Travel Through My eyes

South Korea

I had wanted to visit South Korea for years, so my sister, best friend, and I spent three weeks traveling across the country. We started in Seoul and made our way through Jeju, Busan, Gyeongju, Gangneung, Seoraksan, and Suwon, meeting up with local friends along the way. It was my first trip to Asia, and I tried to make the most of our time and see as much of the country as we could.

Why I Love South Korea

A Strong Sense of Place

What stood out to me most about South Korea was its strong sense of cultural identity. You could see it in the architecture, taste it in the food, and feel it in the history and traditions woven throughout the places we visited. From getting lapped by ajummas and ahjusshis on a mountain hike, to eating chimaek along the Han River with local friends, to filling our suitcases with skincare, there was something especially satisfying about experiencing all of those little pieces of Korea for myself.

We packed a lot into three weeks, and somehow I still left feeling like there were more places to see, more food to eat, and more of the country I wanted to experience. For such a relatively small country, Korea has an incredible amount to explore, from mountains and historic towns to beaches and bustling cities.

Food & Makgeolli

One of the best things about Korea is the food. We ate street food at Suwon Market, had kimchi jjim in Gyeongju, tried hoe and marinated crab in Jeju, and visited local breweries along the way. Our favorite was Boksoondoga brewery, where we learned how makgeolli is made while touring the facility, followed by a four-pour tasting. We liked it so much that we bought about ten bottles, fully intending to take some home. A few days later, one exploded in our hotel room, raining makgeolli from the ceiling and soaking the dinner we had just bought. That was the moment we realized the rest probably weren’t going to survive the plane ride home.

Busan International Film Festival

Being a film and television lover, I made sure our trip coincided with the 27th Busan International Film Festival. On opening night, we were able to see some of my favorite Korean actors walking the red carpet. Over the next four days, we attended screenings throughout the city, watching films from around the world in different languages and genres.

Camping & Outdoors

We spent a lot of the trip outside the cities, exploring Korea’s mountains, beaches, and smaller towns. In Donggang, we decided to camp in the mountains with some pretty basic rental gear, only to arrive and see local campers with elaborate setups that looked more like outdoor living rooms. During the day, the weather was perfect for fall camping, but by night it was freezing. Though my sister and friend were snoring, somehow no one was getting any real sleep. Eventually, we gave up on the tent and piled back into the car. I’d absolutely do it again, just next time with a proper Korean camping setup.