Korea: 9 provinces, 19 attractions
Gangwon Province's Hambaek Mountain: not a bad view for a few hours' road trip. As much as we love hitting up Seoul's crazy venues, it's the rest of the country that offers up some of the best travel experiences in Korea.
Ranging from yummy to quirky to deeply therapeutic, here's a roundup of provincial attractions to add to your Korea travel itinerary.
Gyeonggi Province
MBC Dramia (MBC 드라미아)
Die-hard fans of the explosively popular MBC K-drama "The Moon Embracing the Sun" (해를 품은 달) have been flocking to MBC's Dramia to watch actors Han Ga In and Kim Soo Hyun gaze longingly at each other on set.
Dramas "Jumong," "The Great Queen Seonduk," and "Dong-e" were also filmed at Dramia.
Two viewing tours are available. Visitors can also try on historical court dress, play traditional folk games and try their hand at archery.
Admission is ₩7,000.
778-1 Yongcheon-ri, Baekam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province (경기도 용인시 처인구 백암면 용천리 778-1번지); +82 31 337 3241; withmbc.imbc.com/dramia
Heyri Art Village (헤이리 예술마을)
At Heyri, interesting exhibitions and festivals are a way of life.
First envisioned in 1998, Heyri Art Village is home to more than 350 artists in the field of fine arts, music, theater, photography, sculpture, crafts and literature who have the lofty aim of promoting cultural interchange, education, and discussion as well as exhibiting and selling hand-crafted works of art.
A tour of the village on an electric bus costs ₩8,000.
1652 Beopheung-ri, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province (경기도 파주시 탄현면 법흥리 1652번지); +82 31 946 8551; www.heyri.net
The Gallery Sansawon (전통술 갤러리 산사원)
The Gallery Sansawon experience is the traditional Korean equivalent of the brewery tour.
The "gallery" houses more than 1,000 historical documents and Korean alcohol-related items, but if museums just aren't your thing, it also offers free samples of 10 different kinds of traditional alcoholic drinks and food items, from alcohol bread and crackers to yakgwa (traditional cookies) and yeot (traditional taffy) made with rice wine lees.
While this year's makgeolli bread and crude liquor-making program is over (it's usually held from December-January), other seasonal programs are available including cooking (using rice wine lees) in March and April, a liquor-making program in May and June, and the traditional alcohol cocktail-making program in July and August. Prices start at ₩15,000 per hour. Two-hour-long courses start at ₩25,000.
512 Hwahyeon-ri, Hwahyeon-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi Province (경기도 포천시 화현면 화현리 512번지); +82 31 531 9300; www.sansawon.co.kr
Gangwon Province
Woljeongsa Temple Stay (월정사 템플스테이)
This 1,400-year-old temple is surrounded by fir trees in the eastern valley of Odae mountain.
In addition to housing numerous important cultural treasures, the temple runs a great temple stay program for foreigners. Participants can learn Buddhist manners, perform tea ceremonies and make 108-bead malas.
63 Dongsan-ri, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province (강원도 평창군 진부면 동산리 63); +82 33 339 6606; woljeongsa.org
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Yoon's Restaurant (윤가네 한우마을)
Gangwon Province is known for its tender, delicious beef, and Yoon's Restaurant (Yoongané Hanwoo Maeul) is one of the most famous Korean barbecue restaurants in the country.
Located near the High1 Resort, skiers and snowboarders frequent the restaurant after a day of hard riding for the restaurant's near-perfect charcoal-grilled sirloin, ribs and fillet. Doenjangjjigae (bean soup) and naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) are also best-selling dishes.
One serving (170 grams) of grilled beef sirloin and one serving of grilled beef ribs cost ₩30,000 each.
The restaurant seats 120 and is open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.
62-48 Gohan-ri, Gohan-eup, Jeongsun-gun, Gangwon Province 강원 정선군 고한읍 고한리 62-48; +82 33 592 2920; xn--o39an1hvviu0nrqaeg984g.aui.kr
South Chungcheong Province
Oeam Maul (외암마을)
With its tile-roofed houses and more than 50 thatched-roof houses, Oeam Maul is a beautifully preserved village left over from the Joseon Dynasty.
