On this museum and theater trip, we go to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary art and the Chungma Art Center for a musical. Come follow along to experience a day of art in Seoul.

Booking Theater Tickets

Many people ask about booking tickets for musicals in South Korea. It’s easy if you have your FRC (Foreign Registration Card) and a Korean bank account. If you are a tourist or living in Korea on SOFA status without becoming a resident, you may find purchasing tickets challenging.

We book our tickets through Interpark which has an English language interface. If you don’t have a Korean bank account, you may want to use a bi-lingual Korean concierge service. Such companies can help with purchasing tickets, hotels, and more. We usually buy our theater tickets at least a month in advance.

Arrive in Seoul Friday Night

We wanted a relaxing day in Seoul, so we went to the city the night before so we could have a lazy morning. We decided to say in Ikseon-dong in Jongro-gu so that we would be near many museums and art galleries the next day.

Morning Bagels

Many restaurants and cafes in Korea may not open until 10am or 11am. This means it’s sometimes a challenge to find western breakfast in Seoul before 10am.

Thankfully, when we sauntered out of our hotel around 9 the streets were empty, except for the breakfast place we wanted to try. Here, people were awake and waiting when we got there. After eating the bagels, we could see why – @london.bagel.museum had some amazing bagels. Our favorite combo: dark chocolate bagel with maple, and pecan cream cheese.

Morning Art Self-Tour

After bagels, made our way to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, stopping at a couple of galleries along the way. The contemporary art scene in South Korea is vibrant and not to be missed. We take every chance we have to experience what we can.

National Museum Of Modern Art⁰

02-3701-9500

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 종로구 삼청로 30

One of Korea’s premier modern and contemporary art museums.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Meet Friends at Seoul Station

Met up with @zachs_life_in_soko (who you should also be following on Instagram) and Leo at Seoul Station and then dropped our bags off at our hotel and meandered Itaewon a bit before Kinky Boots. Grabbed some @oldferrydonut to tide us over til dinner.

Seoul Station is the best meetup location for joining a group if you plan to stay in Itaewon.

Seoul Station⁵

02-6110-1321

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 중구 한강대로 405

One of Seoul’s largest transport hubs for trains and subways.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Attend Kinky Boots

Such. A. Great. Show. Lola was amazing. The talents, as usual here in Korea, were amazing. We don’t speak Korean and it never matters. The musicals in South Korea transport us past language every time.

Chungmu Art Center⁰

02-2230-6600

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 중구 퇴계로 387

Modern, large performing arts center.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Hotel or Home

On this particular evening, we chose to stay in Seoul. Getting back to Pyeongtaek can be hectic or even impossible after a late event. However, you may find you are out early enough to catch a bus, train, subway, or drive yourself home. It just depends on your circumstances.

Follow Us on Instagram

Also, we post all of our adventures to our Instagram account and then share our trips on South of Seoul so that our adventures can encourage as many people as possible to travel! It’s great to have community partnerships so that more people can fall in love with traveling in Korea.

Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group

You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most of who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventures across the country.

Volunteer with South of Seoul

Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Museum and Theater Itinerary in Seoul appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

Looking for a hiking adventure? Seoul is more than just one of the biggest cities in the world, it’s also a great hiking destination. Bukhansan National Park provides sweeping and it can be easily hiked in a day from Pyeongtaek.

About Our Day Trip

Friends recently invited hiking at Bukhansan National Park in Seoul. The day was perfect despite a few hurdles along the way, like timing. We recommend leaving as early as possible from Pyeongtaek for any hikes you want to do in Seoul.

Coffee and Baked Goods

Rollingwood ⁵

01099049370

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 강남구 도산대로62길 26 1층 롤린우드

This cafe is filled with natural elements for a soothing vibe. They sell a variety of drinks and deserts as well as oat milk and soy milk.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We spent a beautiful, early fall day day in Seoul yesterday and kicked it off with a visit to one of our favorite cafes, @rollinwood_bakeshop. You have to love a place that lives by the same motto as you!

A Failed Attempt at Lunch

We met up with a friend for lunch at Wheat and Boi, however, we still can’t wait to try it because by the time we got seated at Wheat and Bori, we realized we needed to leave in order to meet up with our friend’s tai chi group for a hike. What we saw and smelled of this place has us itching to go back as soon as we can.

Meetup with Friends

Friendship. Community. Hiking. Food. Gathering. Refueling. Grounding. Sweating. Laughing. Breathing. These are a few words that come to mind as I reflect on yesterday. Our friend invited us to hike with a few members of her tai chi class, bridging and sharing two parts of her world, and I am so thankful. The experience and views were … well, you’ll see in the next few posts.

Bukhansan National Park

Our hike brought us into Bukhansan National Park where we were led by a career hiker who never broke a sweat and walked up the mountain like a Sunday stroll and followed up by a Tai Chi master who did the whole thing barefoot. As the trail opened up lookouts, we took advantage to enjoy the beauty and a quick rest. This was the first and made us excited for the future vistas.

At our third stopped, we divided into two groups: one stayed and did tai chi, the other hiked up to the top of the mountain.

Neither words nor photos can every truly do the experience justice.

Met back up with the whole group and took some more pictures to help capture the memory of friendships made.

Dinner & Friends

Mother-in-Law Hangover Soup⁰

02-379-4294

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 종로구 진흥로 421

Mom and pop shop nestled next to the mountains in the north of Seoul.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Gathered for hangover soup, radish kimchi, and 막걸리 (makkeolli) after the hike. Poured each other makkeolli and cheered to friendship. There is a special bond between people that overcome obstacles together.

Follow Us on Instagram

Also, we post all of our adventures to our Instagram account and then share our trips on South of Seoul so that our adventures can encourage as many people as possible to travel! It’s great to have community partnerships so that more people can fall in love with traveling in Korea.

Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group

You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most of who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventures across the country.

Volunteer with South of Seoul

Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Bukhansan Hiking Itinerary in Seoul appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

We love a good date night and the Suwon Hot Air Balloon date itinerary is one of the best. Although it started off slow, it was packed with beautiful sights, lovely cafes, and the perfect company – each other.

Our Relaxing Day & Night Date

Since we spend our weeks very busy, pouring over student papers, time often gets away from us. When the weekend rolls around we are ready to spend time together doing what we love. Be sure to follow us on Instagram to see our latest adventures in real-time!

It’s important to note this date begins in Pyeongtaek and then we travel to Suwon. If you live in a different area you will want to substitute the first stop for something close to your home. That said let’s go!

We started the morning with a workout to counterbalance the calories we anticipated for the day. On our way out of Pyeongtaek, we stopped @daldal_kong, which we had tried while in quarantine, but we were happy to stop by in person. Since the financiers and the banana pudding were perfections, you should definitely try them. Also, one day, we plan to order one of the amazing cakes.

