Seoul Local Notes

Last updated: October 2026 This post contains an affiliate link. If you buy through it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Details in the Affiliate Disclosure . Walk out of arrivals at Incheon Airport and you'll see lines in front of the mobile carrier booths. Those are people who just got off the plane, queuing for a SIM card. If you installed an eSIM before you left, you skip the line and just turn off airplane mode. The short answer: Traveling alone or as a pair with a recent phone: eSIM, the cheapest and easiest You need a Korean phone number: a carrier SIM card that includes a number Three or more people, or a phone without eSIM: pocket WiFi Quick comparison eSIM SIM card Pocket WiFi Price for about a week About $5 to $15 About $15 to $30 About $5 to $8 per day Korean phone number Usually not (data only) Usually yes No Setup Buy and install in an app before you fly Pick up at an airport booth Rent at ...

Last updated: October 2026 I pointed Papago's camera at a cafe menu, and along with the translation a "Food info" panel opened at the bottom. Tap "아메리카노" and it explains in English what the drink is. It doesn't stop at swapping the words; it tells you what the dish actually is. Papago is a translation app made by Naver. A lot of people find it more natural than Google Translate for Korean and English, and Koreans use it too. What to use when: Menus, signs and cosmetics labels: Image (camera) translation Short exchanges at restaurants, taxis and shops: Conversation One quick sentence: Voice, or type it in 1. Install and first screen Install "Papago" from the App Store or Google Play. It's free and you don't need an account. The app follows your phone's language setting, so on an English phone the menus are in English. At the top, set the languages to English and Korean . The arrow button in the middle s...

Last updated: October 2026 I searched for a route from near Samseong Station to Mokdong Station in Google Maps. Public transport gave me a list of options: 56 minutes, 51 minutes, an hour and 3 minutes. The car and walking tabs right next to it just showed a dash. That's where Google Maps stands in Seoul as of October 2026. The short answer: Searching, saving and reading reviews: works well Subway and bus routes: genuinely useful, with live bus arrivals and exit numbers Walking and driving directions: don't work What I'd suggest as a Seoul local: use Google Maps to collect places and check your subway or bus route, then switch to Naver Map for the last walk to the door. Why Google Maps only half works in Korea For years the Korean government didn't allow detailed map data to be exported to servers abroad, mainly for security reasons such as military sites. Google applied several times starting in 2007 and was turned down each time. On Februar...

Last updated: October 2026 The most common thing foreign shoppers say to Olive Young staff is "My skin is dry" or "My skin is oily." Before the staff hand you a brand, it helps to know what to look for on the label yourself. You'll choose much faster. Instead of product picks, this guide covers which categories to check for each skin type, and which ingredient names to look for on the label . 1. How Olive Young is laid out Large stores are usually split into these sections: Skincare: toners, essences, serums and ampoules, creams, cleansers Masks: sheet masks and pads Sun care Makeup , and hair and body Skincare shelves are grouped by brand. There's no "moisturizers" aisle, so you have to read the labels on each brand's shelf. That's what confuses most first-time visitors. 2. What to look for by skin type Skin concern Check these first Ingredients people often look for Go easy on Dry Creams,...

Last updated: October 2026 Stand in front of the sun care shelf at Olive Young and you'll see dozens of tubes marked SPF50+ and PA++++. The numbers are nearly identical. So with Korean sunscreen, it's easier to choose by texture and filter type than by the numbers. This guide covers what to look for on the label. I don't recommend specific products here. 1. How to read SPF and PA SPF mainly measures protection from UVB, the rays that cause sunburn. In Korea, anything above 50 is labeled "SPF50+." PA measures protection from UVA, which goes deeper into the skin. It's shown with one to four plus signs, and PA++++ is the highest grade. Sunscreens in Korea are regulated as "functional cosmetics" by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, so SPF and PA labels follow set standards. For everyday use, many people consider SPF30 or higher with PA+++ or higher to be enough. For long days outdoors, people tend to go for SPF50+ and PA++++. ...

Last updated: October 2026 The AREX express train gets you from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station in about 43 minutes for ₩13,000. The all-stop train on the same line takes about an hour and costs under ₩5,000. If you're traveling light, that gap decides most of it. Here's the quick version: Light bags, hotel near a subway station: AREX all-stop train Staying near Seoul Station and want the fastest ride: AREX express train Big suitcases, or your hotel is far from a station: airport limousine bus Arriving late at night, or three or four of you: taxi Incheon Airport to Seoul at a glance Option Adult fare Time Best for AREX express train ₩13,000 To Seoul Station: about 43 min from T1, 51 min from T2 Hotels near Seoul Station AREX all-stop train About ₩4,750 (T1) to ₩5,350 (T2) To Seoul Station: about 1 hour Hongdae and other stops on the line, saving money Limousine bus ₩18,000 1 hour to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic Heavy ...