Tour programs of the village are available. Activities vary by season and include rice planting, kite-making, sledding, kimchi-making, tofu-making and an overnight stay at a hanok (a traditional Korean-style house).
A one-day program costs ₩20,000 (lunch included), while the two-day-one-night program costs ₩56,000.
Oeam-ri, Songak-myeon, Asan-si, South Chuncheong Province (충남 아산시 송악면 외암리); +82 41 541 0848; www.oeammaul.co.kr
Taean Greentour (태안 농어촌체험관광)
Taean is home to 12 seaside villages, 11 farms (some orchards, some plantations) and six different festivals including a clam-calling festival and a garlic-digging festival.
The mudflat is an excellent playground for novice fishermen who want to experience life in a fishing village.
Taean-gun, South Chuncheong Province (충남 태안군); +82 41 670 2561; www.taeangt.net
North Chungcheong Province
Nangye Gukak Instrument Production Village (난계국악기제작촌)
The Nangye Gukank Instrument Production Village focuses on studying and making traditional Korean instruments as well as promoting gukak -- classical Korean music -- to other countries.
A great time to visit is during the Korea Haegeum Festival, which is held every October.
For a hefty fee, participants can also take home their own instrument -- the 25-string gayageum-making class costs ₩1,650,000.
521-1 Godang-ri, Simcheon-myeon, Youngdong-gun, North Chungcheong Province (충북 영동군 심천면 고당리 521-1번지); +82 43 742 8558; www.nangyekukak.or.kr
Sangsoo's Herb (상수허브랜드)
A bowl of rice cooked with rosemary leaves topped with various herbal flowers, herb sprouts, pork chops and nuts mixed with a spoonful of herb gochujang ... Sangsoo's Herb, an herbal-themed park located in Cheongwon, offers this novelty menu, called Cotbap (flower rice), for ₩12,000.
The park grows more than 1,000 different kinds of herbs. In addition to a wonderfully sweet aroma, five different kinds of herb handicraft experience programs (making herb rice cakes, making herb potpourri, making herb soap, planting herbs, and making herb-scented candles) are available.
A Herb Festival is held every May.
The admission fee is ₩3,000.
480 Oecheon-ri, Buyong-myeon, Cheongwon-gun, North Chungcheong Province (충청북도 청원군 부용면 외천리 480번지); +82 43 277 6633; www.sangsooherb.co.kr
Korean Famous Medical Village (한방명의촌)
For ₩60,000, the wishfully named Korean Famous Medical Village offers an "Oriental Medicine Experience Program" with five different kinds of treatments -- an "oriental physical exam" (find out how aged your blood vessels are), a "face-lifting facial massage and mask," an "oriental foot care," a hot stone jwahun (a type of oriental steam treatment) therapy and "health tea" tasting.
If that sounds too overwhelming, the treatments are also available separately for ₩20,000 each.
210 Myeongam-ri, Bongyang-eup, Jecheon-si, North Chungcheong Province (충북 제천시 봉양읍 명암리 210번지); +82 43 653 7730; www.kfmv.kr
South Jeolla Province
Cheongmaesil Farm (청매실농원)
At this 80-year-old farm, visitors can try everything there is to experience in terms of maesil (a type of plum) including maesil-picking, cooking maesil-based foods, maesil concentrate facials, and listening to a lecture from the maesil master -- and farm owner -- Mrs. Hong.
The blossoms bloom in March, making the farm a beautiful weekend getaway, while maesil-picking takes place in June and costs ₩100,000 per family (four people).
414 Dosa-ri, Daap-myeon, Gwangyang-si, South Jeolla Province (전남 광양시 다압면 도사리 414번지); +82 61 772 4066; www.maesil.co.kr
Gangjin Celadon Museum (강진 청자박물관)
The Goryeo Celadon Museum exhibits more than 450 Goryeo celadon artifacts and a kiln site, and also runs a celadon experience program, allowing visitors to try out the celadon-making process such as wheel-shaping, sculpting and creating mosaics.
The admission fee is ₩2,000 for adults and ₩1,000 for children under 12.
