u/Creatrip_Korea

I am European and I would say we take our brunch pretty seriously. As much as I love living in Korea, finding a good brunch spot with actual brunch food here isn't that easy. I am not trying to be the brunch police or anything, but I was honestly really surprised the first time I found out burgers and pasta are considered typical brunch food here...

That's why I wanted to share a few spots I have actually liked, in case you are also craving a proper brunch while traveling or living here. Tried to spread these across different areas so there is something for everyone.

MitBord (밋보어) in Seongsu
서울 성동구 성수일로 1 1층 6~8호
Mon–Sun 11:00–18:00

Danish brunch café. Almost didn't include this one because it's my favorite and I don't want it packed every time I go, but here we are. My go-to order is the Danish bread platter, rye bread (hard to find in Korea, sourdough is also an option), half-cooked egg, salted butter, and actual real cheese, not the plastic sandwich stuff they try to sell as cheese. The Basil Green Lasagna is also amazing! And if you are not into savory, they rotate seasonal tarts and cakes. Of course, they also have a full coffee and non-coffee drink menu.

High ceilings, very European interior, staff is super friendly and speaks basic English, menu is in English too. This place gets full on weekends with a mix of foreigners and locals. Prices are fair for a European-style spot: bread platter is ₩14,000, Americano ₩5,500.

Danish Bread Platter and Seasonal Signature Menu

Grain Seoul (그레인서울) in Yeonhui (near Hongdae)
서울 서대문구 연희로11가길 53 2층
Mon–Fri 9:00–17:30

Build-your-own-brunch format, you get a checklist of items and pick whatever you want. The price scales with how many items you choose (6 items ≈ ₩18,000, 4 items ≈ ₩12,000). My usual is sourdough, smoked salmon, tomato mozzarella salad, plus something sweet like fruit yogurt, banana bread, or a croissant. You can also build your own breakfast bowl, or go with one of their fixed menus (open sandwiches, pancakes, etc).

Grain Seoul definitely feels more foreigner-frequented than local, which isn't bad, just an observation. Weekends get busy enough that you will likely be on a waitlist and have to wait for a table. The surrounding neighborhood Yeonhui-dong has a lot of small boutiques and is way calmer than Hongdae or Yeonnam, so it's nice for a walk while waiting for your turn.

https://preview.redd.it/q1f6ohlvfhkh1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=bbe58a09cee035e141b2e978d3c73c21efcf34af

Rika by Paprika (리카바이파프리카) in Hannam/Itaewon
서울 용산구 한남대로27길 66 2층
Tue–Fri 9:00–18:00 / Sat–Sun 9:00–19:00 (last order 17:30/18:30)

Not to be dramatic but this was the best sandwich I have had in my life. In Korea of all places. I ordered the Jambon Honey Mascarpone open sandwhich and still think about it weeks later. They bake their own bread in-house and itheir ingredients all seem very high quality. That does reflect in the price (₩17,000–19,000 for open sandwiches) but it's still worth it. Brunch here is easy to pair with shopping around Hannam!

Jambon Honey Mascarpone Sandwhich and Paprika Everything Sandwhich

Stringbean (스트링빈) in Songpa/Jamsil
서울 송파구 백제고분로46길 3-7 1층 101호
Daily 10:00–18:00 (last order 17:30)

More Korean-style brunch and mostly a local crowd. They have soups, omelettes, pasta, open and closed sandwiches, full drink menu. Their Burrata Tomato open sandwich is excellent! (if you were wondering about what a good sandwhich for me is: it's the bread. If the bread is not sweet and has a crispy outer layer and is soft inside, it's a win). This place is also a bit pricey (₩13,000–19,000), but it's right by Lotte World, Lotte World Tower, and Seokchon Lake, so it's easy to combine with a visit there.

Chicken Cream Pasta and Burrata Tomato Sandwich

Since I live here, I plan on posting more of my favorite restaurants and cafés from time to time, so stay tuned if this was useful!

I have been working in Korean beauty and travel for a while and also have been getting dermatology treatments here myself and picked up a few things. Sharing this in case it helps anyone planning to do some treatments on their trip.