Dal Dal Kong⁰

0507-1370-9958

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 평택시 현신3길 5-16 행복마루 1층

Small shop that is set up mostly for takeout, which offers banana pudding, cookies, and cakes.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We had places to go and things to eat, today in Suwon. The old fortress wall was still a part of the journey between stops. And we had fun exploring the Suwon inside the fortress walls.

Suwon Hwaseong Fortress⁵

031-290-3600

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 수원시 팔달구 정조로 825

Check the Web Link for current info on performances, fees, etc. The Suwon Fortress is a picturesque location that wraps though the center of the city of Suwon. Although the primary grounds have an entrance fee, much of the wall can be visited and viewed for free (but we recommend paying). There are stunning free performances held in front of the main gate that are highly recommended.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Had an awesome dinner @palddaksan – great drinks, food, music, and ambiance.

Palddaksan⁰

0507-1400-2118

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 수원시 팔달구 화서문로45번길 32 지하

Cocktail bar and restaurant with a jazzy open-air vibe. Traditional Korean dishes are elevated to next level eating.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Wrapped up our gastronomic adventures @teited_coffee. The name refers to the word for ‘roof’ in Korean and the drinks and desserts invited us under that roof. However, the yogurt cheesecakes were new and delicious and the signature pistachio latte and pineapple plum latte were just as special.

TEITED⁰

010-9990-5318

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 수원시 팔달구 신풍로45번길 8

Small modern cafe with a signature pistachio latte and yogurt cheesecakes.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After dessert, walked the fortress wall at night, making our way to Flying Suwon. This has been on our bucket list since we got here almost three years ago. Tried going for Chad’s b-day exactly 6 months ago but wind prevented us. It was closed earlier today for the same reason…but we made it! (Currently next group in line.)

Suwon Fortress Janganmun Gate ⁵

031-251-4513

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 수원시 팔달구 장안동

A stunning and iconic gate in Suwon.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After three years and a few attempts, including earlier today, Flying Suwon finally lifted off ground with us as passengers. Also it was a great night to fly above the Hwaseong Fortress with a bird’s-eye view.

Goodnight, Suwon. Thanks for the fun day!

More Suwon Date Ideas

If you like our Suwon Hot Air Balloon Date Itinerary you might also enjoy looking at these Suwon options:

• Suwon Fortress and Chicken Street Date Day
• Suwon Fortress Date Night
• PCBS Craft Beer at Elephant and Castle in Suwon

Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group

You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most of who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventures across the country.

Volunteer with South of Seoul

Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

Suwon Hot Air Balloon Date Itinerary

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Suwon Hot Air Balloon Date Itinerary appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

Seoul makes the perfect theater weekend trip for musical theater fans. Seoul Charlotte theater itinerary to see Jekyll and Hyde (Korean language performance) with friends looked something like this. Actually, this was our second time seeing this fantastic musical.

Booking Tickets

We book our tickets through Interpark which has an English language interface. If you don’t have a Korean bank account, you may want to use a bi-lingual Korean concierge service. Also, such companies can help with purchasing tickets, hotels, and more. We usually buy our theater tickets at least a month in advance.

Saturday Seoul Forest and Theater Focus

For this Seoul Charlotte Theater Itinerary, we woke up and had a relaxing morning before meeting our friends. We all decided to catch an express bus to Seoul together rather. We purchased our express bus tickets 3-5 days in advance so that we didn’t get caught off guard. You can do this at the bus terminals. Make sure not to lose your tickets!

Our bus dropped us off at Dongseoul Express Bus Terminal. We choose this arrival point since we planned to visit Seoul Forest on our first day. However, Seoul has a variety of bus terminals to choose from and you need to choose carefully. Make sure you know where you are headed when selecting your arrival terminal. You don’t want to be caught far away from your destination.

Our first stop in Seoul was brunch at @toit_bleu. We all shared a strawberry cream croissant, asparagus Brie toast, sweet pumpkin soup, and avocado salad. Although, we had planned on going to a different location we found on Instagram, we all felt too hungry to wait and stopped at Toit Bleu instead. However, we think that Toit Bleu was the perfect choice.

Next, what was supposed to be 2nd brunch turned into an awesome detour into the handmade fashion world of @eastoklm. Such cool upcycled styles and fusion of modern and traditional. Our friend Lanae has an obsession with finding poorly marked doors in allies and going in to explore. This shop will be moving in June or July (2022). We will try to update the South of Seoul listing with the new info.

Toit Bleu⁰

070-8886-5254

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 성동구 서울숲길 50

Very tasty brunch cafe.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After shopping, we needed more coffee. Therefore, we fueled up on caffeine @allthatcoffee with rich and flavorful espressos. This new Italian-style espresso bar trend in Seoul just makes sense.

East olkm ⁰

0507-1375-0201

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

668-140 Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga Seo

Changing locations in June.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We used our liquid fuel to saunter around Seoul Forest Park and enjoy the green space. Seoul Forest isn’t massive but it’s a fun place to enjoy and you will recognize many of the areas from dramas or Instagram. We all spent about an hour here enjoying the sites before going back out into the city to explore more. You could easily bring a picnic and enjoy a relaxing lunch. Plenty of people do this.

all that coffee⁰

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

A short interlude to enjoy the art found in storefronts, restaurants, and on the street.

Seoul Forest⁵

02-460-2905

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 성동구 뚝섬로 273

Huge series of connected parks

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We left the Seoul Forest to forage for more food. However, we didn’t plan on the fact that the lantern festival and loosening of COVID restrictions would make it close to impossible to find a place to sit down and eat. Restaurant lines were either extensive, the menu sold out, or (eventually) the restaurants closed for break time.

Thankfully, We stumbled upon soup dumplings @baozi.pu. At first, we were sad because they had only one time of dumpling. However, we needed food so we just ordered two of the same thing. Best idea. The dumplings were wonderful.

With a few dumplings in our bellies, we thought we found burgers and a place to sit, but they were on break and only offering drinks, so we grabbed a delicious cinnamon bun @munchiesandgoodies.

Baozi Seoul Forest ⁰

0507-1333-9256

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 성동구 왕십리로6길 13

Small Chinese restaurant serving s dumplings and soups.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Then we hit the jackpot of desserts on the next street @mellower_kr. Not our first time at this cafe, but the first time having the lemon meringue croissant, which was magical.

Munchies And Goodies ⁰

0507-1369-5294

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 성동구 연무장길 33 1층

This market has fresh, pre-made sandwiches and plates, while also selling homemade baked goods. There are also some organic type products, like natural toothpaste and such.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We eventually needed to say goodbye to Seoul Forest and make our way to Lotte Tower and the surrounding area to check-in to to our hotel and grab dinner before the show. Across the bridge from Lotte Tower, we opted to load up on fresh veggies, mushrooms, and some protein with shabu @sj_nabe.

