If you have read the interview done with Victoria from the APERTUS team, you would know that this will be Jessica’s take on the city she would most like to visit in Asia. If you want a beachy travel destination, Koh Lipe is the way to go and you should definitely read Victoria’s article.
This time Jessica’s choice is one that is really popular especially with the K-wave taking the world by storm. Read on to find out more about the cities your favorite Squid Game or Parasite actors grew up in and frequent, and how we can help you get to South Korea.
South Korea, Seoul & Gangnam
Q: Hey Jessica, we heard that you have some travel plans in mind for the summer, where are you headed?
A: I am headed to South Korea hopefully either this summer or winter, it’s been a long 3 years since I last visited and I cannot wait to go back. I’ve already exhausted all the korean food places I know back home, and it really isn’t the same as having it in South Korea itself.
Q: The authenticity is hard to replicate isn’t it? So which food items do you look forward to having the most?
A: It is so hard to pick because I don’t think there is a single Korean food item I don’t like. There are the ever famous Korean BBQs where the Ahjummas (korean for older aunty) will make their own homemade kimchi and unlimited side dishes, there is ginseng chicken, chimaek (chicken and beer), and live octopus as well.
Fun fact: There are over 200 types of Kimchi
Q: I am convinced that I must visit to really try the food for myself haha. So apart from the food, what else do you miss about South Korea?
A: Seoul has this really fun experience where you get to rent and dress up in a hanbok (a national Korean outfit), and gain free entry to any of its 5 palaces. Each palace has its own history and you can roam around the palaces freely to live like one of the characters in your favorite historical K-drama.
So I tried this once in Seoul and I would really love to do it again in the Autumn, because when I did it in Winter it was far too cold for me and my friends to take proper pictures. I would also suggest not doing this in Summer, because it will be far too hot and you will be sweating through the many layers of your hanbok.
Fun fact: In the past there were major competitions held by the royal palace for designers of the time to find a way to create the most special hanboks using natural dyes as coloring.
Winners were heavily rewarded, but some who lost and offended the royal family would have lost their heads.
If you do want to sweat however, in any city in South Korea you will find a Jjimjilbang (a traditional korean bathhouse), these bathhouses are special because unless you are in the dry communal area you have to be completely naked! Please don’t worry too much about the naked aspect because the jjimjilbangs are gender segregated, and in the dry communal area everyone wears jjimjilbang pajamas.
There are many facilities to try, from hot and cold pools, relaxing saunas, massage areas, and even communal sleeping rooms. It's not uncommon to see locals and some tourists spending a night in a jjimjilbang, and this is something I hope to try when I visit again. I would recommend trying Siloam Sauna and Itaewon Land, both of these jjimjilbangs are located in Seoul.
Q: Both experiences are pretty unique and have to be experienced in person, but I do have to ask, what is Korean culture like? I heard that there are quite a few rules to follow.
A: Haha I’m surprised that you know of this, but yes one thing I find quite unique is the use of honorifics and their informal vs formal speech. Koreans are huge on respect based on age, there are many terms and actions that are used to differentiate one’s age rank and gender.
When pouring soju for someone older must be done with 2 hands, and younger people have to turn their faces to the side if there were to take a drink given by someone older.
Common Korean honorifics and terms
Oppa – used by a younger female to call an older male friend or sibling
Hyung – used by a younger male to call an older male friend or sibling
Unnie – used by a younger female to call an older female or sibling
Noona – used by a younger male to call an older female or sibling
Sunbae – senior; used to call a female or male student who’s older than you at school or at work
ssi – used to call someone whom you need to show some respect to especially in work settings
nim – more polite and respectful version of ssi
Q: I’ve definitely learned something new today haha, okay so consider that I’m sold, how can one get to South Korea?
A: Assuming that you plan to visit the capital, to get to Seoul there are 2 airports where private jets can land, Incheon Airport (RKSI), and Gimpo airport (RKSS). But from a broker’s perspective, APERTUS will recommend for private charters to land at Gimpo airport as they have an FBO.
If you plan to fly directly to other cities, just contact APERTUS and we will work out a charter schedule and plan for you.
