Korea Living

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...

How much money do you need per day in South Korea? This is one of the most common questions asked by first-time visitors. Some travel guides claim that Korea can be explored for an extremely low daily amount, while others include expensive hotels, shopping and nightlife without explaining the difference. As a licensed Korean local guide, I would use the following realistic estimate for 2026: Cheap travel: ₩60,000–₩100,000 per person per day Affordable comfort: ₩130,000–₩230,000 for a solo traveler Affordable comfort for two sharing a room: ₩90,000–₩170,000 per person Comfortable trip: ₩250,000–₩500,000 or more per person These estimates exclude international flights, shopping, nightlife and long-distance travel between cities. This is Part 6 of our Affordable Korea Travel Series . International traveler calculating daily expenses for a trip to South Korea Cheap Travel: ₩60,000–₩100,000 Per Day This range is possible, but it requires deliberate choices. A solo traveler wou...

Seoul can become expensive if every day includes observation decks, exhibitions, cafés and paid experiences. However, some of the city’s best museums, walking routes, parks and cultural attractions cost nothing to enter. As a licensed Korean local guide, I do not recommend traveling across the entire city simply because an attraction is free. Transportation and travel time still matter. The better approach is to group nearby places and build a realistic route. Here are 12 free things to do in Seoul , including a complete no-ticket day in central Seoul. This is Part 5 of our Affordable Korea Travel Series . 1. Watch the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony takes place in front of Gwanghwamun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Watching the ceremony outside the palace does not require an admission ticket. Colorful uniforms, traditional weapons, drums and flags make it one of the easiest free cultural experiences for first-time visitors. Ceremonies may be ca...

Transportation in South Korea is convenient, clean and relatively affordable. However, foreign visitors can still spend more than necessary by taking airport taxis, buying the wrong transportation pass or using high-speed trains for every intercity trip. As a licensed Korean local guide, I often see visitors choose transportation based on convenience without first comparing the available options. If you understand a few basic rules, cheap transportation in Korea is easy to find—even if you do not speak Korean. This is Part 4 of our Affordable Korea Travel Series . Start with How to Travel South Korea Cheaply: A Local Guide’s Affordable Travel Series . 1. Take the Airport Railroad Instead of a Taxi For most travelers, the Airport Railroad is the most practical affordable option from Incheon International Airport to Seoul. The AREX All-Stop Train connects the airport with areas including Gimpo Airport, Hongdae and Seoul Station. It makes more stops than the AREX Express, but i...

Many travelers searching for cheap food in Korea immediately think of convenience-store ramen or triangle gimbap. Those options are inexpensive, but they are not the only way to eat affordably in South Korea. Local workers, students and taxi drivers eat full Korean meals every day without visiting expensive restaurants. As a licensed Korean local guide, I’ll show you where Koreans actually look for affordable Korean food —and what words to search on Korean map apps. This is part of my affordable Korea travel series. Start with: 👉 How to Travel South Korea Cheaply: Tips from a Local Korean Guide Traveler finding cheap food at a Korean hansik buffet 1. Try a Hansik Buffet A hansik buffet (한식뷔페) is not a luxury hotel buffet. It is a casual restaurant serving everyday Korean food at one fixed price. A typical selection may include: Rice and soup Kimchi and vegetables Japchae Fried or braised dishes One or two meat dishes Several kinds of banchan Many local hansik buffets charg...

Korean traditional markets are exciting places to explore, but they can also be confusing for foreign visitors. Finding a specific food stall, locating a restroom, understanding a Korean menu or speaking with a vendor is not always easy. To solve these problems, the Korea Tourism Organization has introduced a new AI Tourist Assistant service at selected traditional markets. Its Korean name is AI Gwangwang Jipsa (AI 관광집사) . The word jipsa literally means “butler,” but AI Tourist Assistant or AI Travel Assistant sounds more natural in English. The service provides market maps, crowd information and multilingual translation—and you do not need to install an app. Foreign traveler using Korea AI Tourist Assistant at a traditional market How Do You Use the AI Tourist Assistant? Using the service is simple. Find an AI Tourist Assistant QR code inside the participating market. Scan it with your smartphone camera. Open the website displayed on your phone. Select the map, translati...