117 Sadang-ri, Daegu-myeon, Gangjin-gun, South Jeolla Province (전라남도 강진군 대구면 사당리 117); +82 61 430 3718; www.celadon.go.kr
North Jeolla Province
Jinan Red Ginseng Spa 진안 홍삼스파
Jinan Red Ginseng Spa features various therapy rooms, a rooftop open-air bathtub and meditation labyrinths.
Oriental medicine constitution consultants are available to help you make the best therapy choices. Yongdam, the spa's Korean restaurant located on the first floor of Hotel Ginsengvill, prides itself on using "well-being" ingredients like ginseng, black pork, deodeok (a type of mountain root) and mushrooms.
The admission fee at the Red Ginseng Spa is ₩39,000. For ₩153,000, couples can enjoy the Couple Package, which includes a night at the Hotel GinsengVill, breakfast and the use of the spa (reservations are a must).
16-10 Oesayang-gil, Jinan-eup, Jinan-gun, North Jeolla Province (전북 진안군 진안읍 외사양길 16-10); +82 63 433 0393; www.redginsengspa.kr
Sunchang Gochujang Festival, Gochujang Village (순창 장류축제, 고추장마을)
Sunchang is best known for its delicious gochujang -- a spicy, sweet and salty condiment made with red pepper powder and other ingredients.
The Sunchang Gochujang Festival is held every November, during which participants can wander through booths and taste various kinds of gochujang and gochujang-based foods.
If November seems too far away, sign up for the gochujang making program or the injeolmi (traditional rice cake coated with bean flour) making program. Prices start at ₩15,000.
265-5 Baeksan-ri, Sunchang-eup, Sunchang-gun, North Jeolla Province (전북 순창군 순창읍 백산리 265-5); +82 63 653 0703; sunchang.invil.org
South Gyeongsang Province
Oedo Botania (외도 보타니아)
Thanks to its mild climate and heavy rainfall, this camellia-covered island is a haven for temperate and tropical plant life.
Don't care that 800 different species can be found here? It was also where the last scene of the original hallyu K-drama "Winter Sonata" was filmed.
In addition to the countless flora and the hallyu trivia, there is also a dinosaur cave, a dinosaur rock and a sculpture park. A full tour takes about 50 minutes.
If you get tired, enjoy a cup of herbal tea at Otea's Room while looking out at the ocean, or slurp a hot bowl of udon at the snack shop.
109 San Wahyeon-ri, Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, South Gyeongsang Province (경상남도 거제시 일운면 와현리 산 109번지); +82 070 7715 3330; www.oedobotania.com
Sancheong Hanbang Resort (산청 한방리조트)
Here's a typical day at this eco-friendly resort pension: a rafting trip on the river followed by a medicinal herb bath and a hot few hours in a Korean dry sauna built with the finest red clay.
There are six two-room (one bedroom, one living room) pensions, one three-room pension and three duplex type pensions (₩100,000, ₩230,000, and ₩150,000 each; prices go up during the peak season from July to August)
327 Nae-ri, Sancheong-eup, Sancheong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province (경상남도 산청군 산청읍 내리 327번지); +82 55 972 9989; www.sancheongresort.com
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North Gyeongsang Province
Cheongdo Gamwine 청도 감와인
Bordeaux and Napa Valley may be the go-to places for wine, but for daring, curious drinkers, Cheongdo is a not-to-miss spot.
Cheongdo Gam Wine specializes in wine made with Cheongdo specialty flat persimmons, which are matured in their own wine tunnels.
Persimmon wine tasting and wine tunnel field trips cost ₩3,000, bottling persimmon wine costs ₩20,000 and persimmon-picking (from September to November) starts at ₩5,000.
252-2 Songgeum-ri, Hwayang-eup, Cheongdo-gun, North Gyeongsang Province (경북 청도군 화양읍 송금리 252-2번지); +82 54 371 1904; www.gamwine.com
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Jeju Island
Southernmost Theme Park 최남단 체험테마공원/체험감귤농장
Jeju's Southernmost Theme park, located in Seogwipo, is a curious mix of tangerine farm, insectarium and petting zoo.
