Must Visit Restaurants near Home

Restaurants near 42SHARE

FOOD!!! okay now you are in your accommodation and want to go out to eat but what? mostly when there are so many options and various restaurants catering similar menus. Following we will provide a list of the best restaurants around 42SHARE halls and around Seoul if you are feeling adventurous!!

Gosami

The Gosami restaurant is famous for their grilled fish such as grilled Godeungoe (Mackerel) and Samchi (Spanish Mackerel). You can also enjoy the fish with Kimchijjigae (Kimchi Stew) and or doenjangjjigae (soy bean).

There are other options in the menu as wel, such as bulgogi and spicy stir fry squid!!

For more information click HERE

Seo Seo Galbi / 서서갈비

No seat KBBQ??? yep that's right!! at this restaurant you will be able to enjoy delicious meat standing up, I know it sounds a bit strange or just different but is one of those experiences you won't want to miss out!!

Seo Seo Galbi has been around for over 50 years and they only serve domestic marinated beef in soy sauce in Korean "Hanwoo Sogalbi". The meat is so delicious that people line up to eat there and you can't make any reservations so it's first come first serve basis. Make sure to head on over quickly since they tend to sell out!! even on weekdays!!

For more information click Here


42SHARE

At 42SHARE there are rooms that have their own kitchen and others that don't but we provide a common kitchenette for residents to use and cook with their friends!! As you can see in our pictures from Yonsei Hall, there is enough space to cook and sit down to eat!! also if the weather allows it you can go outside and enjoy the rooftop overlooking around the buildings!!

You can also invite your friends and have a potluck!! We sometimes host similar events in order to bring everyone together and getting to know each other!!


Bangkok Express

Want some Thai food? Bangkok Express is known to be one of the best Thai food restaurants in Seoul!! They used to be in a smaller location but their popularity forced them to move into a bigger space. Their popular dishes are the soft shelled curry crab served in a yellow curry sauce with rice and the Pad Thai.

Their location is pretty close to our Yonsei Hall!! For more information click Here!!

Sag

Want a quick snack? If you want to try various kinds of fried foods you should visit Sag!! Sag is a tteokbokki place where you can eat sundae, fried banana, dumplings, veggies and chicken as well!!

Their tteokbokki is one of kind because of the well balance of spiciness and savor taste!! It's popular among Ewha students to distress from their daily life and enjoy the delicious food!! Also be aware that during peak hours you might have to wait since the restaurant is quite small and there will be a waiting line, but that proofs how good the place is!!!

Also the place is not well known, therefore a lack of other blogs talking about it, but here is the Address: 12 Ewhayeodae 3-gil, Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Dessert

If you still have room for dessert, go ahead and get some Bingsu!!! (of course if it's in season) There are many cafes that serve this delicious Korean desert, however some locations have different style and tastes for Bingsu. There are three unique Bingsu locations in Sinchon to pick from, click HERE for more information!!

We hope the information was helpful and you get to visit one of these locations!! Remember to read our other blogs about living in Seoul!!

Keeping Your Korean Home Clean

Recycling in Seoul 

Living in South Korea you can't just throw everything in one bag and call it good, there are rules and special bags for getting rid of the junk. 

Having the Right Bag! 

Each district has their own official bag, you can't use Mapo-gu in Seodaemun-gu district. 42SHARE accommodation halls are in Seodaemun-gu district, so please make sure you are using the right bags :) 

Food Waste Bag 

Again remember to have the right bag for your district as well as to know what goes and does not go into this special bag. Basically anything that is edible has to go into this bag, but DO NOT throw in egg shells, clam shells, onion or garlic paper-like skin, animal bones, tea bags or tea leaves; instead they are considered as general waste, the bag below. 

Notice that this bag is from Mapo-gu District which is pretty near from Seodaemun-gu, but generally food waste bags in Seoul will be of color yellow. 