Mellower⁰

02-499-1112

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 성동구 성수이로7길 39

A hip two-story cafe in Seoul Forest with some unique twists the the usual offerings and a mellow vibe.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We made it to the @charlotte_theater for the main event—Jekyll and Hyde. We saw it with new leads and this performance was even better than the last, which is saying a lot since the first performance was great enough to bring us back again! Not only the vocals, but the acting was also phenomenal. We don’t speak Korean and we still love every musical we see in South Korea. Art overcomes language.

Lotte Tower⁵

Hangul Address

서울 송파구 올림픽로 300

A large tower in the center of a shopping and entertainment complex.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Charlotte Theater⁰

1644-0078

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 송파구 올림픽로 240

A pleasant medium sized theater with excellent shows.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We after partied with amazing gelato from @gelatigelati_official. It’s nice to take a moment to talk about the performance before heading back to the hotel for the night.

Gelati Gelati⁵

02-422-3281

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 송파구 잠실로 209

A fancy gelato chain with very nice gelato. This branch is near Lotte World.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Sunday Hongdae Book Street Focus

Started the day with probably the best bagels we’ve had in Korea. Loulou Bagels in Jamsil is a return visit for us. This bagel shop was an easy walk from our hotels. The perfect way to begin the day.

Then our friends introduced us to some American diner fare @butterfingerpancakes for the real breakfast of the day.

Butter Finger pancakes⁰

02-532-5740

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 서초구 강남대로61길 13

This restaurant serves American style large portion breakfast. Huge portions of pancake varieties. Omelette and other lunch option available. This place opens till 1am!

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

None of has had been to Hongdae/Mapo-gu in over a year, so we jetted on over. And by jetted we mean sat on a subway and caught up on Instagram and the news.

Burned off the morning carb load with some walking along Book Street and photo shoots.

Gyeongul Book Street Station⁰

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After we got enough vitamin D, we had to refuel, so grabbed some Vietnamese from @banhmiphuong_official.

Bahn Mi Phuong^4.7

02-3144-1898

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 마포구 성미산로29길 20 1, 2, 3층

This colorful Vietnamese restaurants specializes in bahn mi and does have a few other options to enjoy.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Continued with the Vietnamese theme and grabbed Vietnamese coffee and relaxed for a while.

We had seen @teot_dessert earlier in the day and had to stop by on the way back to Seoul Station. We helped the worker out by grabbing and devouring the last two desserts: a Kahlua dark chocolate tea cake and a lavender lemon cheesecake mousse. So good.

Teot ⁰

0507-1337-1214

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 마포구 동교로41길 4

An elegant dessert shop with expensive and refined treats.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Just waiting for the train home. What a fun weekend! Do we look exhausted as we feel?

Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group

Want to see experiences similiar to this Seoul Charlotte Theater Itinerary, then you are welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers group. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventure across the country.

Volunteer with South of Seoul

Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Seoul Charlotte Theater Weekend Itinerary appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

Have you wanted to spend a weekend in Busan attending the theater? This Busan theater weekend Itinerary will make it all seem fun and possible.

About Busan

Busan is a port city that exists on the southeast coast of South Korea. Busan also exists as one of South Korea’s seven Special Administrative Districts or Metropolitan Cities. It’s also the second-largest city in South Korea.

Busan has 15 major administrative districts and a single county that together include a population of around 3.6 million. The full metropolitan area, the Southeastern Maritime Industrial Region, has a population of approximately 8 million people.

Busan has an active cultural scene with many creative neighborhoods, museums, theaters, and the Busan International Film Festival. We love to visit Busan to take advantage of the many creative activities and delicious food. Come along on our most recent trip.

Booking Theater Tickets in South Korea

We have our FRC cards and open a Korean Bank Account. This allows us to easily book tickets online for shows and events. It also provides us increased freedom to book places to stay on Korean hotel apps which often offer better prices.

We use Interpark to book our theater tickets in Seoul, Cheonan, and Busan. Interpark does not always offer the easiest shopping experience but it does provide access to amazing shows across Korea.

Leaving Pyeongtaek on a Friday Afternoon

And we’re off. Heading to the train station to grab the bullet train to Busan. Seeing Lion King tomorrow down there. We catch the SRT bullet train from Jije Station. We leave our car in the nearby parking lot for the weekend.

Jije Station⁰

000-000-0000

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기도 평택시 경기대로 777

E-mart is about a 10 minute walk M Bus Stops outside Jijae Station SRT (High speed train) Station

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Pro-Tip: Always remember that no bullet trains stop at AK Plaza. Many people may tell you to, “Catch the KTX from AK Plaza.” However, they are confusing the KTX with the ITX or not realizing that bullet trains and regular trains differ.

Goof⁰

0507-1320-2750

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

부산 부산진구 동성로 25

Self-styled as a record bar, this is the place where the “Cool Kids” hangout. Offers many different drip coffee beans, cocktails, and some delicious food.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Welcome to @goof_busan! We arrived in Busan and decided to finally try this great cafe/bar in our favorite area of Busan. We started with the basil milkshake and passion fruit ade, which were flavorful and not overly sweet. The prosciutto and melon arrived shortly after followed by the baked Brie. To end the Goof food and drink tour, we indulged ourselves with a fudgelicious chocolate cake and the signature “Cool Kids” latte. The pomegranate seeds with the ice cream and chocolate cake might just be what dreams are made of.

Saturday Explore the Busan Before the Theater

Yeongdo Island

We decided to spend the day exploring Yeongdo Island, which is the island where the beginning of the book/TV show “Pachinko” takes place. We walked there across a bridge, but back in the day travel between the island and Busan was done via ferry.

AREA6⁰

1644-1953

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

부산 영도구 태종로105번길 37-3

This art community has a number of local artisan shops: teas, coffee, deli, art, scents, towels, and more.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Arrived at AREA6 – a cultural space full of little artisan shops on Yeongdo. Made our way through each one.

Grabbed breakfast @lolowa_daily – this amazing grocery and deli on Yeongdo. The cook, a word we just learned in Korean – 요리사, was SO nice, and we are now Instagram friends. Every time that I think we make progress in Korean, though, is just another failed attempt. However, everyone kindly allows us to slaughter the language with our accent and incorrect grammar and diction;)

The area around AREA6 used to be older markets, with the Yeongdo Traditional Market still right by it. We stumbled upon the restored fish cake grocer and museum. Grabbed an interesting version of the sotteok-sotteok. The dish includes rice cake and hot dogs nestled in a fish cake. Forgot to grab a picture though.

After breakfast, we headed to the Heuinyeoul Culture Village via the Jeoryeong Coastal Trail in search of a cafe.

Cupnut⁰

0507-1370-1541

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

부산 금정구 금정로149번안길 18

Donut shop in Busan.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Grabbed a light, flavorful donut from @cupnut_yeongdo to tide us over on our exploration.

