South Korea – the land of kpop, dramas, and cheap skincare. Before I went to Seoul for my exchange in 2018, these were the three things that came to my mind when I thought of South Korea. However, after coming back from exchange, I remember South Korea for the experiences beyond these three things. In this blog, I will be introducing 5 things to do in South Korea while on exchange.
1) Cycle at the Hangang River
I’m quite sure the beautiful Hangang River has featured in almost every Korean drama. Instead of walking/running by the river, I would highly recommend renting a bike and exploring the area. I promise that you’ll get to see more and take loads of nice photos.
There will also be convenience stores along the way for you to take a break and have an ice-cream and/or drink. My friends and I went after lunch and cycled until evening time, so we got to enjoy the sunset. After returning the bike, you can cook some ramyeon at a convenience store, buy a mat, and have a little picnic by the river with your friends, enjoying the night breeze and music from buskers nearby.
2) Hike
Let’s face it: there are no mountains in Singapore. The closest one would probably be Bukit Timah Hill, but it's nowhere near the definition of a mountain. South Korea's different - there are loads of mountains you can scale. Different mountains have different difficulty levels, so please do your research before you embark on your journey!
I think that taking on the challenge of scaling a mountain is worth it for the view. Besides, you will never get this chance in Singapore! A bonus: you might get to meet some very friendly locals while hiking 😊
Note: Do start your hike early in case you get lost and end up descending late. Safety first!
3) Watch a baseball game
In general, Koreans enjoy watching sports live. To me, baseball is the most exciting one.
It’s ok if you don’t understand the rules of baseball, you can learn as you watch. One thing that intrigued me besides the game was the cheering itself. Firstly, the spectators sat separately according to the team they supported, and each team has a group of cheerleaders to lead the spectators in cheering. All the spectators knew the cheers by heart and almost everyone brought along props. I have to say, the Koreans are REALLY good at cheering.
My friends and I left the stadium not just knowing more about baseball, but knowing the cheers by heart too. We were definitely active participants during the game!
4) Stay overnight in a temple
Yes, you heard me right. There are a lot of temple stay programs offered, both in and out of Seoul. Whether you’re religious or not, this is an experience highly recommended. Just take a break from the busy city life and find your inner zen.
Some of the activities I did included calligraphy, tea appreciating session, eating vegetarian food (which was very nice), and waking up at 5am to pray. As someone who is always hustling, the 2D1N I spent there was a much-needed break.
5) Attend a K-pop concert
Definitely not leaving this one out of the list. Whether you like K-pop or not, I think going to a concert at least once is an experience worth trying. I was lucky enough to get tickets for an award show with two friends, so I got to see quite a few celebrities. There are also other music shows happening regularly for you to check out. Tickets for these shows are not easy to get, but it might be easier if you have a Korean bank card or address! Also, if you happen to like a particular group/solo artist, it goes without saying that there’s a higher chance of them having a fan meet or concert in South Korea than in Singapore, so grab the opportunity to see them while you’re there!
So there you have it. Besides being the land of good music, dramas, and affordable skincare, I think South Korea is a beautiful place where historic cultural places and the bustling city work together in perfect harmony. I hope you get the chance to immerse yourself in the experiences listed above!
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This article was written by Clarissa Quah, a recent Psychology graduate from Nanyang Technological University. She enjoys playing the piano and travelling.
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