The basic experience program (₩5,000) includes a tour of the tangerine farm, tangerine tasting, a tour of the insectariums and the butterfly park, feeding the animals at the petting zoo (rabbits, ducks, chicken, deer, and donkeys) and taking a picture on a donkey.
Prices vary depending on the season.
2019 Namwon-ri, Namwon-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-governing Province (제주특별자치도 서귀포시 남원읍 남원리 2019번지); +82 64 764 7759; orangefarm.co.kr
Daheeyeon Cave Café 다희연 동굴카페
Daheeyeon, a green tea farm in Jeju-si (or Jeju City), features endless fields of green tea, a tea culture museum and caves formed from volcanic eruptions.
Visitors flock to the cave café in Daheeyeon, a renovated space in a Gotjawal cave (meaning gravel forest), to savor the taste of green tea muffins, green tea chocolate, and various green tea-based drinks and coffee in a unique, bizarre atmosphere.
The cave also serves as a home for bats, so don't freak out if you see any.
An electric cart tour is available for those who want to see the vast green tea fields more comfortably.
600 Seonheul-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jesu-si, Jeju Special Self-governing Province (제주특별자치도 제주시 조천읍 선흘리 600번지); +82 64 782 0005; www.daheeyeon.com
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Cin Woo Lee is a freelance writer for CNNGo who enjoys the intense art of stringing words together.
24 venues open 24 hours in Seoul
For some reason, people really, really don't want to go home.In Seoul, no one goes home by midnight.
The Medi Spa
The Medi Spa, run by the Riverside Hotel in Jamwon-dong, is a mecca for stressed and worn-out males who find regular spas a little too feminine -- both in decor and clientele.
Originally an all-male spa, Medi Spa occasionally accepts female clients as well. The menu is too good to limit to one gender, whether you go for the two-hour VIP massage (₩140,000), any one of three different kinds of 80-minute massages (aroma, sports, and healing, all ₩100,000), or the 40-minute or 50-minute partial massages (₩60,000).
Packages are another option if time and money permit. You can get a full body massage (either aroma, sports, healing, or VIP), a full body scrub, a glass of juice and a cup of tea for ₩125,000 (₩170,000 for VIP massage), admission fee included.
2/F Riverside Hotel, 6-1 Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 잠원동 6-1 더리버사이드호텔 본관 2층); +82 2 6710 1127
Parkdaegamne (박대감네)
Rib eye and outside skirt both cost ₩52,000 for 150 grams. Galbi-tang is ₩12,000 per bowl.
Gangnam-gu Cheongdam-dong 124-3 (강남구 청담동 124-3); +82 2 545 7708; www.pdgn.co.kr
Shindong’s DraQura PC Castle
Korea has the fastest Internet in the world -- twice as fast as Delaware, which has the fastest Internet in the United States -- and more than 10,000 PC bangs (rooms). These Internet cafés are actually de facto gaming centers (although a small percentage of the population goes for other reasons) where visitors can play multiple varieties of multiplayer computer games for a small hourly fee.
Most PC bangs in Korea are open 24 hours, but some are more interesting than others -- take, for example, Shindong’s DraQura PC Castle, which is actually run by K-Pop idol Shindong of Super Junior.
As the name of the PC bang suggests, Shindong’s DraQura PC Castle is a Dracula-themed PC bang with a "Transylvanian castle-like interior design" (and, of course, pictures of Shindong in a Dracula costume hanging everywhere).
The service fee is ₩1,500 per hour for non-members and ₩1,300 for members. Snack menus are crammed with the likes of fried chicken, ramen, rice with various toppings and steamed dumplings.
180-2 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 잠실동 180-2)
Megabox Dongdaemun
There is something strangely comforting about being nestled in a comfy movie theater seat with a box of fresh popcorn in your lap, staring into that wide, glaring screen. Especially if it’s very, very late at night.
Sadly, most movie theaters’ last showings are around 1 a.m. (not late enough!). But here’s the good news --Megabox Dongdaemun screens flicks as late as 3:10 a.m.
With eight screens, a smoking room, a VIP zone and a snack bar, this all-night multiplex is the perfect place to catch up on the latest films after a shopping spree (or simply after a couple of hours of tossing and turning in your bed).