The Having⁰

0507-1365-6919

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

부산 영도구 절영로 224-1

Hip, minimalist cafe overlooks the ocean and a view of Songpo Beach.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Had some amazing fanciers @thehaving_coffee not to mention one of the best vanilla lattes I’ve had.

After The Having, we walked around Huinyeoul Culture Village some more, taking in the color.

Strolled along the coast for a while before heading back to the area of the theater for dinner.

Jeonpo Restaurant ⁰

051-818-2330

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

부산 부산진구 전포대로186번길 28

This small and stylish restaurant has bulgogi, marinated crab, kimchi stews, banchan, etc. Menu was in Korean.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Whenever we are in Busan, it has become our tradition to get dinner @jeonpo_bobjeep. It’s our favorite traditional Korean restaurant in Busan. After dinner, we tried @liedown.roasters for two tasty lattes, a chocolate chip walnut cookie and a fudgy chocolate cake. Not one regret to be had!

Dream Theatre⁵

1833-3755

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

부산 남구 전포대로 133

New theatre space in Busan within a newly constructed mall and hotel

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

]The Lion King International Tour is the reason we came to Busan this weekend! Such a great show and the @dreamtheatre_busan is one of our favorite venues! Don’t hesitate to see a show while in Korea.

Sunday is Brunch and Return Home Day

After a big Saturday exploring Busan and seeing a show, we take our time on Sunday. We wake up a little later, enjoy a slow brunch, and then catch a mid-day train home. This allows us an evening to relax at home and get ready for your work week. This trip’s brunch was a classic we look forward to on every visit.

Ole Coffee House ⁵

070-4300-6933

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

부산 부산진구 동성로39번길 19 2층 오엘이커피

This safe abs brunch place makes everything from scratch, such as their preserves and granola. The food is made with fresh ingredient. The ambiance has an earthy aesthetic and is soothing to the soul.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After the amazing performance, we needed to eat before heading home. A vibrant wall of azaleas ushered us to brunch on this sunny spring day. The last time we were in Busan, we discovered @olecoffeehouse and are so glad to be back to enjoy their artisan food!

Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group

You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventure across the country.

Volunteer with South of Seoul

Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Busan Theater Weekend Itinerary appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

Have you ever wondered what the perfect Sunday brunch in Bijeon-dong, Pyeongtaek looks like? Well, follow along with us as we spend the perfect day falling in love with our city all over again.

About Bijeon-dong (비전동) Pyeongaek-si

Bijeon-dong is located in Pyeongtaek-si, South Korea. The neighborhood includes part of the popular area known as Sosabeol. Bijeon-dong has both older and newer areas to explore.

Parking in Bijeon-dong often comes with complications. Plan on paying for parking if you come from outside of the area. Parking may cost around 3,000 won per hour in private garages.

Difficult parking means a walking brunch day makes the most sense. You can wander through the streets and parks from one cafe to the next and throw in a little shopping along the way. Leaving your garage in one garage will allow you to relax and enjoy your day.

Bijeon-dong has more cafes and restaurants than you can try in a year. Finding a few favorites will make your walking brunch more relaxing and help you build community with each visit.

Walking Sunday Brunch Itinerary

We love to document the beautiful days that we spend living our lives in Pyeongtaek. Our weekend, walking brunch days give us the chance to connect with our community, deepen relationships, and find the connections that create community.

TABC⁰

070-8670-7004

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 평택시 비전9길 12-20 1층 탭시

This hip, little Korean Italian restaurants serves various pasta, steaks, risotto, and goulash. It specializes in pairing natural wines with the meal.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We are still pretending that we are on vacation even at home. To keep our brunch tradition alive, we headed to Tab c and it did not disappoint. We will definitely be back.

Pyeongtaek Korean Tutors⁰

010-5092-3022

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Don't wait to find a class. You can get started on learning Korean right now if you get a tutor. They teach both group and individual classes and have certificates in Teaching Korean to Foreigner Language Speakers. Private lessons are 30,000 won an hour with discounts for groups.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Panco ⁰

0507-1469-1196

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 평택시 비전9길 74 1층

Quick and tasty ramen and soba restaurant in Sosabeol.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Should You Go to a Walking Brunch in Pyeongtaek Today?

You will enjoy a walking brunch the most if you go either on a day with good air quality or your preferred weather. However, you can also enjoy a walking brunch if you go prepared for incidental weather and the current air conditions. Here is what is happening currently in Pyeongtaek so that you can determine what is right for you right now.

Current Air Quality in Pyeongtaek

Air quality and weather change throughout the day. However, having an idea of what the air quality is right now can help make decisions easier. You can download the Air Matters App for your phone to keep current on changing air quality conditions throughout the day. You can even set up alerts.

Godeok, Pyeongtaek Air Quality

Bijeondong, Pyeongtaek Air Quality

Current Pyeongtaek Weather

More brunch ideas

Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group

You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes moving to Pyeongtaek easier.

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Sunday Brunch in Bijeon-dong Itinerary appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

Seoul doesn’t have to be all day, sometimes we just pop into Seoul for an afternoon or evening date night.

Getting to Seoul from Pyeongtaek Itinerary

On the bus headed to AK Plaza to catch a train to Seoul to see Billy Elliot at the D-Cube Art Center. We could have driven, but the bus is more fun! Trains are a great way to spend some time together relaxing and catching up on your week.

Pyeongtaek Station⁰

000-000-0000

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

주소 경기 평택시 평택로 51

AK Plaza - Giant department store with a movie theater, multiple food courts, book store, Daiso, etc. TongBok Market - Korean traditional market selling food and more for affordable prices. Pyeongtaek Bus Terminal Express Bus Terminal Pyeongtaek Police Station Pyeongtaek Post Office Catch a bus (#20) / Taxi to Camp Humphreys. Click below to learn more about the 20 bus.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Grab Dinner Near Yeongdeungo Station

Gotta love happy accidents. After getting off at Yeongdeungo Station, we walked to the BBQ joint we had seen before, but it was closed. We pulled up Naver, hit the restaurant tab, and off we went checking out potential dinner places. We found @yankeesburger_pizza and loved it: the vibe, music, pizza, and burgers. Mullae is such an interesting neighborhood – part industrial shops, part art shops, part cool pubs/restaurants, and part cafe. This neighborhood might become our tailgate tradition before the musicals.

Yankee Pizza and Burger ⁴

070-7758-6263

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 영등포구 도림로 434-1

This little pizza/burger joint in the industrial area of Mullae has a fun atmosphere.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Take a Slow Walk to the Theater

We still had some time before he needed to head to the theater, so we explored this interesting neighborhood, Mullae-dong: industrial shops juxtaposed with hip alleyways full of wine bars, pubs, restaurants, and cafes. (PS – loved the Azit shop signage.)

Coffee and Dessert are Always a Must

There was a crowd outside this cafe, so we checked it out. @cafe_giggle is one that we will come back too – great drinks and cakes. Highly recommend the salted caramel and vanilla nut crumble lattes. Loved the ambiance as well!

