ZenKimchi
Get immersed in Korea
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Latest posts
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Jongno 3-ga: The Insider’s Guide to the World’s Coolest Neighborhood
In 1968, a man heading into the blocks around Jongno 3-ga after dark had a good chance of walking into a wall of floodlights. Plainclothes police and reporters waited in the shadows at every entrance to what was then the biggest red light district in Seoul. Anyone who crossed…
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Overrated on TripAdvisor: Korea’s Tourist Traps and What to Do Instead
It’s 1:00 in the morning, three weeks before your flight to Seoul, and you’ve got 40 tabs of TripAdvisor open. You sort by Top Rated and click whatever has the most green bubbles. A library in a shopping mall. An island from a drama you never watched. A tunnel at the North…
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The Booking System Wasn’t Built for You
We hear the same story from guests over and over. Someone stares at a ticket page for the KTX, Korea’s high-speed rail line, retypes their name a few different ways, and assumes the problem is them. It isn’t. Korail, the national rail operator that runs the KTX, decided how a…
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Final Thoughts: The Seoul Cheat Sheet You Didn’t Know You Needed
You’ve survived the planning phase, absorbed the culture tips, memorized subway etiquette, and maybe even tried temple food without crying. Good. Here’s your rapid-fire, last-minute cheat sheet, the things you’ll wish someone had whispered to you at the airport, the details that…
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Andong Isn’t Trying to Impress You
The first time I arrived in Andong, it was by train. There is something about coming into a place that way that strips out all the usual arrival theater. There is no highway signage building manufactured anticipation, no heavily branded rest stops trying to sell you the region…
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What Is Hanwoo Beef, and Is It Really Worth the Price?
There is a moment that happens on almost every beef tour I lead. Someone looks down at a beautifully marbled steak and says, “So… this is basically Korean Wagyu, right?” I get why they ask. Hanwoo and Wagyu occupy similar spots in their respective countries. Both command…
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The Fish Versus Ducks Problem in Korean Tourism
Imagine flying halfway across the world to walk into a shopping mall and look at styrofoam books. Thousands of visitors do exactly that every day at the Starfield Library in COEX Mall. It is a fake library filled with styrofoam books designed less for reading than for…
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9 Best Korean Chicken Joints
My rule of thumb is this. To tell a good chicken place, look at the people inside. If it's full of beautiful young women taking selfies, likely isn't good chicken. If it's full of middle-aged men who look like life has kicked them in the teeth--GREAT CHICKEN! The post 9 Best…
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Why Your Galbi Experience Might Be a Lie (Unless You’re Doing it Like This)
Most people think they’ve eaten galbi because they sat at a grill, flipped something shiny, wrapped it in lettuce, and left smelling like smoke. That assumption is common, understandable, and usually wrong. Seoul has no shortage of BBQ restaurants that look convincing.…
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Where to Stay in Seoul (So You Don’t Accidentally Live in the Gift Shop)
Which area of the city is the best for rest? Seoul hotel areas, including Myeongdong, Hongdae, Bukchon, Dongdaemun, Gangnam, and Jongno. The post Where to Stay in Seoul (So You Don’t Accidentally Live in the Gift Shop) appeared first on ZenKimchi .