Traveling to Korean on  Vacation
Please share your experiences.
For example;
1) Will I see any drama stars on the Streets, in Hotels or Restaurants?
2) Street foods, should I try them?
3) Where is the best places to eat Korean bar-b-que.
4) Which city is a travelers hot spot?
5)Will I be able to visit drama sets as a visitor?
6) Kpop concerts, will I be able to purchase tickets outside of Korean?
7) Do they really camp outside stars house, until they get an autograph? am not saying I intend too, but... inquiring minds, wants to know.
8)I love their fashion, does the malls only carry small size clothes, since most Korean same so fit?
9) Transportation, what is the best way to get around?
Lastly, and this is the most important of all...The address of Lee Min Ho, LOL, sorry I crack myself up some times, just kidding, or am I?
Oh wow! Lucky you! :) Although I can't answer your questions, I wish you best of luck on your trip to South Korea! That's one of my biggest dreams, so I can't help but be a little jealous of you ^_^ Have a nice trip! :)
Tks, hopefully all goes well.
Girl, best of luck in your travel, please update us with your experience. :) I wish I could give you the address, but no. :/ .. But thanks to kdrama land, you should be able to magically appear in front of him (my kdrama instincts tell me so!)
Only 3 weeks left before I'm going to Seoul. I hope I'll be able to answer some of your questions when I'm back! 
Thanks JPT and  I would love to hear about your experience Focussen,safe travels.
@Mia

I"m  happy that your going to korea, I went with my husband and 2 kids back in April 2015 for 2 weeks, I did a complete escorted tour so I didn't have to go thru the trouble of having to do things on my own. If you want to do a special tour you can contact them its Novaland Tours, their tour guides were awesome. From what I saw taking the bus and taxi where easy, they have maps with all the routes on it. The food was also great, my favorite was crab stew, the kimichi pancakes and I can't forget the soju. We went to a few cities but Seoul and Jeju were the best. Their clothes are smaller, I bought everything a size bigger of what I wear. Good luck and I know your going to love it especially being a drama addict, you'll get excited every time you recognize a place you've seen in a drama. I took about 1,000 pictures, that just tells you how beautiful it is. I don't know if you speak korean but I have to say that the little bit that I have learned from the dramas came in very handy. :)


I don't have any personal experience but I will answer anyway.

1) Will I see any drama stars on the Streets, in Hotels or Restaurants? Some... Maybe. It's all by random chance (or stalking). How many days are you going to spend? There might be not enough time to have the chance to see the ones you can actually recognize. 

2) Street foods, should I try them? Absolutely.

3) Where is the best places to eat Korean bar-b-que. If by that you mean restaurants, then any restaurant that your group is headed, the important is part is to experience it with a group. Don't go out to eat Korean barbecue alone. The actual best place is in a friend's green rooftop.

4) Which city is a travelers hot spot? Seoul, obviously. But don't forget to check out Busan's beaches and Jeju Island if you have the chance.

5) Will I be able to visit drama sets as a visitor? It depends which ones. Sure, you can check the public spaces where they filmed and some private locations for small fees, but you probably won't end up inside KBS's studios.

6) Kpop concerts, will I be able to purchase tickets outside of Korean? Decide what you want beforehand and check up the websites of whoever manages the tickets for the concerts you want to attend. Watch out for the streets, you might be suprised by a spontaneous street show of an idol promoting their new single.

7) Do they really camp outside stars house, until they get an autograph? am not saying I intend too, but... inquiring minds, wants to know. Yes, and those obsessed girls are called sasaeng. They are viewed negatively and intrusive acts from them are highly frowned upon. You don't want to be one of them.

8) I love their fashion, does the malls only carry small size clothes, since most Korean same so fit? Yes, most of them are small sizes for small Koreans. You'll be barred from trying if they think you'll strech the clothes and the vendors will hand you a large size, which is a normal size by Western standards.

9) Transportation, what is the best way to get around? The subway system. Cheap, efficient, safe, fast, interconnected, well distributed. Get a subway pass card as soon as you get there.


Congratulations on getting this chance, it's a highly desired (and yet unnatainable) oportunity for many of us. Learn the most you can before and during the trip. Enjoy it till the bones for us. Good luck and bon voyage. ;)
I have been to Korea 4 times and am going again at the end of March.

