April 2026 – This was our third (and longest) visit to S. Korea. The notes below reflect our own experiences. Your results may vary!
Photo Album – Click HERE!
Busan v. Seoul – Having visited the two largest cities during this trip, we concluded that Busan was a mistake for us. Seoul is the place!
Our Seoul Hotel – We stayed at Fraser Place Namdaemun. Price, location and the mini suite w/ kitchen were very convenient.
Architecture – Seoul is a futuristic city of six-lane boulevards and unique skyscrapers – very much out of “The Jetsons” cartoons. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (by Zaha Hadid and Samoo) is a mind-boggling structure.
History – a few imperial palaces and temples can be visited in Seoul. However, they can’t be compared to Beijing’s Forbidden City and Japanese temples. The so-called “cultural villages” (Iksion-Dong and Insa-Dong) are full of souvenir shops and street food.
Parks – Numerous and absolutely stunning, clean, many walking trails with exercise stations and immaculate bathrooms.
Cherry Blossom – We were very lucky to catch the tail-end of the blossom season in early April. A very impressive experience!
Food – There are thousands of eating establishments suited for every taste and budget. Korean BBQ is very popular (grilling by yourself at the table). The coffee culture is omnipresent – lots of Starbucks and local chains, specializing in unusual coffee drinks. Also popular – French bakeries with an amazing selection of croissants, cakes, baguettes, sandwiches, etc.
Cars – We have never seen this variety of makes and super modern models, especially electric vehicles.
Car Service – We used the regular Uber app when not walking. Very convenient and inexpensive. The wait time was just a few minutes, with the exception of “peak” hours when few taxis were available. Note that Uber functions as a front end for calling regular taxis, not private cars.
People – The city is full of people during all hours of the day and night. Neighborhood markets are frequented by older people, while young people crowd pedestrian zones and business areas. A few words abut the young people – they are extremely good looking! May be it is the natural beauty, or it is the result of sophisticated cosmetic procedures – hard to know!
Automation – Lots of tasks have been automated. For example, there are robots making coffee in shopping malls (see our video HERE), robots removing dirty dishes in the hotel restaurant (see our video HERE), or placing food orders and paying for them on a screens rather than having to deal with waiters.
Local Etiquette – Based on a few conversations with the locals, it seems that most aspects of Korean society are governed by strict and specific rules. One US expat told us that it makes life in Korea much more complicated than in the US. Nevertheless, we noticed that young people are not in a hurry to allow elders or women to pass through the doors first or give up their own seats in a crowded bus…
Friendliness – leaves a lot to be desired. People are not smiling and do not appear to be welcoming. Perhaps, it is explained by limited foreign language proficiency – few people speak even basic English, including young people. Phone apps are used to translate spoken and written Korean into other languages.
Rivers – multiple streams and a major river (Han) are crisscrossing the city. Some streams had been cleaned up and turned into pedestrian / jogging areas with statues, benches, etc. The Han River (Hangang) is dividing the city into northern (Gangbuk) and southern (Gangnam) halves. It is a central hub for recreation, featuring 11 riverside parks (e.g. Yeouido, Banpo), bike paths, and cruise tours.
Skin Care – This is a major industry in Korea, extremely popular among the locals and tourists alike. There are endless clinics and stores specializing in the skin care procedures and products.
Gachapon – Vending machines for toys in Korea, often called gachapon (claw machines imported from Japan), have boomed into “poppamine” (pop + dopamine) trend, allowing people to win character key rings and toys. Found in malls, subway stations, and specialized arcades, they cost a couple of USD per spin, offering a high-stakes, quick-thrill experience popular with “kidults”. The machines contain themed toys, i.e. popular anime, manga, and video game character figures, miniature food, or even tiny household appliances.
Navigation – Google Maps will find the location you are looking for but will not provide walking / driving directions in Korea. Apple Map will display walking directions but does not always find the location if the name is entered in English.
The “Call” Button – Most restaurants have a buzzer on the table side to call a waiter. If not, a shout of “Jeogiyo!” (Excuse me!) is the standard way to get service.
Money – Cash is rarely used. We spent only $50 cash per couple during one week in Busan and Seoul. Public transportation is paid by a local phone app, for everything else use your trusted Visa or MC.