This time's navigator: Emma Maeda
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1992. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University. Studied abroad at the Academy of Arts Vienna in Austria, and while studying there, she was active in a wide range of fields, including modeling, essay writing, photography, painting, and radio personality. She contributes essays on art, film, and books to magazines and websites. In 2022, she published her first collection of stories, "The Day I Became an Animal" (Mishimasha). She is currently studying abroad at a language school in Seoul.
Instagram: @emma_maeda
INDEX
9:00 Breakfast at a market where you can eat "THE Korean" street food
12:00 Visit museums, galleries, restaurants and craft shops, then have lunch
8:00 - Dried cod soup - something I'd like to wake up early to eat before leaving Seoul
The more you get to know this place, the more you'll be fascinated by it.
The theme of the trip is "A journey through art and miscellaneous goods while enjoying the rich food culture."
The food in Korea is so delicious and it's so fun!
I want people to experience not only the yakiniku and hotpot dishes that you can enjoy while having fun, but also the delicate and beautiful food that gives a sense of Korean tradition. I am fascinated by Korean food culture, which is not just about "spicy."
One of the best parts of traveling to Korea is visiting cafes that are constantly evolving and shops that serve delicious desserts. The interiors are also beautiful and make your heart flutter.
And let's not forget the lively market that excites everyone. The sight of the halmonis (grandmothers) working energetically is always inspiring and inspiring.
Seoul has many small general stores that are full of unique items, and the number of stores I want to take my friends to is increasing every day, so it's hard to decide which ones to recommend (laughs). It's fun to visit stores that sell handmade works by young artists, and when you learn about modern works, it's natural to become interested in traditional Korean crafts. Many young artists study abroad and then return to Korea, incorporating the good things about this country and proposing new things.
I also want you to visit art spots. Seoul has become an "art hot city" that has been attracting attention from galleries around the world in recent years. It's fun to learn about Korean artists, and many young people from Seoul visit museums and galleries, so I want you to experience the atmosphere.
9:00
Breakfast at a market where you can eat "THE Korean" street food
Gwangjang Market
Gwangjang Market, located in Jongno, the center of Seoul, is the largest market in Seoul and has been in operation for over 100 years. It is open from the morning, so let's have breakfast here first.
Bindaetteok (mung bean pancake)
The food on offer includes the quintessential Korean street food, such as the crispy and steaming bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) efficiently prepared by the halmonis, the ever-growing drug kimbap (a Korean-style seaweed roll sold at street stalls that is as addictive as a drug) and tteokbokki, as well as watermelon juice, walnut-shaped castella cakes, and chewy gwabaegi, deep-fried doughnuts made from rice flour.
I also recommend my favorite dish, Yukhoe Tantangi, which is a mix of fresh Yukhoe and still-moving long-arm octopus.
12:00
Visit museums, galleries, restaurants and craft shops, then have lunch.
Gyeongbokgung Palace Area
Next, take a taxi or bus to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty and a popular tourist attraction.
The area around Gyeongbokgung Palace is always bustling, with many popular brand and select shops among young people, such as AMOMENTO, SHOP AMOMENTO, HALOMINIUM, hai, and TOUT Y EST, as well as perfume stores such as NONFICTION, TAMBURINS, and GRANHAND.
International Gallery
There are also art museums and galleries such as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Kukje Gallery, Artsonje Center, and BOAN1942, which I often visit. Since I have limited time on this trip, I make sure to check out interesting exhibitions in advance. Also, please be aware that many stores in Korea, not just art museums, are closed on Mondays. Stores that sell art books, such as 0fr. Séoul, BOAN BOOKS, and IRASU, are also fun to visit.
BOAN BOOKS
The area around Gyeongbokgung Palace is home to restaurants and handicraft shops that preserve the traditional Korean atmosphere. Restaurants such as "Sujebiwa Bolipab" and "Tosokchon Samgyetang" are also delicious, but my recommendation is "Andok." Let's eat lunch here. It's popular, so if you can call and make a reservation, or you might want to go earlier or later.
Andok dumplings (left) and noodles topped with steamed beef (right)
Boiled dumplings, steamed beef, clear soup, stuffed lion peppers...all have beautiful and gentle flavors. The young chef has inherited the taste taught by his grandmother from North Korea. The interior of the restaurant is also nice and clean.
