My Korean Drama in South Korea

Seoul is a vibrant centre of Korean culture, food, shopping, art, and cafés. South Korea is often regarded as one of the world’s most ethnically homogeneous countries, giving it a strong and distinct cultural identity. This is evident in the language, food, beauty trends, fashion, and social habits.

It is the home of K-pop and K-dramas, while also being a city rich in history, modern architecture, and unique neighbourhoods. One interesting thing I noticed is that Google Maps does not function well in South Korea, so I used Naver Maps instead. Many signs, menus, and instructions are written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet, so apps such as Google Translate or DeepL are very useful when travelling.

Seoul is also a dream for food lovers – with so many restaurants side by side, you always have a choice of something delicious to eat, from Korean barbecue to street food and charming cafés.

A must-see in Seoul is Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, originally established in 1395. It is one of the country’s most important historical landmarks, and visitors can watch the royal guard changing ceremony there. If you wear hanbok, traditional Korean clothing, you can enter the royal palaces free of charge, which makes the experience even more special.

Another place I recommend to everyone is Namsan Mountain, where N Seoul Tower is located. I took the cable car up, and the view over the city was breathtaking. The area is also famous for its many love locks, which cover the fences around the tower. Instead of taking the cable car or bus back down, I walked down from Namsan, and it turned out to be a beautiful, quiet walk through nature – a peaceful contrast to the busy city below.

Because it was raining one day, I visited Roof Cat Me, a cat café with many different breeds of cats. There, I saw a Munchkin cat for the first time, a breed known for its short legs. The cats were adorable, and I would recommend the place to anyone who loves animals and wants a cosy break from sightseeing.

I also visited Gangnam, one of Seoul’s most famous districts, known for shopping, nightlife, business, and, of course, the global hit Gangnam Style. Another highlight was Starfield COEX Mall, especially its famous Starfield Library, a beautiful open library inside the mall with tall bookshelves and a very photogenic atmosphere.

Shopping in Seoul was also amazing – skincare and haircare products are much more affordable compared to Europe, and there are so many cute clothes and accessories. My general advice for visiting Asia: come with an empty suitcase.