There are two different types of clinics here:

• Factory-style clinics: see a ton of patients a day, which keeps prices low. Great for Botox, fillers, laser toning, general pore/texture maintenance. Go here for anything quick and non-invasive where you don't need a long consultation.
• Premium 1:1 clinics: are slower-paced, doctor-led, and more personalized. This is where you want to be for acne scar treatments (Potenza, Fraxel, RF microneedling), lifting (Thermage, Ulthera, Shurink), sensitive/compromised skin, or anything combining multiple treatments. If technique really matters for the result and you want to receive your treatment from the doctor themselves, go to a boutique clinic.

A few other things that helped:

• Research the treatment before your consultation: purpose, downtime, average price, and bring photos of your actual concern. Clinics move fast here (especially the factory ones), so the more prepared you are, the smoother it goes.
• If it's your first time doing anything like this, I would recommend to start gentle: hydration facials, aqua peel, laser toning, are all popular among foreigners traveling to Korea. Those have generally a lower downtime risk.
• Match the clinic to your specific concern rather than just picking whatever is trending. You will see a bunch of different clinics being promoted by influencers online but "popular" doesn't always mean right for your issue.
• Some treatments need more than one session to show real results. Some clinics might tell you that one session is sufficient and it might be to see short-term immediate results. But some treatments need several sessions and knowing that in advance will help you avoid feeling disappointed after or plan your stay duration accordingly.

And a few don'ts:

• Don't just accept every add-on a clinic suggests. Ask if it is essential, what it actually adds, and whether there's a cheaper option. Most places are straightforward if you actually ask. Ask a lot of questions if you are unsure!
• I would generally advice against booking anything intense (Fraxel, high-intensity Potenza, deep peels, fillers) within 2–3 days of your flight home. Keep it hydrating/calming near the end of your trip.
• I mean this is a given in a foreign country but don't assume every clinic has English support. Some do, some don't. It's worth checking before you book.

Quick treatment choosing guide

Your Goal	Best Clinic Type/Treatment	Why
Affordable + quick	Factory-style	Cheap, efficient, great for basics
Complicated skin issues	1:1 private	Safer, more tailored
Quick glow up (short-term)	Toning, LDM, Aqua Peel	No downtime + fast results
Lifting/anti-aging	Lifting-specialist / Thermage, Ultherapy, Botox, ONDA
Active acne care	Aqua Peel, Lhala Fill & Black Peel, Acne Laser (Neo Beam Laser), Gold PTT
Post-Acne Marks & Dark Spots	Excel V Laser (for Light Blemishes), Picotoning (for Melasma/Hyperpigmentation), Vbeam Laser (for red spots), Potenza (for acne scars)
Hydration + glow	Rejuran, Lilied M

Last practical tips: show up with a clean face (or take makeup off there), be upfront about allergies, ask for numbing cream if needed, and take before photos (!) so you can actually track the difference.

Happy to answer questions and give recommendations if anyone is planning their first appointment in Korea!

I am not a huge crowds person but I do want to see the fireworks, so every year I have been hunting for a way to see the Seoul International Fireworks Festival without the whole ordeal everyone else goes through.

For anyone who doesn't know: the main show starts at 8 PM and mostly takes place around Yeouido. A lot of people show up at Yeouido Hangang Park in the morning the day of to claim a spot near the water. Throughout the day it gets really crowded (sometimes it feels like you are basically sitting on top of strangers by evening). And getting back on the subway afterward is its own nightmare, like we are talking hundreds of thousands of people trying to leave at the same time. The crowd control got better, but it is still a pain getting back to your home after.

So here is what I have been doing for the past few years instead: I go to 서강대교 (Seogang Bridge), specifically the side that's a bit further from the fireworks. I wouldn't say it's empty but there are a lot less people there than anywhere else I have been. You can show up a few minutes before the show starts and still see it perfectly fine. It's not a straight-on front view, more of a side angle, but it's fireworks, they are shiny and sparkly from basically every direction, so it doesn't matter that much.

https://preview.redd.it/n9g0fmpr9whh1.jpg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=508c64291c8afbf25084d3dea2e6f094acbe97f8

My usual routine: I take the bus to 마포개빛문화숲 about an hour before the show, then walk along the Hangang toward the bridge. It's a nice night walk along the river, and it ends with a fireworks show, which is a pretty great way to spend an evening.

https://reddit.com/link/1vhsmkv/video/nce6puhvawhh1/player

And the best part: once it is over, there is no crowd! You just walk to the bus and go home like a normal person.

