Soul Searching in Seoul, South Korea

It is so fitting to be able to write about our Seoul trip as it nears its second anniversary. (We traveled to Korea in the first week of September, tail end of the summer, 2019)

Two years? Has it really been that long? The pandemic has made us feel like time is a social construct that our trip feels like it just happened yesterday.

I remember this trip being my motivation to get through everyday’s toughness at work and commuting in the metro. The traffic is so worse and I was like, is it September already? I just wanted to unwind.

Revisiting the memory also reloads the anxiety that I’ve felt as we apply for the VISA which is even more terrifying than when we applied for Japan, along with the relief when we got approved.

I can still feel the happiness that we felt when we landed in Seoul and breathed in the same summer air.

Annyeonghasaeyo (Hello), South Korea! Another proof of God’s endless provisions.

I will be forever grateful that we were blessed to experience Korea in its glory before this pandemic situation happened.

We spent five days in Seoul! This is also a budget trip and in total, plane ticket and pre-booked itineraries included, we spent more or less 550-600USD . We managed to explore the capital and Nami Island with only 300USD (to 400USD if you want to splurge on shopping and skincare hoarding) as our pocket money on the travel date.

We planned our itinerary thoroughly, taking notes of all the estimated expenses and kept track of the k-drama locations that we would like to visit beforehand so everything is set. We only have to focus on navigating there. We got lost plenty of times but in the end, we still found our way and that’s a part of the whole fun adventure. There maybe some circumstances that we cannot anticipate like delays and the rainy weather but we are out to have the best time and that, we truly did. Part of the budget-friendly itinerary is living off 24-hour convenience stores and it is not that bad. Those 24-hour stores have better varieties of microwaveable dishes and instant noodles that are just as good, to be totally honest.

What you will be needing: 

• Naver Maps app (the best!) Naver Map only works in South Korea, they are really strict with security.

• T-Money card for easy train travels, because it will come in handy as you navigate through buses and trains.

• A travel buddy (your friends, your plushies or a Funko Pop)

We had a 7 AM flight to Incheon International Airport so Day 1 is our longest adventure. We availed a Discover Seoul BTS Special Edition Passes in the airport and a free AREX Airport Express Train ride to Seoul Station is one of the inclusions. I think this is one heck of a good deal. It also gave us free passes to some tourist spots. The ride to Seoul Station in which we booked our Airbnb gave us a glimpse of the city too.

We went to Ehwa Women’s University, Hongik University and the streets of Hongdae and it has made me miss the time when we are still in the university. Seoul is youthful and buzzing.

We then visited the outskirts of Hongdae leading to the 943 King’s Cross Harry Potter Cafe (because Potterheads gotta Potterhead). We only took photos outside, though so we would have more time exploring other places.

We also experienced seeing the buskers on the streets where everything is just full of vibrance and energy. And what a Day 1 it is.

We explored the flagship store of LINE in Itaewon afterwards.

We went to Nami Island/Morning Calm Arboretum Tour and it is really nice to see beautiful and well-supervised garden. The view is something you’d wish to see often, to be honest. So calming and lovely.

Gangnam Tour

Because BTS’ old office/dorm is located in Gangnam, most of the places in which they frequented pre-debut can be found near each other and in one whole area of Gangnam. This is to our advantage as we get to maximize our time to explore most of them.

We get to try their favourite orders from the iconic Yoojung Sikdang restaurant and tried out their favourite drinks at The Min’s Cafe and even visited the famous comic book cafe that has been a location of some of their variety show episodes. Gangnam truly is a heaven to ARMYs (BTS fans).

Here’s a quick list of our BTS-related itinerary:

• SUGA’s culvert location for Love Yourself promotional poster (Children’s Playground)

• RM’s Bench at Seoul Forest (near attraction 15)

• K-Star Gangnamdol Road

• The MIN’s Cafe (we ordered the famous Five Berries Tea)

• Old Bighit Entertainment office (we only took a glimpse because the old building is occupied by new leasers now)

• Yoojung Sikdang restaurant — Must-try: black bean & pork bibimbap (Namjoon, Seokjin, Hoseok, Jimin, Taehyung, Jungkook’s pick) and sausage stew (Yoongi’s pick)

• LINE Store — There are a lot, to be honest but we only get to visit the ones in Itaewon, Gangnam and Myeongdong

• Cartoon Shop V / 만화가게 V (VMIN comic book cafe date/RUN BTS location)

• Jamsil Olympic Stadium (Love Yourself/Speak Yourself The Final concert location)

• Star Avenue at Lotte Department Store — this is where you can see their handprints and try the 3D feature for free

BONUS:

We also visited SM Town COEX building! (It is non-operational these days as it has transferred to another location)

The only part that I don’t really miss about Seoul is the rain (only because we aren’t too prepared). We got stuck in the palace for two hours because of it.

Anyway, we were still able to tick off reenacting our favourite k-drama shots at the Changdeokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung Palace, the N-Seoul Tower and Heo Joon Jae’s house (Legend of the Blue Sea location)

Here’s a list of the K-drama locations that we visited:

• Ehwa Women’s University (2 Days 1 Night)

• Nami Island (Winter Sonata)

• Heo Joon Jae’s house (Legend of the Blue Sea)

• Bukchon Hanok Village (Goblin, The Heirs, Heartstrings)

• N Seoul Tower (Boys Over Flowers, My Love From The Star, 2 Days 1 Night)

• Petite France (My Love From The Star, Secret Garden)

• Garden of the Morning Calm (Moonlight Drawn by the Clouds, Lovely Horribly)

The shopping district (Myeongdong) lived up to the hype and we were able to buy treats and discounted skin care items in here. They are all so affordable compared to its prices locally no wonder there are a lot of resellers and buyers for personal consumption. If you have been to Baguio City, that’s the general vibe that I got. The people are also nice.

Things we wish we could have done (also, reasons to come back):

• noraebang (karaoke) with friends

• do a proper hike in the mountains

• Visit Daegu and Busan!

• watch a BTS stadium concert! (Ah this will be so much fun, I am so looking forward!)
  

Personally, Seoul isn’t on top of my list and there are other places that I can attest are even better in so many aspects but there is just something about the place that makes it feel so intimate, friendly and safe. The place completely epitomizes the nuance of modernization and cultural heritage that will make any travel junkie more so if you are a K-drama or K-pop fanatic, feel satisfied and at peace. RM’s song “seoul” off his EP, “mono” is a perfect description of the whole vibe. I would recommend for you to listen to it as well and be lost in love and hate with the beauty of Seoul.

Til we meet again, lovely Seoul!

Thank you, lovely sponsors! I am forever grateful for you.

And thank you for your patience, readers. There’s a lot that’s going on in my life that’s why this took a while. Also, writing help me feel at ease and relaxed and somehow recharged from everything that is happening outside so here, I was able to finish this draft (finally).

May you find your kind of peace and hopefully, all your travel plans get to push through as well when things are a bit better outside.

Stay safe and healthy, until then,

A

All photos are taken by me unless credited otherwise.