General Waste Bag

In this bag you throw in the mentioned above waste that DOES NOT go into the food waste bag, as well as non-recyclable waste (further discussion below). 

To give an idea of what can go into this bag here is a list: 

      ⌗Used Tissue                                         ⌗Sanitary Pads                                ⌗etc. 

      ⌗Old Clothes                                         ⌗Toys

      ⌗Old Shoes                                            ⌗Pens or Pencils 

As a side note, if you have items or clothing that are still in good condition and would rather donate them, check out this link for a list of Drop-off Locations around Seoul: https://www.korea4expats.com/article-donations-clothing-household-goods-seoul.html

Seodaemun-gu District (서대문구청장) Bag

The highlighted blue on the trash bag indicates the district the bag is to be used in, use this image as a guide for those who will be staying at our accommodation halls! 

Recyclable Waste Bag 

Now here is where it gets a bit tricky for some people. This bag is meant to be even more environmentally friendly by having a separate bag to recycle paper, glass, vinyl, cans, and plastic. However for this area of waste you do not need a special bag, you can use any bag you may have from shopping and leave it at it's designated bin. 

Please use ONLY transparent bags and don't throw loose waste!! :) 

Waste that you can put in this bag are: 

• Paper
• Printing paper
• Magazines
• Newspaper 
• Boxes
• Cartons, etc. 
• Paper pack 
• Juice
• Milk
• Yogurt, etc.
• Glass 
• Vitamin or energy bottles
• Alcoholic bottles, etc. 
• Cans 
• aluminum 
• Iron
• Plastic 
• NO:
• Toys and stationary pens.
• Vinyl 
• Snack bags
• Dessert wraps 

Where to Buy??

Now that you know what kind of bags you need and how to use them, let's learn where to get them! 

Usually you can easily purchase them at any nearby convenience store such as GS25 or CU, as well as Chain or Local Marts as we talked about on our other blog post "Shopping, Banks, and SIM Cards In Seoul" Keep in mind tho that most likely than not you will have to ask the cashier for the bags and be able to tell them how many gallons (what size) you would like. 

For that we have a list of sentences you can use when purchasing your bags!: 

How to Ask:

⌗일반 쓰레기 봉투 있어요? (il-ban sseu-le-gi bong-tu iss-eo-yo?) = Do you have general waste garbage bags?

⌗음식물 쓰레기 봉투 있어요? (eum-sig-mul sseu-le-gi bong-tu iss-eo-yo?) = Do you have food waste garbage bags?

몇 리터? (myeot-li-teo?) = How many liters? 

   ⌗이 (i) = two                                                                  ⌗삼십 (sam-sib) = thirty

   ⌗삼 (sam) = three                                                           ⌗오십 (o-sib) = fifty

   ⌗오 (o)= five                                                                   ⌗칠십오 (chil-sib-o) = seventy-five

   ⌗십 (sib) = ten                                                                 ⌗백 (baek) = One Hundred

   ⌗이십 (i-sib) = twenty                     

Also keep in mind that not all locations possible to buy these bags will have all the sizes, mostly the bigger sized ones! 

몇 장? (myeot-jang?) = How many?

   ⌗하나 (ha-na) = one                                                                     ⌗여섯 (yeo-seot) = six

                                                

   ⌗둘 (dul) = two                                                                            ⌗일곱 (il-gob) = seven

   ⌗셋 (set) = three                                                                          ⌗여덟 (yeo-deolb) = eight

   ⌗넷 (net) = four                                                                            ⌗아홉 (a-hob)= nine

   ⌗다섯 (da-seot) = five                                                                   ⌗열 (yeol) = ten

My Waste Bags are full now what? 

At 42SHARE we have 3 waste bins to throw in your bags! 

The BLUE Waste Bin is where you will throw in your Recycle and Food waste bags, while the YELLOW Waste Bins are for General Waste. 