1) Will I see any drama stars on the Streets, in Hotels or Restaurants? I doubt it. Seoul is huge, and the chances of seeing anyone are remote. The places where stars do go to tend to be expensive.

2) Street foods, should I try them? Yes, absolutely, some really lovely street food available.

3) Where is the best places to eat Korean bar-b-que. Anywhere that does barbecue, they are all good!

4) Which city is a travelers hot spot? Seoul

5)Will I be able to visit drama sets as a visitor? Sorry, can't help you there, these type of trips were not on my agenda.

6) Kpop concerts, will I be able to purchase tickets outside of Korean? Couldn't tell you, not my cup of tea.

7) Do they really camp outside stars house, until they get an autograph? am not saying I intend too, but... inquiring minds, wants to know. Don't know.

8)I love their fashion, does the malls only carry small size clothes, since most Korean same so fit? One of my Korean female friends told me that clothes sizes in Korea are tiny, and sleeve lengths are short. She preferred to buy Western clothes as the cut always fitted her shape better. And she is of Korean average size, not overweight or anything.

9) Transportation, what is the best way to get around? The subway system in Seoul is superb. Cheap, fast and frequent. If you are travelling around the country, the express buses and city to city buses are also excellent and very reasonably priced. Even the KTX, although more expensive than other modes of transport, is still very reasonably priced.

I would just add that don't just stay in Seoul. Outside of Seoul is a whole country to be discovered. Myself, I prefer to go to the smaller towns to what my Korean friends refer to as 'Real Korea'. However, if you do travel outside of Seoul, the chances of finding someone able to speak good English are pretty slim. All the street signs may be in English, but that's all, everything else will be solely in Korean and some Korean knowledge is not only preferable but essential.
Hey^^ I will try to answer your questions , Well I'm living in Korea for about 2 years now, so hopefully I can help somehow ^^
1) Will I see any drama stars on the Streets, in Hotels or Restaurants?
It depends. Maybe I was lucky enough ..but after going out of the airport ,..like 15 min later I bumped into Infinite Challenge crew.ㅋㅋ .then again later while I was sightseeing in Seoul i saw some drama shootings sets, and then, while living in Daegu  ..I saw accidentally  many random celebrities, like concerts..events...or even in the cinema or in the club. Anyway u need some luck ㅋ but it's possible.
2) Street foods, should I try them?
Of course . You should. It's a part of Korean culture. plus it's yummy and cheap.
3) Where is the best places to eat Korean bar-b-que.
Yeah any restaurant with bbq should be good.
4) Which city is a travelers hot spot?
I've visited so many cities in Korea..but well..of course Seoul. Seoul..and Seoul. but if you have some time then Busan for sure,  hmm Daegu is just so so . ㅋㅋ i'm living here for so long now,so ..maybe for me its just nothing special ..and with super hot and humid summer ...people call it "Daefrica (Daegu +Africa ). The hottest city in Korea., so better don't go there in the summer. I also recommend you more traditional cities like Jeonju, Gyeongju or Andong and Jeju of course!
5)Will I be able to visit drama sets as a visitor?
Yeah , i think you should check out about kbs or mbc drama sets..i think its possible. I've visited MBC Yongin Dramia set ..hmm they recorded many historical dramas there, and it's quite beautiful  . 
 6) Kpop concerts, will I be able to purchase tickets outside of Korean?
Yeah i guess so,  you can this website :http://ticket.interpark.com/Global/
 7) Do they really camp outside stars house, until they get an autograph? am not saying I intend too, but... inquiring minds, wants to know.
I have no idea..lol but I'm sure sometimes they are waiting for so long in front of the entertainment agencies, but only when they know or guess the exact schedule of their idol. they usually know that he or she will be there or something. They ..aren't waiting for nothing.
 8)I love their fashion, does the malls only carry small size clothes, since most Korean same so fit?
Again, it depends. If u wanna buy really cheap clothes..they usually have only one size . which is quite small.but sometimes, u can find bigger sizes or even too big kkk and If you go to the department store or some brand store ..they have various sizes, so it depends : P 
9) Transportation, what is the best way to get around?
Subway. especially in Seoul. Busan and Daegu Subway or bus, and other cities or JEJU only bus and taxi .so it's quite difficult to travel there , especially in Jeju.: P Korean people usually rent a car for traveling there. or just using buses ^^
Traveling to Korean on  Vacation
Please share your experiences. For example;

1) Will I see any drama stars on the Streets, in Hotels or Restaurants?
Very unlikely. I have spend a lot of time in Cheongdam, Sinsa and Apgujeong, and haven't seen one myself. You'll have to be very lucky to actually see one.

