Exploring Seoul With Pop Culture Creator @aicharkk
Seoul searching
By Aicha Robertson | 31st March 2025I spent six days in Seoul in early December, and the city was in full Christmas mode. I went over with Netflix Australia for the launch of Squid Game Season 2, which was incredible and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of that experience. Then I extended my stay to explore more of the city on my own. It was the perfect balance of work and play. I travelled with a group for the Netflix part, but once that wrapped, I stayed on solo. It was so nice to have that mix of community and alone time to do my own thing. And as someone who hates being alone, this was a great way to ease into it.
Where to stay
I started at The Westin Josun which was themed after Squid Game and, since I was there with Netflix, I was literally checked in by the Squid Game guards. Unreal. After that, I moved into L’Escape Hotel, a gorgeous French-style boutique hotel I booked myself. The lobby was dripping in fairy lights, with a motorbike and Christmas tree! And with the holiday vibe, it honestly felt like stepping into a little Parisian Christmas movie.
Best neighbourhood to check out
Seongsu-dong is such a cool area. It’s become super popular for shopping and food, and there’s a reason people keep going back. I didn’t try the famous Salt Bread from Jayeondo Sogeumppang, but it’s definitely a hot spot. I did go to LOOP though, and I had the best vegan chocolate cake and matcha I’ve ever eaten. Also, the brand new Olive Young there? It’s four floors of absolute chaos in the best way. Each level somehow gets better. Skincare heaven.
Getting around town
At first, I thought I’d rely on Uber, like I usually do since I love chatting with drivers and picking up local tips. But I downloaded the Naver App and it changed my whole trip. It’s so precise, it tells you exactly where to stand on the train platform and how long each transfer will take. I ended up using trains and buses the entire time and felt like a local by the end.
Packing essentials
Since I was there in winter: hand cream (your hands and nails will get so dry), thermals, and a roomy tote bag – you’re going to be doing a lot of shopping.
Favourite Seoul street-style look
My red pants and gold puffer jacket combo. It’s hard sometimes to bring colour into winter outfits, but this one made me feel so good!
Finding vegan eats
As a vegan, I got a lot of warnings about how tricky it might be to eat in Korea, but I found some amazing spots. Vegan Kitchen and Vegan Insa were both great for traditional Korean food with a vegan twist. But the standout for me was the vegan egg sandwich from ByTofu, genuinely unforgettable as it’s up a mountain and the surrounding street is gorgeous!
Best purchase
I can’t pick just one. I made a custom perfume at Kinfolk which felt really special, and I ended up buying three gorgeous bags from Findkapoor. I discovered both spots just from walking around and loved that they weren’t planned finds.
Soundtrack of the trip
Music always sets the mood for me. On this trip, I was listening to:
- Charm – Clairo
- Witchy – KAYTRANADA ft Childish Gambino
- In The Night – Childish Gambino
- Chateau – Djo
- Why Do I Cry – Margo Guryan
- We Can’t Be Friends – Ariana Grande
- Deep in it – Berlioz
- Sensual – Piero Piccioni
- Darling – Esbe
Hot tip
Walk everywhere. Even if it’s cold, the city is best experienced on foot. And take the train. You’ll stumble on the most random, wonderful places that way from cute shops tucked down side streets to whole beauty complexes you’d never find on a map. Those unplanned discoveries were some of my favourite parts of the trip.
Imagery: @aicharkk