Cafe Giggle⁰

010-9124-3639

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 영등포구 도림로128길 21

A cute little cafe in the Mullae district of Seoul. Offers a change from the standard desserts and adds a little flair to the standard list of beverages.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Continue Your Walk and Enjoy the Street Art

We zig-zagged our way to the D-Cube, making a list of galleries and culinary establishments to check out next time we come to see a show. Can’t get enough of the street art, so here are a few more pics.

Stop at an Art Gallery

From street to gallery, we loved these pieces by Kim Han Ki @gallerymullae.

Gallery Mullae ⁰

010-9210-8892

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 영등포구 도림로131길 4-2

A fun, small gallery.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Enjoy a Show at the Dcube Arts Center

An easy stroll from the Mullae Creative Village to the @dcubeartscenter brought us to the pinnacle of our day of art enjoyment—Billy Elliot The Musical. The D-Cube Art Center is a great Theatre with not a bad seat in the house. The talent for these shows never ceases to amaze! We have loved every performance we have seen in Korea and we never mind if they aren’t in English.

D-Cube Art Center⁰

0507-1439-3000

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

서울 구로구 경인로 662

A theater showing many popular plays and musicals throughout the year.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

You Can Follow Us on Instagram

 You can follow our adventures on Instagram @brianandchadsexcellentadventure. We travel all over Korea and share our favorite adventures along the way.

Looking for More Itineraries?

South of Seoul’s itinerary selection is one of the largest in South Korea with 40+ itineraries covering cities across the country. You can find many more Seoul date night blogs as well!

Join a Group

Learn more about travel in South Korea by joining Pyeongtaek Travelers.

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Seoul Musical Theater Date Night Itinerary appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

Looking for a fabulous road trip? Then, our slow-travel Daegu road trip itinerary is just the thing! A detailed look at our relaxing and enjoyable weekend in Daegu. These are the perfect two days for couples or friends looking to spend a day around food, art, and nature.

Traveling To Daegu

We often take road trips rather than trains or busses so that we can enjoy the journey as much as the destination. A little while ago, we took a weekend trip Daegu to celebrate US Labor Day weekend. The trip was one we will not soon forget. Daegu was filled with great food and beautiful spaces. This is a city that should get more attention than it does.

Friday: Leave Late Friday Rather Than Rush on Saturday

We left Friday night and stopped off at Daejeon for dinner and dessert. Pyeongtaek to Daegu is a long drive and if you leave on Friday you won’t have to stress on Saturday. Instead, can stop and enjoy a relaxing meal and coffee on the way to Daegu so that Friday feels like date night. On this trip, we chose to stop off in one of our favorite parts of Daejeon and feast on schnitzel and cake before continuing on to Daegu.

Schnitzle⁰

07042113232

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대전 동구 철갑2길 16

Korean German Fusian. The schnitzel was lovely, the goulash was spicy, and the fries are sweet. A touch of Korean and a lot of Germanic flavor.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Gwansa Chon Coffee⁵

070-7798-8686

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대전 동구 수향길 47

This coffee shop specializes in their drinks and offers only two types of dessert. Located in an old house that they kept dark and earthy with cool tables. You can buy their roasted coffee beans to take home.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Saturday: Officially Begin Your Slow Daegu Tour

Did some city hiking today. We both love to just wander a city the first day – to get bearing, to take in sights and sounds, to exercise so we can eat all day;). Here are some of our favorite storefronts and signage. My favorites: “It’s okay if it’s not perfect. It’s okay if you’re a bit clumsy.” and “Mayonnaise”. Daegu has a very hip feel that we love.

Our walking destination was the Modern History Museum of Daegu. Along the way, we passed by this cool church and walked through the Gyeongsang Gamyeong Park while we waited for the Museum to open.

Daegu Gyesandong Catholic Church ⁰

Hangul Address

대구 중구 서성로 10

This church was built in the early 1900s by Catholic missionaries. You are able to go and pray or sit quietly inside.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Gyeongsan Gamyeong Park⁰

Hangul Address

대구 중구 경상감영길 99

A stunning, small park that easy to walk through and near other interesting sites.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

The Daegu Modern History Museum had just the right amount of city history and culture. We didn’t expect to see Helen Keller and Marilyn Monroe there, but we did!

Daegu Modern History Museum⁰

053-606-6430

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 경상감영길 67

A fun look at the modern history of Korea.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After our morning walking tour, we had worked up an appetite. So, we headed for coffee and food after the museum. Since we spent our summer stateside and, oh, how we missed the cafe culture of Korea while away. This trip to Daegu had us taking full advantage. We send a special thanks to Mansion 5 for fresh food with amazing flavor. Will be back for sure. I (Brian) had an amazing salmon bowl, while chad enjoyed a citrus shrimp salad. We then split tteokboki (think spicy tomato soup with rice and fish cakes) and avocado gimbap (think Korean sashimi). So good and not heavy for the walking we were going to do that day.

Mansion5⁵

53-421-1225

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 중앙대로79길 28

Beautiful mix of modern and traditional architecture providing a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy a coffee, juice, ade, dessert, or brunch item (poke bowls, paninis, gimbap, salads). Bread and desserts made in-house.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After Lunch we checked out the Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine. We missed the chance for a medicinal foot bath, but we had fun learning a little about the philosophy of Oriental Medicine.

Yangnyeong Herb Medicine Museum⁰

053-253-4729

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

49 Dalgubeol-daero 415-gil Jung-g

Old herbal medicine market turned into a museum.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

On the recommendation of our Airbnb host, we stopped by the old house of the poet Sang-hwa Lee. He wrote activist poetry during the Japanese occupation, trying to inspire and give hope to Koreans around the peninsula. This house was his last residence before dying of cancer. A sweet lady approached us and gave us a personal tour of the house as she was a local guide. This has happened at several locations – feel blessed that people are willing to talk and share their passion for their history.

Poet Sang-hwa Lee’s Old House ⁰

053-256-3762

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 계산동2가

This national, activist poet wrote poetry to inspire his countrymen when Japan has annexed his country.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After enjoying our time learning about a local poet, we headed to the traditional market. We love checking out the hustle and bustle of the traditional markets in each city we visit. Great food and eye-popping visuals.

Seomun Market⁰

Hangul Address

대구 중구 달성로 50

Has a little bit of everything in this market: food, clothing, beautify supplies, etc.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

However, we can never go too long without trying a new cafe. Somyeong Coffee Bar enticed us with their Nougat Glacé and we weren’t disappointed. It was a tiny shop and worth the stop.

