Go beyond your 42SHARE Home

Common let's have fun!! 

Want to let out your inner child spirit? or just want to disconnect from your daily routine either as a student or work (anything you are doing in Seoul lol)? well read the following list of places we recommend you to visit at least once in your lifetime for an memorable time!! 

Lotte World 

If you haven't heard of this place before, Lotte world is a theme park operated by Lotte Group. This place is perfect for entertainment and sightseeing, in there you will find thrilling rides, ice rink, various parades, folk museum, a lake, accommodations, department stores and a lot more!! 

Keep in mind that Lotte World is divided into Lotte World Adventure, a world themed indoor area, and a Magic Island theme outdoors by Seokchonhosu Lake. The Lotte World Adventure is the largest indoor amusement park in the world! At the Folk Museum you will be able to observe cultural items on display dating back 5,000 years in Korean history. As well as miniature villages and a playground. Also depending on the season, at the Lotte World Garden Stage there will be various themed musicals and if you are into K-pop you will want to go to Lotte World Star Avenue!!  

For more information, visit their Official Website!! 

Nami Island 

We talked about Nami Island before in our blog post about "Stay in Korea for the Winter" however we didn't go in further detail about the history. Namiseom Island was formed as a result of the construction of Cheongpyeong Dam. It is a half moon-shaped isle, and on it is the grave of General Nami, who led a great victory against the rebels in the 13th year of the 7th king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Sejo (reign 1455 - 1468). Namsiseom Island is located out of Seoul but it's only an hour away and you can take the subway with no problem!!  

In the middle of Nami Island you will see a big grass field of about 316,320 square yards, which features education and training facilities as well as camping sites. If you are into water-sports, there are a lot of activities you can do there such as zip lining into the water, motorboats and water skiing. There is also a theme park with a merry-go-around, shooting range, and a roller skating rink. There are also accommodation for visitors to stay at such as resort villas and bungalows.

For more information click HERE! 

Everland 

Another popular theme park is Everland Resort!! However it is further away from the center of Seoul compared to Lotte World. Part of the entertainment includes various rides, festivals, theme areas, and a Zootopia!! The diverse attractions are available to enjoy with no age limits, and there are different themed festivals including Tulip Festival, Rose Festival, Summer Splash, Halloween Festival, Romantic Illumination, and much more!! 

Two of the most popular rides of the park is T-Express and Korea's first wooden roller coaster. Their Zootopia is a must-see by many since it exhibits 2,000 animals of 201 species. Lost Valley opened in 2013 and features the largest ecological safari world and offers a tour by amphibious car to see 150 animals of 20 species. A pair of giant pandas given from the Chinese President Xi Jinping as a symbol of friendship between Korea and China can also be seen at the Panda World. 

For more information, visit their Official Website!!

Trick Eye Museum 

Like Magic and Illusions?? well say no more and visit the Trick Eye Museum!! The Trick Eye Museum has other businesses around the world, is a "one of kind" painting gallery which combines art with high-end techonology featuring AR (Augmented Reality) effect and 2D/3D illusions. Within the Museum there is an Ice Museum which is filled with objects that are fully made out of ice, such as iced TV, ice kitchen, ice slope, etc. You don't need to purchase an additional ticket for the Ice museum, with one you can enjoy both!! 

A great part about this museum is that it stays open everyday from 9 am to 9 pm (last admission by 8 pm), making it popular among couples and tourists!! Outside of the museum you will see a statue which is seen as a landmark to find the Trick Eye Museum!! 

For more information, visit their Official Website!! 

We hope you found this information helpful and get the chance to visit any or all of these locations!! We are sure it will be a memorable experience for you, remember to read our other blog posts about living in Korea!! 

