r/SouthKoreaTravel

Hi everyone!

Have you ever wanted a kind of travel where you don’t just visit a place, but truly stay, slow down, and feel connected to it?

I recently discovered a really unique local wellness experience in Wanju, near Jeonju, Korea.

It’s called Banjul, a small local wellness space surrounded by nature where people can experience meditation, breathing sessions, singing bowl relaxation, mindful movement classes, and traditional Korean healing meals.

What made it interesting to me was that it wasn’t trying to feel luxurious or commercial. The whole experience focuses more on slowing down, reconnecting with your senses, and experiencing a quieter side of Korea that many travelers probably never see.

What makes this experience even more special is that the sessions are led directly by local practitioners and operated together with local residents, creating a much more personal and authentic atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy healing meals made with local ingredients, relax in a countryside-style emotional space surrounded by nature, and even discover beautiful photo spots throughout the area. The program is also family-friendly, so children can participate as well, and English interpretation may be available depending on prior arrangement

We are actually thinking about organizing a small meetup around June or July combining Jeonju travel with local experiences like this in Wanju for international residents and visitors. Would anyone actually be interested in joining something like this?

Banjul(반줄)
Naver Map: https://naver.me/xDCWX3FE
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/936mcMA5soPozioN6

Hey guys,

I'm back with Part 2 of our Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok photoshoot!

Following up on yesterday's post, today I wanted to share a mix of our group photos and some awesome individual cuts.

Once again, we had a fantastic group of locals and international friends hanging out together.

We all geared up in our rented Hanboks, and with the help of a professional photographer, we managed to get some incredible shots.

It was such a fun experience mixing group dynamics with everyone's unique individual styles.

Everyone had a wonderful time making memories together in the heart of Seoul. Hope you enjoy looking through these as much as we enjoyed taking them!

⚠️ A Quick Note on Privacy:

Just like before, all photos are uploaded with the strict permission of everyone featured. Please do not copy, download, or reuse these images for any other purposes.

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share some moments from a recent Hanbok photoshoot we did at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

We had an amazing mix of locals and international friends joining in.

We rented some beautiful Hanboks, hung out, and had a professional photographer capture the whole experience.

It was an absolute blast!

Walking around Gyeongbokgung, it’s always wonderful to see so many foreigners embracing the culture and wearing Hanbok.

It truly is a beautiful sight, but also super fun!

As a Korean, one of the funniest and most endearing things to watch is seeing some of the foreign guys confidently rocking female Hanboks.

It always brings a smile to the locals' faces and adds such a fun vibe to the palace.

This is just Part 1 of our photoshoot series—I’ll be dropping Part 2 tomorrow, so stay tuned for more!

⚠️ A Quick Note on Privacy:

The photos uploaded here are shared with the explicit permission of everyone involved. Please do not copy, download, or reuse these images anywhere else without permission.

I didn’t realize how many SEVENTEEN fans travel to Seoul alone for concerts until I started hosting guests here haha 💎

Some of my favorite memories were helping guests figure out subway routes, convenience store snacks, late-night food spots near Hongdae, and hearing them excitedly talk about the concert when they came back 😭

I live in Seoul with my small dog Chunbae 🐶 and I genuinely enjoy meeting travelers from different countries.

What’s something you’re most excited to do in Seoul besides the concert? 😊

Hi everyone!

I recently found a really interesting traditional alcohol workshop in Wanju, near Jeonju, and honestly it felt very different from typical tourist experiences in Korea.

It’s run by a young local brewing community that grows its own organically grown rice and makes traditional Korean alcohol using natural spring water from the mountains.

You can make makgeolli yourself, try filtering traditional Korean alcohol by hand, and learn how traditional Korean brewing works.

One thing I found especially interesting is that they don’t use artificial sweeteners at all. They only use rice, water, and nuruk, a traditional Korean fermentation ingredient similar to a natural yeast starter. Everything is made through slow fermentation and traditional brewing methods. I was surprised because the makgeolli tasted much cleaner and lighter than I expected. Some people even compare it more to natural wine than the sweet makgeolli they imagined before.

The part that looked the most fun is the makgeolli workshop using “ppongtwigi(뻥튀기), Korean puffed rice snacks. The funniest moment is when the person making the puffed rice suddenly shouts “Ppeong-i-yo!” and everyone immediately covers their ears waiting for the loud pop.

The brewery itself is tucked away deep in the countryside, surrounded by forests and winding mountain roads, so even the drive there feels peaceful and relaxing.

We are actually thinking about organizing a small meetup around June or July combining Jeonju travel with local experiences like this in Wanju for international residents and visitors. Would anyone actually be interested in joining something like this?

Samsandoga (삼산도가)
Naver Map: https://naver.me/FgET81dw
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MoJfN24BNHzZ6Gad8

Hi everyone!