Somyeong Coffee Bar⁵

053-3254-9757

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 중앙대로68길 30 1층

This little hipster cafe has a wide range of drinks with a set menu and another one that changes daily. They have two desserts - a cheese cake and a French ice cream bar.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

While walking to see some street art, we spotted this window display and had to check it out. Inside is a stationary store full of various colors and patterns of masking tape. And what this store owner/artist can do with masking tape is amazing! Rolled Paint is able to create beautiful scenes and images of people out of tape – even down to the shading. It blew our minds and inspired us to want to get back to our creative roots. If you are in Daegu, please stop by and check out her store.

Rolled Paint⁵

0507-1332-6855

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 봉산문화길 92

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Our next stop was an alley full of street art dedicated to the musician Kim Gwangseok. There are streets like this all over Korea: street art with cafes and photo ops; carnival games; arcades; and street food.

Just finding the art around the Daegu made this weekend perfect.

These were some of my favorites from a random Daegu alley.

After all the walking and art, we need to eat so went back to a place we had seen because of its name: Picky Child Dining. We had arancini for apps, bolognese tagliatelle, and a chicken steak truffle risotto. Hit the spot, but we weren’t done – dessert was next!

Picky Child Dining⁰

507-1404-3408

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 봉산문화길 43

Along the culture road in Daegu, this Italian spot offers arancini, which are a staple Italian food in Italy, but not often found in Korea.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Finished the evening’s culinary activities with crème brûlée and chocolate hazelnut doughnuts from Black Bear Donuts

Black Bear Donuts⁵

0507-1340-1194

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 봉산문화1길 20

Stunning western style donuts with strong flavors. Regular size and mini size available.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Then, we capped off the evening with a Ferris wheel ride over the city and with me overcoming my fear of heights on the ride and the skywalk. We then made it back to our Airbnb and got a 360 view of the city from the rooftop garden.

Spark Land⁰

053-230-2010

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 동성로6길 61

On top of a building, this amusement arcade has bumper cars, ferris wheel, one ride, and photo ops.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Sunday: From Mountains to Cafes

We said goodbye to our AirBnB in the morning and headed for the hills. We decided to hike up Apsan and check out the observatory by the cable car. Unfortunately, most of the observatories were under construction and we we going to take the cable car down, but didn’t realize we needed to buy the ticket at the base, so we did a little off road hike back down to our car. There was some stress, but a beautiful hike nonetheless.

Apsan Cable Car⁰

053-656-2994

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구광역시 남구 앞산순환로 574-114

Situated in Nam-gu, Daegu, Apsan Observatory is a view point overlooking the entire downtown Daegu area. The structure blends the urban and natural landscapes, as well as their history and future. Many tourists as well as Daegu residents come to the observatory as it is also an educational place to teach the meaning of Daegu to the citizens. Hiking Course * Anjiranggol Valley Entrance - Anilsa Temple - Apsan Observatory (2.5 km, approx. 1 hr) * Keungol Valley Entrance - Cable Car - Apsan Observatory (3.2 km, approx. 40 min) Tour Course Information Apsanjarak-gil - Apsan Star-sign Experience Lecture Hall - Apsanmat Dulle-gil - Apsan Cafe Street - Anjirang Gopchang Town Age Limit for Activities Open to visitors ages 7 and older Parking Facilities Use public parking lot Facility Utilization Fees [Apsan Cable Car] Round-trip Individuals - Adults 10,500 won / Children 7,500 won Groups - Adults 9,500 won / Children 6,500 won One-way Individuals - Adults 7,500 won / Children 5,500 won Groups - Adults 6,500 won / Children 4,500 won * Children (ages 4-elementary school students) / Groups (30 people or more) * Daegu City Tour users: 20% discount for round-trip fare (only available for same day ticket-holders) Restrooms Available

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We needed to refuel after the hike, so we went to @edl_brunch_house – it was perfect. The croissant sandwich surprised and delighted me: shrimp, arugula, cranberries, scrambled egg, citrus dressing, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. Loved it. The seasonal ade was also amazing.

E.D.L. Brunch House ⁰

053-253-1219

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 봉산문화길 80

This little brunch house has a vintage throw back feel with great ades, foods, and desserts.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After we ate we couldn’t resist one more visit to Rolled Paint. We are too captivated by the work there. That art, my friends, is all done with various masking tapes. The artist, @rolled_paint , has some amazing art, sells her prints and tape, and even has a book (which we bought) on how to make your own art. Please stop by this shop if you are ever in Daegu!

When on vacation, you can never eat too much. We absolutely had to walk over and stop by Truly Baker as we hadn’t had a fresh bagel in forever. However, we split one bagel, a NY with jalapeño nut cream cheese. LOVED that flavor cream cheese – could have bought a whole tub. The bagels were more Montreal style – flat – instead of the Jersey/NY bagels I grew up with. Still good, though.

Truly Baker⁵

053-254-3378

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 봉산문화1길 32

Delicious regular and rainbow bagels with a nice selection of spreads and a bagel sandwich.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

We did some adulting and bought a bed frame (not pictured or listed) and then stopped by the Bullodong Ancient Tombs Park that was just down the street. It’s such a beautiful park with over 200 tombs from the 5th and 6th centuries.

Bullodong Ancient Tombs Park⁰

Hangul Address

대구광역시 동구 불로동 산5

Ancient burial grounds on the outskirts of Daegu, nestled before the mountain range with over 200 tombs. Picnicking and hiking trails available.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Finally, before heading out, we wanted to check out two food places that were recommended by a friend. First up was dinner at Hi Thai where we had the best green papaya salad and chicken panaeng curry in Korea.

Hi Thai⁵

0507-1405-0562

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 공평로 53

Cute little Thai restaurant to satisfy your craving for pad thai or curry.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Our last stop was Farm Table Cafe for soufflé pancakes. The recommended orange tiramisu pancakes were sold out, so we opted for the chocolate and granola, which had plenty of chocolate and cream to bath our pancakes in before each bite. After savoring the evening we made the trek back home.

Farm Table ⁰

053-256-7436

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

대구 중구 동성로4길 109

Cafe with drinks and three types of desserts: soufflé pancakes, German pancakes, croffles.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After all the adventures, we were happy to get home to our beautiful city of Pyeongtaek.

You Can Follow Us on Instagram

 You can follow our adventures on Instagram @brianandchadsexcellentadventure. We travel all over Korea and share our favorite adventures along the way.

Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group

If you like this slow-travel Daegu road trip itinerary, you may want to see adventures of other like-minded travelers. You are welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventure across the country.

Volunteer with South of Seoul

Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Slow-Travel Daegu Road Trip Itinerary appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

Who wants to go fall apple picking in South Korea? We highly recommend it. This is what our trip looked like. We look forward to maybe going again.

Where we went for Apple Picking

This weekend we were recreating our New England apple picking traditions here in South Korea by visiting an apple orchard about 1 hour from Pyeongtaek, South Korea called Yesan Apple and Wine Picking. This is a popular location for ex-pats who want to embrace Korean culture while also experiencing memories of home.