9/F Good Morning City, 18-21 Euljiro 6-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 을지로6가 18-21 굿모닝시티 9층); +82 1544 0070; www.megabox.co.kr
365 daycare
With one of the lowest birthrates in the world -- around 1.2 per woman -- Korea has been desperately trying to entice its citizens to have more children.
Last September, the city of Seoul began a trial run of operating 24-hour daycare centers, and beginning in January of this year, daycare for children up to two years old has become officially free for all citizens (cue the triumphant hurrahs of tired Korean mothers everywhere).
Dubbed 365 Day Care Centers, five institutions in Seoul are currently offering 24/7 care for residents' offspring -- so bad luck any tourists who were planning to drop off their youngsters for a quick cultural immersion.
Costs are ₩3,000 per hour or ₩50,000 for a full day of being blissfully child-free.
Guripseonghyun Haetsal Daycare Center (구립성현햇살어린이집); Gwanak-gu Bongcheon-dong 40-12 (서울 관악구 봉천동 40-12); +82 2 878 6633
24-hour OK Animal Hospital
Their service is quite OK.
While travelers won't be bringing their pets along on vacation, here's proof positive that Koreans' fondness for animals isn't limited to their digestive tract. Emergency rooms are always open for people, but when you come home at three in the morning to find your dog lying next to your empty box of Valentine’s Day chocolates, what's a frantic owner to do?
24-hour OK Animal Hospital in Daechi-dong is one of several pet hospitals that are open 24/7.
Professional vets and nursing staff are always on call, and the hospital also runs a canine (and/or feline) playground and hotel service at prices ranging from ₩20,000 to ₩30,000.
Additionally, a bathing (₩15,000) and grooming (₩30,000) service is available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
101 Oseong Building, 921 Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 대치동 921 오성빌딩 101호); +82 2 569 7582; www.okamc.co.kr
Labono hair and makeup
The staff at these salons are not only skilled but also extremely fast, and specialize in hair extensions and blow-outs. And sweet talk.
Rates for hair start at ₩15,000, rates for makeup starts at ₩40,000.
Gangnam-gu Nonhyeon-dong 182-22 (서울 강남구 논현동 182-22); +82 2 545 0396; labonohair.com
Lugano Pizza
From the basic combination pizza (beef, mushroom, pepperoni, Canadian ham, bell pepper, onion, olive -- ₩19,900 for a large size) to the Lugano gold shrimp pizza (chili, salsa, cheddar, sweet potato mousse, shrimp, string cheese -- ₩31,900 for a large size), Lugano Pizza sports more than a dozen different menus as well as a selection of side dishes, including baked chicken, barbecue pork ribs, three different kinds of spaghetti and cheese sticks (side dishes are deliverable from ₩10,000)
Lugano Pizza currently has two stores -- in Dobong-gu and Jongno-gu -- and delivers to Nowon-gu, Dobong-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Sungbuk-gu, Jongno-gu, Jung-gu, and Dongdaemun-gu.
Call 1577 9456 for sizzling hot pizza made with Imsil cheese, a Korean cheese made in Imsil-gun, Jeollabuk-do.
687-43 Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 창신동 687-43); +82 1577 9456; www.lugano.co.kr
Hong Kong Banjum 0410 (홍콩반점)
Hong Kong Banjum 0410 is no ordinary Chinese restaurant chain -- and by Chinese restaurant, we mean a Korean-Chinese restaurant, not an American-Chinese restaurant. Unlike the many Chinese restaurants in Korea, Hong Kong Banjum does not have jajangmyeon on its menu.
Specializing in jjambbong (Chinese-style spicy noodle soup with vegetables and seafood) and jjambbong-related dishes (like jjambbong rice and fried jjambbong), Hong Kong Banjum 0410 has more than 80 branches in Korea.
“The jjambbong here is one of the best I’ve tasted,” says frequent patron Mi-jung Oh, 49.
The Jamsil Shincheon store of Hong Kong Banjum seats around 70 people and is open 24 hours.
179-1 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 송파구 잠실동 179-1번지); +82 2 418 0410
48 Cheongdam (청담 48번지)
This ambience makes 48 Cheongdam bright and inviting by day, and respectable and dependable by night.