If you visit Jeonju, most people usually go to the Hanok Village. But about 30 minutes away from Jeonju, there’s a quieter area called Wanju where you can experience something a little more local and unique.

One experience I recently found there was a hands on eco workshop using handmade vegan clay created from recycled local materials.

What I really liked was how they used local byproducts from Wanju such as recycled coffee grounds, perilla seed leftovers, and brewery byproducts to create the clay itself.

It doesn’t feel like a typical tourist activity.
It feels more like experiencing a small local idea about sustainability in a very personal way.

1. Silla Roof Tile Inspired Mother of Pearl Ornament - A traditional Korean style craft inspired by ancient Korean roof tiles, decorated with mother of pearl details.
2. Vegan Clay Magnet or Keyring - Create your own small magnet or keyring using eco friendly vegan clay made from recycled coffee grounds and local byproducts.
3. Vintage Style Vegan Clay Doorbell - Make a handmade doorbell using vegan clay and recycled materials with a warm Korean countryside aesthetic.
4. Gabaerak Coffee Experience - Grind coffee beans by hand, enjoy coffee tasting, and create your own vegan clay magnet using recycled coffee grounds.
5. Traditional Cheongsachorong Lantern Making - Create a traditional Korean lantern using colorful hanji paper and decorative ornaments.

Most workshops take around 60 to 90 minutes, and the price is usually around 25,000 to 35,000 KRW, which honestly felt pretty reasonable for the experience.

We are actually thinking about organizing a small meetup around June or July combining Jeonju travel with local experiences like this in Wanju for international residents and visitors. Would anyone actually be interested in joining something like this?

Joajigu (조아지구)
Naver Map: https://naver.me/Fio5WAiw
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eouUigCRaWvGHg159

Hi 😊
I’m a female host living in Seoul with my small dog, Chunbae 🐶

Most of my guests are solo female travelers, students, or people visiting Korea for the first time. I’ve also hosted a lot of SEVENTEEN fans visiting for concerts haha 💎

I always try to make the stay feel warm and comfortable, more like staying with a local friend than a regular Airbnb 😊

My place is near Hongdae, Mangwon, and airport bus stops, so it’s really easy to explore Seoul and travel around the city!

If you’re looking for a cozy women-only stay in Seoul and don’t mind a friendly little dog around, feel free to message me 💛

Hi! I’m a Korean female host living near Hongdae with my small dog 🐶
I host female travelers in a cozy local home near Hongdae/Mapo area.
It’s more of a quiet homestay experience rather than a party hostel :)
Good for:
solo female travelers
first time visitors to Korea
people who want local experience
longer stays/study abroad travelers
Feel free to comment or DM me if you have questions about Seoul or staying here!

I took these photos at Seosunra-gil recently, and I’m still thinking about the vibe there.

For those who don't know, it’s a street running along the historic stone walls of Jongmyo Shrine.

While places like Ikseon-dong and Seongsu-dong are great, they can get incredibly crowded.

Seosunra-gil has this unique, effortless coolness to it, but with a much more peaceful, therapeutic atmosphere.

You can just wander past the traditional stone walls, pop into unique craft workshops, or grab a coffee at a trendy cafe.

The outdoor street-seating(Yajang) culture here is so well-organized and tidy, too.

If you visit, definitely clear your schedule for the afternoon.

It looks like a simple alleyway at first, but the magic of the place will make you lose track of time completely.

I tried this vegan Korean restaurant in Insadong during my last trip to Seoul, and honestly it was such a nice surprise.

I feel like when people talk about food in Korea, it’s usually BBQ, fried chicken, street food, or cafe hopping, but this meal felt really comforting and home-style. There was rice, tteokbokki, stew, side dishes, and fried dumplings, and everything still had that Korean flavor without feeling too fake for a vegan

I’m not fully vegan, but I really enjoyed how simple and satisfying it was. It also made me realize that vegan food in Korea can be way more interesting than just salads or basic veggie dishes.

Has anyone else tried vegan or temple-style food in Insadong? I’d love to know more places to try next time I’m in Seoul.

Hey everyone!

If you’re planning a trip to Seoul or looking for a cool place to hang out this season, I highly recommend visiting Ikseon-dong Hanok Village.

I recently went there and took some photos, and the vibe was just incredible.

It’s located right outside Jongno 3-ga Station, so it’s super easy to get to.

Here are a few quick tips if you go:

Go at night: While it's pretty during the day, it becomes absolute magic after dark when all the lights turn on.

Get ready to explore: Every narrow alleyway has its own unique charm and different aesthetic.

What’s there: It’s packed with amazing brunch spots, hidden food gems, cozy cafes, and unique craft shops. You can easily lose track of time and spend 2 to 3 hours just wandering around.

What I love most about this place is the crowd.

You’ll see teenagers, hipsters, expats, and elderly locals all sharing the same space, totally immersed in their own vibe.

If you're in Seoul, definitely add this to your itinerary.
Let me know if you have any questions about the area!