Hot Spots
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Globally Popular Korean Food, Bibimbap!!
Did you know that Bibimbap is a globally recognized healthy food? I also recently found out Bibimbab has been already popular among foreign people who haven’t even visited Korea before. Bibimbap is a very Korean traditional food and there are so many different kinds of Bibimbap.
Bibim means ‘mixed’ and Bap is ‘rice’ so Bibimbap is literally mixed rice with many different ingredients and a raw or fried egg and sliced meat are common additions. Jeonju is the most famous city for Bibimbap in Korea. But my favorite Bibimbap kind is Yuke Bibimbap which is served with mainly raw beef topping.
The black one is the Bibimbap served in a stone pot and the other one is the reqular Bibimbap in Jeonju style.
When you mix your Bibimbap, it’ll look like this way. Looks delicious?
These are my favorites. Both are Yuke topping kinds and if you’re into Korean beef already, then you’ll love these. Trust me.
This is quite a typical Jeonju Bibimbap kind with a raw egg added. This one is still really good. I’ve seen so many foreign friends love Bibimbap.
Bibimbap could be considered a type of fast food because it’s easy and fast to eat. But Bibimbap contains a lot of beneficial ingredients such as vegetables and meat. It is also very colorful thanks to these various vegetables. Bibimbap has evolved in many ways, improving health benefits, convenience and taste and now it is loved by so many people in the world.
And this one is the restaurant for Bibimbap that I commonly visited.
Address: 1113, Cheonhodae-ro, Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-474-4995
Operating Hours: 11:00 ~ 22:00
Credit Source : http://english.visitkorea.or.kr
Food
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Children’s Grand Park is Not Only For Children!!
When I was still a boy, I was brought to this park and enjoyed there seeing animals and rides. Visiting there as an adult wouldn’t give you that impression any more but it’s still one of the greatest parks in Korea especially for children and family.
This Grand Park is located in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul near Children’s Grand Park station, line 7 and it has various facilities for your family such as a zoo, botanical garden and amusement rides, etc. I like this park because it’s not as busy as other popular amusement parks like Everland. So you can take a stroll at a quiet and peaceful park.
This is such a beautiful street to take a walk at the park.
You can also visit the botanical garden and see various plants and flowers inside.
This is what they call it, ‘The Country of Imagination’ and it is a junk art according to them.
Yes, every child loves to visit the zoo. They also provide marine animals’ exhibition.
You can also enjoy some rides and this is one of favorite rides at this park.
It is really convenient to take public transportation to get to this place. There’s a subway station with the same name of the park in line 7 and the other closest station is Achasan station in line 5. Of course it’s much crowded on the weekend and the entrance fee is free. But it’s still less busy compared to other popular amusement parks so if you would rather go to quiet places for amusement park and zoo, Children’s Grand Park could be the best choice.
Here’s some more information about this place.
Address : 216 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-450-9311
Operating Hours
1) Park : 05:00 ~ 22:00
2) Zoo : 10:00 ~ 17:00
Entertainment
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The First Mountain to Visit in Korea, Seoraksan!!
Mt. Seorak or Seoraksan would be the first mountain that comes to mind for the most people in Korea. It is the 3rd highest mountain in South Korea and it is known as the most beautiful one especially during the autumn season. As you can see the pictures below, it is so colorful that you’re going to be overwhelmed when you see it for yourself.
Seoraksan is located in a national park near the city of Sokcho which is eastern South Korea and it is also considered the backbone of South Korea for this reason. The most popular route to see the view are the Ulsanbawi Rock Course, Cheongbuldong Valley and Baekdam Valley.
It looks like a colorful painting but this is a real photo of Seoraksan. No wonder this is the most popular mountain for hikers in Korea.
You can also experience the cable cars that can provide an amazing view from above and it’s absolutely worth trying since it’s also thrilling.
And of course this is not for the autumn season. You’re going to see that it’s still beautiful for other seasons and you can cool down visiting here during the summer time.