2) Street foods, should I try them?
Yes, definitely! One day I went shopping in Myeongdong, and there are a lot of streetfood stalls there. The food was great! Someone even told me that the stalls frequently get inspected on their hygiene. So don't be too worried about it and go for it.  

3) Where is the best places to eat Korean bar-b-que.
There's not just 1 version of korean barbecue. There are many different versions. And every one of them that I've tried was good. Just try any restaurant you'll find. Though, perhaps for a better experience, try one in a side street in an area that doesn't attract a lot of tourists.  

4) Which city is a travelers hot spot?
Many travellers that I've met in Seoul would go to Busan for a few days as well. So, besides Seoul, try Busan. And perhaps Jeju?

5)Will I be able to visit drama sets as a visitor?
Haven't done that yet. 

6) Kpop concerts, will I be able to purchase tickets outside of Korean?
That's possible. Though I would suggest to take care of that at home before you're going to SK. 

7) Do they really camp outside stars house, until they get an autograph? am not saying I intend too, but... inquiring minds, wants to know.
It happens, and it's not appriciated. 

8)I love their fashion, does the malls only carry small size clothes, since most Korean same so fit?
Don't worry too much about the sizes. I went to SK with the thought that it would be impossible for me to buy any clothes there. In the end, I got back home with not 1 but 2 suitcases. The malls and clothing stores like H&M, Forever21, Zara etc have different sizes. If you're going to shop at some more local stores, like the ones in Hongdae, it can become a 'bit more difficult, but definitely not impossible. 

9) Transportation, what is the best way to get around?
Subway. I've never experienced such an amazing and easy subway system. I was extremely worried that I would get lost and that I wouldn't be able to figure out how it worked. There was no need for those kind of thoughts at all. 
1) Will I see any drama stars on the Streets, in Hotels or Restaurants?
Seoul is huge, larger than Chicago iirc

2) Street foods, should I try them? I guess it depends when i was there when i was in the Army we were not allowed to eat in an outdoor 'soju' tent

3) Where is the best places to eat Korean bar-b-que. about anywhere but u want Bulgogi and not kagogi

4) Which city is a travelers hot spot? its not really a city but Jeju-do is a popular Korean go to spot

5)Will I be able to visit drama sets as a visitor? this one i cant help with since i dont think i did anything like that in the 3 years i was there

6) Kpop concerts, will I be able to purchase tickets outside of Korean? Yes

7) Do they really camp outside stars house, until they get an autograph? am not saying I intend too, but... inquiring minds, wants to know. I never saw people outside houses like that when i was there you had to keep an eye out for student protests/riots I can still smell tear gas a ways away

8)I love their fashion, does the malls only carry small size clothes, since most Korean same so fit? Dont buy clothes in a "mall" Itaewon is where to go to get clothes

9) Transportation, what is the best way to get around? I used buses to go from city to city and taxi's inside Seoul

Lastly, and this is the most important of all...The address of Lee Min Ho, LOL, sorry I crack myself up some times, just kidding, or am I? cant help there but https://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...
Thanks guys for your answers to my questions. 

I am finally in Seoul and loving it. After some research,  I develop a new wish list .
special thanks to Seoulistic.com for preparing this list, so, all I have to do it count down items I have completed.