If anyone else has a good spot that is not Yeouido, I would be greatful for any comment!
Also I haven't been to Yeouido myself in a while for the festival. Is it still as crowded as it used to be or did it get any better? I just really don't like the crowds, so I never went back and I always see the news and pictures of how many people show up...

I live in Korea and work in Korean travel, and since free skin analysis is getting increasingly popular among foreign travelers, I went and tried a few of them myself over the past weeks.

So if you don't want to spend any money, you can consider doing one of those during your next trip!

Here is a short report of my experience:

Olive Young Seongsu N

This is the one all over social media, and... it shows. The skin analysis station waiting line opens at around 10:00 AM, and my honest advice is to be there EARLY. I arrived around 9:20 AM on a weekday and was the very last person to be able to register for the skin analysis on that day. I believe around 40 people can get a spot each day. The procedure is simple: you wait your turn in line > input your phone number into a tablet to join a virtual line > receive a message on your phone once it is your turn. As I was the last person, I got my skin analysis at around 5 PM!

The process itself is more thorough than I expected for a free walk-in thing: staff has you remove your makeup first, then you fill out a small form about your current skincare routine and what troubles you are dealing with. Then they scan your face, walk you through the results, tell you which products fit your concerns, and at the end you get a small report with recommendations on what to buy.

Something I only learned later: the exact same machines are in other Olive Young stores too, like Apgujeong and Gangnam Station, and there is barely anyone there. A lot of branches also have self-serve machines now (participating stores are on the Olive Young website). So if you just want the scan without the wait, you really don't need to queue in Seongsu.

Summary:

• Location: Olive Young Seongsu N
• Hours: opens 10:00
• Booking: walk-in, same-day reservations
• Time needed: ~10–15 min incl. wait [your waiting number]

Pros	Cons
Thorough for a walk-in (makeup removal, skin form, explained results, mini report card to take home)	Long waiting times if you arrive too late
Same machine they use at some skin clinics
Staff speaks English

Olive Young Seongsu N (Home Care Session)

(Requires making an advance reservation through Naver - Reservations open every Friday at around 12 PM)

This is a free bookable 50-minute session, and it was my favorite experience on this list.

They had me remove my makeup (wipes provided), fill out a questionnaire about my routine and concerns (English available), then scanned me with a more detailed machine than the walk-in one and explained my results for a good 15 minutes. THEN I got taken to a private room, laid down, and an aesthetician applied all the recommended products from my skin analysis on my face for like 25 minutes while explaining everything again. At the end I even received a report card in English (19 pages) with what products to use, at what time of day, and which ingredients to look for (I asked about ingredients specifically and the aesthetician actually wrote them down).

What made me trust it: she also recommended stuff that isn't even sold at Olive Young. So it didn't feel like a 50-minute sales pitch.

I asked why no foreigners do this and the employee said it's probably because the Naver reservation is difficult. Which... fair! I was told that slots apparently book out fast too.

Overall, this was my favorite experience as it also included a free facial. If you have the chance to try this out, I highly recommend it!

Summary:

• Location: same Seongsu N Olive Young store, separate bookable session
• Hours: by reservations
• Booking: advanced reservation on Naver (reservation page opens at 12 PM on Fridays)
• Time needed: ~50 min
• Skin Analysis Machine: Focuskin

Pros	Cons
Detailed skin scan + 15-min explanation of analysis results + 25-min product application (mini facial) in a private room	Naver bookings might be difficult for foreigners / sessions are booked out fast
Report card (19 pages) with skin type, recommended products, application timing and ingredients	Staff speaks limited English

Mixsoon Flagship Store Myeongdeong

This was the fastest walk-in skin analysis. No reservation, no line. You really just walk in and scan. They also had me take my makeup off first (products provided), did a big machine scan (same machine as the Olive Young one) plus a smaller device on my forehead and both cheeks, and I walked out with a 19 page report?? The report included which skin troubles and concerns I should look out for and which ingredients and products (obviously Mixsoon) could fix them. Staff spoke good English and was really nice. If you want to skip the long lines, this is the place to be.

