One thing that I really love about living in Korea is the history that's simply everywhere. With Korea's rapid modernization, fancy cities have sprung up around old structures, creating a really interesting contrast of the new against the historical. One of the coolest examples of this is Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress. It's right outside of Seoul, easily accessible via the subway, making it an excellent daytrip that you should check out this summer!
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, things to do on the weekend, things to do before leaving korea, what to do in korea, hiking, Activities to do in Korea, hiking in korea, suwon, hwaseong, hwaseong fortress
The sun is out, the jackets are packed away, and everyone is starting to use their sunbrellas. It seems as though summertime is officially here. Despite the heat in Korea, there's so much to look forward to this summer. To help you map out your coming weekends, here's a quick look at some of the things many expats in Korea are prioritizing this year.
Tags: theme parks in Korea, tourist spots in Korea, summer in korea, mudfest in korea, what to do on the weekend, what to do in korea, shopping in Korea, Activities to do in Korea, tourist attractions, Korea Burn, Beaches in Korea, Weekend activities in Korea
Cafe culture in Korea is taken seriously -- cafes are on every corner in my neighborhood. In addition to your run of the mill coffee shops, cafes with specific themes abound. I've posted previously about my visits to a board game cafe and the Mustoy cafe, but I have to admit, when I came to Korea, I was the most excited about the availability of a cafe theme I hadn't encountered before: animals.
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, things to do before leaving korea, coffee in Korea, cafes in Korea, Cafe, Activities to do in Korea, tourist attractions, coffee shop, coffee, cat, dog cafes in korea, doggy cafe, Dr Fish, Cafes
Next to Dongdaemun Gate is an area of Seoul famous for its countless markets, ranging from clothing to textiles to craft supplies. Now, in the middle of these more traditional markets and hip shopping malls, a structure that looks like something out of a futuristic landscape has finally been unveiled. This spaceship-like building is the new Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and not only is it really, really cool, but possibly one of my new favorite spots to visit in Seoul.
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, things to do on weekend, things to do on the weekend, seoul, things to do, what to do on the weekend, things to see in korea, tourist attraction in korea, tourist attractions, dongdaemun, dongdaemun design plaza, ddp, Weekend activities in Korea
Always one for exploring museums and learning about history, I finally checked off a spot I'd really been interested in visiting: Seodaemun Prison History Hall. During my time in Korea, I've been very interested in any opportunity to learn more about the country's past, and friends have told me this museum was not to be missed. Now that spring has sprung, it seemed like the prime time to walk around the prison's grounds in Seoul and take in the history of the place.
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, museum, things to do before leaving korea, seoul, things to see in korea, museums, museums in Korea, history, seodaemun, Weekend activities in Korea
Near the end of 2013, years of construction finally came to a close and the Seoul branch of Korea's Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art opened. Located next to Gyeongbok Palace in my favorite area of Seoul, this new museum offers excellent exhibits that range from sculptures, paintings, and interactive installations. I happily spent a few hours there recently and I highly recommend checking it out while you're in Seoul!
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, museum, things to do in Korea, things to do on the weekend, seoul, art, museums, art gallery in korea, museums in Korea, tourist attraction in korea, mmca, mmca seoul, museum of modern and contemporary art, Activities to do in Korea
Well, I should amend that title by saying these are my favorite spots from my first visit to Jeju... I'm sure future visits will introduce me to other places that are equally awesome. My recent Jeju trip was over the Lunar New Year holiday, which was a four-day weekend. The end of January isn't ideal Jeju weather, but it didn't stop us from touring all over the island and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Here's the best of what I saw...
Tags: islands, teaching in Korea, tourist spots in Korea, things to do before leaving korea, jeju, Jeju Island, things to do on the weekends, what to see in korea, tourist attraction in korea, island, island of Jeju, Weekend activities in Korea
In case you haven't noticed, owls are super "in" right now, and Korea is definitely following suit. They also happen to be one of my favorite animals and in the past decade or so, I've amassed quite an owl collection. You can just imagine my elation and fascination, then, when I heard that Seoul has an actual Owl Museum! After spending the morning walking around the Bukchon Hanok Village, my friends and I wandered through the neighboring Samcheongdong to see what this Owl Museum was all about...
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, museum, things to do on the weekend, cafes in Korea, Cafe, museums, museums in Korea, Cafes, Weekend activities in Korea
There are quite a few spots around Seoul that offer a breathtaking view of the sprawling city. As a bad knee prevents me from being an avid hiker, I've yet to get a look at the city from the top of one of its numerous mountain peaks. Instead, I opted to check out the famous 63 Building, which sits right on the Han River and gives a chance at a full 360 panorama of Seoul. And let me just say: Seoul is one good looking city.
Tags: teaching in Korea, tourist spots in Korea, south korea, what to do in korea, tourist attraction in korea, Han river, tourist attractions, places to see, 63 building, Weekend activities in Korea
It’s been about a week since I attended the well known and almost obligatory MudFest. Having had time to digest the 1 day 1 night escapade into dirty debauchery, I realized that in some ways the festival can be seen as a symbol for my overall experience in South Korea.
Tags: tourist spots in Korea, mudfest in korea, festivals, Activities to do in Korea, soju, MudFest