This year, the bar is running a special deal for Chinese zodiac dragons: either a complimentary glass of house wine with your meal, or Kumazawa cheese bread with your coffee or tea.
48-1 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 청담동 48-1번지); +82 2 512 4648; www.48st.co.kr
We've all had those days, when you just don’t want to move a single muscle in your body -- if only a genie would magically appear and do all of your errands and bring a double-shot, extra-hot caramel macchiato (or a hot bowl of sundae soup, depending on what you’ve got a hankering for).
Haejuseyo provides customers with seemingly boundless services -- from delivering food items that are normally non-deliverable to carrying out odd jobs. Sounds like the life!
But naturally it's far from cheap. The basic rate for a delivery in Gangnam district is ₩6,900 (plus the price of whatever is being bought and delivered, and rates go up per block outside of Gangnam). Half an hour of chores will cost ₩30,000.
Depending on how desperately you want things done, you might either find that to be a great deal or the tiniest bit overpriced.
Haejuseyo; +82 1544 5478; blog.naver.com (Korean)
Calyx -- part café, part gallery and part exclusive members-only club -- encourages high spending.
The selection of things to do -- whether it is sampling a ￦50,000 cup of Kopi Luwak coffee, sipping expensive teas and Champagne, listening to orgel music, or admiring the collection of framed photographs by Michael Kenna, furniture -- is intriguing, if oddly random.
But perhaps the randomness is what gives the place an edge.
"Calyx isn't simply a café," says assistant manager Mun Seung-ho. "With unique items from all over the world, we have a variety of entertainments designed to delight the eyes and ears."
Ritz Building, 6-5 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu (서울특별시 강남구 청담동 6-5 리츠빌딩 1층); +82 2 518 0075; www.calyxseoul.com
M Plus Multibang (엠플러스 멀티방)
Combine the entertainments of above with the comfort of your own office. Subtract filth (any of the above, or your own room, if you're that kind of guy), the smell of stale cigarette smoke (PC bangs), and those strange crusty white patches on cheap vinyl sofas (DVD bangs). Add nifty little services like a snack bar with unlimited coffee and drinks.
The result is the multibang, popular with 20- and 30-somethings looking for a bit of privacy -- just not the NSFW kind.
"We get a lot of couples on dates," says proprietor Park Dong-hoon.
After all, relationships cannot live on make-out sessions alone. They sometimes need Wii.
"PC bangs, DVD bangs are on their way out," says Park, confidently. "This is the new trend. The aforementioned places are bare and dirty. I like to think that our multibang is somewhat more 'luxury.' And clean -- definitely much cleaner."
Rooms start at ₩15,000 for an hour or ₩24,000 for two hours.
3/F Sinjin Builing, 818 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강남구 역삼동 818번지 신진빌딩3층); +82 2 534 4343; www.멀티방.한국
12 Bun-ga (12번가 or 12번 구운가)
As if the tasty food and 24-hour service isn't enough, the entire place is encased in a smart little building with retro lettering and a clever sign.
But if popularity and health benefits are not reason enough, 12 Bun-ga serves neatly cooked pork gopchang delicious enough to win over the most squeamish of gopchang virgins.
"At 12 Bun-ga, we cook our gopchang on a brazier at 1,000 C, flipping the meat 12 times," says Kim Young-soo, director of SLFNB, the company behind the 12 Bun-ga restaurant and brand.
The best part? "We use a unique, patent-worthy cooking process that rids the meat of of any overpowering smells," says Kim. "So even gopchang beginners will come to us and say they enjoyed it."
#302 Royal Building, 1654-15 Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 관악구 신림동 1654-15 로얄빌딩 302호); +82 2 065 5946
Culcom Book Café
Lined with books available for reading free of charge, Culcom Book Café is geared towards students who wish to "study" in a more casual atmosphere than that of a library or a school classroom.
“I loved going to Culcom when I was learning Chinese,” says patron Stacy Chang. “I would come here often with a group of friends and stay for hours without any pressure to leave from the staff. It was one of the better alternative options to a library."
Unlike most book cafés, Culcom sells food, including pizza, salad and sandwiches and also rents out iPads: any paying customer is allowed to borrow an iPad for two hours, free of charge.
