While my husband and I were eating a delicious bowl of naengmyun in Porto, Portugal yesterday, the Korean soccer player Hwang In-beom was finishing his meal at the table next to us at a lovely little restaurant called Wooa. He had just arrived in the city after signing a three-year contract with FC Porto, and…
The current USD-to-Korean won exchange rate is better than ever. As of now, 1 U.S. dollar equals ₩1,474, and it reached a high of ₩1,558 per USD in the summer of 2026. Over the past 10 years, the exchange rate has been as low as ₩1,054 per USD so you are now saving 25%-30% on top of Korea’s already low prices. As stylish and sophisticated as any destination, and with…
Getting eyeglasses in South Korea is one of those rare experiences where convenience, speed, and affordability all come together in a way that feels almost effortless. Instead of the drawn-out process many people are used to—multiple appointments, long waits for lenses, and repeated follow-ups—everything is typically handled in a single visit, from eye exam to…
There is a quality to cherry blossom season in Korea that resists being photographed. You can capture a single tree against a palace wall, or the pink tunnel of Gyeonghwa Station in Jinhae, but no image quite holds the feeling of standing under a canopy of petals in a warm afternoon wind, watching them drift…
In 2025, global soccer superstar Son Heung-min stunned fans by joining LA’s MLS team for a record-breaking transfer fee and a previously obscure K-pop songwriter launched Golden into Billboard immortality; the South Korean government presented President Trump with a gold crown and its highest civilian honor; and I, armed with patience, curiosity, and a deep…
On a ridge between Seoul’s two major royal palaces lies a cluster of tiled roofs and winding alleys, full of Korean traditional homes called hanok. Tourists know it as Bukchon Hanok Village, a postcard of old Korea framed against the city’s glass and steel towers. But this picturesque neighborhood hides an amazing story of determination,…
Seoul has my heart for many reasons, but especially for its incredible list of cafes. Seoul is often on the forefront of cafe culture, constantly setting the trends you’ll see circulating on Instagram and TikTok. No matter your taste, I guarantee there’s always a place for you. Walking through Seoul, you quickly realize that cafés…
The first time I heard the sound, I wasn’t sure what it was. My husband and I were strolling through the lush greenery of Seoul Forest when we heard a familiar “pop, pop, pop.” Curious, we followed the noise past the flower gardens and basketball courts—and there it was: a group of Koreans playing pickleball.…
The Budget Travel Dilemma It was the morning of my flight to Korea, and I was more anxious than usual. It was my first time flying a budget airline across the Pacific Ocean. I had always been loyal to Korean Air, or their American affiliate, Delta. But this time around, I had no idea what…
At the 47th session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in Paris last week, the Korean Peninsula claimed two new entries on the prestigious list of the greatest cultural and natural sites in the world. Mount Kumgang, North Korea’s mythic mountain range, and the Bangucheon petroglyphs in South Korea, an archaeological canvas of Neolithic life, add…