Summary:

• Location: Mixsoon Flagship Store Myeongdong, 2F
• Hours: 10:00 - 18:00
• Booking: walk-in
• Time needed: ~15 min
• Skin Analysis Machine: Focuskin

Pros	Cons
Proper process (makeup removal, two-machine scan, 19-page report)	/
No waiting lines
Staff speaks English

Beauty Play Myeongdong

This one I would honestly skip. It's a 1:1 session with a staff member which sounds nice, but mine was done in 5 minutes (after I had to wait for 40 minutes), the staff barely spoke English, and clicked through my results so fast I couldn't take photos of anything (which matters, because they don't print anything or give you a QR code.)

Also nobody asked me about makeup. In my case, I had blush on, so my redness results were obviously nonsense. At the end she recommended two Olive Young products without explaining how or when to use them. To be fair, I saw another visitor getting a really detailed explanation from a different staff member, so maybe I just got unlucky with the timing.

Summary:

• Location: Beauty Play, Myeongdong Branch
• Hours: 10:00 - 19:00
• Booking: walk-in, on-site reservation
• Time needed: 5 min
• Skin Analysis Machine: JANUS PRO sunlight

Pros	Cons
/	No makeup removal = results unreliable
	No report
	Product recommendations with zero explanation

My overall takeaways

• Whether they take your makeup off tells you a lot. The good places insisted on it; the one that didn't gave me results I can't use
• Don't over-trust any single scan. Mixsoon and Olive Young use basically the same report format and still gave me a different skin type (same skin age though, weirdly). I think it is a fun starting point for product shopping if you have no clue on what to buy, but it is not a diagnosis
• The best experiences seem to be the bookable ones that are annoying to book. The reservation wall is doing the gatekeeping unfortunately

If you have done a free analysis somewhere else in Seoul, let me know, I am kind of collecting them now

If you are traveling to Korea soon or are already here (I'm so sorry), here is an important weather update for Seoul.

https://preview.redd.it/iqa74jgkibhh1.jpg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=487235bede0b4d4ae04b2db3d03eba11f69c7c96

Korea just recorded its highest temperatures in over 100 years of weather history. Cities across the country have been hitting 40°C for several days straight. All of it thanks to Typhoon Dolphin, which is currently pumping hot air into the peninsula. So here is roughly what the rest of August looks like:

Until mid-August: Hell

I genuinely don't have a better word for it. The next few days will likely be some of the worst of this year's heatwave, on top of humidity that has been sitting above 80% for days already.

Pack light, wear breathable fabrics, bring a hand fan (even if it just blows hot air back at you), drink way more water than feels necessary, and get cooling towels from Daiso or Olive Young. They saved me last summer, you wrap them around your neck and it makes you feel a bit cooler (sharing my favorites below). If you can skip outdoor plans entirely, do it. It's too hot for sightseeing right now. There are a bunch of fun inside activities all around Seoul and Korea! If you need recommendations, hit me up.

https://preview.redd.it/vobhphvmgbhh1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae8600c0710eb76946d8ccd559134516d40b9868

Second half of August: Likely Wet

With any luck it will rain and cool things down a bit, but it will also get more humid, so I can't really tell you which is worse.
Bring a small umbrella everywhere. After a few years living here, I have learned one thing: no matter what your weather app says in summer, don't trust it. Sudden, heavy downpours happen constantly in summer.

Late August onward

The extreme heat should ease up, but expect hot and humid weather to stick around until at least mid-October. Keep packing light. And once the heatwave finally breaks, September through November is peak mosquito season. Korean mosquitoes are a different breed, my bites are always the size of golf balls.

To everyone visiting in the next few months: fighting! 💪

I have done this trip probably four times now and it's still the first place I recommend when someone asks where to go outside Seoul. Sokcho has proper mountains on one side and the sea on the other. Best of both worlds!

I am calling this a day trip because you can do it in a day, but I always end up staying the night over a weekend. One day means picking the mountain or the sea. Two days means doing both, and two days is just the right amount of time for Sokcho. Any more and you will run out of things to do.

So let me share my standard itinerary (this is going to be a lengthy one, but it will be worth it).