5 Most Recommended Accommodations in Seoul

Living in Seoul

Planning your trip to Seoul can be really exciting and intimidating in having to decide what kind of accommodation you will want to stay in during your time here. However we have a list of the 5 most recommended types of accommodations you can choose from, just remember to do your research and calculate your budget for housing!! (They are not ordered by rank)

Hotels

Depending on how long you will be staying in Seoul, booking a hotel room might be the best option for you and pretty convenient as well!! This option is great too if you are looking to having your own space and privacy. A Tip when looking for a hotel is to always check the location and amenities they have because being at the center of Seoul and close to the stations are the BEST, mostly if its your first time in Seoul!! 

Hamilton Hotel

If you have heard about the Namsan Tower or just Itaewon, you will know that they're the center of Seoul. As mentioned, being in the center of Seoul is really convenient if you are planning to explore all around Seoul west, east, north and south!! Itaewon is not too far from popular areas, it's about 15 min from Hongdae on Subway as well as Gangnam, and about 20 min to Myeongdong. 

The Hamilton Hotel is  located right next to Itaewon Station and on the main street of restaurants, shops and clubs!! Also Itaewon is known to be foreigner friendly so there are quite a few restaurants catering to foreign foods and stores with foreign style clothes. The Hotel also includes a gym (complimentary access) and a rooftop pool (but additional charges might apply), the rooftop is quite popular for sun tanning!! 

Follow this link to Book a room!!

If this Hotel doesn't sound as great, visit this Website for other great Hotels in Seoul!! 

Guest House/Dormitory

This option is among the most popular choices since is more affordable and having the opportunity to meet many people around the world. A usual Guest House would be a place where you either have your own room or share a room and share the common spaces such as the kitchen, living room and sometimes bathroom. There all kinds of styles for this and Dormitories are considered the same. 

Heima Guesthouse Hongdae

This guesthouse is considered as the best one in Seoul by many visitors, anyone who stayed there has left with great memories!! Each room has FREE Wifi and if you are going to stay for long term it will be cheaper!! The rooms are well air-conditioned,a private bathroom with hairdryer, has satellite flat-screen TV, provides a concierge service and luggage storage for guests. Also their location is great for those who will stay around Mapo-gu such as Hongdae, Hapjeong and Sinchon. They are only about 700 m from Hongik University, 2.8 Km from Ewha Womans University and 5 km I'Park mall (which is great for shopping and repairing shops).

Also if you love breakfast, they provide continental breakfast daily!! If you are going to be travelling with someone, they have a rating of 9.8 out of 10 for two-person stay satisfaction!! If you are afraid of a language barrier.... Don't Worry since they have bilingual staffs that can easily help you in anything you need!! 

Follow this link to Book a space!! 


Goshiwon

Maybe if you are familiar with Korean culture, you may have heard of this type of housing most Korean students pick because of their affordable price and locations. Goshiwons are buildings offering small rooms with a desk, chair, cupboard, closet and your bed. The space is really limited and some of the halls offer free rice or noodles!! This type of housing is considered the cheapest option for a University student to pick. 

Since there are a few Universities international students may be attending it's hard to tell which Goshiwon is the "best" therefore follow the link below where there is a website with all the information about booking a goshiwon room!!! 

Click Here!


Stay with 42SHARE

Another great option is to stay with us, 42SHARE!! We hope you have read through our blog posts and watched our amazing residents' videos, they certainly are great and had a memorable time with us during their studies. One of the many reasons you should consider to stay with us, is that we have housing halls in great and convenient locations if you will be studying at Ewha, Yonsei, or Sogang University!! 

To be honest, it will be a lot more affordable for you to stay with us if you are planning to be in Seoul for a long term. Because our prices are reasonable due to the location, room conditions, and the spaces we provide for you to feel comfortable. We have different kinds of rooms you could stay in, depending on how you want to live, such as rooms with their own kitchen and rooms without one but there is a common Kitchenette at the rooftop of the building. 

Click this link to read more about the different kinds of rooms we offer and to start your booking!!

