Hang : Korea Made Simple

If you are planning your first solo trip to South Korea, safety is probably one of the first things on your mind. Is it safe to walk around Seoul at night? Can a woman travel alone in Korea? What should you do if something goes wrong and you do not speak Korean? For most visitors, South Korea is a relatively easy country to explore alone. Public transportation is extensive, convenience stores and cafés are everywhere, and major tourist areas are usually busy well into the evening. South Korea is currently listed by the U.S. Department of State at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions . That is reassuring, but it does not mean travelers should completely let their guard down. Solo travelers, especially women, should still take normal big-city precautions around nightlife areas, alcohol, dating apps, taxis, personal belongings, and late-night transportation. 1. How Safe Is South Korea for Solo Travel? South Korea is generally convenient for independent travelers, including people v...

 If you want to try a Korean stew that is hot, comforting, and easy to eat with rice, sundubu jjigae (순두부찌개) is an excellent place to start. It is often translated as Korean spicy soft tofu stew or soft bean curd stew . The dish combines extremely soft tofu with a hot broth and ingredients such as clams, shrimp, pork, mushrooms, vegetables, or egg. The classic version is usually red and spicy, but not every bowl tastes the same. Some restaurants make it fairly mild, while others serve a much hotter version with plenty of chili oil and red pepper seasoning. Korea Tourism Organization describes a common version as soft tofu cooked with ingredients such as clams, pork, green onion, garlic, and chili powder. Egg, mushrooms, and chili oil may also be added depending on the recipe. For foreign visitors, the biggest surprises are usually the tofu's unusual texture, the extremely hot stone bowl, and the fact that a seemingly simple tofu stew may contain meat or seafood. Here is what to k...

  If you enjoy tender meat and rich, comforting flavors, galbijjim (갈비찜) is one Korean dish worth trying. Galbijjim is made by slowly cooking beef short ribs in a sweet and savory soy sauce-based seasoning until the meat becomes tender and deeply flavored. Carrots, radish, potatoes, chestnuts, jujubes, mushrooms, or glass noodles may also be added depending on the restaurant and recipe. Unlike many Korean dishes that are famous for their heat, traditional galbijjim is usually not spicy . The flavor is closer to sweet, salty, and savory, making it an approachable choice for travelers who are nervous about Korean chili. It is also quite different from the grilled galbi you may already know from Korean BBQ restaurants. Here is what you should know before ordering galbijjim in Korea, including how it tastes, how to eat it, what to order, and what travelers with dietary restrictions should check. 1. What Is Galbijjim? The name galbijjim (갈비찜) can be roughly understood as braised ribs....

 If you like dumplings, mandu (만두) is one Korean food you should definitely try. At first, Korean mandu may look familiar. Thin dough is wrapped around a filling, then the dumplings are steamed, boiled, pan-fried, or served in soup. But once you start looking at Korean menus, you will quickly discover that “mandu” can mean many different things. Some are filled with pork and vegetables. Some contain kimchi. Some are crispy and fried, while others are soft and juicy. You can even find large dumplings floating in hot soup or simmering in a shared hot pot. Korea Tourism Organization describes mandu as dumplings made by wrapping ingredients such as meat, chives, tofu, and other fillings in thin flour dough. They can then be steamed, fried, or boiled in broth. For foreign visitors, mandu is also relatively easy to order and share. Here is what you need to know about Korean dumplings , including the main types, how they taste, how to order them, and what vegetarians and people with food...

Bukchon Hanok Village is one of the best places in Seoul to experience traditional Korean architecture without leaving the center of the city. But Bukchon is different from a palace, museum, or theme park. It is still a real residential neighborhood where people live in and around traditional Korean houses called hanok (한옥) . Cultural centers, workshops, cafés, tea houses, and small businesses are mixed among private homes. That means the best way to visit is slowly and quietly. For a first visit, allow around two to three hours for the village itself. If you also want lunch, a traditional tea house, or a walk through nearby Samcheong-dong, three to five hours is more comfortable. 1. What Is Bukchon Hanok Village and When Can You Visit? Bukchon sits between the Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palace areas in central Seoul. The name “Bukchon” means “northern village,” referring to its location north of Jongno and Cheonggyecheon. The neighborhood has a long residential history...

If you want to experience a traditional Korean market in the middle of Seoul, Namdaemun Market is one of the easiest places to start. This is not simply a market created for tourists. Namdaemun remains a working wholesale and retail district filled with small shops selling clothing, kitchenware, glasses, accessories, children's clothes, ginseng, souvenirs, household goods, and food. More than 10,000 shops are spread through the streets and buildings around the market, which means the area can feel confusing on your first visit. That is also part of the fun. You can spend one moment looking through kitchen supplies and clothing, then turn into a narrow alley filled with steaming bowls of noodles and sizzling street food. Allow around two to four hours for a first visit. If you also plan to see Sungnyemun Gate or continue to Myeongdong, Namdaemun works well as part of a half-day Seoul itinerary. 1. When Should You Visit Namdaemun Market? Namdaemun Market is located in Jung-gu ...

If you want to experience one of Seoul's most energetic neighborhoods, Hongdae is an easy place to put near the top of your itinerary. Centered around Hongik University and Hongik University Station, Hongdae combines street fashion, K-pop, indie music, busking, cafés, Korean food, character goods, photo booths, pop-up stores, and nightlife within a relatively walkable area. It is also a neighborhood that changes noticeably throughout the day. In the afternoon, people come for shopping, cafés, and nearby Yeonnam-dong. After sunset, busking, restaurants, bars, and nightlife give the streets a completely different energy. For a first visit, allow at least half a day. If you want to shop, eat dinner, explore Yeonnam-dong, and stay for the evening atmosphere, plan from early afternoon until night. 1. Where Is Hongdae and Where Should You Start? The easiest place to start is Hongik University Station . The station is served by: Seoul Subway Line 2 Gyeongui–Jungang Line ...