List check!!!!!!Up to 29 things now completed...two half way...I have a long way to go!
1. Drink soju or makkeolli but in cocktail form DID THIS THEY HAVE MANY FLAVORS NOW 
2. Buy makkeolli from the Hongdae makkeolli man (seen late night around Hongdae Children’s Park)
3. Drink beer and soju at a convenience store table
4. Learn to make kimchi
5. Make and drink 'bombs' beer and soju  DID THIS IN ITAEWON
6. Eat Samgyetang a whole chicken in a hot broth.
7. Pick a live fish and eat it 5 minutes later at Noryanjin Fish Market
8. Eat bindaetteok and mayak gimbap at Gwangjang Market
9. Eat super spicy food that have made people faint, like buldalk. ATE TTEBUKKI IT WAS SPICY BUT I NEED TO LEVEL UP ALSO FOUND SOME RAMEN THAT. BROUGHT TEARS TO THE EYES
10. Eat at a restaurant that’s been around for a hundred years WE ATE AT A 60 YEAR OLD RESTAURANT 
11. Get full off of tasting samples at a Korean supermarket (go around 7PM for the most selection) GOT SAMPLES AT A FOOD STORE J
12. Eat super spicy tteokbokki from a  truck  I DID...YAY
13. Eat live octopus at noyrangjin market
14. Eat at food town
15. Grill galbi at some famous galbi restaurants
16. Eat and drink at a pojangmacha (tent) while shouting for ajumma! 
17. Get super refreshing naengmyun at a jjimjilbang (Korean dry spa)
18. Order fried chicken and beer to be delivered at the Han river to our picnic area.
19. Eat ramyun, triangle kimbap and cool treat at a convenience store  ALL DONE
20. Eat at least 10 different Korean foods, munduduk (dumpling/soup), Kimchee  stew, bimbibap, dalkhanmari, jjimdalk, dalkbal(chicken feet) ddalkdongjib,bulgogi, saengseon (grilled fish), sannakji (live octopus) to name a few. ATE CHICKEN FEET, BULGOGI, BEEF STEW
21. Get smashed just to see if Korean hangover cures really work try hangover soup  GOT SMASHED BUT DIDNT GET THE SOUP
22. Buy a roasted chicken off the back of a truck
23. Try lots of Korean street foods  TRIED LOTS
24. Order in a Korean style pizza (with potatoes) 
25. Order meat at Majang Meat Market and eat it 10 mins later at a restaurant closeby
26. Try Korean street snacks – like hotteok or egg bread  EGG BREAD WAS GREAT
27. Eat Korean ice cream M NOT TOO IMPRESSED WILL TRY ANOTHER KIND AT FIRST BUT FOUND SOME REAL CREAMY ONES LATER
28. Drink Banana Milk  YAY SO GOOD
29. Drink some free milk coffee after a Korean meal
30. Go to a bar that’ll introduce some new Korean friends to you
31. Drink these drinks so you can drink all night without a hangover
32. Eat doo doo bread
33. Stroll along Cheonggyecheon on a nice day
34. Take pictures with Admiral Yi Sun-Shin PASSED HIM YESTERDAY WILL GO BACK TO SAY HI and King Sejong
35. Check out the museum underneath the King Sejong statue
36. Take a Picture with the Gyeongbokgung Guards
37. Visit an “old” neighborhood in Seoul
38. Take a tour of the President’s Residence, Cheonghwadae – the Blue House ( if not to late for reservations)
39. Try on a hanbok (do it for free at the Tourist Culture Centers – Myeongdong, Insadong, etc.)
40. Take a cable car up to N Seoul Tower
41. Go to Busan
42. See the Han River Banpo Bridge rainbow show
43. Take a tour of the DMZ
44. Stay at a hanok guesthouse and sleep on heated floors, ondol
45. Buy traditional souvniers at Insadong
46. See the 5 Royal Palaces PASSED TWO YESTERDAY WILL GO IN AT LEAST ONE
47. Climb Bukhan Mountain (at least some of the way)
48. Go to a Han River Cafe Dongdaemun Night Market
49. Have an all-night movie marathon at Dongdaemun
50. Go 1AM shopping at Dongdaemun street market
51. Watch street performances in Hongdae
52. Stay at a Buddhist Temple (try Haeinsa, one Korea’s most famous)
53. Hang out at dog, cat and sheep cafes!
54. Drink tea in a hanok
55. Get your fortune told (사주) by a Korean fortune teller (for some, need to know your time of birth)
56. Make Korean Friends while on your trip
57. Play board games at a board game cafe
58. Attend an e-sports tournament
59. Try on a dress at a dress cafe
60. Be mega entertained at a multibang
61. Watch a DVD at a DVD Room
62. Sleep at a jjimjilbang, put a towel on our heads WE HAVE A MINI ONE AT OUR HOTEL SO WE PUT THE TOWELS ON OUR HEAD HERE
63. Go to a bath house and have someone scrub you down really hard (to get rid of dead skin)
64. Read a book at a really quiet study cafe
65. Go clubbing with college kids in Hongdae
66. Go clubbing with the pretty/handsome/rich in Cheongdam
67. Win some money at a Casino (need passports)
68. Take sticker pictures with friends
69. Bike along the Han River
70. Get fishies to nibble your legs clean at Dr. Fish
71. Learn to cook some Korean food
72. Have a gimbap picnic at Han River Park
73. Go to a Korean baseball game
74. Watch old Korean men play Janggi and Baduk at Tapgol Park
75. Watch a 4D Movie
76. Go crazy and shop for Korean clothing brands at Myeongdong DID THIS
77. Collect free cosmetics samples in Myeongdong just by walking in  DID THIS
78. Shop at the Hongdae Free Market for Indie Designers (Hongdae Children’s park, every Sat 1-6)
79. Buy and wear face masks  DID THIS
80. Buy cheap clothes at underground shopping malls DID THIS
81. Buy lots and lots of cute stuff GOT SOME
82. Find a sock truck and buy, buy, buy!
83. Buy mega cheap glasses
84. Bargain with street vendors  DID THIS
85. Buy couple shirts with friend
86. Buy the latest gadgets at Yongsan Electronics Market
87. Pay for a drink with a t-money card
88. Get yelled at while exchanging your money into Korean won
89. Write on the walls of a famous cafe/restaurant
90. Practice your Korean with a taxi driver  DID THIS
91. Work out on public exercise machines
92. Make a free phone call using the subway’s smartphone for giants
93. Dance to 90’s Kpop music DID THIS IN ITAEWON 
94. Get treated by a traditional Korean doctor
95. Try some aegyo while in Korea
96. Learn a new phrase in Korean and say it in Korea!  DID THIS "OLE MYAO" aFOR HOW MUCH IS IT?
97. Dance Gangnam Style in Gangnam DID THIS
98. Sing so much at a noraebang you lose your voice
99. “Hack” some free wifi  DID THIS ON THE STREET IN THE UNDERGROUND AND IN THE TOUR BUS, ON NAMSON MOUNTAIN 
100. Score tons of free stuff just because we can  GOT SOME 101. Visit You Are Here Cafe