Please remember when throwing away your waste to put them in the right bag as explained in this post!! it is really important not only for the environment but for your pocket as well, since there will be a fine of ₩100,000 if recycling guidelines are not followed.

For more information go to: https://10mag.com/your-complete-guide-to-garbage-disposal-in-south-korea/

Once you get used to how to assemble your waste it won't be as stressful as it sounds!! We hope that you transition well into living in Seoul and don't forget to check out our other blog posts!!! 

Summer in Seoul

Surviving Seoul's Summer

The weather in Seoul during the summer can be a hassle for foreigners if humidity and rain is not common in your home country. However we will let you know some great tips to overcome this hot weather that can be overwhelming even for natives!! 

Clothing 

Last week's blog post we talked about how people living in Seoul dress pretty fashionably but how do we stay in fashion and fresh at the same time??? 

Of course it is recommended to wear breathable clothing that would absorb and cool your body. For some visual representation on how to stay cool here are some images: 

As for to shoes we recommend to wear sandals and you will also see that it is the most popular type of shoes to wear. If you do not feel comfortable on those any waterproof shoes should do the trick or slip on's as well according to the weather :) 

What to Carry Around? 

Of course when you are travelling you kind of already know what to carry around in your bag but in Seoul there are some items you will want as soon as possible!! 

One of them is a portable FAN!! these are great when you are making your way to the subway and already start feeling the heat. They come in slightly different sizes and prices, but it is common to find them at any subway station or chain stores such as Artbox (remember!). Prices range from ₩15,000 to ₩25,000 but it will be totally worth it!

You would also want to carry around some a handkerchief or tissue to dry off your face when sweating, because nobody wants to be seen as if they just ran a marathon when you are just walking by! 

Before you head out, you should check the weather if there would be any rain so you can carry an umbrella. Also remember from "Prepare to live in Seoul" blog post to where purchase one if you forget it!! Another thing to keep in mind is that rain in Korea does not last for long periods of time. Usually it would rain from 5 min to 10 min and then be fine for a couple hours more. 

Hope you prepare well when coming to Seoul in the Summer!! Remember to checkout our other posts about what to do in the Summer? 

Shopping, Banks and SIM Cards in Seoul!

Your Korean Home

Now that you are in Seoul, you should learn about where to find and purchase certain things in order to make your accommodation your new home! 

Where to...? 

Following will be a formatted list of certain items you can conveniently purchase for an affordable price! As you may have noticed, people in Korea take a lot of care on how they dress and look, and you may want to join in. For that following are a list of places where you can find fashionable on season clothing for an affordable price! 

Ewha University Shopping Area 

You may or may not have heard of this shopping area and how cute and stylish the clothing are. However when you plan to go there prepare to spend hours to decide which one to buy! Some of the perks of this shopping area is that you can do everything in one day. There are numerous of makeup stores and various hair salons to get a complete makeover. Also there are different clothing stores that slightly vary in style and a few number of shoe shops that cater all kinds of styles and sizes. 

Also is not just for women, there are options for men as well!! In clothing, shoes and care products so do not be discourage to look around!~ 

The map above illustrates the recommended shopping areas by locals since they are pretty popular and in reasonable prices. As you can see the purple line is known as "52 St." but is commonly not seen in the map, however is trendy for young women's clothes and accessories. The Yellow circle shows great areas to look for shoes and clothing for all genders also along your way you will see many popular makeup brand stores!! 

Hongdae Shopping Area 

Hongdae is one of the popular areas that you have heard because of their street dance, nightlife and food! Besides those great things to do, there are numerous clothing stores that you can explore around with a different style from Ewha Shopping Center. 

We also recommend to go shopping during the week or early in the weekend because of the popularity of the area!! 