On-Campus Dormitory

A popular and sometimes most convenient form of housing for international students are to just stay at the university's on-campus dormitory. Yes, they can be a cheaper option and more comfortable as well, but there are a lot of restrictions and rules that residents NEED to follow or you will automatically be kicked out!! 

Some of the rules include, having a curfew which usually is 11 pm to 12 am, no guests of the opposite sex or sometimes no guests at all!! Depending on which university you end up going the rules may vary but are all quite similar, also you need to remember how to sort out your trash well or penalties will be applied without warning!! 

For this case, we recommend to look into your University's Dorm rules before signing and think of how you would want your schedule to be like once you are in Korea, will their rules restrict you from excelling your time in Seoul? 

Feel uneasy about the whole Korean recycling system? click HERE for a guide!!  


We hope this short list of different types of most recommended accommodations in Seoul helps you to decide how you would like to live your time in Korea and that you decide what is best for you!! 

Stay in Korea for the Fall

Autumn Activities in Korea

Oh Autumn.... Most of us love this weather and the beautiful views you can experience due to the change of leave colors and nice breezy weather. Therefore coming to Korea should not take so much convincing for you to come huh? Trust me when I say you will want to be here during that time because not only is the best weather here but also because there are various festivals, holidays and view spots you won't want to miss out!!

September

There are a few events that happen in September and you won't want to miss out the opportunity to experience them!!

Gwangju World Kimchi Festival

(Every two years from early September to November)

This festival celebrates what could be called Korea's national food, kimchi. At the festival visitors may sample a wide range of kimchi varieties and learn how to make some as well. In addition, exhibitions, educational and hands-on programs will be held too. You can also tour around Gwangju, which is known as "home of delicacies". 

Admission for Adults: ₩14,000     Youth: ₩6,000 

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Paju Booksori Festival

(Usually second week of September)

Are you a Book Lover!? then you will not want to miss out this Book Festival in Paju!! The event draws half a million of book lovers from all around for a week-long celebration. In there you can find around 100 publishers and many notable book-related organizations in attendance. There are dozens of bookshops in Paju Book City one of only 16 official book towns in the world and includes a variety of themed exhibitions, performances and hands on activities for the whole family!! (credit)

Admission is FREE

Dates for 2019: TBD

Official Website HERE

Chuseok

(15th Day of the 8th Month of the Lunar Calendar)

You probably have heard about this holiday, but if you haven't it's a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in both North and South Korea. If you are familiar with American holidays you could say Chuseok is American's Thanksgiving since families come together to share food and stories to give thanks to their ancestors.

Keep in mind that since it's a very important holiday many stores and restaurants will be closed!!

Dates for 2019: September 12 to September 14

Visit HERE for more information about what it means and how it is celebrated!!

Andong Mask Dance Festival

(Usually end of September and beginning of October)

This festival was designed by Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration as Important Intangible Cultural Properties. Therefore this festival is a MUST if you are wanting to understand more about Korean culture. The event is full of performances and hands on activities for you to join the free-spirited environment!!

Admission is NOT FREE but it's pretty cheap!!

Adults: ₩7,000 Students: ₩5,000

Dates for 2019: 09.27 - 10.6

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Gimje Horizon Festival

(End of September and beginning of October)

This festival is a Traditional Farming Festival that represents the Republic of Korea. You will be able to experience all the fall fragrances, offering content that can satisfy all five sense of every family member, including a street full of things to see, food streets, and experiential street. Come heal your body and mind, letting go of exhaustion from daily life and visit the Gimje Horizon Festival!! 

Admission FREE     Experience programs: ₩10,000

Dates for 2019: 9. 27 - 10.6

Visit their Official Website for more information!

October

There are quite some events happening in this month so you will have to pick wisely which ones to go!!

Jinju Lantern Festival

(First week of October)

Do you enjoy being out during the dark and see beautiful lights of arts, then these lamps in this festival are seen as a representation of wishing for the world peace and mankind fortune each year. 