Getting there:

Express bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal. The busses from Seoul leave in 30 minute intervals, first at 6am, last around 11:30pm, so you don't need to build your morning around a specific bus (booking in advance is recommended though!)

The prices for the bus vary depending on how "fancy" you want your ride to be:

• 우등 / deluxe: ~₩21,000–22,000
• 일반 / standard: ~₩16,000
• Premium: ~₩27,000

Take the 우등 one. It's a few thousand KRW more expensive but the comfort is so much better than the standard busses.

The timetable claims that it takes around 2h20m to Sokcho. In practice budget 2.5–3 hours, more on a Saturday morning or during foliage season. I usually leave at 8 or 9 and I'm there by 11 or 12.

(Dong Seoul Terminal also runs this route and it might be worth checking if you're staying east of the river.)

Option A: the mountain

Seoraksan National Park. From the express bus terminal, take local bus up to the mountains. The stop is right by the terminal, they come every 20 minutes or so, and it's about 30–40 minutes to the park entrance (again, more during foliage season).

The best part: the entry to the National Park is completely free!

The name Seoraksan literally means "snow peak mountain." There is an old record saying snow settles on it around Chuseok and doesn't melt until the summer solstice, which is where it comes from. Not literally true these days, but the winter version of this mountain, with snow sitting on the massive grey rocks, is one of the most beautiful things I have seen in Korea. Autumn is peak foliage and, while it's really beautiful, it get REALLY crowded. Summer is deep green and quiet. I believe that there is no bad season for Seoraksan.

Seoraksan in Winter

Seoraksan in Fall

https://preview.redd.it/ok5m4rd55cgh1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6216f9b78bdf68ea8f7d41298e27da2eda74d704

The cable car at the National Park takes you up to Gwongeumseong at 699m. The ticket price for an adult is ₩16,000, round trip and it takes roughly 5 minutes each way.

Two things to keep in mind:

1. You get your ticket the same-day, in person, at the ticket window. It's because wind and fog can shut the thing down on any day.
2. You can only get round-trip tickets. There is no walking path down from Gwongeumseong. You CAN take a walk up there, though!

So what you should do on the day of is: buy your ticket the moment you arrive, take whatever time slot they give you, and go eat while you wait. There are cafes and restaurants right at the park entrance, which is perfect for this. On a weekend the wait for the cable car can easily be over an hour.

From the upper station it's another 10–20 minutes on foot to the actual viewpoint, over rocks, so wear shoes you can grip in. Speaking from experience but it gets really slippery in Winter due to the snow and ice...

If you would rather walk than ride, the Biseondae trail from the park entrance is flat, beautiful, and about an hour round trip. You do not need to be a hiker for it. And if you turned up in the wrong shoes, Korea runs hiking centres where you can rent decent gear very cheaply. The government has been pushing hiking for years and offers different benefits for foreigners hiking in Korea, so it is worth it looking into Trekking in Korea.

Free foot bath: Cheoksan Foot Spa Park (척산족욕공원) is outdoor foot bathing in real hot spring water, and it costs nothing. About 15 minutes from the park. Open March 1 – November 30 (closed in winter). 9:00–17:30 May through October, 10:00–17:30 in March, April and November. Towel and cushion rental is ₩1,000.

Option B: the sea

My recommended route

From the terminal, head to Abai Village (아바이마을).

Foods I recommend for Sokcho (in order of how much I love it):

• 창백호선장네: all-you-can-eat red snow crab restaurant, right by the sea. Crab is a winter speciality here but they run year round. It's ₩35,000 per person. If this place is closed, there are several other similar restaurants around it, so no worries.
• Squid sundae (오징어순대): squid stuffed with noodles and vegetables, sliced, then pan-fried in egg. Also a pretty popular option in Sokcho.
• Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market (속초관광수산시장) if neither of those appeals. It's not directly at the Village but close by! Fried seafood, fresh fish, dakgangjeong, and stalls of everything else. This is also where you find 속초샌드 (butter cookies filled with caramel and cream. I have never once left Sokcho without a box.)
• Kalguksu is a local thing too, if you want something warm and cheap

Snow crab in Sokcho

Sokcho Sand (butter cookies)

Let's say you chose food at the market. Once you are done, you walk along the coast. Start at Yeonggeumjeong (영금정), a pavilion built out on the rocks over the water. It's also free, open all hours, and looks beautiful on photos. From there just follow the sea south. You will pass Abai Village and eventually reach Sokcho Beach.