Gangnam and Express Bus Terminal Stations

As you go around Seoul, you may notice that there are clothing stores in the subway stations so with older style and some not so. However we recommend to check out Gangnam for chic and classy clothing if that is more of your style. Keep in mind that you do have to scan out of the station to explore around~

Now for the Express Bus Terminal is the biggest underground shopping areas in Seoul and has a vast selections of stores to purchase clothes, shoes, accessories and even food!! The terminal is also known as GOTEO Mall (GOTEO in Korean means Express) which is popular for the ladies, to get there you go to any exit 8 and will eventually lead you to the Mall. 

Grocery Shopping!! 

We all love food! and would love to go out to eat everyday but sometimes miss to cook something at home or just getting some snacks while you study! In Seoul there are a few chain supermarkets that have many products but there are also local supermarkets that may have cheaper options! follow this link to learn the different options to grocery shop: https://www.korvia.com/a-newbies-guide-to-grocery-shopping-in-seoul/

Yonsei Hall 

For those who will be staying at our Yonsei hall location, there are some options for you to purchase your groceries! One of them is the Harmony Mart (하모니마트) which is across from the big street!! To get there just head towwards the big street from the Hall and cross, you won't be able to miss it!! Items are affordable and even cheaper than going to the convenience store!! 

The map illustrates how to get to the Harmony Market by walking in only 4 minutes!! The Blue point is where Yonsei Hall is located and the Red point is the Harmony Market location!! 

Sogang and Sogang Arrupe Hall 

As to Sogang Hall, a big grocery store is quite far from the accommodation but there are a lot of convenience stores to find snacks!! Also is good to know that cheaper fruit are found being sold by big blue trucks as the picture below. 

  

Banking in Korea

Going to a bank or using an ATM can be quite terrifying if you are not sure how to use one. However most ATM's in Korea accept Foreign Cards and have the option to complete your transaction in English and sometimes other languages as well! 

Personally for money exchange going to a Bank is the better option since they sometimes don't take additional fees for converting your cash! If you decide to do this make sure you bring either you passport or ARC with you as a form of ID! 

If you will be studying in Seoul, your school should help you to open up a Korean bank account in which you will be able to put money in and sometimes even use it as a T-Money Card. We can not guarantee that every bank will have English speaking staff but if you go to popular foreigner areas such as Itaewon, you will certainly have no problem!! 

SIM Cards in Korea

Depending on how long you plan to stay in Seoul, there are various options to which kind of SIM Card you would want to purchase as well as different options according to your travels. DON'T FORGET TO UNLOCK YOUR PHONE!! 

Pocket Wifi 

If you just want wifi and not having to deal with all of the SIM card options, another option for you can be a Pocket Wifi which can vary in prices depending on how many days you will use it. One of the cons about this option is that you will have to be carrying around the poceket wifi device but have better signal than a SIM card! Click this link for further details and different companies you can purchase one: https://pretraveller.com/best-pocket-wifi-rental-korea/

For an ongoing updated page about best SIM Card options click: https://pretraveller.com/best-sim-card-in-korea/

We hope you transition well into your new future home and find everything you need to feel comfortable! Remember to checkout our other blog posts about living in Seoul. 

Watermelon and Makgeolli

International Students in Korea

At 42SHARE we accommodate students from different backgrounds and with various reasons to why they came to South Korea. Therefore on July 10 we hosted a Watermelon and 막걸리 (Makgeolli) Party in order to get to know each other and enjoy delicious food! Many of our residents brought snacks as well so it was a whole blast of food and fun! 

Enjoying the Party 

Also not everyone is a student, at the party we learned that there are people who are working in Seoul and others who are seeking a job. Being part of our 42SHARE community will allow you to meet a lot of people from different countries and various interests, hey you might even find your future best friend! 

Let's Play! 

Yonsei Hall

좋아요!

Getting to Know Each Other

Finding friends can be quite terrifying in a new country, but at 42SHARE hosting parties like this one can facilitate that feeling. At the party participants created a groupchat that will further allow them to hangout and even help each other at school since most of them go to either Ewha University, Yonsei University or Sogang University.