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South Korea
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South_Korea.md

Seoul

Seoul is the vibrant capital city of South Korea, known for its rich history, cutting-edge technology, and dynamic culture. As the heart of the country, Seoul is a bustling metropolis that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity. (ChatGPT)

Transportation

There are four kinds of transportation available in Seoul.

  1. Subway
    • The subway is a representative means of transportation, but it is often crowded during rush hour. If you feel uncomfortable in crowded places, please use a taxi. You can easily check the route using Google Maps, etc. If you have luggage to store, there are luggage lockers available for a somewhat cheaper price. An app to check luggage locker availability: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.mobinity.locker&hl=ko&gl=US
  2. Bus
    • Although it is likely to be quieter than the subway, it is usually perceived as a slower mode of transportation. However, buses often go to places that the subway does not go to. You can also easily check the bus route using Google Maps.
  3. Taxi
    • Taxis are cheaper than in Barcelona.
  4. Feet
    • It is the most traditional and "eco-friendly" transportation. How about walking a short distance sometimes for your health?

Map

If google maps doesn't show the routes you want to reach. It's not fault of google but Korea's regulations prohibiting exporting maps overseas. These are most popular map applications in those cases:

Food

I have no idea how are the korean foods feel like to foreigners. But anyways there is Korean food that can be found only in Korea I sometimes feel nostalgic for it. Like Barcelona, food delivery is very common in Korea.

However, applications such as User eats what you use in Europe are not popular.

So if you want to have food delivered, try using the following apps. If this link doesn't work, you might need to change region of your icloud account.

  • Yogiyo: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/배달요기요-기다림-없는-맛집-배달앱/id543831532

  • 배달의민족: https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/배달의민족/id378084485

  • At restaurant:

    • It's a common sense that in general going to a restaurant has higher ratings when you search in google maps. Koreans stores/clients are very sensitive on these rating. In Korean restaurants, unlike in Europe, it is okay to call a waiter whenever you need. They will probably come to your table when they see you raising your hand. Koreans do not consider raising your hand to call an waiter rude at all. Often there is a bell on the table. In such cases, conveniently, you can ring the bell and a waiter will come right away. If it doesn't appear, press until the waiter/waitress appears(...), or raise your hand.

  • Street food:

    • Street food often only accepts cash, of course, bizum and iban are not compatible in Korea. Basically, most of them are illegal and hygiene management is poor, but I sometimes used to eat them as well. If you want to try it, I recommend you to try little and not pay much on it.

These are the representative foods in South Korea:

  • Korean BBQ(고깃집): This is basically just cooked meat. This is a similar position with Steak in Barcelona. If you want to supplement your protein through meat, you can give it a try. places for Korean BBQ(find a place better ratings): https://www.google.com/maps/search/고깃집/@37.625531,126.5840797,8.62z/data=!4m2!2m1!6e5?entry=ttu
  • Gukbap(국밥): Gukbap is a warm, non-spicy soup with meat(or some other ingredient) included and is famous as an inexpensive food for the common people. Personally, I'm curious about what foreigners think when they eat it.
  • Jjimdak(찜닭): This is a famous Korean dish made with steamed and seasoned chicken, but it is so sweet that foreigners are unlikely to like it.
  • Hot dogs(핫도그): Hot dogs are not Korean food, but in Korea, hot dogs have a somewhat different appearance and taste. If you happen to pass by these franchise, I think you should give it a try. Food of the same shape seems to be called corn dog in other countries. MyeongRyang Hotdog(명랑핫도그): https://www.google.com/maps/search/명랑핫도그+/@37.2463536,123.6922859,6.46z?entry=ttu
  • Fried Chicken(치킨): Korea's most loved dish. Korea's seasoned chicken has a very deep history. Interestingly in Korea, when people says chicken (in english word) means this "Fried Chicken". Number of fried chicken restaurant are even more than the number of cafe in South Korea. I highly recommend it as a delivery food to order when you don't want to leave your accommodation. There are many kinds of fried chicken. Try the golden olive(황금 올리브) from BBQ(name of the franchise chicken store). You can also visit instead of delivery to try if you want: https://www.google.com/maps/search/bbq+치킨/@37.5511511,126.9421542,12.2z?entry=ttu
  • Pizza(피자): I don't know why, but it seems like Korean pizza has changed a lot since it was introduced to suit the preferences of Koreans. Like fried chicken above, pizza is also readlly loved food in South Korea. There are many premium pizza places, but strangely foreigners say that Pizza School, a cheapest chicken brand, is the most delicious for them. It's worth a try, but it's very different from Italian pizza. If you can't imagine sweet pizza, it's okay to pass up.
  • Jajangmyeon(짜장면): One of the most representative Korean foods. It is a sweet noodle. Although it originated in China, it has undergone many modifications, so even the Chinese consider it as an Korean food(...). It is one of the foods that are difficult to find overseas. There is a high chance that it will taste similar no matter which store you eat it in, but we recommend the following store. If the store is too far away, you can search for 짜장면 on Google Maps and find the nearest store. : https://www.google.com/maps/search/홍콩반점/@34.9515189,71.8268977,3z?entry=ttu
  • Jjamppong(짬뽕): It is a Chinese dish made with various seafood. Although it originated in China, it has undergone many modifications, so even the Chinese consider it Korean food. There is a 100% chance that any store that sells Jajangmyeon also sells Jjambbong.
  • Kimchi(김치): There are many ways to cook kimchi, but it is often served as a side dish, but Even I do not prefer to eat it raw because of the too strong taste. There are soups made with kimchi. Although it is a very popular Korean food, it is probably not suitable for foreigners' tastes. If you still want to try it, search for 김치찌개 on Google Maps and find a highly rated restaurant. 김치찌개 stores: https://www.google.com/maps/search/김치찌개/@37.5656755,126.9679397,13.3z/data=!4m2!2m1!6e5?entry=ttu
  • Jeyuk Bokkeum(제육볶음): This is a popular Korean food that I personally like. It's basically stired pork, but the taste varies greatly depending on the restaurant.
  • Chicken Feet(닭발): This is one of the representative Korean late-night food made with only the feet of the chicken cooked separately. We ususally order this as a delivery than going to store. It varies from store to store, but it is often super spicy. I think it's a good idea to give it a try, but if you order, be sure to order the rice balls(주먹밥) and drinks together.
  • Sushi(스시): You can still eat this in Barcelona, but if you really want to find it in Korea, I recommend this place or you can go some other place with good ratings. Godden sushi(갓덴스시): https://www.google.com/maps/search/갓덴스시/@37.5658335,126.919003,12z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu
  • Budae Jjigae(부대찌개): It is mainly made with bone broth and ham, but is considered one of the national foods. This might bad for health because it's kindof salty, but it is very popular.
  • Curry(카레): Most curries found in Korea are Japanese-style curries. You can also easily find curry in Barcelona, but in here it is usually sweeter and less salty. I really like Korean curry, but I don't know if it's suitable for foreigners. Not recommended.
  • Udon(우동): Although it is Japanese food, it is also popular in Korea because it is a neighboring country. I've never tried Japanese udon, but I guess it's probably not that different. Foreigners are also likely to like it. Yeokjeon U-dong: https://www.google.com/maps/search/역전우동/@37.5422673,126.8940102,12z?entry=ttu
  • Grilled tripe(곱창구이), tripe casserole(곱창전골), stir-fried tripe(곱창볶음): Dishes made from cow's small intestine(...). Personally, I don't like it because it's too greasy, but it's interesting, so I think it might be a good idea to try it.
  • Hamburgers(햄버거): Would you like to eat hamburgers? I recommend to eat in Barcelona.
  • Tteokbokki(떡볶이): Not recommended as it is spicy and contains too many carbohydrates(not healty). It is mainly popular among Korean female students(they should have some genetic differnce let them to like this taste).
  • Sundae(순대): Korean traditional food. It is currently one of Korea's representative street foods. It is also a representative snack menu along with tteokbokki, fried food, ramen, and gimbap. A boiled food filled with pig intestines mixed with bean sprouts, beef bean sprouts, glutinous rice, and pork blood, seasoned with soybean paste. It is a food with very strong likes and dislikes. sundae stores(try somewhere near and have good ratings): https://www.google.com/maps/place/기절초풍왕순대/@37.517742,126.7818765,11.36z/data=!4m11!1m3!2m2!1z7Iic64yA!6e5!3m6!1s0x357ca02693a44f11:0x8f9ba5d018feb6d6!8m2!3d37.4781513!4d126.958333!15sCgbsiJzrjIBaCCIG7Iic64yAkgESc29vbmRhZV9yZXN0YXVyYW50mgEjQ2haRFNVaE5NRzluUzBWSlEwRm5TVVJMY1UxVVVraFJFQUXgAQA!16s%2Fg%2F11bxf296d1?entry=ttu
  • Pork feet(족발): A food made by boiling a pig's leg in seasoned broth and then cutting it into pieces. It is characterized by a very chewy texture. I recommend to try.
  • Raw meat(육회): It's sliced beef but in raw, usually it's marinated with dedicated korean source and egg yolk. you don't need to worry about parasite at all. because Korea has super strict policy to grow up porks/cows and is very well maintained. Raw meat is known as prefered from foreigners as well. I highly suggest you to try.
  • Living octopus(산낙지): You might wonder why these people try eating everything in raw? who knows why. I don't suggest much. because it's challening. but it could become an experience I guess.

Of course, you can try some random restaruant and food as you want. But I would say it's better to check the rating in google maps before you enter. If it's less than 4 stars, maybe better to find some other place.

Attractions

  • National Museum of Korea: A museum containing Korean history and artifacts.
  • Gyeongbokgung Palace: Some days it is open and some days it is not, so you should check in advance before visiting. I've ever tried to visit but it was closed(...). It was the site of a medieval king's palace.
  • Hangang Park: The Han River is a very famous river that runs through Seoul. It's a popular spot with several parks built around the river, but it's still just a walking trail and a river. Be careful not to be caught by a tout and buy something.
  • Myeondong: I've never been here but this place this is very famous for tourists.
  • N Seoul Tower: you can see the looking of whole seoul from this tower. you have to take a bus at the entrance of the mountain.
  • (Work in progress...)

Emergency

It's best if this doesn't happen. But in case of an emergency, you can call the following numbers.

No worry about language, once you call and start speaking English they will find a person who can speak soon. If you need translation at any other cases, please do not hesitate to contact me through my personal number. I'll turn on the ring while you are staying South Korea.

  • Ambulance: 119 (Once you describe your location, the ambulance will take you to the nearest hospital)
  • Police: 112 (Once you describe your location, the police will arrive in case of a crime)
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