After a week in Seoul let me see if I can answer my first questions...

Jan 10, 2016 02:01 PMMia - 123 Posts
Traveling to Korean on  Vacation Please share your experiences. For example;

1) Will I see any drama stars on the Streets, in Hotels or Restaurants?
I have not spotted any, other than in posters and memorabilia.

2) Street foods, should I try them?
I tried them  and they are so good. 

3) Where is the best places to eat Korean bar-b-Que.
Everywhere, it's fairly common here in Seoul. in the hotel, on the streets, or at tourist attractions...

4) Which city is a travelers hot spot?
Seoul, Myeongdong, Hongdae, gangnam, itaewom, jeju Island and Busan just to name the few, I have been to so far, and the last two, I am going to soon.

5)Will I be able to visit drama sets as a visitor?
Seoul has so many things to offer, this pale in comparison.

6) Kpop concerts, will I be able to purchase tickets outside of Korean?
Again to busy doing the stuff on my wish list to care.

7) Do they really camp outside stars house, until they get an autograph?
i am not saying I intend too, but... inquiring minds wants to know.  
I still don't know, but now I don't care. I have a new wish list.

8)I love their fashion, does the malls only carry small size clothes, since most Korean same so fit?
After shopping is malls such as Coex and Myeongdong Lotte Mail, and the underground mall,  I find am a ex large in Seoul, but am finding clothes I like and fits me.
9) Transportation, what is the best way to get around?
We tried the bus, taxi and walking, we have not tried the train as yet.

Lastly, and this is the most important of all...The address of Lee Min Ho, LOL, sorry I crack myself up some times, just kidding, or am I?
I  still don't know , but now I don't care.

Loving my time in Seoul, one more week to go...