Korea Living

South Korea is often described as a cashless country. Koreans commonly pay for meals, coffee, shopping and taxis with cards or mobile payment apps. However, this does not mean a foreign traveler can visit Korea without any Korean won. A foreign-issued card may work perfectly at a hotel or department store but fail at a small restaurant, ticket machine or Korean online payment page. A standard physical T-money card also normally requires cash for recharging. As a local Korean guide, my practical recommendation is simple: Bring at least two physical payment cards and keep a reasonable amount of Korean won as a backup. You do not need to carry your entire travel fund in cash. You should simply avoid depending on one card, one phone or one payment method. Foreign traveler paying by credit card at a convenience store in Seoul Can You Use a Foreign Credit Card in Korea? Foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and UnionPay cards are accepted at many establishments, pa...

Netflix viewers around the world are discovering a part of Korean history that many had rarely encountered through mainstream entertainment. 100 Days of Deception , known in Korean as 100일의 거짓말 , is a historical spy drama starring Kim You-jung, Park Jin-young, Kim Hyun-joo, Lee Mu-saeng and Jin Sun-kyu. Set in Gyeongseong—the colonial-era name for Seoul—in 1932, the story follows Lee Ga-kyung, a talented pickpocket who dreams of escaping poverty and beginning a new life overseas. Her life changes when she accepts a mission from an independence organization. Disguised as an interpreter trainee, she infiltrates the Japanese Government-General of Korea for 100 days to obtain secret information. The characters and central spy mission are fictional. However, the colonial system surrounding them is based on a real period of Korean history. Korean civilians walking near a colonial government building in 1932 Gyeongseong A Spy Story Built Around an Ordinary Woman Ga-kyung does not be...

One of the best parts of visiting Korea in winter is walking into a room with a warm floor. Korea’s traditional floor-heating culture is called ondol , but modern homes usually use hot water circulating through pipes beneath the floor. For visitors, the warm floor is comfortable—but the Korean boiler controller on the wall can be confusing. The buttons may be written only in Korean, and the same controller may operate both the floor heating and shower water. This local guide explains the most common Korean boiler controls and what to do when your hotel, guesthouse or rental apartment feels too cold or too hot. To learn more about traditional Korean accommodation and sleeping on an ondol floor, read: 👉 All About Guesthouse in South Korea Foreign traveler experiencing a warm ondol floor in a Korean guesthouse What Is Modern Korean Ondol Heating? Traditional ondol used heat and smoke from a kitchen fire to warm stones beneath the floor. Modern Korean homes normally use a boiler...

Does South Korea have ski resorts? Yes—and skiing is one of the best ways to experience a Korean winter. Korea has around a dozen registered ski resorts, mostly in Gangwon Province and Gyeonggi Province. The main ski season usually runs from December to February, although opening dates and available slopes depend on temperature and snowfall. As a local Korean guide, I often find that foreign visitors are not worried about skiing itself. They are more confused about how to reach the resort, what equipment to rent, what clothes to wear and whether they need a lesson. This guide explains the practical details you should know before planning a ski trip from Seoul. Related: Does It Snow in South Korea? A Local Guide to Korean Winter International travelers boarding an early-morning ski shuttle in Seoul Which Korean Ski Resort Should You Choose? The right resort depends on your skiing experience, transportation and whether you want a day trip or an overnight stay. Ski resort Best ...

“Does it snow in South Korea?” As a licensed Korean local guide, I have heard this question surprisingly often from international visitors. The short answer is yes . South Korea has four distinct seasons, and winter normally lasts from December to February. However, the amount of snow differs greatly depending on the region. Seoul gets snow, but it is not covered in white throughout winter. If seeing deep snow is important to your trip, the mountains of Gangwon-do or Hallasan on Jeju Island offer a better chance. Does It Snow in Seoul? Yes, it snows in Seoul—but travelers should not plan their entire trip around it. Seoul’s winter is cold and dry. Snow may fall several times during the season, but light snow can melt quickly, especially on roads and busy city streets. Some winters bring a few heavy snowfalls, while others remain mostly cold and clear. This means the snowy Seoul shown in K-dramas is possible, but it cannot be guaranteed for specific travel dates. When snow doe...

Spending Christmas or New Year in Seoul does not require an expensive hotel party. Winter lights, warm Korean food, a night walk and one meaningful New Year’s wish can become the memories you remember longest. As a licensed Korean local guide, I recommend choosing activities according to whom you are traveling with. A solo traveler, couple, group of friends and family with children will not enjoy exactly the same year-end schedule. Here are realistic ways to make your Christmas and New Year in Seoul unforgettable. For Solo Travelers: Enjoy Seoul Without Feeling Alone Solo travel during the holidays can feel lonely, but Seoul’s year-end attractions are easy to enjoy alone. Begin at Gwanghwamun Market , where you can see a large Christmas tree, craft stalls, seasonal food and photo zones. Continue toward Cheonggyecheon to enjoy the winter lights. You can then eat a warm bowl of gukbap, seolleongtang or kalguksu. These meals are comfortable to order alone and perfect for a cold ...

In many Western countries, Spam is often viewed as cheap canned meat—something associated with wartime food, emergency supplies or a quick meal when nothing else is available. In South Korea, however, Spam has a very different image. Koreans serve it with rice, add it to kimchi fried rice, place it inside gimbap and use it as a major ingredient in one of the country’s most recognizable comfort foods: budae jjigae . So why do Koreans love Spam, and how did an American canned meat become part of Korean food culture? The answer begins with war, food shortages and the Korean ability to transform an unfamiliar ingredient into something completely new. Pan-fried canned ham served with rice, kimchi and Korean side dishes Spam Tastes Different When Eaten with Korean Food Spam is salty, fatty and rich. Eating it by itself may make it seem heavy or overly processed. Koreans rarely treat it as a complete meal on its own. Instead, it is normally combined with plain steamed rice, spicy ki...

When travelers hear the words “Michelin restaurant,” they often imagine an expensive tasting menu that requires a reservation months in advance. But that is not always true in Seoul. Several restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide serve traditional Korean meals for approximately ₩11,000–₩20,000 per person. Some are simple noodle shops, while others specialize in dumplings or comforting bowls of Korean soup. As a licensed Korean local guide, I recommend these restaurants to travelers who want to experience authentic Seoul food without paying fine-dining prices. Before we begin, it is important to understand the Michelin classifications: Michelin Star: Restaurants recognized for exceptional cooking. Bib Gourmand: Restaurants offering good-quality food at a reasonable price. Michelin Selected: Restaurants recommended by Michelin inspectors but not awarded a Star or Bib Gourmand. Therefore, the restaurants below are Michelin Guide restaurants , but they are not all Michelin-s...