It also runs study classes. For ₩69,000 a month, students can sign up for an English speaking-class called "Bagel Speaking" -- a free bagel and cream cheese thrown in with each class.
The drip coffee’s not bad either.
40 Jongno 2-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea (서울특별시 종로구 종로2가 40); +82 2 744 0553
Orange Pharmacy
For travelers who find themselves in desperate need of everything from emergency painkillers to pregnancy tests, Orange Pharmacy in Gangnam is open all hours of the night.
And yes, they do sell various different versions of the magical “hangover elixer.”
#103 199-5 Nohyeon 2-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea (서울특별시 강남구 논현2동 199-5 103호); +82 2 549 5011
Makekineko Noraebang (karaoke)
There's no better way to end a night of bar-hopping than belting out some drunken tunes at your local noraebang.
Manekineko Noraebang offers Japanese, Korean and English songs on two different systems. In the summer, the family-friendly joint also hands out free ice cream to its customers.
Need another reason to visit Manekineko at random hours? The norebang rents its regular rooms dirt-cheap at ₩1,000 an hour between 6 a.m. and noon. During those hours, premium rooms cost ₩2,000 and VIP rooms cost ₩3,000 respectively.
From noon to 6 p.m. a regular room costs ₩15,000; from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the price rises to ₩20,000.
#603 32 Hyoryung Building, Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea (서울특별시 중구 무교로 32 효령빌딩 603호); +82 2 755 3052; www.manekineko.co.kr
Dragon Hill Spa
Jjimjilbang Dragon Hill Spa in Yongsan is more akin to a wacky amusement park than a spa, with a gym, cafeteria, relaxation room, sauna, game room, PC bang, outdoor pool (heated in the winter) and skin care and massage services.
The fee between the hours of 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. is ₩10,000 for the first 12 hours.
Every additional hour costs an extra ₩1,000. Late-night visits between the hours of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. cost ₩12,000 per hour.
40-712 Hangang-ro 3-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea (서울특별시 용산구 한강로3가 40-712); +82 2 792 0001; www.dragonhillspa.co.kr
Former professional wrestler and now temporarily retired comedian Kang Ho Dong owns this reasonably priced and therefore popular 24-hour Korean barbecue restaurant chain.
The traditional Korean-style joint dishes up domestic pork, imported beef, soups, noodles, and a traditional lunchbox of rice with a cooked egg on top.
The meat is cooked over a charcoal grill and the special grill has side pockets for the garlic and onions and another separate pocket for whisked egg.
3/F, 672-6 Deungchon 3-dong (서울특별시 강서구 등촌3동 672-6 3층); +82 2 1577 3678;www.baekjeong.co.kr
International Health Care Center Severance Hospital
Yonsei Severance Hospital, one of the best hospitals in the country, offers a 24-hour emergency service in both Korean and English.
Thank goodness you bought that traveler's insurance at the airport, eh?
International Health Care Center Severance Hospital 250 Seongsanno (134 Sinchon-dong), Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea (120-752 서울특별시 서대문구 성산로 250); +82 10 9948 0983; www.yuhs.or.kr
Yongdong Seolleongtang (영동 설렁탕)
Surprisingly spacious and clean despite its run-down entrance, this seolleongtang joint has been serving deeply satisfying beef broth for more than 30 years.
The soup is served within five minutes of placing the order, and the clientele is divided into folk who drop by in a hurry (policemen, cab drivers) and others who stay for hours, downing multiple bottles of soju along with their steaming bowls of soup.
“It’s a great place to go late at night,” says drummer Ha Hyoung-Ju who comes with his friends after long hours practicing. “It’s one of the most famous places in the area although you’d never guess it from how it looks from the outside.”
₩9,000 per bowl.
Seocho-gu Jamwon-dong 10-53 (서울특별시 서초구 잠원동) 10-53; +82 2 543 4716
Paid designated drivers (대리운전)
Seoul's fantastic public transportation system reduces a lot of drunk driving, but it certainly doesn't eliminate it.
In order to provide another safe alternative to drunk driving, a number of companies offer substitute driving services around the clock, which may or may not be the best thing that ever happened to the streets of Seoul.