Seoraksan must always be one of the top places to visit in Korea so if you have a chance, please go visit there once while you’re in Korea. It was designated as Natural Monument No. 171 and as a national park on Mount Seorak. UNESCO also designated the area as a biosphere reserve. Yes, I can say that Seoraksan would be one of the most beautiful places to visit in Korea.
Below is some more information about it.
Address : Hangye-ri, Buk-myeon, Inje-gun, Gangwon Province
Contact Number : 033-801-0900
Homepage (English) : http://english.knps.or.kr/
Credit Source : http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/
Travel
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Bossam, Everyone in Korea loves it!!
Can you guess what Bossam means? Bossam in Korean means wrapping meat with vegetable and it is usually a Korean traditional pork dish consisting of boiled belly pork thinly sliced. This meat is served usually with Kimchi and Ssam(wrap) vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage.
Bossam is quite a popular dish among Korean people. I don’t know why but they are most likely to use pork more than beef. Bossam is traditionally connected to making Kimchi so we can easily see that they enjoy Bossam when they make Kimchi in Korea.
This is quite a typical Bossam table with side dishes in Korea. I don’t usually like to eat vegetables but for Bossam, I would prefer to eat meat wrapped with vegetables, just like what it says, Bossam (wrapping).
This is another way how they serve Bossam. It’s in the pot so we can eat it while we see that it’s being cooked. This is also great and you can taste a bit tender Bossam.
Does this logo look familiar to you? This is one of the most popular Bossam franchise in Korea and you can actually witness these restaurants almost everywhere in Korea. If you’re afraid of trying Bossam in Korea, then you can go try one of these franchises because the taste can be much guaranteed there. It’s a bit expensive though. It usually costs around 30,000 KRW for the smallest size menu.
And this one is located in Gangnam, Seoul
Address: 712, Seonneung-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Phone Number : 02-544-3601
Operating Hours: 11:00 ~ 23:00
(They also provide delivery service during that hours.)
Credit Source : https://bossam.co.kr/
Food
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Kakao Friends Hongdae Flagship Store
Do you use Kakao Talk? If you don't know what it is and you are in Korea, I strongly recommend downloading it instantly. Kakao Talk is a messaging app that everyone uses in South Korea. You can send messages, photos, videos, make calls, make video calls and send voice notes for free. The cute emoticon characters on Kakao Talk are much loved by its users. So why not sell Kakao Friends items? You can go check out the flagship store located in Hondae which is a very popular area for the young crowd because the area is known for fashion, art, music, various cuisines, bars, etc..
This flagship store displays a wide variety of products of Kakao Friends from office supplies, jewelry, stationary, toys, the list goes on and on.
The concept of this store is "Friends Home," and it is also the first store in Korea to have the special limited edition Lion plushie which features hiim wearing a Santa outfit. Come and meet the characters like Ryan, Muji, Frodo, Neo, Jay-G and other characters. When you walk in and take a look at all the characters it will surely brighten your day!
Check below for more information.
Address: 162, Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone Number: 02-1577-6263
Operating Hours: 10:30am~10:00pm
Homepage: www.kakaofriends.com
Credit Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr
Shopping
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Are you a vegetarian? Interested in vegetarian cuisine?
Are you a vegetarian? Looking for a place to try vegetarian cuisine? Come to Plant. Well known in the vegetarian and vegan community, you can enjoy delicious meals. The restaurant presents two different menus each week and freshly baked goods such as gluten free muffins and cakes every day. Located in Itaewon, Plant started out as a small little shop located in some alley where you would never notice it. However, Plant moved to a much bigger place but still located in Itaewon. The original place is still there but is used as a bakery by Plant. The new restaurant is a lot bigger and can have more guests.
Plant provides a very cozy and comfortable atmosphere where you can enjoy your meals or desserts with friends or just by yourself.
Stop by for a meal or try one of Plant's signature desserts. It is visited by many foreigners and locals. To get there take the subway to Itaewon station line 6 and come out of exit 4. Once you come out turn around and take the path on your left, you will see a Taco Bell and walk straight for about 150m. It will be on the right side on the second floor.
Here's some more information about the place.