Admission is FREE 

Dates for 2019: 10.1 - 10. 13 

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival

(First week of October)

Anseong was the birth place of Namsadang (troupes of entertainers who traveled around the country during the Joseon Period) and the hub of Korean art and Culture. Namsadang Baudeogi Festival continue the heritage of the artistic spirit of Baudeogi. The festival was also declared as the official festival of UNESCO's CIOFF (International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts) in 2006. At the event there will be Baudeogi many ceremonies, courtyard performances, hanbok experience, traditional games, barehaded fishing, 7090 Concert and much more!!  

Admission is FREE and Family Friendly

Dates for 2019: 10.2 - 10. 6

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Jeonju International Sori Festival

(First week of October)

The Jeonju International Sori Festival is a traditional music festival which is held every fall at the Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do and other venues as well. They host indoor and outdoor programs for kids and adults. All great masters of gugak (Korean traditional music, for instance pansori and pungmul) perform at the festival when welcoming artists from all over the world!! 

For Admission you will have to purchase a ticket in their website

Dates for 2019: 10.2- 10.6

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Seoul Street Art Festival (SSAF)

(First week of October)

The Seoul Street Arts Festival turns a daily space into a stage while demolishing the boundaries between the audience and performers.It is the street arts festival that brings the city, people and art together based on the citizens’ involvement. The festival is widely open to people of all age and gender and it will be a great chance to find new attractions of the familiar city space while moving through every street corner. 

Admission is FREE

Dates for 2019: 10.3 - 10. 6 

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Busan International Film Festival

(First to second week of October )

The BIFF purpose is to introduce new films and first-time directors, especially those from Asian countries. An interesting feature about the festival is the great appeal to young people, in terms of large youthful audience it attracts and efforts to promote young talent.  

Admission is FREE but you do have to do a reservation online

Dates for 2019: 10.3 - 10. 12

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival

(First week of October)

The Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival is Suwon's landmark festival held every October at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site built to commemorate King Jeongjio's filial piety and dream for national prosperity and military power. 

Admission FREE     

Dates for 2019: 10.3 - 10.6

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Seoul International Fireworks Festival

(Early October)

Yay Fireworks!! the Seoul International Fireworks Festival brings a million of people to the banks of the Han River every October. You can go there during the day and enjoy some performances and later on enjoy exuberant themed fireworks shows by teams from South Korea and abroad. After the show there is a DJ-led party!! 

Admission is FREE 

Dates for 2019: 10.6

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Guri Cosmos Festival

(Usually first week of October)

There are beautiful flowers in Guri during Autumn!! The festival is held in the beautiful Hangang River with the cosmos fully blossomed. Many people take idle walks or ride a bicycle to enjoy the refreshing river wind. This place is also ideal to have a picnic and the festival is held for two days with approximately 200,000 visitors!!

Admission FREE    

Dates for 2019: TBD

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Nonsan Ganggyeong Salted Seafood Festival

(Usually second to third week of October)

This festival is known for its freshest and finest quality since the recipes were handed down from generation to generation, and still retaining the unique and authentic taste of salted fermented fish. All the ingredients are imported directly and prepared in modern facilities. Everything you find here is considered incredibly healthy!! 

Admission FREE    

Dates for 2019: 10.16 - 10.20

Visit their Official Website for more information!

Jeonju Bibimbap Festival

(Usually by the end of October)

The Jeonju Bibimbap Festival takes place at the Jeonju Hanok Village in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province). The festival centers on the widely popuar jeonju bibimbap, a popular dish served as a bowl of rice topped with various vegetables, beef and chili pepper paste. A variety of events await visitors at the festival, including concerts and magic shows. Organizers will be mixing a gigantic bibimbap (about 400 servings) as well as bibimbap cooking and a night market. 

Admission FREE    

Dates for 2019: 10.23 - 10.26

Visit their Official Website for more information!

We hope that you find this information useful and be able to visit any of these events in Korea!! Remember to check out our other blog posts about living in Korea!!