Before you leave Incheon International Airport—and especially if it’s your first time in Seoul—check off a few quick tasks, which will make your trip more comfortable. First: download the Papago app, which provides instant translations from Korean to English, and vice versa, from photos. (This comes in very handy at restaurants and shops.) And since Google Maps isn’t fully functional in South Korea, download Naver Map to navigate around town. It displays real-time information on public transportation and details (guest reviews, photos) on businesses. Lastly, purchase a T-Money card to pay for fares on public transportation and small purchases at select convenience stores. (Tip: As a foreigner, you have to “refill” your card with Korean won.) Though the Uber app works and taxis are plentiful, the best way to explore the city is the subway. Seoul’s system is widely regarded as one of the world’s best, with spotless cars, signage and announcements in Korean and English, and even heated seats come winter.
The best things to do in Seoul
The mind-boggling options, combined with affordability and ease of access, have cemented Seoul’s reputation as the global epicenter of beauty and wellness. While Rejuran (salmon sperm injections) is the most buzzed-about treatment, it requires several hundred injections in the face. If you want to try a viral trend that’s far more comfortable and less invasive, consider scalp treatments. Like facials for your head, these sessions involve 15-plus steps (cleansing, exfoliation, LED light therapy), and deeply rejuvenate your scalp and hair—making them suitable for everyone. Some of the best places to try them out include Lee Moon Won Clinic, MyeongDong’s outpost of Parkjun Beauty Lab (ask for Daniel), and EcoJardin.
In the past decade or so, the Western art world shifted its gaze towards Seoul, resulting in Frieze’s first art fair in Asia and international outposts of König Galerie and Pace. However, it’s important to recognize establishments like Leeum Museum of Art, PKM Gallery, and Kukje Gallery, which have championed their home country from the start. Also worth seeing is Futura Seoul. Opened last year, this boxy concrete structure tucked away in historic Bukchon presents progressive, boundary-pushing exhibitions from creatives like Refik Anadol. For a one-of-a-kind art piece you can take home, visit Hyung Jun Kim and Seo Seok Man’s ceramics studio in Gyeonggi-do, where they sell their quirky pieces depicting Dogabi (Korean goblins) and Naldak (chickens) and offer ceramic-making classes, too.
link