Address: 20, Itaewon-ro 16-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Phone Number: 02-749-1981
Operating Hours: 11am~9pm
Credit Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr
Food
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Man-made Islands in Seoul
Some Sevit or Sebitseom literally means 'three shining islands illuminating the Han River.' It is the world's first floating complex to have buildings on top of floating structures on water. It is a man-made culture complex near the southern end of the Banpo Bridge. The complex consists of various facilities with a great scenery of the Han River.
Some Sevit or Sebitseom is known to be a popular night scene in South Korea and has become a favorite filming spot for movies and dramas. The complex is used for many exhibitions, events and even performances. There are wedding halls, restaurants, buffets and cafes. It is a perfect spot for that special date or just to go there and hang out with a group of friends.
It's definitely a place to visit if you are in Seoul. You can enjoy cultural experiences and take amazing photos especially in the evening and also there are designated photo spots as well.
Here's more information of this place.
Address: 683, Olympic-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Phone Number: 02-1566-3433
Operating Hours: 9am~11pm
Access: Subway
Express Bus Terminal Station (Seoul Subway Line 3, 7, 9) Exit 8-1
- Walk straight for 250m and turn right at the Express Terminal intersection.
Continue going straight and use the walkway through the underpass to arrive.
Bus
Get off at Banpo Hangang Park / Seom Sevit Bus stop.
Take blue bus 740
Credit Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr
Travel
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Crossfit Fighting Spirit
Tired of just going to the gym and figuring out what to do? Tired of working out alone? Not getting much from your workouts? Want to try something new but old? Then try crossfit. Crossfit is an effective and efficient way to get physically and mentally fit. Anyone can do it from athletes to people who have never been to a gym. It is a fitness program that mixes a wide variety of functional movements into a workout that is timed or scored. Depending on the workout of the day it can include running outside, gymnastics, weightlifting, body movements such as pull-ups and push ups and many more. Since 2011, crossfit centers have been established all over South Korea. However there is one center that has been a pioneer, Crossfit Fighting Spirit. Many coaches who now own their own crossfit centers first started out as just a member or a coach at Fighting Spirit.
Located in the Gangnam area, close to Nonhyeon station line 7. This facility is spacious with many different types of fitness equipment, great people to workout with and coaches that have a lot of experience. If you are an early bird, the first workout is at 6:30am, so you can have a good workout before going to work.
Whether you do crossfit before you start your day or after work, you will feel much much better. For beginners, you may feel tired for the first week but after that you will notice a difference and you will have much more energy to burn. If you are not sure you can always try it once and see how you feel. For drop-ins you will need to make a call or leave a message on their blog at: http://cafe.naver.com/reebokcrossfitseoul
Here's more information about Crossfit Fighting Spirit.
Address: 527 Gangnam-daero, Banpo 1(il)-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Hours: weekdays: 6:30am~9:30pm
weekends: Saturdays only - 2pm~4pm
Phone: 070-7793-0218
Access: *Subway
Nonhyeon stations line 7 and line 9, Exit 3
Entertainment
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Shinsegae Department Store (Gangnam Branch)
The Shinsegae Department Store located in the Gangnam area has over a thousand brands to choose from. It has everything from reasonably priced brands to high end brands. There's always some kind of sale going on every day. Not only can you shop for clothes, cosmetics, etc.. Many people go there to eat and watch movies. It is so convenient because it is connected to the Express Bus Terminal and the Express Bus Terminal subway station.
Have a look around. There are so many brands to choose from. You will not be disappointed.
There are so many shops to choose from. I suggest wearing running shoes because you will be doing a lot of walking.
With all that shopping it's bound to stir up an appetitite. You can check out the food court where it has various restaurants and snack corners.
Here's more information about the Shinsegae Department Store (Gangnam).
Address: 176 Sinbanpo-ro, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Hours: 10:30am - 8:30pm
Phone: 1588 - 1234
Access: *Subway
Express Bus Terminal Station (Seoul Subway Line 3, 7, 9) Exit 8
*Bus
Blue Bus: 143, 148, 360, 361, 401, 462, 540, 640, 642, 643
Grenn Bus: 3414, 3420, 3423, 4212, 4318, 4425, 6411
Red Bus: 9408, 1500-3
Shopping