Revelers under the influence can call in around the clock and get a driver to pilot their car home for approximately ₩10,000-₩15,000.
Card Daeri, +82 2 1599 0000; www.1599-0000.co.kr
Not only do these McDonald’s and Lotteria joints offer their greasy goodness at all hours of the night, but they also deliver right to your door.
Lotteria: 659-12 Chang-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul, Korea (서울특별시 도봉구 창동 659-12); +82 2 1600 9999;www.lotteria.com
McDonald's: 286 Chungryang-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea (서울특별시 동대문구 청량동 286 동광빌딩); +82 2 957 3394; mcdonalds.co.kr
Traveling to a far-off country is no easy thing -- add an unexpected five-hour delay at the airport to your already long day and you’ve got yourself dreaming about a hot shower and a relaxing massage.
Cue Spa on Air, conveniently located at the east side of Incheon International Airport. Spa on Air offers various massages and has a shower/bath/sauna system, and of course, it is open 24/7.
Massage programs include a refreshing foot massage (₩40,000 for 30 minutes), a 30- or 60-minute back and shoulders massage (₩60,000 and ₩80,000, respectively), and a 80-minute full body massage (₩120,000).
Spa on Air also has a nap room, a meeting room, a snack bar and a heel bar, and the lounge is filled with comfortable chaise lounges and sofas as well as the latest magazines to flip through.
The admission fee is ₩15,000 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and ₩20,000 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Spa on Air, B1 East Side, 2850 Unseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon (인천광역시중구운서동 2850); +82 32 743 7042
Cin Woo Lee is a freelance writer for CNNGo who enjoys the intense art of stringing words together.
Heidi Chung was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and received her Bachelor's Degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is currently training to become a broadcast journalist.
Top 10 Attractions, Beijing (China) - Travel Guide
Travel to China: Learn Chinese Dialogue for Visiting Xi An, Hang Zhou, & Su Zhou
You can learn to speak Chinese while visiting some of the most amazing Chinese cities such as Xi An, Su Zhou, and Hang Zhou! With a dialogue that not only provides Chinese characters but also Chinese PinYin, you can easily make the transition from English to Chinese as long as you already know the fundamentals of Chinese! With an English to Chinese translation, you'll find yourself exploring an entirely new world as you travel to China!For those who want to know how to speak Chinese, you'll be amazed with how much of the Chinese language that you'll retain as you practice these dialogues in everyday situations! Not only that, but you'll be better able to communicate in Mandarin Chinese once you have a little background on the famous Terracotta Warriors, West Lake, Tiger Hill, and many other sites of historic importance!
Learning Chinese really becomes so much easier when you have a topic that you can discuss with native Chinese speakers! Since understanding Chinese culture is an important part of knowing how to communicate in Chinese, even if you never visit these fabulous destinations, everyone who wants to learn Mandarin Chinese should study topics that are central to Chinese history! From starting a conversation to building long-term business relationships, learn to speak Mandarin Chinese in a way that shows Chinese that you care about the culture and history of China!You can learn to speak Chinese while visiting some of the most amazing Chinese cities such as Xi An, Su Zhou, and Hang Zhou! With a dialogue that not only provides Chinese characters but also Chinese PinYin, you can easily make the transition from English to Chinese as long as you already know the fundamentals of Chinese! With an English to Chinese translation, you'll find yourself exploring an entirely new world as you travel to China!
For those who want to know how to speak Chinese, you'll be amazed with how much of the Chinese language that you'll retain as you practice these dialogues in ev! eryday s ituations! Not only that, but you'll be better able to communicate in Mandarin Chinese once you have a little background on the famous Terracotta Warriors, West Lake, Tiger Hill, and many other sites of historic importance!
Learning Chinese really becomes so much easier when you have a topic that you can discuss with native Chinese speakers! Since understanding Chinese culture is an important part of knowing how to communicate in Chinese, even if you never visit these fabulous destinations, everyone who wants to learn Mandarin Chinese should study topics that are central to Chinese history! From starting a conversation to building long-term business relationships, learn to speak Mandarin Chinese in a way that shows Chinese that you care about the culture and history of China!
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