Expert Article - Korea Trip Recommendations That Will Stand the Test of Time

When traveling across the world to embark on a continental tour that you spent a fortune on, you certainly would not want to waste your time and money visiting the wrong places. Since college, there have been multiple instances where acquaintances around me have asked for recommendations on places to visit in Korea. Coming from a local's perspective, I have always been eager to introduce spots that aren't in the confines of a generic touristy location, but also something not overly niche that a tourist would not feel welcome in. After years of experience guiding my friends through building their Korea trip itinerary, here are some of the best places to visit / things to do during your summer Asia tour with a pit stop to Korea.

1. The Touristy Stuff

To start off, we all do need to visit the landmarks in Seoul and get it out of the way. Personally, I would say that they are not the most entertaining places to spend your afternoon as I have come across them a few too many times in my history textbooks. However, as a first-time visitor, these historical landmarks can be ever-fascinating and a cultural eye-opener.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, which is the main royal palace that served the royal family and seated the government from the 1300-1900s, carries magnificent architecture and scenery that can be seen in no other place in the world. With 7,700 rooms within the walls of the palace, there are plenty of historical artifacts and remains to observe. The palace is protected by six main gates, considered historical landmarks in Korea, built and preserved with the utmost care. Enjoying the beauty of the architecture, the intricate artwork, and the history that each room carries within the walls of the palace are some of the must-have experiences to receive while in Korea.

2. Shopping 

K-beauty and Korean fashion are some of the most iconic and representative aspects of Korean culture. If my friends visiting Korea asked me one thing, it would always be able where to go shopping in Korea. This question can be answered in a few different ways, as the range of fashion styles and luxuriousness can vastly differ depending on what you are looking for. 

Luxury

For those who are looking for high-end, branded items, feel free to do a department store tour around Seoul. Some of the most famous ones include Lotte Avenuel, Hyundai Department Store, Shinsaegae in Gangnam & Myeondong, and Galleria Department Store located in Apgujeong Rodeo. These stores carry every famous luxury brand you will ever need - Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Cartier, Tom Ford, etc. But if I were to give you a tip, don't visit these stores on the weekends! There is a waitlist you can add yourself to, but some popular brands like Chanel are lined up with customers from the peak of dawn.

Casual, Trendy, and Streetwear 

Korea is known for having many clothing stores, especially local and brick-and-mortar clothing stores that are privately owned. Rather than having massive, large-scale retailers like Artizia or Brandy Melville, Korean fashion stems from a lot of privately owned clothing brands that only sell online or offline. 

If you are looking for trendy street fashion that is also affordable, you need to make a stop at Hongdae. Hongdae is known for its youthful ambiance, underground cultures, and self-expression. Many shops around these areas have goods ranging from handmade clothes to luxury goods and thrift stores that are one-of-a-kind. On weekends, there is a lot of live entertainment you can enjoy as well, including live performances like singers, dancers, and magicians who wish to move up from the underdog scene.

Cheap, Wholesale Clothing Business

While Hongdae clothing shops may bring in more refined and tailored clothing that is distributed from wholesale locations, the ultimate hack is to visit Dongdaemun or the underground shops at Gangnam Station. 

Dongdaemun is one of Korea's largest retail and wholesale shopping locations. Shops sell items ranging from clothes, shoes, leather goods, and electronics, to toys, and they come in mass-distributed numbers that many brick-and-mortar store owners can purchase at a discounted price. Personally visiting this shopping district to check out the wholesale items to purchase may be the cheapest option. 

The underground shops at Gangnam Station are also another affordable option. The underground shops are laid out all across the station, with more than 50 clothing stores that bring the most affordable and trendy pieces in stock. Many of them sell tops for $5-10, and prices are also negotiable if you are paying with cash. While these shops don't have an established brand or name value, the wholesale material comes in decent quality and can be stylishly worn among Gen Z shoppers. 

3. Nightlife

One of the distinct cultures that define Korea is its nightlife. Whether you are visiting with family, friends, or on a solo trip, you must visit at least one Korean bar or drinking scene and immerse yourself in the experience. Below are some of the most popular destinations for college students and millennials who are spending a night out on the weekends.

Apgujeong Rodeo, Garosugil

Apgujeong, which is located in the heart of Seoul, is bustling with college students in pochas and restaurants celebrating their birthdays or weekends on Friday and Saturday nights. While prices are on the higher side, Apgujeong is also known as the place where many celebrities visit or spend their night out, so chances are you might run into someone famous at the club or bar if you get lucky.

Gangnam Station 

Gangnam Station is an area filled a diverse range of people, including students in their 20s to company executives in their 50s. An area that is truly at the center of every corporate office or mainstream cultural events, Gangnam attracts waves of local Koreans on weekends or even on weekdays if you're coworkers are looking to grab a drink after work. These places are bustling with "pochas", which are Korean-styled bars that serve cheap but tasteful dishes along with Korean soju and beer. There are also bars called "hunting pochas", which are meant for single individuals to visit and find their potential date to "hunt" for. Many college students in their 20s visit these areas to meet new people, hold gatherings, or find their next significant other.

Sinchon, Hongdae

Sinchon is the heart of every college student in Seoul. All renowned universities in Korea are located in Sinchon, meaning that the area around it is a complete college town. On Friday nights, you can see college students in their university merch hopping around bars and enjoying a night out with their friends. 

Hongdae, which is one or two subway stations away from Sinchon, is another largely popular place among many Korean students. This area is the prime location to enjoy nightlife, with all sorts of entertainment, restaurants, shops, and clubs present in the area. After enjoying dinner and drinks with friends at a pocha, you can walk down the streets to find a club to enjoy the main event of the night. Hongdae is also a popular destination for many foreigners and life-of-the-party young adults, who will definitely keep the crowd entertained throughout the night.