instead of simply buying Korean beauty products, they want to experience how beauty and personal care services are actually performed in Korea. One of the fastest-growing experiences is the Korean scalp spa, also advertised as a Korean head spa, scalp treatment or scalp clinic. A typical session may include a magnified scalp examination, deep cleansing, exfoliation, steaming, shampooing, massage, a hair mask and a scalp ampoule. Some premium programs add red-light devices, waterfall rinses, upper-body massage or personalized hair treatments. It can be relaxing and visually impressive, which explains why scalp spa videos have become popular on social media. But the menus, prices and purposes o...

In September 2026, Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga was ranked No. 1 on Time Out’s list of the “40 Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World.” The result quickly produced dramatic headlines claiming that Jongno had “beaten New York and Paris.” That description is catchy, but it needs context. Time Out did not conduct a competition between entire cities. Its 2026 list compared 40 individual neighborhoods selected from cities around the world. Jongno 3-ga placed first, while neighborhoods in New York and Paris appeared farther down the same list. It was still a remarkable result—especially because this was not Jongno 3-ga’s first appearance. The neighborhood had already ranked third on Time Out’s 2021 list. So why has this part of old Seoul attracted global attention twice? The answer is not one famous landmark or one fashionable café. Jongno 3-ga is unusual because several versions of Seoul exist within a small, walkable area: royal history, Buddhist culture, hanok alleys, traditional markets, j...

Choosing a hotel in Seoul is not only about finding a comfortable room at the right price. Your neighborhood can change the entire rhythm of your trip. Two of the most popular choices for first-time visitors are Myeongdong and Hongdae. Both areas have plenty of hotels, restaurants, shops and convenient public transportation. However, they offer very different experiences. Myeongdong is in central Seoul, close to Namsan, royal palaces, traditional markets and many of the city’s major attractions. Hongdae is younger, more energetic and directly connected to Incheon International Airport by the AREX All-Stop Train. So, which area should you choose? The short answer is: Choose Myeongdong for a convenient first visit focused on sightseeing, shopping and central Seoul. Choose Hongdae for direct airport access, nightlife, cafés and a younger atmosphere. The better answer depends on your arrival time, itinerary, travel companions and how you want your evenings in Seoul to feel. Spl...