We didn’t have a reservation when we went to pick apples. We simply showed up ready to get involved. When we entered the main building, there was a counter where we could let them know if we wanted to pick apples, eat BBQ, and/or have dessert. That was where we registered for the day.

Just so you know, if you pick apples, someone shows you the row and how to pick. If you get BBQ, you take your receipt outside and they plate it. Then by the BBQ there is free wine tasting. Finally, they announce a distillery tour and you can do that. It’s kind of like a build-your-own-adventure.

Yesan Apple Wine And Picking⁵

041-337-9584

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충남 예산군 고덕면 대몽로 107-25

A popular apple farm experience where you can pick your own apples, try apple wine, and do other apple related activities. Popular with US military families.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Now that you know where to go and how to do it, this is what our apple picking day looked like.

About Yesan-gun, South Korea

Yesan-gun is about 2 hours from where we live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The name “Yesan” might be used to refer to the larger Administrative District or the small city at the center of the district. You can see the Yesan-gun area surrounded by a blue line in the image below.

Yesan-gun tends to be a quiet, sparsely populated agricultural, which makes it perfect for apple picking and other agricultural experiences.

Our Wonderful Experience Picking Apples

For us, Yesan Apple Farm was just right because it brought us together with friends, BBQ, and apple picking. It was nice to head to a destination that made our day trip easy as pie.

The apple farm also had a wine/brandy tour with all the products ade from fruit from this farm: apple wine, blueberry wine, apple brandy, and apple soju.

Who Will Love Apple Picking

Families, couples, and friends will love a day trip to Yesan for fall apple picking in South Korea. Visiting this location is best done by car or on an organized tour. It’s especially convenient for those living near Camp Humphreys or Osan Air Force Base in Pyeongtaek-si, Asan, si, or Cheonan-si.

Should You Go to a Yesan Today?

You will enjoy the parks the most if you go either on a day with good air quality or in your preferred weather. However, you can also enjoy the parks if you go prepared for incidental weather and the current air conditions. Here is what is happening currently in Pyeongtaek so that you can determine what is right for you right now.

Current Air Quality in Yesan

Air quality and weather change throughout the day. However, having an idea of what the air quality is right now can help make decisions easier. You can download the Air Matters App for your phone to keep current on changing air quality conditions throughout the day. You can even set up alerts.

Would You Like Help Coordinating Apple picking?

Korea has many different agricultural locations and experiences across the country. You can either make reservations for this experience or use different services to find other locations or make reservations. Don’t be afraid to try something different than what we did. Make the experience your own.

• Contact 1330 to find locations near you
• Contact a bi-lingual concierge to help with making reservations
• Or contact a small tour company to see if they have a trip planned or to coordinate a group apple picking experience

Volunteer with South of Seoul

Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Fall Apple Picking in South Korea is the Perfect Day Out appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

Let’s run away for the perfect weekend. This Danyang Weekend itinerary is perfect for couples, folks traveling alone, and families.

When to Leave for Your Danyang Weekend Itinerary

We left on Friday night for our weekend getaway. We wanted to make sure we had at least one full day in Danyang on our trip. If you leave by 5 or 6 pm, you will still have plenty of time to make Friday night a lovely part of your itinerary, even with the drive.

Friday Night Dinner at Cowboy Grill

While heading to Danyang for the long weekend, we checked out @cowboy_grill on our way to the hotel. The jack-o-lantern made the ambiance even more fall-esque. Additionally, fitting in a date night stop on Friday during your drive can make the start of the trip feel relaxing and part of the fun.

Cowboy Grill⁵

0507-1325-3510

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 제천시 청풍면 학현소야로 415-24

A huge American BBQ joint serving quality Texas BBQ. You need a reservation booked through Naver at this time. Call 1330 to verify this as it might be a COVID related requirement.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Grab Dessert and a Drink After Dinner

There is nothing quite like a playful little cafe to cap off the journey to our hotel. Cafe Cheongmyeong is a whimsical antique and we both loved the fact that the straw was paper and not plastic!

Cafe Cheongmyeong⁰

0434219929

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 단양군 매포읍 평동4로 96

Small cafe near Danyang has a full drink menu and small selection of treats to go with them.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Check-in to Danyang Tourist Hotel Edelweiss

On Friday, don’t do too much. Driving is enough of an adventure. After dinner and dessert, check-in to your hotel and get some rest and enjoy your loved one(s). At Hotel Edelweiss, it’s like we have our own Witch Mountain or Close Encounters view from our hotel room! A beautiful backdrop for our anniversary weekend and the perfect end of day one of our Danyang Weekend Itinerary.

Danyang Tourist Hotel Edelweiss⁰

043-423-7070

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

31 Sambong-ro Danyang-eup Danyang

This hotel is right on the river. It is older but we’ll maintained with a restaurant inside. You can also have a generous breakfast for about 10,000 won.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Saturday Begins with Mountains and a Skywalk

On day two or our Danyang Weekend Itinerary, we thought we would get a jump on the day, heading to the ManCheonha Skywalk around 9am. Typically, most Koreans don’t get going until 11am. However, not here at Danyang. The skywalk was already a happenin’ place by the time we got there at 9:30 am. We skipped breakfast on Saturday, but you might want to keep a morning snack in your fridge so that you are fully fed for this adventure.

Mancheonha Skywalk⁴

043-421-0014

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 단양군 적성면 옷바위길 10

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Time for Lunch

After braving the heights, we needed to fill up the tummy, so we went to 24/7: Slow Food Cafe. The server was friendly and the food was super fresh. We split a chicken and roasted veggie sandwich and a chicken and roasted mushroom salad. We topped that off with a kale apple juice and an avocado/banana smoothie. @24.seven_official – thanks for an awesome meal.

24.seven: Slow Food Cafe⁰

010-6279-9006

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 단양군 단양읍 별곡11길 9

A quaint brunch cafe at the edge of downtown Danyang. A place for those seeking less dessert and more food options from a cafe. There are also different whole bean coffee options to choose from to meet your coffee palate.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

After Brunch It’s River Adventure Time

After brunch, we drove along the Namhangang River to Dodamsambong and took a riverboat tour around the three river peaks, and took in the other river sights. After the tour, we hiked to the backside of the limestone we saw on the river.

Dodamsambong Peaks ⁵

This culture area has something for everyone: small garden, slow boat rides, motor boat rides, hike, music venue, cafes, food. All centered around three peaks in the river. 30 to 40 minute cruise ship rides W13,000 for adults W8,000 for 36 months and older Free for under 36 months Speed boat trips at lower rates Hike to Seongmun / Stone gate

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Cafe and Paragliding

We then journeyed up the mountains to @cafe_sann for a quick snack and some paragliding. Unfortunately, we didn’t know we needed reservations and there were no more open spots for us. We’ll plan better next time, but we still got to enjoy the views, which were phenomenal.