Nearby, "Ilsangyobaeku" has a wide selection of Korean white porcelain, tea utensils, trays, and other items that are perfect for everyday use. "Awon Workshop" sells works by contemporary artists. It is a gallery and cafe run by a brother and sister in their twenties who took over the business that was started by their mother 40 years ago. From accessories to objets d'art, every corner of the shop is a fun space. There are also items that have been arranged in a modern style based on traditional Korean crafts.
16:00
Small shops selling paper goods, knitting, and handicrafts. If you're tired, try something sweet.
Yeonhui-dong and Hongdae area
Take a taxi to the Yeonhui-dong/Hongdae area in the west. You can use buses and trains to get around, but if you don't want to waste time, a taxi might be recommended. It's cheaper than in Japan, and taxi apps such as Kakao Taxi and Uber are also convenient.
POSET
One of the things that surprised me when I came to Korea was the variety of stores selling paper goods. Even though our society is becoming increasingly digitalized, it seems like young people still value writing by hand. Some of the places I recommend you visit are POSET, a specialty postcard store; Geulwoll, a letter shop that also offers a popular service that allows you to exchange letters with strangers; and YOUR-MIND, which sells art books and paper goods.
Banul Story
For those who like knitting, we recommend "Banul Story". If you take what you want to make from the samples displayed in the store to the cashier, they will not only tell you the type of yarn, but also give you a knitting pattern and a YouTube video URL. I think it will be fine even if you don't understand Korean.
LE SOLEIL
It's nice to snack on something sweet in between shopping. I love the ice cream at "cold recipe" for its mild taste. The flavors change with the seasons. The Madeleine shop "LE SOLEIL" not only has a wide variety of flavors that will leave you dizzy, but also has unusual flavors such as shiso and potato.
Olemus soft serve ice cream
If you want to sit down and enjoy some sweet treats, we recommend the cafe "Olemus," famous for its ice cream and baked goods. Their soft serve ice cream, with flavors that change with the seasons, such as pistachio and roasted green tea, has a deep flavor. Their carefully crafted, delicious desserts are as beautiful as jewels.
sayujib
The latest handicraft shops, including the interior design, are truly exciting. "tta" is located at the end of a secret garden, and "sayujib" has an eye for beauty and style, and sells everything from works by contemporary artists to antiques. "OJACRAFT" is a shop where you can enjoy the tableware and pottery made by OJA.
19:00
At night, we'll go to a yakiniku restaurant. After that, we'll go to the hotel bar, or drink makgeolli in our room.
Hongdae area
Pulteungnunteji parsley pancake
For dinner, I think I'd like to have yakiniku (grilled meat). The currently very popular restaurant "Puldeungneungdaeji" is a pork yakiniku restaurant that uses a lot of water parsley. Their water parsley pancake is absolutely delicious, so I definitely recommend you try it. I also love "Byeonhwayoungnam," a seaweed restaurant located nearby. It's a local Busan dish of horumon, octopus, and shrimp boiled in a pot. At the end, the bokkeumbap (fried rice) made with the remaining broth is absolutely amazing.
At a bar in Hongdae
Hongdae is a downtown area lined with hotels, so you can enjoy spending the night at a hotel bar or go to a cafe that is open until late. The makgeolli you can buy at convenience stores is cheap and delicious, so it might be fun to take it home and have a good time at the hotel.
8:00
Dried cod soup is a must-try before leaving Seoul
City Hall Area
On the morning of the second day, we headed to the City Hall area in the center of Seoul.
Mugyeodeongbugogujjik dried cod soup
If you get up early, try the dried cod soup. Mugyodongpugogutjit was founded in 1968 and has been loved by tourists and locals alike for a long time.
The more you get to know this place, the more you'll be fascinated by it.
Well, that's all for now. If you have time before going to the airport, it might be a good idea to explore other areas. There are heaps of places I'd like to introduce, such as more niche places and casual shops that I visit frequently, but I don't have enough time.
In addition to being full of cute and delicious places, Seoul is also home to many wonderful museums where you can learn about Korean history, small but impressive art museums, and memorial halls of great writers.The more you get to know the city, the more you will be captivated by it.
I hope someday I can tell everyone about places like this. And above all, it's a town with interesting and kind people. To the point that I feel like I'm being nosy! (laughs) I spend every day feeling grateful. I hope you'll come and visit.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