Yeonggeumjeong

Sokcho Eye (ferris wheel) is at the beach. Tickets are ₩12,000 for adults. One rotation is about 15 minutes and the cabins are clear acrylic the whole way round, so there is no bad view. Ride it at sunset if you possibly can! You get the sun setting behind the Seoraksan mountains on one side and open sea on the other. Allow about 30 minutes of queueing at golden hour, because everyone wants to get on at sunset time.

Sokcho Beach & Sokcho Eye

View from Sokcho Eye during sunset hours

Some more tips:

• I think two days is the perfect length for Sokcho.
• Ocean view cafes are everywhere! Both chains and tiny independent ones.
• Check the cable car's site the morning you travel. If it's windy it won't run.

Sea view with mountains in the background

Sokcho in Summer

I am a foreigner living in Korea, been here a while, get around okay with some basic Korean. I have been to a fair share of hair salons during my time here. Both the ones locals go to and the ones labeled "foreigner-friendly."

For a long time I was under the impression that "foreigner-friendly" was basically just a language tax, and I could just go to a regular salon and manage with my Korean (or a translator app for the tricky stuff) and save some money.

I have now been to both plenty of times, and so have my foreign friends, so I wanted to compile our experiences. Again, those are just personal experiences + opinions I have heard from people around me!

Maybe it helps you pick one over the other:

Price: Yes, salons labelled “foreigner-friendly” are usually pricier. But so is a Korean salon in a bougie area like Cheongdam, so it's not purely a "foreigner tax" thing. Location matters just as much. From what I have noticed, just like restaurants and cafes, the cheaper salons tend to cluster around university areas.

Getting what you actually asked for: This is interesting. Even though I can speak Korean, I am by no means fluent, and I noticed things getting lost in translation on detail-heavy requests. The foreigner-friendly salons consistently nailed what I wanted for a cut, much more closely than the Korean salon did. Not because the Korean stylist was bad, just because describing exactly what you want in a foreign language is a lot harder than you would think.

Color results: I dyed my hair (not bleached) at both. I liked the result from the foreigner-friendly salon a little bit more more. My guess is they are just more used to non-Korean hair texture and adjust their technique accordingly, where the Korean salon seemed to be working from a more standard approach (?).

Bonus: at a Korean salon, I asked what I could do about my frizzy, damaged hair, and was told flat out: "That's just your foreigner hair structure. There's nothing we can really do." ...okay? ㅠㅠ Not exactly rude, just very "we don't deal with this texture." I was hoping for at least a tip or a treatment recommendation. Though I guess I appreciate them not trying to sell me something they weren't confident would actually help.

My friends' experiences:

• One got a keratin straightening treatment at a “foreigner-friendly” salon and was very happy. Got exactly what she wanted and her hair was not damaged after.
• The other got her hair bleached at a Korean salon and came out with very damaged hair. They just kept re-bleaching with aggressive bleach. She is still growing back the hair that snapped off, over a year later

My take: it's not that Korean salons are bad. They are obviously excellent at Korean hair, since that's most of what they see day to day. It's more that foreign hair (different texture, different damage patterns, different starting points) is a specialty, and foreigner-friendly salons have that specialty from repetition. So the "foreigner tax" isn't really a language up-charge but more of an experience-with-your-hair-type price, which feels fair once you frame it that way.

If you are doing something simple (a basic trim, low-risk color) and know a bit of Korean, a regular salon + translator can work fine and save you money! But for anything technical (bleach, dyeing, straightening, a cut with a lot of specific detail) I would personally pay the difference just to make sure. Also, getting my hair done in Korea is a lot cheaper than in my home country (and probably most countries in the West), so even if I pay the foreigner tax, I am saving money…

A few foreigner-friendly spots me or my friends have used:

• CCA Hair (Hongdae)
• SOONSIKI Hair (Hongdae, Seongsu)
• Onyad Hair (Seongsu)

Feels like this could be a good place to exchange hair salon experiences in Korea. Any horror or success stories? Did anyone here visit a local salon and feel like it was actually better? Or any recommendations for underrated places?