Cafe Sann And Paragliding ⁴

Hangul Address

충북 단양군 가곡면 두산길 196-86

This cafe has an amazing view of a river valley and offers paragliding as well. On weekends, it is busy and reservations are required. The person said that you can usually make them in person, but when busy - no such luck.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

A Relaxing Temple Visit

After taking in the views of Cafe San, we headed to Guinsa Temple. This temple was interesting and compelling – as it was almost part of the mountain, which was then carried into the architecture: a granite or rock base, which was gray, and then these bright wood structures. It seemed to reflect the balance of the world it inhabited. It was also much more functional than others, with an active temple stay and services happening all over. There was a calm bustle and lived-in feel.

Guinsa Temple ⁰

043-423-7100

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

73 Guinsa-gil Yeongchun-myeon Dan

This temples is nestled in the mountains near Sobaeksan National Park. You park (cash only) and then can walk up or take the shuttle. The services at the base are open from 9am to 5pm.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Another Cafe Stop

On our hike back down to our car from the temple, we saw this cute little cafe @hanju_market that was featuring cinnamon and ginger beverages. So, we got the cinnamon ginger ade and it was delightful. It was like having Fall in our mouths with a warming burn of ginger coating our throats. We also tried sikhye, which is a traditional Korean rice drink. In addition, all ingredients were freshly made by the super friendly owner.

Hanju Market⁰

01066674034

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 단양군 영춘면 백자길 34-1 102호

Made drinks to refresh the body, mind and soul on the way up or down from Guinsa Temple.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Dinner at the Danyang Traditional Market

We wanted to go to this shabu shabu place in the local market, but it was closed. So instead we played follow the leader and went to any booth that had a long line. First was gathered up sweet garlic bread (a cheese and Nutella – yes you heard that right, a Nutella garlic bread). Then, we grabbed some dumplings. The third line was for black garlic chicken, but it sold out. So we went to the next line, which was also dumplings. (You can never have too many dumplings;) We then found a bench to consume our goodies.

As if that wasn’t enough, we headed back into the market. This time was the dessert aisle where we picked up some walnut pies shaped as garlic and some ice cream.

Danyang Market/Restaurant Alley⁵

043-422-1706

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 단양군 단양읍 도전5길 31

Danyang’s vibrant traditional market.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Relaxing Riverwalk Near the Hotel

We finished off the day with a relaxing walk along the river to unwind before heading back to our hotel for the night. It was a wonderful end to Day 2 of our Danyang Weekend Itinerary.

Sunday Morning in Danyang Begins Cave Day

This morning we slept in and then headed to Gosu Cave, a limestone cave with amazing rock formations. I love how Koreans have you navigate their caves for visitors. At one point, we are on a spiral staircase that descended forever. I mean, how did they even build that. And then their lighting of the cave is amazing. Definitely a must-see while here in Danyang.

Gosu Cave ⁵

043-422-3072

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 단양군 단양읍 고수동굴길 8

A cool underground cave that is about 1.5km and spirals down using a staircase and tight spaces. Caution: if your claustrophobic, it’s not a good idea.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Return to the Danyang Traditional Market for Lunch

We went back to the market to try two more stalls. First up was a black garlic chicken, which was sold out by the time we made it there last night. Then, the other was another garlic bread stand. The line was huge last night (and today). We got the original and then a black garlic cream cheese one. Here in Korea, garlic bread is sweet. When you first try it, you are almost mad at the bread because you want the traditional savory. However, over time you come to have sweet garlic as the norm and even enjoy it.

Visit a Danyang Farmer’s Market

We are suckers for farmer markets. This weekend had me feeling like I was back in New England, driving the hills with lakes in the valleys, and this meeker just was the cherry on top. It was is Susan (shout out to Mom) and was called a Slow Market. We got some Chokeberry jam and apples – as Chad has a hankering to make some apple pie with fall being here.

Take a Mountain Hike

We needed some exercise after our food indulgences at lunch, so we parked our car at “Lazy Caiman” (게으른악어) and searched for the entrance to the Ageobong Peak trail. The hike certainly raised our heart rates, opened the pores, and lifted our spirits with the amazing views that became more splendid as we ascended the peak!

Ageobong Hike @ Lazy Caiman Cafe⁵

043-724-9009

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 충주시 살미면 월악로 927

This hike starts at the base of a cafe/rest stop, which has an awesome view of its own. Across the street there is a trail. There is no marker, but you will see people going and coming. It is about 1.5 miles round trip and is moderate in difficulty.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

One More Danyang Cave

Our final adventure for this trip was the Hwalok “Jade” Cave, which is less a cave and more tunnels created from the mining of jade, dolomite, and talc. It was fun to see how the area was transformed into a spot offering family fun both inside the mine and outside.

Jade Cave (Hwarok Cave)⁵

043-848-0503

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 충주시 목벌안길 26

Cool experience to walk through the jade mine and (short) kayak ride underground. Stroller friendly and cafe available. Plenty of parking.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Stop Off for Pizza on the Way Home

In downtown Chungju, we decided to try the Chicago-style pizza at the terrace. The cheesy goodness was just as delicious as it looks and the sauce had a great kick to liven up the taste buds.

terrace ⁰

043-855-5150

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 충주시 연수동산로1길 3

This restaurant serves Chicago-style pizza, Buffalo wings, chicken salad, steak, shrimp, and pork cutlet. The fare is high-end pub food, but the style is that of a Parisian cafe.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

In Case of Traffic Jam, Make a Cafe Stop

Sunday nights here in Korea can be a major traffic jam heading home. We had checked Naver (Korean Google Maps) and lots of red. So we decided to just chill at @jardin_botanico_ This cactus shop, creative workspace, and cafe were just right. We loved the decor, the cacti, the food, and the drinks. The perfect ending to an awesome day.

Jardin Botanico ⁵

043-853-1081

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

충북 충주시 연수동산로1길 7

This hip cafe and cactus shop also has a workshop up too where you can create your own defusers and learn to arrange fake flowers. Also serves brunch, wines, and beer.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group

You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most of whom live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventures across the country.

We would love to see your adventures just like this Danyang Weekend Itinerary in our group. Sharing our travels and experiences helps broaden all of our horizons.

Volunteer with South of Seoul

Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

Chad Card, MA. SLT and Brian Rich, MSW

Chad Card holds a Master’s of Arts in Second Language teaching and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.  He works for the Department of Defense (DODEA) as an ELA educator. Mr. Card travels extensively in South Korea and internationally. His passion includes studying languages, culture, and diversity.

Brian Rich holds a Master’s in Clinic Social work and a Bachelor’s in English Teaching. Mr. Rich is an experienced social work clinician who transitioned into education and works for the DODEA.

Together, Brian and Chad work as Cultural Liaisons and Content Creators developing travel itineraries focused on arts and culture across South Korea. Their love of learning, culture, and life is evident in all of their work.

The post Danyang Weekend Itinerary appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.